Sun editorial:

Protecting the wilderness

Future generations would benefit from legislation Reid pushed through the Senate

Friday, Jan. 23, 2009 | 2:08 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid prodded fellow senators last week to get off to a fast and effective start this year because of the problems the nation faces. One piece of legislation the Nevada Democrat expected would be quickly passed was a bill to set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states for wilderness protection to “preserve our environment for the enjoyment of generations to come.”

“The press reports it is the most significant environmental bill that will be passed in more than a quarter century,” Reid said.

Thanks to Reid’s help the Senate passed the bill 73-21 and sent it to the House. We think the bill deserves swift approval by the House and by President Barack Obama.

Natural habitat is preserved within a wilderness area, and logging and oil and gas drilling are prohibited. Some of the natural landmarks that would benefit are California’s Sierra Nevada, Mount Hood in Oregon, Zion National Park in Utah and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

We would prefer the bill didn’t allow Alaska to build a road through its Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, but at least that state agreed to transfer more than 61,000 acres to the federal government in exchange for that easement.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., had complained the wilderness bill represented a land grab that would stunt oil and gas drilling. But it is hard to believe this nation has suddenly run out of land where drilling can occur. Besides, Coburn could make better use of his time by calling for increased development of environmentally friendly alternative energy resources, rather than remaining a cheerleader for the drilling team.

After eight years of regressive action on the environment under the Bush administration, swift approval of the wilderness bill would signal to Americans that this Congress and president stand ready to protect the nation’s forests and mountain ranges from needless development.

If that happens, future generations will come to thank today’s Washington politicians for their wisdom.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

By Geezer

1/23/09 at 6:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Yes, this is a wise measure. I'm a retiree from the Bureau of Land Management, and I saw how field managers were under constant pressure to allow developments that would damage the public lands. Wilderness designation gives them the backbone to say no.
By Bighorn

1/23/09 at 7:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

Although think about the timing. Signing a bill to protect wilderness always comes before someone like Reid releasing 4 times as much public lands for energy development. These wilderness areas will allbe in view of ugly wind farms, coal plants and massive solar facilities. All could go on the roof...

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