9,000 acres bought to patch up public lands

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - The government is buying 9,000 acres in seven Western states, the first such purchases under a 2000 law intended to help land managers patch up fragmented national parks, forests, refuges and other public lands.

Among the 19 places being purchased for $18 million from private landowners are lands around the Coachella Valley in California, the North Platte River in Wyoming, the Santa Fe River in New Mexico and the Snake River in Idaho. Other states where the government is buying lands under this program are Arizona, Colorado and Oregon.

The lands will be added to those overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, all part of the Interior Department, and by the Forest Service, part of the Agriculture Department.

Officials say the purchases also will help protect bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and other species, along with recreation and cultural resources like hiking trails and prehistoric rock paintings.

...

But the Bush administration, eyeing the possibility of $350 million in BLM land sales, has proposed amending the law to let the government use most of the money for deficit reduction, according to The Wilderness Society, an advocacy group.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20585227/

[Roland99]

1. $350 million for deficit reduction?

AH HA HA HA HA HA HA!!

I have a better idea.


STOP THE BLOOD AND MONEY PIT CALLED IRAQ!!

[wordpix]

2. as long as they keep out big mining, big oil, clearcutters & ATVs, I'm all for it

$350M for deficit reduction is a joke when BushCo's pushed the deficit up to $8.5 TRILLION with his wars and mismanagement a la the maladministration.

[sandnsea]

4. now you mention it

Wouldn't it be just like them to buy up land for the sole purpose of turning it over to mining and timber because it would bring them better profits.

[tanyev]

7. It's easier to build roads and such when the parcels are all connected.

[olddad56]

3. Which Bush cronies are they buying the land from and for how much?

[robinlynne]

5. bought 9000 acres, sold 3 million acres...read the article.

Legally 80% of the money from the sale MUST be used to buy more land, so Bush wants to change that part.

[valerief]

6. They'll be mining in them. nt

[Plucketeer]

8. Easier

Easier to make ATV trails with all the parcels connected. :sarcasm: