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Press Release
Critical Step Taken Toward Passage of the Northern California Wilderness Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. House Resources Committee passed by voice vote the Northern California
Coastal Wild Heritage Act (H.R. 233). This bill has unanimously passed the Senate twice and would designate more than 275,000
acres of northern California as wilderness and approximately 79,000 acres as a Recreation Management Area for off-highway
vehicles and mountain bikes, all of which is already public land. A revised version of the bill, which is part of a compromise
between North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson (D–Calif.) and the House Resources Committee, is expected to reach the
House floor next week and be sent to the Senate for consideration.
“This widely-supported and bipartisan bill
will ensure that one of our nation’s most exquisite treasures will be protected for future generations to enjoy,”
said Congressman Thompson. “With the help of my colleagues in the Senate, Chairman Pombo and the dedicated individuals
and businesses in California, we are closer than ever to signing this important bill into law.”
California Senators
Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein introduced the legislation in the Senate.
Senator Barbara Boxer said, "We are inching
closer and closer to protecting more than 275,000 acres of precious California land as wilderness. I applaud Congressman Thompson
for his hard work to move this effort forward in the House, and I am more optimistic than ever that we will soon see this
bill signed into law.”
“So much of our wildlands is vanishing, and it is vital that we preserve what remains,”
Senator Feinstein said. “I am deeply proud to be part of this agreement with Senator Boxer, Chairman Pombo and Congressman
Mike Thompson to protect as wilderness over 275,000 acres of California's northern coast including the King Range, one of
California’s most striking and beautiful environmental jewels."
This bill would protect public land in Del Norte,
Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Napa Counties as wilderness and designate the Black Butte River in Mendocino County as a wild
and scenic river. Also, it will not close any existing roads, affect private lands or alter any grazing rights, and it will
designate a Recreation Management Area in Mendocino County for off-highway vehicles and mountain bikes.
ONLINE VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT AVAILABLE:
http://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/index.asp?ID=84
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House panel OKs land preserves
Wilderness measure includes Lost Coast area, adds sites for off-road motor sports.
By David Whitney -- Bee Washington Bureau
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, July 20, 2006WASHINGTON -- Legislation that would add wilderness protection to
more than 275,000 acres of federal land along California's North Coast cleared a key House committee Wednesday, a crucial
step that virtually assures the bill will become law this year.
The measure by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, emerged from the House Resources Committee on a voice vote with the blessings
of its California chairman, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, after the two lawmakers, working with California's two Democratic
senators, negotiated furiously over the last few weeks to compromise.
The final deal lops about 25,000 acres of land, almost all of it from the Six Rivers National Forest in Del Norte and Humboldt
counties, from the original measure Thompson introduced in the House and that Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein twice
moved through the Senate.
But the agreement also designates about 75,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands in the Cow Mountain area of Mendocino
County as a "recreational management area" for off-road vehicles and mountain bikes that was not part of the original bill.
The compromise was a last-minute addition to the House panel's agenda. It could come to the floor of the House as soon
as next week. That would clear the way for passage by the Senate before Congress ends for the year in early October.
In introducing the compromise Wednesday, Pombo told his committee the changes make the bill "more broadly supportable."
Thompson, meanwhile, said the changes don't damage his overall goal of giving the highest level of land protection to the
North Coast's most spectacular wild spots.
As wilderness, the areas will be closed to all mechanized access except firefighting equipment. Some privately owned property
also will remain accessible but only to the landowners.
Among the most spectacular areas are coastal lands in the King Range National Conservation Area along California's Lost
Coast. Once open to logging and farming, the BLM said the King Range additions will become the "crown jewel" of its wilderness
inventory.
The original bill also called for wilderness protection for about 30,000 acres in the Cache Creek area in Lake County,
a popular whitewater rafting area; a 50,000-acre expansion of the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness in the Mendocino National
Forest; 48,000 acres of additions to Siskiyou National Forest wilderness; and 53,000 acres in the proposed Yuki Wilderness
Area of the Mendocino National Forest. Other rivers would be protected under national scenic river designations.
Those areas remain in the bill, but exact acreages won't be known until maps are redrawn to reflect the compromise.
