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<br />0005~7 <br /> <br />Add 1 --- <br /> <br />approximately equal to the land area of the state of Connecticut." <br /> <br /> <br />Another 122,300 acres would be protected as national recreation <br /> <br /> <br />areas. All acreage numbers cited by Armstrong wilderness <br /> <br /> <br />legislation were calculated by the u.s. Forest Service. <br /> <br /> <br />"This Colorado wilderness bill strikes an excellent balance <br /> <br /> <br />between private property rights -- especially water rights -- and <br /> <br /> <br />the desire to preserve Colorado's natural beauty for ourselves and <br /> <br /> <br />for our children to enjoy," Armstrong said. "It's a balanced bill <br /> <br /> <br />which thousands of Coloradans had a hand in writing. It's not <br /> <br /> <br />written by the special interests, it's not written by the <br /> <br /> <br />environmental extremists, it's not written by the timber companies <br /> <br /> <br />or the oil companies, and it's not written by malcontents. It <br /> <br /> <br />steers a responsible middle course. It would be a terrible mistake <br /> <br /> <br />to let the extreme view on either side prevail, because we would <br /> <br /> <br />lose the opportunity to do something very important for the future <br /> <br /> <br />of our state." <br /> <br /> <br />Although "a great deal of time and effort has gone into the <br /> <br /> <br />legislation at this point," Armstrong said, "this is not necessarily <br /> <br /> <br />the last word. This bill is for all the people of Colorado, and if <br /> <br /> <br />I can benefit further from their experience and expertise, I will be <br /> <br /> <br />glad to do so." <br /> <br /> <br />Armstrong explained the designation of four national <br /> <br /> <br />recreation areas, in addition to the 14 wilderness areas, is one of <br /> <br /> <br />the significant differences between his bill and the one proposed by <br /> <br /> <br />U.S. Sen. Tim wirth CD-Colo.) last year. The national recreation <br /> <br /> <br />designation has been used in other states to preserve public lands <br /> <br /> <br />and to enhance recreation opportunities, primarily in and around <br /> <br /> <br />federal water projects. It allows the Forest Service to manage the <br /> <br /> <br />-MORE- <br />