Oregongirl
04-07-08, 08:33 PM
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/NEWS0107/804030421/1007&nav_category=
Proposed bill would increase wilderness
Published: April 03. 2008 4:00AM PST
WASHINGTON — A new — and more expansive — bill to put more Oregon forests off limits to development is on its way, courtesy of Oregon Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer, of Portland, and Peter DeFazio, of Springfield.
The proposal adds 132,000 acres of wilderness to the Mount Hood National Forest. It also calls for designating more than 142 miles of new wild and scenic rivers for Rogue River tributaries, and adds protection for the Oregon Caves National Monument in Southern Oregon
But Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, who co-sponsored previous versions of the Mount Hood Wilderness bill with Blumenauer, said he wasn’t consulted in the bill’s creation. Walden has made expanding the Mount Hood Wilderness one of his top priorities over the past four years.
“Elections have consequences, and this was apparently one of them,” Walden said, alluding to the fact Republicans no longer hold the majority in the U.S. House, as they did prior to 2006.
He hasn’t decided if he will support the measure, Walden said Tuesday.
Walden wants to be sure the bill, which has not been introduced yet, doesn’t cause problems for maintaining state highways near Mount Hood, and that a proposed land swap meets existing management plans.
“We’re now going to start our progress of evaluating it,” he said.
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski supports the measure, said spokeswoman Anna Richter Taylor.
“This is consistent with the governor’s goal to expand the amount of wilderness areas in Oregon,” Richter Taylor said. “He’s enthusiastic about this bill.”
Proposed bill would increase wilderness
Published: April 03. 2008 4:00AM PST
WASHINGTON — A new — and more expansive — bill to put more Oregon forests off limits to development is on its way, courtesy of Oregon Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer, of Portland, and Peter DeFazio, of Springfield.
The proposal adds 132,000 acres of wilderness to the Mount Hood National Forest. It also calls for designating more than 142 miles of new wild and scenic rivers for Rogue River tributaries, and adds protection for the Oregon Caves National Monument in Southern Oregon
But Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, who co-sponsored previous versions of the Mount Hood Wilderness bill with Blumenauer, said he wasn’t consulted in the bill’s creation. Walden has made expanding the Mount Hood Wilderness one of his top priorities over the past four years.
“Elections have consequences, and this was apparently one of them,” Walden said, alluding to the fact Republicans no longer hold the majority in the U.S. House, as they did prior to 2006.
He hasn’t decided if he will support the measure, Walden said Tuesday.
Walden wants to be sure the bill, which has not been introduced yet, doesn’t cause problems for maintaining state highways near Mount Hood, and that a proposed land swap meets existing management plans.
“We’re now going to start our progress of evaluating it,” he said.
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski supports the measure, said spokeswoman Anna Richter Taylor.
“This is consistent with the governor’s goal to expand the amount of wilderness areas in Oregon,” Richter Taylor said. “He’s enthusiastic about this bill.”