U.S. Rep. French Hill’s (R-AR) Flatside Wilderness Enhancement Act is on its way to President Donald Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
Rep. Hill on April 26, 2018 sponsored H.R. 5636 to expand the Flatside Wilderness on the Ouachita National Forest in his home state.
“I’m pleased that my bill to enhance one of Arkansas’s most unspoiled landscapes, Flatside Wilderness, has been sent to the president’s desk,” Rep. Hill said. “Arkansans and visitors, young and old, should enjoy more of Flatside Wilderness and all of its natural and wild qualities.”
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5636 on Nov. 13, 2018 and the measure received U.S. Senate voice vote approval on Dec. 22, 2018. The bill was presented on Jan. 2 to the president for his signature, according to the congressional record.
Once enacted, H.R. 5636 will add roughly 640 acres of existing national forest land to the wilderness area, which Rep. Hill’s office said has been cited as Recommended Wilderness Additions since 2005.
The 640-acre tract will be named Bethune Woods in honor of former U.S. Rep. Ed Bethune (R-AR), who served in Congress from 1979 to 1985 and authored the House version of the 1984 Arkansas Wilderness Act. Bethune is currently a lawyer and lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, H.R. 5636 will authorize a U.S. Forest Service study of additional existing national forest lands located in Perry County, Ark., adjacent to the Flatside Wilderness. The study will be used to determine if such lands are suitable to also be included in the National Wilderness Preservation System, according to Rep. Hill’s statement.
“Perry County in particular offers a very special and rare opportunity for people to support our wildlife and natural resources, while also boosting the state’s economy,” the lawmaker said.
Rep. Hill also acknowledged the efforts of his colleagues, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), for “helping me get my legislation to the finish line.”
“This is welcome news for Arkansas outdoor enthusiasts,” Sen. Boozman said following Senate approval of H.R. 5636. “Protecting this land will support the beauty of the Natural State for future generations.”