On Monday, U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law over 160 bills encompassing around 2 million acres of land across nine states, declaring the space new wilderness and rendering it off limits to oil and gas drilling and other development. Environmental advocacy groups have praised the move, which is a legislative landmark.

Such a bill has long since been introduced, but due to bureaucratic roadblocks has been hindered; the Senate passed the bill last week and today the House of Representatives voted 285-140. The majority of the opposition to the bill came from Republican members of the House, who contested the prohibition of oil and gas drilling in the area, complaining that Democrats were not willing to entertain amendments.

The move is being cited as the most important environmental protection legislation in decades by environmentalist groups, and for many is a sign that the new administration is aware of the importance of the conservation of wildlife, climate change, and other environmental issues. The Bush administration was criticized for its nonchalant approach to environmental issues and unwillingness to satisfy the Kyoto quota during its governance; many experts are hoping for a new approach over the next term.

Obama, upon signing, praised the goals of the bill: “This legislation guarantees that we will not take our forests, rivers, oceans, national parks, monuments, and wilderness areas for granted,” The nine states affected by the bill are: California, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, New Mexico and Michigan.

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