In a statement, Sen. Orrin Hatch strongly denounces the proposed "America's Red Rock Wilderness Act," which was introduced in Congress Thursday by Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Maurice Hinchey. The legislation would designate up to 9.1 million acres of public land in Utah as wilderness.

"I always find it highly ironic that two Members of Congress from the East coast get such great pleasure in telling us in Utah how we should manage our lands, and what should be considered wilderness," stated Hatch. "This bill creates millions of acres of restrictive wilderness designation in Utah that would obstruct energy development and future energy transmission, as well as recreational access to a large portion of our state -- without any regard to the work of the local officials who are concerned with preserving true, pristine wilderness balanced with the need for economic development and financial stability."