On the recordSeptember 28, 2010
I rise today to introduce the Monongahela Conservation Legacy Act of 2010. This important piece of legislation sets aside 6,042 acres of the Monongahela National Forest on North Fork Mountain in Grant County, WV, to be included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. West Virginians have a proud tradition of mining and logging that provides needed resources for our entire country. I have no doubt that this tradition will continue for many decades to come. However, at the same time, new development is coming to West Virginia. This is needed development that provides jobs for West Virginians and helps support our economy. But with this increased development comes a responsibility to set aside some part of our natural environment for those who come after us. The Monongahela National Forest encompasses nearly 920,000 acres of land in the heart of the Appalachian Mountain Range and contains some of the most ecologically diverse regions in the country. North Fork Mountain is one of these incredible areas and has earned the Forest Service's highest rating for Natural Integrity in its Wilderness Attribute Rating System. The mountain is a nesting site for peregrine falcons and home to 120 rare plants, animals, and natural communities. With this wilderness designation all of these ecological treasures will be permanently protected.
