Democratic Congresswoman Diana DeGette says she has introduced legislation that would designate 1.65 million acres of public land in Colorado as federally protected wilderness.

The land would include two areas at the center of disputes over oil and gas drilling in western Colorado: more than 40,000 acres on the Roan Plateau and nearly 87,000 acres in the Vermillion Basin.

The Denver congresswoman announced the bill this morning at a news conference at Confluence Park.

DeGette, who has made previous attempts to pass similar legislation, says this year's bill includes compromise wording that would require the federal government to follow state laws and regulations on water.

The act, which would protect 62 separate areas, is a "citizen-based proposal," according to a news release from DeGette's office.