* The freshman Republican announced he soon will introduce a bill to protect the undeveloped areas of the Wyoming Range from any future oil and gas leasing.

* Barrasso also expressed his continued support for protecting hundreds of miles of the Snake River and its headwaters under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Both conservation issues were part of the late Sen. Craig Thomas' legislative agenda before he died of leukemia in June. Since being selected by Gov. Dave Freudenthal to succeed Thomas until the 2008 general election, Barrasso has been doing his homework on these topics as well as his own interests.

It's appropriate that Barrasso will spearhead the Wyoming Range bill and make it part of his own agenda. It became clear to those who closely followed Thomas' congressional career that preserving the Wyoming Range in the Bridger-Teton National Forest had become an integral part of his legacy to the state.

As Thomas noted just days before his death, "That's a pretty special place."

Thomas' Wyoming Range draft bill also had the enthusiastic support of the governor and several environmental and outdoors groups anxious to see it become law. Shortly after appointing Barrasso to the post, Freudenthal described the new senator's support of Thomas' Wyoming Range efforts as "tepid." But the governor held out hope that Barrasso would sponsor the bill after studying the issue, and that's precisely what has happened.

Barrasso noted Monday that while Thomas is not here to carry on the wild and scenic rivers bill, "The work needs to continue as part of his legacy."

Carrying on Thomas' legacy is one of many good reasons for the Wyoming delegation to get behind the bill. It's a good piece of legislation that would protect nearly 400 miles of Wyoming rivers from dam building and the degradation of water quality. It will help Wyoming wildlife and sportsmen and boost tourism dollars in the state.

Currently, the only Wyoming waterway protected under the act is 20 miles of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River near Cody. Idaho has more than 600 miles of protected rivers.

As Thomas noted, the wild and scenic designation will be "a badge of honor for our rivers."

Two recent events should serve to help the Wyoming bill's chances of passage. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who has been the staunchest opponent of the Snake River Headwaters Legacy Act, has announced his attention to resign from the Senate.

Craig mistakenly has contended that protecting 42 miles of the Snake River in Wyoming would jeopardize the water rights of Idaho farmers. Barrasso has been working to persuade Craig to withdraw his opposition to the bill, but perhaps the senator's replacement will be more willing to listen to reason.

Colorado, meanwhile, is analyzing hundreds of its streams for possible inclusion under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Now, only the Poudre River has wild and scenic status.

A partnership between the Wyoming and Colorado delegations could help both states obtain federal protection for their rivers.