The debate over transferring large chunks of federal lands to state control has gone national . . .
Stung by a recent vote in Congress, national conservation groups are mustering opposition to an increasing call from many western states to transfer federal lands to state control.
The U.S. Senate last month narrowly approved a budget amendment sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that could set the stage for future legislation to sell or transfer federal lands to state or local governments.