Time Running Short to Deliver New Wilderness to OR this Holiday Season
Monday, December 4, 2006
Salem, OR - Oregon's Congressional delegation is running out of time to deliver Oregonians the gift of wilderness in time for the holidays. Congress reconvenes today, and this session is the last opportunity this year for Oregon's Senators and Representatives to reach a final compromise on a bill that would expand wilderness protections on Mt. Hood. Ivan Maluski with the Sierra Club's Oregon office is optimistic that there will be general agreement on most of the issues.
"Any differences should be able to be worked out to give the people of Oregon a great present this holiday season."
Ken Rait with the Campaign for America's Wilderness adds if the delegation comes to an agreement quickly, it will be the first new wilderness on Mt. Hood in 20 years.
"We believe this is the best gift we can give our children and future generations."
The sticking points are concerns about a land exchange in the bills and the amount of land to include in the deal: The Senate version of the bill lists 128,000 acres; the House bill, 77,000.
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