Pat Aullman to attend Pinedale H.R. 980 meeting on April 30th
Regarding proposed wilderness expansion bill hearing in Washington D.C.
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
April 28, 2009
Pat Aullman, local representative for Wyoming Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis, will be attending the wilderness expansion public meeting in Pinedale on Thursday, April 30th. Anyone who is interested in having their comments passed on to Cynthia Lummis is asked to bring those written comments with them to the meeting at the Pinedale Auditorium so Ms. Aullman can collect them and get them together to take to the hearing next week in Washington D.C. Comments may also be emailed directly Pat Aullman at Pat.Aullman@mail.house.gov. Comments should be in by Friday morning to be included with their package.
The public meeting is in response to H.R.980, the "Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act", which proposes to add 24-million additional acres of public land in five states in the northern Rockies under federal wilderness protection. The bill impacts Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It would significantly impact recreation and uses in Sublette County. See the links below for information about the proposed bill and the reaction of Sublette County residents to the impact it would have on local recreation.
County government representatives from Sublette, Lincoln and Uinta counties have expressed they are adamantly opposed to congressional action that would result in passage of the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. Concerned about the impacts of the proposal on various resource uses and the negative impact on local communities, county government officials from Sublette, Lincoln and Uinta counties began organizing a campaign opposing the bill. Rep. Cynthia Lummis has requested the Coalition to provide testimony on this legislation.
H.R. 980 will be heard by the Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009. Sublette County Commissioner Joel Bousman has been selected by western Wyoming’s Coalition of Local Governments to travel to Washington, D.C to give testimony against the bill. He is working directly with Rep. Cynthia Lummis.
Sublette County Clerk Mary Lankford is accepting written communications from organizations, county departments, businesses and interest groups that provide detailed analysis of the impact of the bill. All the information will be compiled and used in preparation for Bousman’s testimony to the congressional committee. Contact information: maryl@sublettewyo.com, sbcc@state.wy.us, or FAX comments to 307-367-6396 by Friday, May 1st. Pinedale Mayor Steve Smith will be in Washington D.C. next week also on other business and has offered to pass along any comments people may wish to relay about H.B. 980.
People who wish to have their voices heard in opposition to the wilderness expansion proposal are encouraged to bring their written comments to Thursday’s meeting at 7:00 PM at the Pinedale Auditorium so they can be given to Pat Aullman to take to Washington D.C.
The April 30th Pinedale meeting to form a coalition in opposition to H.R. 980 is being organized by Jason Ray. He asks that people submitting comments write "Against H.R. 980-Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act" on the top of their written comments. Also put down your name, phone number, address, and your comments about why you are against the proposed bill.
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Editor's Note: Although we have not received any comments in support of this proposed legislation, in the interest of fairness to both sides, we welcome any such comments in support of H.R. 980 and would post them if we receive them (in accordance with our Letter to the Editor policy).
Related Links
Wilderness designation proposed for Fremont, New Fork Lakes, Wyoming Range - By Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online, 4/21/09
Alliance for the Wild Rockies
The Wilderness Society is not lobbying for H.R. 980 - By Pinedale Online, 4/28/09
Wyoming Wildlife Federation, Audubon Wyoming, do not support NREPA - By Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online, 4/24/09
Counties unite against NREPA - By Sublette County, 4/25/09
NREPA would lock up land, eliminate multiple use, sustainable communities - By Sublette County, 4/25/09
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