Wilderness Bill Passes the Senate
January 15, 2009
Today is a
great day for West Virginia with the Senate’s passage of the
Wild Monongahela Act. 37,000 acres of the Monongahela National
Forest are now a major step closer to being protected forever as
a legacy to future generations and a great example of wild and
wonderful West Virginia.
The Wild Mon
Act was part of a large package of public lands bills that was
passed by the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 73-21. It will now
go to the House of Representatives for them to vote on and send
to the President’s desk.
“We applaud
Senators Byrd and Rockefeller for their hard work in getting
this bill through the Senate,” said Mike Costello of the West
Virginia Wilderness Coalition. “This is a great gift for the
state of West Virginia as one of the first acts by the 111th
Congress.”
In addition
to the leadership provided by our Senators and the rest of WV’s
Congressional Delegation, this historic legislation is the
result of hard, on the ground work by volunteers and represents
a wide variety of interests and support including hunters,
anglers, members of the faith community, business owners, and
health care professionals.
The areas in
the bill include expansions to three existing wilderness areas,
Cranberry, Dolly Sods and Otter Creek and creation of three new
areas, Big Draft, Roaring Plains west and Spice Run. These
areas are popular for outdoor recreation and contain pristine
watersheds, wildlife habitat and scenic beauty that defines West
Virginia’s natural heritage. Wilderness designation will ensure
that these areas are protected against numerous developmental
threats that continue to encroach upon the state’s last
remaining wild places.
“It is so
exciting and rewarding for the many dedicated volunteers in West
Virginia to see this legislation almost to the finish line.”
said Costello. “Senator Byrd and Senator Rockefeller were true
champions of the Wild Monongahela Act and their leadership and
dedication to the people of West Virginia have made today’s
results a reality.”
