Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senator Jim Risch today voted to support the final passage of S. 22, legislation that included the Owyhee Canyonlands wilderness.

"I congratulate my friend and colleague, Mike Crapo, on the passage of this legislation. He has put in an enormous amount of effort working with a wide variety of local citizens, elected officials and interest groups in creating consensus on this legislation," said Risch. "It was my pleasure to support the Owyhee Initiative and the collaboration it represents."

The Owyhee Initiative began over eight years ago and designates 517,000 acres of BLM land as wilderness. The legislation will release 199,000 acres of land that was in the wilderness study area and will be classified as multiple use.

The bill now moves to the House.

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