Wilderness Compromise Surprises Both Sides

Written by Tony Dublino

Tuesday, 27 May 2008

When Congressman Buck McKeon visited the Eastern Sierra two weeks ago, the word on the street was that his wilderness legislation was dead in the water, and years of haggling and compromise between environmentalists and the motorized community seemed a monumental waste of time.  But McKeon surprised the skeptics and on Friday, May 23rd introduced the Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Rural Heritage Act (H.R. 6156), a wilderness bill that would establish over 470,000 acres of wilderness throughout the Eastern Sierra and the White Mountains, as well as wilderness in Los Angeles County. McKeon was in Bishop Friday to unveil the proposal, which he said has been a goal of his ever since the Eastern Sierra became part of his District. The Congressman spoke about the nature of compromise, and explained that in order to get things done in Washington, people must recognize the political realities and work within those parameters. A different version of the legislation was introduced two years ago and failed to gain momentum in Washington, but that was a much different congress and McKeon believes this time, the bill has a “good shot” of becoming law. Barbara Boxer simultaneously introduced a Senate version of the same bill (S. 3069), which McKeon also believes has a good chance of passing and will put the legislation on the fast track to the President. The bill would create many areas of Wilderness, including the Hoover and Emigrant Additions in north Mono County, Granite Mountain between Lee Vining and Benton, the Owens River Headwaters between Mammoth and June, the White Mountains in Mono County, additions to the John Muir Wilderness in Inyo County, and Magic Mountain and Pleasant View Ridge in LA County. The Wilderness designations are only the beginning. The bill also establishes the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area near Sonora Pass, which assures access for snowmobiling. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains will receive permanent protection, and the Amargosa River near Death Valley, the Owens River Headwaters, and Piru Creek in LA County are also included as Wild and Scenic Rivers. The bill includes release language for several Wilderness Study Areas throughout Mono County, including Masonic Mountain, Mormon Meadow, Walford Springs and Granite Mountain. McKeon joked that he and Boxer “differ on almost everything, except the desire to work together and get something done.” Now it will be up to the Congressman and the Senator to round up the requisite support in Washington to move the bills forward. Comments (5) Subscribe to this comment's feed Janis Jolly said:   Buck McKeon--I cannot believe that you would buddy up with someone like Boxer. Our Sierra mountains and Bishop life has been ruined by these wilderness "takings" that have changed our town and life style. We have Forest Service and BLM people everywhere as it is. I resent the guns they carry and their arrogant attitudes. We do not need more wilderness we need more jobs. Federal government cannot take care of what it already has and when they try to study and study more they come up with nothing but wasted tax payer dollars. I hope you will reconsider and get out of the preservation business. May 29, 2008 Richard Christensen said:   Buck, Ed and I have talked to you in DC 2 times (Feb 07 & 08), we have had lunch with your staff in Lancaster and you were always down on Boxers bills. Now it looks like you are in bed with her, we will have to paint you green! June 02, 2008 John Keyes said:   I feel that there is enough wilderness. In fact the wilderness we now have cannot be taken care of by man nor beast nor tree. This just proves how many politicians are in the pocket book of the environmental community. The Nature Conservancy, the Wilderness Coalition and the other environmental groups are doing nothing but stopping man from going into the wilderness. Quotas, closing trails, ESA and other political nonsense, all given to us by the politicians who are pimping their souls for votes to groups who do not care about the average person. June 05, 2008 Rick Mapes said:   Buck McKeon, you really need to do alittle more homework on the wilderness that the American people already have to go out and enjoy. Only about 2% of the public use the wilderness areas, so why keep adding to it ? Why don't you do something worth while and introduce a bill that would get the US Forest Service back in control, so they can take care of this countries natural resources instead of locking the public out of them. June 09, 2008 Dorothy Dessauer said:   Buck McKeon, have you even been to the White Mountains? There is no reason for this mountain range to be added to the "wilderness vault"! The few roads that exist there have been the same for 50 years that I've been enjoying them. These roads are so rugged, and in such steep & rocky terrain, vehicles have no where else to go but on the roads. By "cherry-stemming" the roads, to keep them open, but creating wilderness all around them, it just lets the wilderness people get their foot in the door to eventually close roads down in the future. The people who use this area most are people who live here, & should have more weight in the decision as to what should be done with it. The Forest Service already has rules about staying on established roads. This area is as pristine as ever, you can go up any road & not see a soul 9 times out of 10. Make it a wilderness & you'll be attracting all kinds of crowds. Just look at the Sierras. You can't find a parking spot at the trailheads. Not everyone wants to camp elbow to elbow in campgrounds. Please don't change this primitive area, it should be dropped from this bill that lumps it in with the San Gabriel Mtns., etc., it's a sneaky way to get support when all the other areas in this bill are unique with different circumstances. June 25, 2008 Write comment Show/Hide comment form Name Email Comment Write the displayed characters Add Comment