HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 97
(By Delegates Spencer, Barker, Butcher, Caputo, Eldridge,
Frederick, Hunt, Longstreth, Louisos, Manchin, Martin, Paxton,
Wakim, Walters, Webster, Wells and G. White)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
feasibility of a national park in the High Allegheny Region of
West Virginia.
Whereas, The High Allegheny Region of West Virginia, which
comprises portions of the Monongahela National Forest, Blackwater
Falls State Park, Seneca Rocks, portions of Canaan Valley and the
Blackwater Canyon area, is an important natural, cultural, economic
and recreational resource in the state; and
Whereas, The High Allegheny Region of West Virginia has
substantial natural areas and habitats which are assets to the
people of West Virginia and the nation and provide important
amenities for residents and visitors that encourage retirement home
development, tourism and other business development that is crucial
to the future of the region and the state; and
Whereas, There is a need for consistent, professional and
well-funded management of the key natural areas and public lands in
the High Allegheny Region of West Virginia in order to conserve and enhance these important assets and to provide for optimal and
sustainable economic development of the area; and
Whereas, Economic studies have consistently shown important
long-term economic benefits from the creation of national parks to
manage important natural areas and protected public lands; and
Whereas, West Virginia, although home to some of the most
beautiful areas in the eastern United States, has only four units
of the National Park system, by far the lowest in the region; and
Whereas, There is reason to believe that establishment of a
High Allegheny national park in West Virginia will have a positive
economic impact on the state in the following ways: (1) Increased
revenue for county governments in the form of payments from the
National Park Service; (2) increased employment from the National
Park Service and from the related growth of the tourism, retirement
and recreational industries; (3) increased net migration to the
area; (4) increased private property values; (5) increased tax
revenue for county governments from retirement home ownership; (6)
decreased local and state burden on public land infrastructure and
management; (7) increased tourism-related spending in local
communities; and (8) improved management of key natural areas and
protected public lands; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the feasibility of a national park in the High Allegheny Region of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is hereby requested to determine the benefits and costs of
the development of a High Allegheny national park as well as study
the economic development potential, job creation potential and
tourism value; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is hereby requested to determine the use of lands that
could be incorporated in a High Allegheny national park; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2006, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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