Wilderness has been controversial in Del Norte County, and designations there were slashed by 10,000 acres, to about 28,000
acres. Another 15,000 acres around Mad River Buttes, the Underwood area by the Trinity River and Orleans Mountain in the forest
in Humboldt County were also dropped.
Still, Jon Owen, Washington representative for the Campaign for America's Wilderness, hailed the compromise. ""This demonstrates
that wilderness truly is America's common ground," he said.
The deal also drew begrudging nods from some of the fiercest opponents of wilderness designations. "I think Representative
Pombo did his best to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear," said Don Amador, spokesman for the Blue Ribbon Coalition of off-road
enthusiasts. Amador said he was disappointed that the Black Sands Beach area of the King Range north of Shelter Cove was not
reopened to public access, as his group had sought. But he took solace in the recreational management area for off-road vehicles
in Mendocino County.
Boxer and Feinstein said they, too, were pleased with the deal, which has been six years in the making. "I am more optimistic
than ever that we will soon see this bill signed into law," Boxer said.
About the writer:
(back to CEP&PC click here)
| Go To Original Photo |
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| A revision to the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Act helped the bill
pass Wednesday. The revised version, a compromise between author U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson and U.S. Rep. Richard Pombo, will
go before the House floor next week. Stock photo | |
| Thompson's wilderness legislation clears major hurdle |
| by Nathan Rushton, 7/19/2006 |
| |
|
After stalling in a U.S. House of Representative committee for months, a revision to the Northern California
Coastal Wild Heritage Act to allow for some off-highway vehicle access helped get the bill passed through the committee Wednesday.
The
revised version of the bill, which is part of a compromise between its author U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and the
U.S. House Resources Committee chaired by U.S. Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Tracy), is expected to go before the House floor next
week for a vote.
This bill aims to permanently protect more than 275,000 acres of northern California’s public
land as wilderness, as well as approximately 79,000 acres as recreation management area in Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Napa
counties.
Thompson has said in previous interviews that he went to great lengths to ensure that the wilderness bill
will not close any existing roads, affect private lands or alter any grazing rights and will designate a recreation management
area in Mendocino County for off-highway vehicles and mountain bikes.
“This widely supported and bipartisan bill
will ensure that one of our nation’s most exquisite treasures will be protected for future generations to enjoy,”
Thompson stated in the news release. “With the help of my colleagues in the Senate, Chairman Pombo and the dedicated
individuals and businesses in California, we are closer than ever to signing this important bill into law.”
However,
not everyone is so keen on the bill.
The BlueRibbon Coalition, a national off-highway vehicle recreation group, announced
Wednesday that it will support the new access and recreation provisions incorporated in the bill, but was disappointed at
other aspects.
Last week, BRC Western Representative Don Amador announced the results of a survey the group commissioned,
which shows that 53 percent of the approximately 4,000 county residents polled supported a wilderness designation that protected
OHV activities.
“I think the access-oriented efforts, including the recent survey of the BlueRibbon Coalition
and local groups such as Open Beaches and Trails over the last few years helped move the Thompson bill towards the middle,”
Amador said. “I regret we did not get Black Sands Beach reopened on the King Range, but getting the Mad River Buttes
dropped from the bill and having Congress codify many OHV and mountain bike trails in various units, and preserving fishing
access at Redwood National Park is a victory for multiple-use interests.”
In response to the committee action
Wednesday, a flurry of optimistic comments came from area elected representatives, including Eureka’s Mayor Peter La
Vallee and Humboldt County 3rd District Supervisor John Woolley.
“A lot of hard work has gone into designating
areas of Humboldt County as federally protected wilderness and we are extremely thankful for Congress’ diligence in
helping us make this critical goal a reality,” Woolley said.
(go to original article click here) |
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*****************************************
Subject: SAC BEE - Wilderness Bill Has Off-Road
Tenets
BEST QUOTE IN ARTICLE - The deal also drew
begrudging nods from some of the fiercest opponents of wilderness designations. "I think Representative Pombo did his best
to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear," said Don Amador, spokesman for the Blue Ribbon Coalition of off-road enthusiasts.
