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By Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Warner):
S. 745. A bill to designate additions to the Rough Mountain Wilderness and the Rich Hole Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. KAINE. Madam President, this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, VA. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely on the GW Forest.
In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left undisturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in deciding which lands are best suited to which purposes.
In the lead-up to the latest multiyear GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, ultimately succeeded and made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvesting and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas. Following this fruitful collaboration, the Forest Service convened the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project, bringing together the collaborative and other stakeholders to help develop management activities on this particular part of GW Forest in Bath County. Everyone got some of what they wanted, and everyone gave some ground.
The collaborative has now come together to support the wilderness additions in this bill, which designates 4,600 acres to be added to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area and 1,000 acres to be added to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. I am proud to once again partner with Senator Mark Warner and follow the path blazed by Senator John Warner and Representative Rick Boucher, who led the original Virginia Wilderness Act in 1984. I am also proud that this bill has passed the Senate in previous Congresses, including by unanimous consent. I will be pushing to include this bill as part of the 2023 farm bill, and I hope that we can bring this effort to the finish line soon.
Taking care of our Nation's public lands is good for the environment and good for the economy. Land disputes may often be contentious, but these efforts in the GW Forest show they don't have to be. When everyone comes to the table and invests the necessary time, we can find common ground. I hope this will be a lesson for us in other tough policy challenges, and I encourage my Senate colleagues to support this bill.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 169, No. 45
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