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Conservation Groups Celebrate Congress Coming Together On Public Lands Bill

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The Kalmiopsis Wilderness
Steve Boutcher, courtesy Wilderness.net, 3155 via the Oregon Encyclopedia

Just when most Americans thought Congress could not work in a bipartisan way, the Senate passed a public lands bill by the unlikely count of  92 to 8, and the bill passed the House easily as well, 363 to 62. 

The bill creates new national monuments, extends wilderness protections to new areas, and protects other lands from drilling and mining. 

It probably helps that the protections are in many states, including in Oregon.  New protections for Rogue River tributaries are part of the bill, welcome news to the Rogue Riverkeeperprogram.  Robyn Janssen of the group visits with details and reaction. 

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily news program focused on issues, people and events across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Angela Decker is the program's senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Geoffrey Riley hosts the show.