A new wilderness in Idaho is one step away.
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a bill protecting 275,000 acres in central Idaho.
The U.S. House or Representatives passed similar legislation last week meaning it now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The wilderness plan cobbled together by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho has been in the making for years as he tried to balance the interests of ranchers, recreationists and environmental groups.
The plan creates three new wilderness areas in the rugged Boulder and White Cloud Mountains.
They are the 138-square-mile Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness, the 142-square-mile White Clouds Wilderness and the 183-square-mile Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness.