Many thanks to VBF’s own Chris Scott for his hardcore evangelizing this issue! The Jefferson National Forest is an important natural asset for Virginia, and ultimately more valuable left that way.
This is an AP story from the Roanoke Times, but their formatting is awful so we cleaned it up and reprinted the full text.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) – More than 50,000 acres of the Jefferson National Forest in southwest Virginia will be protected as either wilderness or scenic areas under legislation the U.S. Senate passed Thursday.
The bill was co-sponsored in the last session by Virginia’s two senators, but action on it was delayed until this session. The legislation approved Thursday was part of an omnibus public lands bill.
The bill was first introduced in 2004 and passed earlier in the House, but must be voted on again. Its sponsor there, Rep. Rick Boucher, said he anticipates quick approval.
“This is a big step,” said David Carr, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, which supported the measure.
The bill protects nearly 43,000 acres in the forest as wilderness, but allows recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking and picnicking. Vehicle access and road building would be restricted.
The national scenic areas will allow activities such as mountain biking not usually permitted in wilderness areas.
Many of the areas lie along the Appalachian Trail and most are in the 9th District represented by Boucher, who said one of his goals was to protect lands with rare and endangered species and unusual plants or wildlife.
“We also believe that this measure will improve southwest Virginia’s growing tourism economy and place a focus on national forest use for recreation, which is highly appropriate,” he said.
The legislation had the support of state and local officials, businesses and environmental and recreational groups. Boucher said he worked closely with mountain biking enthusiasts on the bill.
“Virginia is fortunate to have such an abundant supply of pristine lands,” Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said in a statement. “This legislation will enable our children and grandchildren to experience the same untouched landscapes their ancestors experienced for generations before.”
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