The Wyoming Range Legacy Act will render vast portions of the Wyoming Range off-limits to future oil and gas drilling. The Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act will protect 387 miles of rivers and streams in the Snake River watershed.

The late Sen. Craig Thomas championed the causes until his death in 2007. His successor, Sen. John Barrasso, and fellow Sen. Mike Enzi, have pushed for passage of the bill since then.

The measures have garnered strong bi-partisan backing and broad-based support from conservation and sportsmen groups, as well as from landowners and government agencies. Not surprisingly, the energy industry has voiced strong opposition to the Wyoming Range bill.

While the bill will prevent future oil and gas exploration on 1.2

million acres of Wyoming wilderness, existing leases will be protected. Conservation groups will have the opportunity to purchase remaining leases to prevent future development. Most compelling is the fact that the energy industry seemed to oppose the bill mainly on principal. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the amount of accessible oil and gas in the area is minimal — the natural gas would satisfy the country’s needs for a mere 25 days, and the U.S. oil needs for less than a single day. Based on those numbers, further development is hard to justify.

And the Snake River designation as a “wild and scenic river” will bring Wyoming up to par with neighboring states.

According to a recent Associated Press story, nationally there are

more than 11,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers. Wyoming has been at the bottom of the list with 20 miles, while our next-door neighbor, Idaho, has 574.

The new designation will protect many additional miles of rivers and streams in our state.

Inspired by the Thomas legacy, the two senators from this state

recognized the importance of these bills.

Outdoorsmen and environmentalists alike can thank Barrasso and Enzi for ensuring Wyoming’s public lands and waterways remain pristine and intact. As such, they’ll be utilized and enjoyed by many — instead of making a profit for a select few.