Bill protecting 53,000 Va. acres from development clears Congress

More than 53,000 acres of the Jefferson National Forest in Southwest Virginia will be permanently protected from development under legislation that cleared Congress yesterday.

The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, authored by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th , passed on a 285-140 vote and now awaits President Barack Obama's signature. Obama is expected to sign the legislation.

The bill, first introduced in the Senate in 2004 by then-Sen. John W. Warner, designates almost 43,000 acres of the land as wilderness, meaning it is off limits to vehicles. Hunting, fishing and backpacking would still be allowed.

The legislation also creates national scenic areas, many of them along the Appalachian Trail, where such activities as mountain biking would be allowed.

Environmental groups hailed passage of the bill as a victory for the people of Virginia.

"This is truly an historic day, a testament to the vision and diligence of thousands of Virginians who deeply value these lands as some of nature's finest work," said David Carr, director of the Southern Environmental Law Center's Public Lands Program.

The legislation, part of an omnibus public lands bill, creates wilderness areas and national scenic areas or expands existing wilderness areas in portions of seven counties: Bland, Craig, Grayson, Giles, Lee, Montgomery and Smyth.

More than 177,200 acres of Virginia are already congressionally designated wilderness areas.

In addition to Boucher, seven other Virginia representatives supported the bill. Voting against were Eric I. Cantor, R-7th; J. Randy Forbes, R-4th; and Robert W. Goodlatte, R-6th.

Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or .