Senate Panel Holds Hearing on Tennessee Wilderness Bill

On August 3, a U.S. Senate panel held a hearing on the Tennessee Wilderness Act, a bill SELC and our partners are championing that would protect nearly 20,000 acres of the Cherokee National Forest as wilderness. The hearing by the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests moves the legislation a step closer to becoming law. Introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, the bill would establish the Upper Bald River Wilderness Area, the first new wilderness area in the state in 25 years. The legislation also adds acreage to five existing wilderness areas. In addition to preserving unspoiled ecosystems, wilderness designation ensures that lands are available for hunting, fishing, hiking and camping for generations to come.