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VWC Newsletter - February 2007

HERE  WE  GO  AGAIN               
              What could have been deja vu all over again, instead turns out to be high drama.  Once again the latest version of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Bill has gone back into the congressional hopper as HR 1011 and S 570.  However, this time should be different.  We go in with realistic expectations of early passage.  The Senate version of the bill has BOTH Senators as sponsors.  Yes, Senator Jim Webb has signed onto the bill.  And the House version carries the sponsorship of a majority of the Virginia congressional delegation – Rick Boucher, Jim Moran, Frank Wolf, Tom Davis, Bobby Scott, and Jo Ann Davis.

              Moreover the climate in Congress is profoundly different. The Committees have now reached their final and very favorable shapes.  In the House, the bill will go to the renamed Committee on Natural Resources (the “Natural” was stripped out by Don Young in 1994) chaired by Nick Rahall from West Virginia, and it will probably be heard by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, chaired by Congressman Raul Grijalva.  Both of these folks are long-time friends of wilderness.  In the Senate the bill will go to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, chaired by Jeff Bingaman, and its Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, chaired by Ron Wyden.  Both are solid in support of wilderness.

              So how do we maximize our chances of passage?  First, thank the Senate sponsors, and your Congressman if he has signed on.  If he has not, write to urge him to do the right thing, albeit belatedly.  The train is leaving the station, and he should want to be aboard.  Then, write to Congressman Rahall and Senator Bingaman asking them to schedule early hearings on the bill.

The addresses are:         

United States Senate,  Washington, DC 20510     Phone:  202-224-3121                         

U.S. House of Representatives,   Washington, DC 21515    Phone:   202-224-3121


FOREST  PLANNING  ON  THE  GEORGE  WASHINGTON

              Hearings on the George Washington Plan revision are coming up with a rush.  The Forest Service was expecting to have to deal with the Governor’s petition for a Virginia Roadless Rule before proceeding to their planning.  Now that that process is on hold, it is full speed ahead with the plan.  On February 15th, two important documents will be posted on the website (www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/).  The first is a “Comprehensive Evaluation Report” (CER), which will try to give you a clear picture of the condition of the Forest.  The second is an “Initial Version of the Plan”.  The Forest Service wants you to know that it has made no decisions, but they think it is a good idea to give you some idea of the form and type of content that can be expected.

              It is clear that this will be a very different kind of plan, speaking to the Desired Condition, Objectives, Guidelines, Suitabilities, and Special Areas.  Most decisions will not be made in the plan, but in the Districts, in the light of proposed actions.  The exception is with Special Areas.  They will be designated in the Plan, so that it behooves us to lobby for our favorite areas.  Get ready for hearings:  March 5 – Hot Springs; March 6 – Rockbridge Co. High School; March 7 – Woodstock; March 8 – Alleghany Co.;and March 10 – Harrisonburg.  Details are on the Forest Service website.  Come out and support wilderness.

SEND  IN  YOUR  PICTURES               Our energetic new staffer, Carol Lena, is working on a program to take on tour to teach folks about Wilderness.  She desperately needs high quality pictures to illustrate our wonderful wilderness resources in Virginia.  Please look out your best and let Carol Lena have copies (or even better, originals) of you favorite subjects.  Her address is below.

Virginia Wilderness Committee officers :    

President:               Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911  (434-973-6693)

Vice-Pres:               Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450  (540-464-3110)

Treasurer:              Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601

Secretary:               Laura Neale, 423 Sheep Creek Lane, Fairfield, VA 24435

Wilderness Coordinator:  Carol Lena Miller, 4939 Ottobine Rd., Dayton, VA 22821 (540-879-2127)

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VWC is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization.  Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law


© Virginia Wilderness Committee, 2013

Contact us:
Virginia Wilderness Committee
info@vawilderness.org
P.O. Box 1235
​
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 464-1661