Evergreen Reporter

Washington, D.C. – On July 12, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act introduced by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, received a hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. The legislation would permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness, and 19 rivers and their major tributaries—a total of 464 river miles—as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Senator Murray first introduced the bill in 2012 and most recently reintroduced it with U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06) in April. 

“The movement behind our Wild Olympics legislation has brought people from all walks of life together to protect the Olympic Peninsula’s wild forests and watersheds—some of Washington state’s premier natural treasures,” Senator Murray said. “This effort has been years in the making, and we’ve made progress moving this legislation forward in each successive Congress with the help of tireless advocates, Tribes, sportsmen, local business leaders, and so many others working at the grassroots and at every level of government. Today’s subcommittee hearing is an important step forward in the path to getting this bill to President Biden’s desk, and I am going to keep working hard to build the support and momentum we need to finally get this really important legislation signed into law.”

The legislation—which was designed through extensive community input to protect ancient forests, clean water, and salmon streams and enhance outdoor recreation—would set aside the first new wilderness on Olympic National Forest in nearly three decades and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. The Wild Olympics legislation has made steady progress each successive Congress since its original introduction; last Congress, the legislation passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support and advanced farther than ever in the U.S. Senate.

The legislation is supported by more than 800 individuals and organizations, including the Quinault, Quileute, Elwha and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribes; over 30 local sportsmen organizations and fishing guides; the mayors of Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Ocean Shores and other local elected officials; businesses and CEOs; farms and faith leaders; conservation and outdoor recreation groups; and many others. More than 12,000 local residents have also signed petitions in support.

The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has been carefully crafted through extensive community input to ensure the proposal will have no impact on existing timber jobs. It would permanently protect critical salmon habitat and sources of clean drinking water for local communities, while also protecting and expanding world-class outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, camping, boating, hunting, and fishing without closing any roads.

Original source can be found here.