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PaddlingInstructor.com - Canoe and Kayak News, Paddling News, Free Kayak and Canoe Teaching Resources
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Written by David H. Johnston
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Thursday, 03 July 2008 |
A group of four Conservation Alliance members traveled to Washington DC
to talk to members of the US Senate about the importance of a proposal
to protect more than 2 million acres of public land and nearly 1000
miles of rivers.
A group of four Conservation Alliance members traveled to Washington DC
to talk to members of the US Senate about the importance of a proposal
to protect more than 2 million acres of public land and nearly 1000
miles of rivers.
Representatives from KEEN, Cloudveil, Outdoor
Industry Association, and The Conservation Alliance spent two days in
meetings with 12 Senate offices to show support for S. 3213, a
legislative package that includes more than 100 public lands bills.
Included in the package are proposals to:
· Protect 128,000 acres of Wilderness and 80 miles of rivers on Oregon's Mount Hood
· Designate 250,000 acres in Rocky Mountain National Park as Wilderness
· Secure Wild and Scenic River designation for 440 miles of streams in Wyoming's Snake River headwaters
· Prohibit new oil and gas leases on 1.2 million acres of the Wyoming Range
· Protect 92,000 acres of public land in West Virginia and Virginia
"This
is an historic piece of legislation that would save special wild places
throughout the US," said John Sterling, Conservation Alliance Executive
Director. "Our members understand that protected public lands are
important to the future of the outdoor industry."
The proposal
could go to the Senate floor for a vote before the end of July. Several
provisions in the bill have already passed the House of
Representatives, while others still need to move through that chamber.
"Whether
in July or at the end of the Congressional session, we have reason to
hope that these protections will be enacted in 2008," said Sterling.
"And that would be a lot to celebrate."
Trip participants were Linda Tom (KEEN), Jeff Wogoman (Cloudveil), Amy Roberts (OIA), and Sterling.
About the Conservation Alliance:
The
Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose
collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations
and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts
recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers,
trails, wildlands and climbing areas.
Membership in the Alliance
is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry,
including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales
representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose
livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.
Since
its inception in 1989, the Alliance has contributed more than $6.5
million to grassroots environmental groups. Alliance funding has helped
save over 38 million acres of wildlands; 26 dams have either been
stopped or removed; and the group helped preserve access to more than
16,000 miles of waterways and several climbing areas.
For complete information on the Conservation Alliance, see www.conservationalliance.com.
John Sterling
541-389-2424
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kristin Carpenter-Ogden
970-259-3555
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