President Obama Signs Cantwell’s Package to Preserve Pacific Northwest Public Lands, Support First Responders

New Laws Secured by Cantwell Protect Pacific Northwest Scenery and Will Boost Tourism across the Region

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) lauded President Obama’s signature of a landmark public lands package that will protect some of the Pacific Northwest’s and Washington state’s most breathtaking public lands. Cantwell secured key components of the package that will have lasting effects on preserving areas of Washington state that are important to its history and economy.

“President Obama’s signature of the most significant conservation legislation in 15 years signaled a big win for Washington state and the Pacific Northwest,” said Senator Cantwell. “Finally, some of Washington state’s most pristine and breathtaking views will receive the recognition and protection they deserve. The steps we took today will help protect our lands so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. These bills will provide a much needed boost to our state’s tourism and help protect our local wildlife habitats. This is a vivid illustration of just how far hard-work can get us.”

Nationally, this legislation represents the most significant conservation legislation passed by Congress in 15 years. It designates over 2 million acres of wilderness; adds over 1,000 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers; 2,800 miles of National Trails; 330,000 acres of National Conservation Areas; codifies the National Landscape Conservation System; and authorizes the Forest Landscape Conservation Service and measures to improve our oceans, coasts, Great Lakes, and water resources.

Key components of this package for Washington state that Cantwell secured include:

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Act: Designates the 1,200 mile Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail as a National Scenic Trail and will promote its protection and maintenance. National Scenic Trails provide recreation, conservation, and delight of significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities. The 1,200 mile Trail, running from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean, ranks among the most scenic trails in the world. The trail includes the Rocky Mountains, Selkirk Mountains, Pasayten Wilderness, North Cascades, Olympic Mountains, and Wilderness Coast and crosses three national parks and seven national forests. The Trail has received National Recreation Trail status in the three national parks it crosses (Olympic, North Cascades, and Glacier) and has also received Millennium status from the Clinton Administration.

Snoqualmie Pass Land Conveyance Act: Allows the Snoqualmie Pass Fire District to acquire an acre and a half of Forest Service land to build a new fire station that will support neighboring communities and address safety and security needs, while helping to preserve the environment. For decades, the Fire District has operated out of an aging building that was not originally designed to be a fire station and is structurally inadequate to meet the growing emergency response needs at the Pass.

Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail Designation Act: Creates an Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail through portions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana to tell the story of how a series of monumental floods created the unique geology of Central and Eastern Washington and boost regional tourism. The trail would be managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Ice Age Floods Institute, participating states, tribes, and other local entities. Interpretive centers, signs and markers, exhibits, waysides, and roadside pullouts would be used to tell the story of the floods, provide educational opportunities, and help enhance regional tourism.

Wild land Firefighter Safety Act: Improves the accountability of the federal agencies that administer safety and training programs to wildland firefighters. This bill requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to jointly submit a report on the implementation and efficacy of these programs. The report must describe steps federal firefighting agencies are taking to make sure contract firefighters receive the same training as federal firefighters. The legislation also requires a system to track the money spent on wildland firefighter safety and training. Cantwell first introduced this legislation in 2003, following the Thirtymile Fire and the death of four wildland firefighters.