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Wilderness Bill Good for Nation
Wheeling Intelligencer May 9, 2008
Wild, wonderful West Virginia will become wilder, in a way, if the
U.S. Senate approves a bill forwarded to it by the House of
Representatives. The measure is a win-win not just for our state,
but also for the entire eastern United States.
Under a bill approved by the House, about 38,000 acres in the
Monongahela National Forest, all within West Virginia, would receive
federal “wilderness” designation. That would safeguard the area
against most development, preserving it for future generations.
Strictly from an environmental standpoint, that is a good idea.
Though gigantic tracts of land in western states already enjoy such
protection, comparatively few in the East are safeguarded. One day,
probably in the not-too-distant future, our descendants will thank
us for preserving more of the eastern woodlands.
Our Mountain State already has a reputation among those who enjoy
outdoor recreation. West Virginia is viewed as an excellent
destination for those who want to get away from it all, to enjoy
recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, whitewater
rafting, and similar pursuits. Tourism, in large measure because of
outdoor recreation, is a substantial part of our economy. Adding
38,000 acres to the existing tracts of federally designated
wilderness can only enhance our reputation.
Many area residents are familiar with the area under consideration.
The bill would expand the existing Cranberry, Otter Creek and Dolly
Sods wilderness areas. It would add a few new ones in other areas of
the Monongahela National Forest.
Our state’s representatives — Alan Mollohan, Shelley Moore Capito
and Nick Rahall — worked hard to get the wilderness bill through the
House. Our senators, Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, are pressing
for it to be approved in the Senate.
We urge senators to pass the bill and send it to President Bush, who
should sign it into law. It is good not just for West Virginia, but
also for our nation as a whole.
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