I served as United States Senator for the state of Washington from 1983 to 1989. During that time I served as a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the Senate, which has jurisdiction over our National Park system. While on the committee I initiated and became prime sponsor of a bill to create wilderness areas within the three national parks of Washington state, Olympic, Rainier, and North Cascades.
It was my intent to ensure that undue development would not occur within those national parks. I also recognized that access to trails and vistas within those parks was vital and carefully excluded those road rights-of-way from wilderness boundaries. Normally, road reconstruction and minor relocation would be accommodated within these 100 foot right of ways but on rare occasions natural catastrophes could require modification of wilderness boundaries to allow road relocations.
It was my intent when I sponsored the Park Wilderness Bill of 1988 to protect the unique features of these splendid Parks but not to make access more difficult for those seeking the unusual experience of a wilderness Park.
For almost 70 years I have hiked and climbed in the National Parks of Washington state and have a strong and continuing desire to maintain their integrity... I believe very strongly that continued protection of our wilderness National Parks depends on the active support of visitors, hikers, and climbers who act as champions for our National Parks. If we make access substantially more difficult we reduce the number of visitors and ultimately the numbers of citizens and taxpayers who know enough about these parks to want to protect them.
Sincerely
Daniel J. Evans,
U.S. Senator 1983-1989.
In testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Land, July 7, 2009.
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