Our view: Bill directs water, scenic-lands studies, protects millions of acres in Arizona

by Editorial Board, Arizona Daily Star

President Obama is expected to sign the Omnibus Public Land Management Act on Monday. We applaud the scheduled endorsement because the bill is good for America and good for Arizona.

The act encompasses 164 bipartisan bills, including key measures spearheaded by Southern Arizona Democratic Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords and Republicans Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain. The House passed the act on Wednesday by 285 to 140 vote. The Senate passed it last week, 77-20.
The omnibus bill would make permanent the 26-million acre National Landscape Conservation System — Grijalva's bill.

Last March, we wrote that the measure, which would help preserve the rugged American West, should become law. The National Landscape Conservation System would protect more than 3.3 million acres and 56 miles of trails in Arizona. ...