Senate Panel Approves Tennessee Wilderness Bill

Legislation that would provide wilderness protection for nearly 20,000 acres of the Cherokee National Forest cleared another critical hurdle in November when it won approval from the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, and championed by SELC and its partners in the Tennessee Wild coalition, the Tennessee Wilderness Act would expand five existing wilderness areas and create the new Upper Bald River Wilderness. It would also protect portions of the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails. These would be the first Tennessee lands added to the national wilderness preservation system in 25 years.