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.