TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Legislation under consideration in Congress would designate about 32,500 acres within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as wilderness.
The House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the measure this week in Washington, D.C. It would ensure that natural features of the wilderness areas would be preserved, while county roads, historical structures and public access to Lake Michigan would be protected.
The areas would be open to hunting and fishing.
Jeannette Feeheley of a group called Citizens for Access to the Lakeshore testified in favor of the measure, saying it would benefit the area economy and meets the needs of varied types of recreation.
Republican Dan Benishek is sponsoring the House bill. The Senate approved an identical measure last month sponsored by Democrat Carl Levin.
