Simpson’s Boulder-White Clouds bill clears House

A long-awaited compromise bill to protect the area around the White Clouds Mountains is now closer to becoming law than perhaps at any other time in history. Both proponents and opponents of wilderness protections in the area say they grudgingly support the deal. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act passed the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in a Monday voice vote. It’s progress, but it’s tentative. The bill faces a tight timeline and procedural hurdles in the Senate. And Simpson has to hold together a fragile coalition of supporters with different aims. The bill would create three new wilderness areas totalling around 300,000 acres while releasing some areas currently designated as wilderness study areas back for multiple uses. It prevents the closure of roads currently open to motor vehicles, including dirt bikes, and all trails currently open to mountain bikes would remain open. It would also allow ranchers to voluntarily retire grazing claims in return for compensation from environmental groups...more