Mother Nature Network

(This is a video news report from MNN. Click the link to see the two-minute clip.)

The U.S. Congress has passed a sweeping law that permanently establishes the protection of 26 million acres of public lands with special scenic, historic and ecological significance. (Video: Assignment Earth)

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by Jean Williams, examiner.com

Monday afternoon, March 30, 2009, President Obama will sign into law the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. After much wrangling in the house and senate, and major opposition by the American Motorcyclists Association and other off-road organizations, this bill has finally made it to the president’s desk.

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by Editorial Board, Arizona Daily Star

President Obama is expected to sign the Omnibus Public Land Management Act on Monday. We applaud the scheduled endorsement because the bill is good for America and good for Arizona.

The act encompasses 164 bipartisan bills, including key measures spearheaded by Southern Arizona Democratic Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords and Republicans Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain. The House passed the act on Wednesday by 285 to 140 vote. The Senate passed it last week, 77-20.

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by Clair Johnson, Helena Independent Record

BILLINGS — Congress on Wednesday voted to set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness, and though the bill doesn’t add more wilderness lands in Montana, it contains some provisions that affect the state.

The legislation, which opponents, mostly Republicans, called a land grab that would block energy development on federal land, is on its way to President Barack Obama for his likely signature.

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Imperial Valley News

Washington, DC - Legislation to help create the nation’s newest public lands system, the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives today as part of a large public lands package.

The bill now goes President Obama for his signature.

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ABC Montana

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Greening Washington (and more)

After a rocky road in Congress, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, which was introduced by New Mexico Senator, Jeff Bingaman, was passed by the Senate on March 19, on a vote of 77-20. The House is likely to vote on the measure later this week, which is expected to pass with bipartisan support. If passed, it would create the largest expansion of the Wilderness Preservation System in 15 years.

The bill, which is really a collection of 160 public lands, water, and resources bills, would create 2 million new acres of wilderness in nine states— mostly in the West.

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by Matthew Daly, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second time this year, the Senate has passed a long-delayed bill to set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness, from a California mountain range to a forest in Virginia.

The 77-20 vote on Thursday sends the bill to the House, where final legislative approval could come as early as next week.

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by Kate Phillips, The New York Times

The Senate passed the omnibus public lands bill today, on a vote of 77-20, virtually ensuring that the bill creating new national parks and designating millions of acres as wilderness will become law sometime soon.

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by Ted Williams, Fly Rod + Reel Online

WASHINGTON – The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership today welcomed a U.S. Senate vote meant to ensure final passage of a public-lands bill that includes numerous measures of importance to fish and wildlife habitat and hunting and fishing. The Senate this afternoon voted 77-20 in favor of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, a package of more than 150 public lands, water and resources bills.

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