Rep. Jim Hansen (R-Utah) is trying to throw a wrench into the creation of new wilderness study areas in Utah. A provision Hansen has tacked onto an Armed Services authorization bill prohibits the creation of new study areas until it is determined whether such areas would create problems for an Air Force training range in the region. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance says the provision is just another of Hansen’s ploys to bottle up wilderness. Officials from the Air Force base in the area have told SUWA that existing wilderness study areas have not created any problems for them. The bill could go to the House floor for a vote as soon as today.
