VWC Newsletter - October 2007
H R 1011 PASSES THE HOUSE !!!!!
Stop press news! We only use this bright red paper when there is great news, and this is surely the time to roll it out. Late in the evening of Tuesday, October 23rd, in a mind-numbing babble of voices on the floor, the House of Representatives passed the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act by voice vote. Thanks to you and all the other folks who have stayed the course over the last six years, the most serious hurdle has been crossed. Now it is on to the Senate.
Working on a wilderness bill seems to entail either months and years of waiting for something to happen or else scrambling to keep up with events that are racing away. On the two days before the bill came to the floor, your president and vice-president worked with our colleagues David Carr from SELC and Larry Romans from TWS exhorting the uncommitted, encouraging the faithful, and generally making nuisances of ourselves all around the congressional offices. We were in the gallery to watch the unfolding drama of the motion to amend, the motion to recommit, and the final pandemonium of the voice vote to approve the bill.
By good management, and perhaps a miracle as well, the bill came out pretty much as it went in. In the end there are still six new Wilderness Areas and seven additions to existing wilderness totaling about 43, 000 acres, plus 12,000 acres in two new National Scenic Areas. Last minute negotiations to placate Congressman Goodlatte and ensure passage entailed the loss of about 1,000 acres in the Seng Mountain NSA, leaving the Barton Gap trail open to motorcycle traffic and the land east of that trail, to logging. One of the most significant results is that the precedent is now established that wilderness bills may go well beyond the recommendations of the Forest Service planners.
Remember, of course, that the final passage of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act is not a done deal. While we firmly believe that the most difficult task, the overcoming of Mr. Goodlatte’s determined opposition, has been accomplished, there is the Senate passage and the President’s signature to go. Senator Warner has requested a hearing on the bill before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, so we can look forward to movement there. But there is also a significant hurdle in the form of a “hold” that Senator Coburn of Oklahoma has put on all bills coming out of that committee.
Meanwhile, write and thank Congressmen Boucher, Moran, Davis, Scott, and Wolf for their work on this bill, and set your sights on the Senate.
TAKE A WALK IN A (PROPOSED) WILDERNESS
Those of us who visited the James River Face Wilderness last weekend can assure you that this time of year is a great season for the enjoyment of wilderness. The weather was beautiful (although we wished for rain), and the leaves, gorgeous. Try to get out and see Brush Mt., Brush Mt. East, Hunting Camp Creek, Garden Mt., or Raccoon Branch; or even venture down to Lee County to see Stone Mt. I guarantee that you will have your batteries charged for the fight in the Senate.
A Note about Email
The flurry of activity in the House has shown up a weakness in our system of communication. When we were looking for constituents to call their congressmen, it would have been useful to have had e-mail addresses for everyone on the mailing list. Would you be willing to hear from us in emergency situations? If so, send Carol Lena Miller your e-mail addresses. We promise to send only really important messages, and not to share the list with other organizations.
*************************************
Virginia Wilderness Committee: www.vawilderness.org
President: Jim Murray, 1625 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, 634 64th St. South Haven, MI 49090 (540- 539-1458)
Secretary: Laura Neale, 423 Sheep Creek Lane, Fairfield, VA 24435 (540-261-1909)
Wilderness Coordinator: Carol Lena Miller, 4939 Ottobine Rd., Dayton, VA 22821 (540-879-2127)
Stop press news! We only use this bright red paper when there is great news, and this is surely the time to roll it out. Late in the evening of Tuesday, October 23rd, in a mind-numbing babble of voices on the floor, the House of Representatives passed the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act by voice vote. Thanks to you and all the other folks who have stayed the course over the last six years, the most serious hurdle has been crossed. Now it is on to the Senate.
Working on a wilderness bill seems to entail either months and years of waiting for something to happen or else scrambling to keep up with events that are racing away. On the two days before the bill came to the floor, your president and vice-president worked with our colleagues David Carr from SELC and Larry Romans from TWS exhorting the uncommitted, encouraging the faithful, and generally making nuisances of ourselves all around the congressional offices. We were in the gallery to watch the unfolding drama of the motion to amend, the motion to recommit, and the final pandemonium of the voice vote to approve the bill.
By good management, and perhaps a miracle as well, the bill came out pretty much as it went in. In the end there are still six new Wilderness Areas and seven additions to existing wilderness totaling about 43, 000 acres, plus 12,000 acres in two new National Scenic Areas. Last minute negotiations to placate Congressman Goodlatte and ensure passage entailed the loss of about 1,000 acres in the Seng Mountain NSA, leaving the Barton Gap trail open to motorcycle traffic and the land east of that trail, to logging. One of the most significant results is that the precedent is now established that wilderness bills may go well beyond the recommendations of the Forest Service planners.
Remember, of course, that the final passage of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act is not a done deal. While we firmly believe that the most difficult task, the overcoming of Mr. Goodlatte’s determined opposition, has been accomplished, there is the Senate passage and the President’s signature to go. Senator Warner has requested a hearing on the bill before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, so we can look forward to movement there. But there is also a significant hurdle in the form of a “hold” that Senator Coburn of Oklahoma has put on all bills coming out of that committee.
Meanwhile, write and thank Congressmen Boucher, Moran, Davis, Scott, and Wolf for their work on this bill, and set your sights on the Senate.
TAKE A WALK IN A (PROPOSED) WILDERNESS
Those of us who visited the James River Face Wilderness last weekend can assure you that this time of year is a great season for the enjoyment of wilderness. The weather was beautiful (although we wished for rain), and the leaves, gorgeous. Try to get out and see Brush Mt., Brush Mt. East, Hunting Camp Creek, Garden Mt., or Raccoon Branch; or even venture down to Lee County to see Stone Mt. I guarantee that you will have your batteries charged for the fight in the Senate.
A Note about Email
The flurry of activity in the House has shown up a weakness in our system of communication. When we were looking for constituents to call their congressmen, it would have been useful to have had e-mail addresses for everyone on the mailing list. Would you be willing to hear from us in emergency situations? If so, send Carol Lena Miller your e-mail addresses. We promise to send only really important messages, and not to share the list with other organizations.
*************************************
Virginia Wilderness Committee: www.vawilderness.org
President: Jim Murray, 1625 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, 634 64th St. South Haven, MI 49090 (540- 539-1458)
Secretary: Laura Neale, 423 Sheep Creek Lane, Fairfield, VA 24435 (540-261-1909)
Wilderness Coordinator: Carol Lena Miller, 4939 Ottobine Rd., Dayton, VA 22821 (540-879-2127)