Senate OKs wilderness area

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF

Seattle, WA - 11/24/03 - For the second time in as many years, the Senate yesterday passed a bill to create Washington's first new wilderness area in 19 years. The Wild Sky Wilderness measure still needs approval from the House, which didn't pass it last year.

The bill would protect 106,000 acres of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County. Earlier this year, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and other supporters touted a host of potential benefits, including protection of wildlife such as bears, wolverines, bald eagles, spotted owls and deer, as well promoting clean, cool water for salmon, steelhead and trout.

Opponents call it unnecessary and even destructive, arguing that much of the area targeted for protection is not even wilderness.