National Landscape Conservation System Act of 2007



Background
In 2000, the National Landscape Conservation System was created administratively by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt "to conserve, protect and restore nationally significant landscapes recognized for their outstanding cultural, ecological and scientific values." According to the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, the NCLS includes more than 924 federally recognized areas and approximately 27 million acres of protected lands and waters.

House consideration
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) proposed the bill on April 24, 2007, and the House considered the bill in April 2008. On April 9, 2008,

The House considered and approved an amendment from Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) which provides that inclusion within the NCLS would not affect grazing operations on Bureau of Land Management lands.





On April 9, 2008, the House passed the bill by a vote of 278-140.



Further action
In 2009, the National Landscape Conservation System Act was packaged with more than 160 other bills to create the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (H.R. 146). The bill was passed and signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2009.