Pulaski Times

Rep. French Hill's bill, the Flatside Wilderness Additions Act, has progressed out of the House Natural Resources Committee and is now heading to the House Floor. The proposed legislation aims to expand the existing Forest Service land in Flatside Wilderness by 2,215 acres. This move marks a significant step towards completing Rep. Hill's efforts for the final expansion of Flatside.

"As a ninth-generation Arkansan and a lifelong outdoorsman, I have enjoyed the benefits that our state has to offer throughout my life," stated Rep. Hill. "With all the natural resources in Arkansas, it is our obligation to do our part in protecting our lands and beauty. I applaud the House Natural Resources Committee for advancing my bill because adding over 2,200 acres of existing Forest Service land to Flatside will bring economic growth to Arkansas’s outdoor recreation economy and added opportunities for Arkansans and visitors to explore more of our state’s beautiful natural qualities. I thank my friend and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman for his support and am delighted that my important legislation for Arkansas is one step closer to becoming law."

The Flatside Wilderness Additions Act, designated as H.R. 3971, will incorporate an additional 2,215 acres into Flatside Wilderness, located within Ouachita National Forest in Perry County, Arkansas. This area falls within Rep. Hill's Second Congressional District. Following a directive from Congress, this addition was thoroughly studied by the U.S. Forest Service, which issued its report in May 2021.

The legislation has garnered support from local and state agencies along with numerous outside organizations including Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, Perry County Judge Larry Blackmon, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Parks and Tourism, Friends of the Ouachita Trail, The PEW Charitable Trusts, Southern Environmental Law Center, and The Wilderness Society.