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Geezer

Ken Salazar's wilderness policy simply gives BLM the same authority the US Forest Service already has. For decades already the Forest Service has been doing wilderness studies and recommending appropriate areas for wilderness status. BLM will now be able to do the same. This is a big issue in Utah because BLM's Utah wilderness inventory in 1980 omitted 5 to 6 million acres that are widely believed to have wilderness values. BLM's inventory in Nevada was more complete and less controversial.

Thanks to the Wilderness Society and to Nevadans who have spent many, many days volunteering in support of conservation for our wild lands. I'm a BLM retiree, and I can tell you that nothing would be saved without those citizen efforts.

It's a good bill and long overdue. The Governor thinks everybody's out of step but him.

Yes, this is a wise measure. I'm a retiree from the Bureau of Land Management, and I saw how field managers were under constant pressure to allow developments that would damage the public lands. Wilderness designation gives them the backbone to say no.

I worked for BLM for half my career and saw how field managers are under constant pressure to allow more development. Wilderness designation will strengthen their hand in protecting Gold Butte, so we can enjoy it in the future.