Wilderness bill passes House of Representatives

Wilderness advocates in Virginia lauded the commitment of Rep. Rick Boucher to secure today’s passage in the House of Representatives of a bill to permanently protect more than 53,000 acres of public lands in the mountain forests of Southwest Virginia. The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007 would establish six new wilderness areas, a wilderness study area and two new scenic areas, as well as expand several existing wilderness areas in the Jefferson National Forest.

“We are so grateful to Rep. Boucher and his staff for believing in the value of setting aside the best of our public lands for permanent protection,” said Jim Murray, President of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, which helped coordinate the citizen supporters.

The bill, originally introduced in 2004, has sustained strong support from a wide array of local and state officials, businesses, faith organizations, tourism and recreation groups, conservation organizations and individuals (see below). Each of the proposed wilderness and scenic area designations has been endorsed by either the U.S. Forest Service or the Board of Supervisors of the county in which the area would be located.

“People in Southwest Virginia have stayed staunchly behind this plan to protect some of the most unspoiled places and beautiful places in their region, and they look forward to one day welcoming visitors to enjoy these places as much as they do,” said Mark Miller, Virginia field organizer for the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition.

This is the first year the bill has had hearings in the committees including both the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees. As in previous years, Rep. Boucher introduced his wilderness bill jointly with a Senate bill introduced by Sen. John Warner. This year, Sen. Jim Webb signed on as a co-sponsor in the Senate, which is expected to take up the wilderness measure later this year.

“This bill carries on the important American tradition of protecting our most special natural areas for future generations,” said SELC’s David Carr. “Virginians have long cherished the mountains for hiking, hunting, for clean water and beautiful vistas. This bill honors those values.”

Some of the supporters of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act:
Virginia Tourism Corporation, Garden Club of Virginia and several local chapters, Appalachian Trail Conference, Mt. Rogers Outfitters, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Virginia Audubon Council, Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited, Committee on Stewardship of the Creation, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, Scenic America, International Mountain Bicycling Association