Congress passes historically large public lands bill that sets a legal precedent for climbing in wilderness areas

Yesterday the House of Representatives passed a historic bipartisan bill titled the Natural Resources Management Act, 363-62. It cleared the Senate, 92-8, on February 12, and it is anticipated that President Donald Trump will soon sign it into law.

The legislation combines more than 100 previously existing bills that affect public lands all over the country, and it includes provisions that pertain directly to climbers and climbing areas. The Emery County Public Land Management Act is a centerpiece of the legislation that will create nearly 700,000 acres of wilderness in Utah's San Rafael Swell, an area that has hundreds of climbing routes. The legislation also codifies the use of fixed anchors for climbing in a wilderness area.

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web19w/newswire-natural-resources-management-act-passes