SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 14
(By Senators Love, Bailey, Boley, Bowman, Caruth, Chafin, Deem,
Edgell, Fanning, Foster, Green, Hall, Helmick, Hunter, Jenkins,
Kessler, McCabe, Minard, Oliverio, Sprouse, Stollings, Sypolt,
Prezioso, Tomblin, Mr. President, Unger, Wells and Plymale)
Requesting the National Park Service continue permitting hunting in
areas controlled by the New River Gorge National River.
Whereas, West Virginia is a state with a rich hunting
heritage; and
Whereas, Since the creation of the New River Gorge National
River in 1978, hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen of all kinds have
enjoyed the area for recreational purposes; and
Whereas, The National Park Service is considering prohibiting
hunting in areas controlled by the New River Gorge National River
by designating it a wilderness area; and
Whereas, The prohibition of hunting in the New River Gorge
National River area would have a drastic impact, not only on the
continuation of West Virginia's hunting traditions, but on the
economic stability of the area; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
strongly opposes any attempt to abolish hunting in the New River
Gorge National River area and believes that the National Park
Service should place additional emphasis on the active management of all wildlife in the area. If the animal population of the area
is not controlled, consequences such as malnutrition, disease and
increased animal-human conflict, along with the elimination of
plant species, could be disastrous. Hunting is a valuable
management tool to these concerns; and
Whereas, West Virginia's congressional delegation should enact
legislation that would prohibit any superintendent or director of
our national parks from solely deciding whether a park or any part
thereof should be a wilderness area, recreational area or an area
that permits hunting; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby requests the National Park Service to
continue permitting hunting in the New River Gorge National River
area; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate is concerned about the
economic impact that prohibiting hunting in the New River Gorge
National River area would have on the State of West Virginia; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the Director of National Park Service,
the members of West Virginia's congressional delegation and the
Superintendent of New River Gorge National River.