Tennessee Wilderness Bill Introduced

Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker today introduced The Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010, a proposal to designate almost 20,000 acres of mountain land in the Cherokee National Forest in east Tennessee as wilderness–the highest form of environmental proection for federal public lands.  The bill has broad support in Tennessee from businesses, individuals, and conservation groups and other non-profit organizations.

The first wilderness proposal in 25 years, the bill includes one new wilderness area, the Upper Bald River, and expands five existing wilderness areas: Joyce Kilmer/Slickrok, Sampson Mountain, Big Laurel Branch, Big Frog and Little Frog.

SELC is proud to be working with the Tennessee Wild coalition and the senators to secure passage of this bill in Congress this year for signature by President Obama into law.

Read the press release for more information.

Hear Senator Alexander's speech from the floor of the Senate.

Hear Tennessee Wild executive director Jeff Hunter talk about the bill on WUTC.