A bill to protect Idaho鈥檚 Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness passed through the Senate on Tuesday, .
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act prohibits development of 275,665 acres of the Boulder-White Clouds, according to the Statesman. Now that the bill has cleared the House and Senate, it will go to President Barack Obama for his signature.
鈥淭his natural gem is one of largest unprotected wild places in the lower 48 states, with magnificent 10,000-foot peaks, sparkling alpine lakes, and flower-filled meadows teeming with wildlife,鈥 Mike Matz, director of the Pew Charitable Trust鈥檚 U.S. public lands program, .听
Idaho Republican Representative Mike Simpson聽has been working on the bill to protect the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness since 2002.听鈥淭he passage of this bill is a huge victory for Idahoans who鈥檝e worked for over 15 years to create a land management plan for the Boulder-White Clouds,鈥 following the bill鈥檚 approval in Senate.