ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico's senior senator is being honored with an award from The Wilderness Society for his role in passing a public lands bill earlier this year that set aside 2 million acres of wilderness.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman is scheduled to received the Ansel Adams award Wednesday night in Washington, D.C.
The president of The Wilderness Society, William Meadows, said Bingaman's persistence played a critical role in getting the omnibus public lands package through Congress.
Meadows also pointed to Bingaman's defeat this month of an amendment that would have opened the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to energy development.
Others who have received the award include former President Jimmy Carter and former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
