News: June 2016 - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) makes conservation history - introduces Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA) in the US Senate June 6, 2016. This ends a 25 year long blockade by (former) Senator Max Baucus (now US Ambassador to China). Original Senate co-sponsors are Senators Boxer (D-CA), Durbin (D-IL), Markey (D-MA), Menendez (D-NJ), Reid (D-NV), Schumer (NY), Shaheen (D-NH). Senator Whitehouse is known as a strong environmental advocate

For more Information about NREPA see
Alliance for the Wild Rockies

Short Description of NREPA:

To designate certain National Forest System land and certain
public land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary
of the Interior in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon,
Washington, and Wyoming as wilderness, wild and scenic
rivers, wildland recovery areas, and biological connecting
corridors, and for other purposes.

The Congressional Bills:

SENATE VERSION of NREPA 114th Congress
S. 3022, June 6, 2016
Sponsor - Senator Whitehouse (D-RI)

        •PDF of full Senate bill
        •Updated bill information

HOUSE VERSION of NREPA 114th Congress HR 996, February 13, 2015
Sponsor - Representative Maloney (D-NY)


        •Updated bill information

The Maps: In the column to the right are the eleven maps and map keys created for NREPA 2016, S. 3022

Species in Danger: Many species have become rare or even threatened with extinction because of near elimination of their wild habitat, excessive hunting, pollution roads, and other factors.

Bison: Wild Bison herds once ranged over millions of acres in western regions of the U.S. Now only small herds exist in limited areas

"The Bison of Yellowstone National Park are unique among bison herds in the United States, being descendants, in part, of the only continuously wild herd in this country." Dr. Margaret Mary Meagher, retired Yellowstone National Park bison biologist.

"Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the lower 48 States where bison have existed in a wild state since prehistoric times. Bison occupied the region encompassing the park from shortly after recession of the last glaciers 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, until the 19th century when they came close to extirpation." 5 C. Cormack Gates Ph.D., University of Calgary.

NREPA will increase the area of Yellowstone region protected wilderness areas and wildlife corridors, which will help the Yellowstone bison herds recover.

For more Bison Information see
Buffalo Field Campaign

Fish: Wild fish such as Native Trout, Steelhead, and Salmon used to populate the rivers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Bull Trout once ranged from northern California to the Bering Sea. They have travelled one of the longest migration routes of any trout in North America for thousands of years. Now Bull Trout are rare and in danger of extintion. NREPA will designate nearly 2000 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, helping the remaining populations of wild fish to recover from the brink of extinction.

For more Bull Trout Information see
NRCS Fact Sheet

Wilderness: Federally designated Wilderness is the highest level of protection for natural wild areas under the laws of the United States.

According to the Wilderness Act passed one half century ago, the following apply to federally designated Wilderness areas.

"...lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition..." Section 2(a)

"...an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man..." Section 2(c)

"...an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvement or human habitation..." Section 2(c)

"...generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable..." Section 2(c)

Less than 3% of of the lower 48 states is Federally designated Wilderness.

It is of the highest importance that more remaining wild areas in the United States are designated Federal Wilderness.

NREPA will designate nearly 20 milion acres of wild roadless areas as Federal Wilderness, restoring large intact, contiguous, and connected ecosystems, which will ensure protection for their native species for future generations

For more Wilderness Information see
Wilderness.net