May 15, 2008

Wild Monongahela Act Clears Senate Committee

Next Step: Consideration by Full Senate
Sunset over the proposed Dolly Sods Wilderness Expansion                                                                    JonathanJessup.com

Last week, the Wild Mon Act took its next major step on the road to becoming law when it was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  While we had hoped our Senators would include additional areas in their version such as Seneca Creek, East Fork of Greenbrier and Roaring Plains East and West, they chose go with the version passed by the House of Representatives on Earth Day.  Nevertheless, the Wild Mon Act continues to move at a rapid pace through the gauntlet of Congress with just a vote by the Senate and a presidential signature to go before the Mon National Forest gets protection for three new wilderness areas and additions to three others!  This is a good reason to celebrate and reflect on how far this campaign has come and all the hard work by so many that has gotten it here.  While we didn’t get all the special areas protected in this bill that deserve it, we plan on keeping them in our sights for the next round of a wilderness in the not too distant future.  We will be working to see that until then, the US Forest Service keeps them just how they are, wild and wonderful. 

We’ll keep you posted in the coming weeks of how the legislation progresses and what you can do to get involved and make a difference.  For now, take a moment to consider the fact that we are very close to finally having six more special places on the Mon permanently protected through inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Areas included in the latest version of the Wild Monongahela Act

Big Draft

Cranberry Expansion

Spice Run

Roaring Plains West

Dolly Sods Expansion

Otter Creek Expansion

To see these areas on a map Click Here

Take Action!

Please write a quick letter to the editor of your local newspaper and let them know how you feel about the Wild Monongahela Act.

With six areas to be permanently protected, a simple letter to the editor of your local newspaper is a great way to convey the importance of wilderness designation to your community.

Click here for a listing of newspapers and contact info.   Your letter can be very short and could include:

  1. That the Wild Mon Act is nearing passage and will protect wilderness areas for current and future generations to enjoy (if you think more areas should have been included, that’s fine to mention)  Wilderness is a good thing for West Virginia

  2. Your Congressional Representative and Senators deserve credit for taking the initiative to ensure protection for these special areas (we want them to feel good about protecting wilderness so they’ll consider doing it again in the future)

  3. What is important about wilderness and or places in the bill to you personally.

If you need any assistance at all in writing a letter, WV Wilderness Coalition staff would be happy to help in any way.

Contact Mike Costello at michael[dot]costello[at]wvwild[dot]org  or at 304.437.1082

 

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www.wvwild.org

West Virginia newspapers hail Wilderness designation for the Mon's wild places

Recent editorials from the Wheeling Intelligencer and the Charleston Gazette praise the Congressional Delegation's efforts to protect nearly 40,000 acres under the Wild Monongahela Act. 

Charleston Gazette, May 15

"Congress could not ask for a more reasoned and vetted proposal. . .The long list of supporters for this effort reflects West Virginians' esteem for their natural surroundings. It is worth saving some of those wild places for future generations."

Click here to read full editorial

Wheeling Intelligencer, May 9

"The measure is a win-win not just for our state, but also for the entire eastern United States. . .One day, probably in the not-too-distant future, our descendants will thank us for preserving more of the eastern woodlands."

Click here to read full editorial

Spice Run, one of six areas slated for permanent protection under the Wild Monongahela Act, the first wilderness legislation for West Virginia in more than 25 years.

JonathanJessup.com