Legislation Introduced by Congresswoman DeLauro

107th Congress | 106th Congress | Search for Legislation

107th Congress

The Alaska Conservation Act (ARCA), H.R. 2908 Back to Legislation

This landmark legislation will permanently protect lands within two of our nations' crown jewels -- the Tongass and Chugach National Forests.

Stretching form Ketchikan to Kodiak, the Alaska coastal rainforest is the largest intact temperate rainforest left in the world. It is comprised, almost entirely, of our nation's two largest national forests, the Tongass and Chugach. This rainforest, rich with centuries old trees, provides critical habitat for species like wolves, bears, and bald eagles, which have nearly disappeared from the rest of the nation.

Industrial-scale clear-cutting began in the 1950's with the government-sponsored development of two large pulp mills in southeast Alaska. Since then, more than 1400 square miles of this ancient treasure have been clear-cut, an area larger than Rhode Island. Almost half of that logging occurred on public land. The mills are now closed, but the clear-cutting has spread throughout the Tongass and westward along Alaska's coast through the Prince William Sound, the Kenai Peninsula and on the Kodiak Island group.

ARCA will provide permanent protection status for nearly 15 million acres and 81 river systems of the Chugach and Tongass National Forests, while still permitting small-scale timber operators to continue to utilize areas already containing logging roads and infrastructure.

Last June, 147 of our House colleagues signed a letter to President Clinton that helped convince him to protect Alaska's Tongass National Forest by including it in the roadless rule. Although the Tongass National Forest was included in his decision, this pristine area now faces a serious threat as the Bush Administration rewrites the roadless rule. This legislation now has close to 100 cosponsors.

Status of H.R. 2908

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