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| Advocates seek quick Hood action Conservation groups say there’s time enough to pass bill By SARAH SKIDMORE Associated Press writer PORTLAND — Congress is about to meet for its final days. The time is short, the to-do list is long. But some Oregon conservation groups say delegates have more than enough time to wrap up a debate over Mount Hood that is several years in the making. Oregon delegates have been working on plans to expand and protect the Mount Hood wilderness area for a number of years. Two competing bills were tied up in political debate in this Congress, but a number of environmental groups say they believe last-minute action is still feasible. “The clock is ticking for Mount Hood wilderness,” Jeremiah Baumann, environmental advocate for the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group, said at a press conference on Tuesday. “The reality is that if the House and Senate could agree this week on a bill, Congress could pass it during the lame-duck session.” It would be the first new wilderness on Mount Hood in more than 20 years and a major victory for environmentalists to protect more of the state’s prominent icon. Although a new Democrat-controlled Congress is on its way in and one of the politicians causing some delay is on his way out, a number of conservation groups want to act now. Oregon Wild, Sierra Club and other groups say they want to capitalize on the current moment with existing bipartisan support. Dragging the issue into another session raises the uncertain response of the next group and delays what is already, in their minds, full support. And they say resolution would free politicians and environmentalists alike to move on to other concerns with the 110th Congress. There are two competing wilderness bills. A Senate bill, co-sponsored by Republican Gordon Smith and Democrat Ron Wyden, would expand the Mount Hood wilderness area by more than 128,000 acres. A House plan, by Republican Greg Walden and Democrat Earl Blumenauer, would expand wilderness protection by about 77,000 acres. Congressional leaders would have to find a compromise on the amount of land to be included and resolve outstanding concerns about a land exchange that is part of the bills. The land swap would be between the U.S. Forest Service, which owns 120 acres at Government Camp, and Mount Hood Meadows, which owns 769 acres near the Cooper Spur ski area. The idea came about after Meadows announced plans to develop the area near Cooper Spur, located on the northeastern side of the mountain. The theory behind the land exchange is to end any more development on the northeastern slope of the mountain and concentrate development on the southern side, where homes already exist. But this was complicated by a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office that says the appraisals of the land do not justify the trade. Specifically it said the land was undervalued, which might not be a fair deal for taxpayers. Hillary Barbour, Blumenauer’s spokeswoman, said “if there is an opportunity to do something, we’d sure love to see it happen.” But there’s also some skepticism about passage of a Mount Hood wilderness bill by the lame-duck Congress. “It remains to be seen what the prospects for passage are,” said Josh Kardon, Wyden’s chief of staff. “If we don’t get it done this year, we will be approaching Mount Hood with more wilderness (area) in the future.” Back to Top Home |
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