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August 11, 2008
In the halls of the United States Congress, the first legislation to permanently protect West Virginia's wild places in over a quarter-century awaits its last steps to becoming law. With a passing vote on the Senate Floor, six areas containing pristine watersheds, threatened wildlife habitat and unparalleled recreational opportunities in the West Virginia Highlands will remain forever wild. The 2008 Public Lands Management Omnibus Act (S. 3213) was introduced to the Senate Floor by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) on June 26. With a total of 96 lands bills, the legislative package includes seven wilderness bills, protecting nearly 2 million acres of wild lands across the U.S. Among those is the Wild Monongahela Act, which provides protective status to around 37,000 acres over six areas on the Monongahela National Forest. Under this historic legislation, three existing Wilderness areas, Dolly Sods, Cranberry and Otter Creek will be expanded. Additionally, three areas, Big Draft, Spice Run and Roaring Plains West, will be protected in perpetuity as newly designated Wilderness. The Wild Mon Act was introduced in January, and was co-sponsored by all five members of West Virginia's Congressional Delegation. In April, the bipartisan initiative passed the House of Representatives by a margin of 368-17 and now has only a floor vote in the Senate left to send it to the President's desk to be signed into law. When Congress returns from its August recess, there will be less than a month for them to pass the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008. With minimal time left to act, Senators Byrd and Rockefeller need to hear from their constituents, urging them to do what they can to push for the legislation's passage on Senate floor. This is truly the last chance for this important package of public land bills to become law! Take Action! . Ask our Senators to work with other Senate leaders to pass the bipartisan package of public lands legislation that contains this important measure before Congress adjourns for the year! Senator Robert
C. Byrd Senator Jay
Rockefeller -I’m calling to thank the Senator for his leadership and support for the Wild Monongahela Act. -This measure is part of an omnibus package of public lands bills (S. 3213) pending in the Senate. I’d like to urge the Senator to work to ensure that the Wild Mon Act is enacted this year by working with other leaders in the Senate to pass the omnibus public lands package without delay.Areas included in the latest version of the Wild Monongahela Act
To see these areas on a map
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Opportunities to keep West Virginia's Federal Public Lands wild and wonderful In West Virginia, many of our most treasured natural places exist on various Federal Public Lands managed by three different agencies, the US Forest Service, the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Important decisions are currently being made in planning processes for the George Washington National Forest, New River Gorge National River and the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. On the George Washington National Forest, threats of logging, roadbuilding and energy development continue to make the future of pristine wild areas uncertain. Two areas in particular on the West Virginia side of the Forest, Dry River and Big Schloss, are strong candidates for Wilderness protection. In southern West Virginia, the National Park Service continues to consider a range of alternatives in its General Management Plan while Congressman Nick Rahall recently advocated for expansion of park boundaries of the New River Gorge National River, possibly creating a connection to the Gauley River National Recreation Area. The future of unique and threatened wetlands in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is at stake as the US Fish and Wildlife Service considers options for management of the nation's 500th National Wildlife Refuge. The importance of being involved early in the planning process cannot be overstated. When the US Forest Service was going through planning processes for the Monongahela National Forest, 13,000 comments came in supporting Wilderness protection for the Mon's special wild areas. This involvement propelled West Virginia's first Wilderness legislation in over 25 years.
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Join us in October for our annual Volunteer Training Workshop The West Virginia Wilderness Coalition will be hosting its annual volunteer workshop October 11 & 12, at Lynn’s Pond House near Fayetteville. Participants may arrive on the evening of October 10. A range of informative workshops will be held for those interested in being part of the ever-growing grassroots movement to protect West Virginia’s federal public lands. Workshops include citizen lobbying, outings, and other topics related to effective grassroots organizing. Previously held at the Mountain Institute near Spruce Knob, this year’s workshop will have a particular focus on protecting the nearby lands in and around the New River Gorge, but attention will also be paid to Federal Public Lands such as the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests, where special wild places remain unprotected. For lodging and other costs, a registration fee of $25 per person is suggested and several scholarships are available to cover this amount. For more information contact Outreach Coordinator Mike Costello at [email protected]. Click here to download the 2008 Workshop registration form
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