House panel OKs land preserves
Wilderness measure includes Lost Coast area, adds sites for off-road motor sports.
By David Whitney -- Bee Washington Bureau
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, July 20, 2006WASHINGTON -- Legislation that would add wilderness protection
to more than 275,000 acres of federal land along California's North Coast cleared a key House committee Wednesday, a crucial
step that virtually assures the bill will become law this year.
The measure by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, emerged from the House Resources Committee on a voice vote with the blessings
of its California chairman, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, after the two lawmakers, working with California's two Democratic
senators, negotiated furiously over the last few weeks to compromise.
The final deal lops about 25,000 acres of land, almost all of it from the Six Rivers National Forest in Del Norte and Humboldt
counties, from the original measure Thompson introduced in the House and that Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein twice
moved through the Senate.
But the agreement also designates about 75,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands in the Cow Mountain area of Mendocino
County as a "recreational management area" for off-road vehicles and mountain bikes that was not part of the original bill.
The compromise was a last-minute addition to the House panel's agenda. It could come to the floor of the House as soon
as next week. That would clear the way for passage by the Senate before Congress ends for the year in early October.
In introducing the compromise Wednesday, Pombo told his committee the changes make the bill "more broadly supportable."
Thompson, meanwhile, said the changes don't damage his overall goal of giving the highest level of land protection to the
North Coast's most spectacular wild spots.
As wilderness, the areas will be closed to all mechanized access except firefighting equipment. Some privately owned property
also will remain accessible but only to the landowners.
Among the most spectacular areas are coastal lands in the King Range National Conservation Area along California's Lost
Coast. Once open to logging and farming, the BLM said the King Range additions will become the "crown jewel" of its wilderness
inventory.
The original bill also called for wilderness protection for about 30,000 acres in the Cache Creek area in Lake County,
a popular whitewater rafting area; a 50,000-acre expansion of the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness in the Mendocino National
Forest; 48,000 acres of additions to Siskiyou National Forest wilderness; and 53,000 acres in the proposed Yuki Wilderness
Area of the Mendocino National Forest. Other rivers would be protected under national scenic river designations.
Those areas remain in the bill, but exact acreages won't be known until maps are redrawn to reflect the compromise.
Wilderness has been controversial in Del Norte County, and designations there were slashed by 10,000 acres, to about 28,000
acres. Another 15,000 acres around Mad River Buttes, the Underwood area by the Trinity River and Orleans Mountain in the forest
in Humboldt County were also dropped.
Still, Jon Owen, Washington representative for the Campaign for America's Wilderness, hailed the compromise. ""This demonstrates
that wilderness truly is America's common ground," he said.
The deal also drew begrudging nods from some of the fiercest opponents of wilderness designations. "I think
Representative Pombo did his best to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear," said Don Amador, spokesman for the Blue Ribbon
Coalition of off-road enthusiasts. Amador said he was disappointed that the Black Sands Beach area of the King
Range north of Shelter Cove was not reopened to public access, as his group had sought. But he took solace in the recreational
management area for off-road vehicles in Mendocino County.
Boxer and Feinstein said they, too, were pleased with the deal, which has been six years in the making. "I am more optimistic
than ever that we will soon see this bill signed into law," Boxer said.
# # #
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc.
555 Honey Lane
Oakley,
CA 94561
925.625.6287 Office
925.625.5309 FAX
925.783.1834 Cell
www.sharetrails.org
************************************************************
Subject: POMBO QUOTE OF THE DAY - Protecting Access in Statute
FYI - I strongly feel access interests and the chairman moved the goalposts on the issue of protecting
recreation use in statute.
--- Don Amador, BRC
| Quote of the Day |
 | |
| |
"The balance provided in this broadly-supported bill is very important to me. Just as we are protecting
wilderness areas in statute, we're also protecting recreational areas in statute."
-Chairman Pombo on the passage of
the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Act by the House Resources Committee (Associated Press, 7-20) |
|
| | |
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc.
555 Honey Lane
Oakley,
CA 94561
925.625.6287 Office
925.625.5309 FAX
925.783.1834 Cell
www.sharetrails.org
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