Federal legislators are trying once again to designate nearly 20,000 acres of the Cherokee National Forest as wilderness area.
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry passed the Tennessee Wilderness Act, which now heads to the full Senate. It’s the fifth attempt to pass legislation safeguarding clean water and preserving wildlife habitat.
“The short version is it has not passed prior because Congress has failed to act,” said Laura Hodge with Tennessee Wild Coalition. “It is a very slow process.”
The congressional session has ended before a vote every time the legislation has been proposed. But Hodge is optimistic.
“Every year presents different challenges, but I think we have a good shot this year,” she said.