DENVER (AP) — A new poll suggests Western voters see the region's vast public lands as an economic asset and support limiting energy exploration on them — even though they're concerned about the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

The Conservation in the West poll found strong support for conservation in six western states where it sampled voters — Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Only 35 percent of those polled supported opening more public lands to energy exploration.

The poll will be released Thursday by Colorado College's State of the Rockies Project.

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