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Wild Sky notes and quotes

This is from the official announcement of President Bush’s action:

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

On Thursday, May 8, 2008, the President signed into law:

S. 2739, the "Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008,” which designates the 106,000-acre Wild Sky Wilderness in Washington State; designates three new National Heritage Areas; expands several national parks; authorizes funding for specified water projects; modifies two existing energy programs; applies U.S. immigration law to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and grants the Commonwealth a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives


Here are snippets of quotes from supporters:

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wa.:

"Reaching the end of the trail never felt so good. Today marks the summit of a long journey made possible by many committed people and years of community input. Together, we not only created a new wilderness bill, but a new model for creating wilderness in the future."

Sen. Patty Murray:

“Today is a tribute to so many people who never gave up and never lost sight of the goal – preserving the heart and soul of this beautiful land. This new wilderness is a gift to young families, lifelong outdoor enthusiasts and everyone in between. We are blessed to live so close to such majestic beauty and thanks to this new designation it will be protected for generations to come.”

Tom Uniack, conservation director of the Washington Wilderness Coalition

"The new Wild Sky Wilderness is a shining example of what we all can accomplish if we come together and work to ensure the future of this great state."

Mark Lawler, local forest conservation spokesperson for the Sierra Club.

"This has been a long time in the making but it's more than worth the wait."