Politics On October 30, 2000, President Clinton signed into law the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act (CMPA). With the effort of Congressman Walden, the Oregon congressional delegation, Governor John Kitzhaber, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, and Oregonians, a bill was created to protect Steens Mountain in Southeastern Oregon.    Here is what the bill does: Designates approx. 500,000 acres as the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area Designates approx. 175,000 acres to be Steens Mountain Wilderness Area, 100,000 acres livestock-free Designates approx. 900,000 acres to be free from mineral and geothermal leasing Establishes Blitzen Redband Trout Reserve Establishes Wildland Juniper Management Area Establishes Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) Establishes Wild and Scenic Rivers Authorizes Land Exchangesand opens doors for future acquisitions                                                                                                      More