Legislature to Congress: Leave wilderness alone

A resolution got the Legislature's full approval this past week in an effort for state lawmakers to tell Congress not to "lock away" more than 9 million acres of public lands by declaring it as protected wilderness.

The Senate voted Thursday 22-3 in favor of HJR10, afraid that a wilderness designation will stop continued development of Utah's oil, gas, coal, oil shale and other natural resources.

Congress is currently considering federal legislation to declare 9 million acres as wilderness. Utah lawmakers claim the designation will also result in a loss of Utah jobs and tourism.