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California Wilderness a Priority of New Congress



After years of hard work by a coalition of wilderness advocates and led locally by the California Wilderness Coalition, Congress is poised to pass historic legislation that will protect hundreds of thousands of acres of California wilderness.



Senate Bill 22 introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman this week is a new version of the 2008 Public Land Omnibus Bill which stalled in the Senate last year. The bill includes protections for nearly 2 million acres nationally.



We are delighted by the bi-partisan commitment to protecting America'ss wild lands, and rivers, said Barbara Hill, executive director of the California Wilderness Coalition. By passing this legislation, Congress will protect these lands and rivers for future generations to enjoy and explore. California'ss wild lands attract visitors from around the world offering high quality camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities, they are critical to battling climate change, help keep our water and air clean and are home to wildlife.



The California areas to be protected are in Riverside County, the Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Mountains and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. The Riverside and Sequoia-Kings Canyon bills passed the House of Representatives during the last Congress, and the Eastern Sierra/San Gabriel bill was approved by a key Senate committee last fall.



California Congressional leader Senator Barbara Boxer worked diligently with Congressman Howard Buck McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs), and Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Devin Nunes (R-Visalia) to introduce these bills. Senator Diane Feinstein has also cosponsored all three bills.



The sponsors of these bills, along with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), have been great champions for wilderness protection in our state, said Ryan Henson, Policy Director for the California Wilderness Coalition. Henson is a leader of the coalition which has worked over the last five years to pass federal legislation protecting wild California.



Senator Harry Reid has called a special session of the Senate to vote on S. 22 Sunday morning. Areas to be protected are:


>    The California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act. This bill will protect approximately 190,000 acres of pristine and ecologically sensitive land in Riverside County as wilderness, including parts of Joshua Tree National Park, and four wild and scenic rivers totaling 31 miles.


>    The Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act. This bill will preserve nearly 450,000 acres of wilderness and four wild and scenic rivers totaling 73 miles near Santa Clarita and in the magnificent Eastern Sierra, including the White Mountains.


>    Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Act of 2008. This bill will preserve close to 70,000 acres of wilderness, including the new John Krebs Wilderness, named for the former Congressman and conservationist who worked to protect these lands in the Mineral King Valley.



About the California Wilderness Coalition


With more than 3500 individual members, businesses, and organizations, CWC is the only statewide organization focused on protecting California'ss wild heritage. More information can be found at www.calwild.org.



CONTACT: Barbara Hill 510-451-1450/(M) 415-302-6763 Ryan Henson 530-246-3087/(M) 530-902-1648






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