WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Norm Dicks says he's supporting an effort to expand protections around Olympic National Park to ensure the park and its surrounding forestland can permanently be protected for future generations.
"This is not something that is going to have dire economic consequences on the Peninsula," Dicks said in an interview with The Daily World. "In fact, I think by strengthening the wilderness characterization, we're going to have more hunting, more fishing, more people coming to the Olympic Peninsula."
Conservation and recreation groups under the banner of the Wild Olympics Campaign have been meeting around the Olympic Peninsula for the past two years with select stakeholder groups, as well as participating in a number of public meetings over the summer.
Following those meetings, Dicks and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray formally signaled their support of the plan and have had staff at a series of public workshops around the Peninsula, including one set for today at 3 p.m. in Hoquiam at the Central Elementary School Library, 310 Simpson Ave.
"I think this is something to consider and we're going to listen during these hearings," Dicks said. "My staff reports back to me and does long memos on these things and there are a lot of groups supporting us on this and there's going to be an open discussion. And at the end of that discussion we'll decide what to do, and if there are more compromises that need to be reached."
The plan declares 130,000 acres of Olympic National Forest surrounding Olympic National Park as "wilderness," which prevents any kind of logging, as well as mechanized access; 23 rivers in and around the park would be declared "wild and scenic," barring mechanized access, as well. Another 20,000 acres could be added to the park through a willing seller process.
In March, bipartisan opposition to the campaign — mainly those who support the timber industry, as well as hunters and fishermen — formed a coalition known as the Working Wild Olympics group to combat the proposal.
It's been a full-on political press from both sides ever since.
There have been paid advertisements from both sides. There's a "pro" ad with a picture of a hunter carrying his gun in front of a lake talking about why protecting the timberland around Lake Quinault is a good thing. There's a "con" ad from about a dozen women who live around Lake Quinault talking about how they're worried the Park Service will overstep its bounds.
Campaign signs from both sides dot the streets between Hoquiam and Aberdeen. Giant signs screaming "stop the land grab" can be seen along multiple highways.
"The political rhetoric of the opponents, who are just wildly opposed to this, I'm not even sure if they know why they're opposed to it," Dicks said. "We haven't written a bill yet. They're just opposed to anybody doing anything and a lot of the rhetoric is just over-the-top and isn't even close to the truth."
"It's not a land grab," Dicks said. "Anyone who owns the land doesn't have to sell it. We're not taking away anybody's land. All we're doing is taking some Forest Service land and re-designating it and making sure it's open to public use."
Dicks said most of the active timberland in the original Wild Olympics proposal has already been removed.
"We've worked with both the Forest Service and the proponents to make sure we're not impacting any active timber sales and have made changes when necessary," Dicks said. "We've also made changes to bring in more old growth and fewer younger stands. This fits with the message that we do not want to have an impact on active timber harvests. We've also taken out roads that were not slated for decommission that are currently used by the public. …
"It's important for the Forest Service to have a multiple-use strategy," he said. "It isn't just for timber harvesting. Now, I realize timber harvesting has gone down and I'm a big advocate for thinning. We're trying to help diversify. It's mostly recreational but there's a lot of environmental equity here with wild and scenic rivers to give it better protection. We're trying to have a balanced approach. That's what we're trying to do."
Asked why the Forest Service land needs more protections and what is endangering the current use of the land, Dicks replied, "A lot of this has been mischaracterized by our opponents and I think it's important for everyone to accurately portray what is happening and what isn't. …
"We're trying to protect the most sensitive areas, which have higher ecological values," Dicks said. "Some of these areas should be better protected."
Critics of the proposal say that the Forest Service and National Parks can't even afford to maintain the land the agencies have now, so why should changes be made?
"If there's not the money to do it, then it won't be done," Dicks said.
For instance, on the willing seller and willing buyer proposal, Dicks said, "It takes a willing seller and a willing and capable buyer. So the National Park may not be able to afford to buy it. It takes two to tango. You've got to have the money to do it."
But Dicks said it doesn't hurt things to make the option available if the money ever does turn up to allow the park to expand.
Steven Friederich, a Daily World writer, can be reached at (360) 537-3927 or by e-mail at sfriederich@thedailyworld.com.
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