On Wednesday, July 23, 2003, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2003 thereby clearing the measure for approval by the full Senate. The committee, which approved a nearly identical measure in the 107th Congress, passed the bill without debate or amendments.
The bill's sponsor, Senator Patty Murray said, "I am proud that the Senate has again put Wild Sky on track to become law, and I will continue to work to pass this bill through Congress."
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a member of the Committee and co-sponsor of the legislation said the Wild Sky will be a "recreational treasure and a boost for the local economy."
The measure is likely to receive approval from the Senate after the August congressional recess. In the House, Rep. Larsen has requested the House Resources Committee hold a hearing on the bill and is actively seeking co-sponsors for the measure. Resources Committee Chair Richard Pombo (R-CA) has yet to respond to Larsen's request for a hearing.
Background
On February 13, 2003, Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) reintroduced the Wild Sky Wilderness Act (H.R.822/S. 391) to designate 106,000 acres of Wilderness in the Skykomish River Valley in Washington's Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The bill was developed after two years of meetings and negotiations led by Murray and Larsen with local communities and a range of interested stakeholders including local elected officials, snowmobilers, and conservationists.
A critical habitat link for wildlife in the Cascades, Wild Sky is home to hundreds of species. The low elevation forests safeguard the North Fork Skykomish River and its tributaries, which provide critical habitat for runs of wild Chinook, Coho and Pink salmon, as well as Steelhead and Bull trout. These lower elevation, roadless forests also provide rich habitat for black bears, wolverines, cougars, mountain goats, bald eagles, spotted owls and black-tailed deer. Seven hundred year-old Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar trees provide a refuge for pine marten, pileated woodpeckers and winter habitat for mountain goats and deer.
The Wild Sky bill was originally introduced in the last Congress and was passed by the full Senate. However, the bill but fell short of gaining final approval in the House in the waning days of the congressional session. If approved this year, the bill would designate the first new wilderness in Washington State in 19 years.
A hearing on the measure was held in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests in June. At the hearing, Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, said President Bush would sign the measure if Congress sent it to him and said, "We recognize and commend the delegation for its collaborative approach and local involvement that contribute to the bipartisan support for this bill."
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