We conservatives seem too quick to attribute to ignorance what is more easily and naturally explained by pure evil and avarice. The eco/libs just want the land off-limits to human development and natural resource exploitation, plain and simple.
The Clintons did this too. The Desert Protection Act. Sen. Di-Fi's husband had it coming and going on both ends. First, buy certain rights. Every pub school child in CA was getting non-stop "save the desert" curriculum. Di-Fi's hubby was investor/part owner of the publishing of that curriculum. Oops. And then he also owned "certain" rights in the desert(s) that got protected. And he sold certain minerals to a specific business in China.
Just watch the play.. it's a repeat. Possibly different props on the stage.