Congressional hearing reveals sharp divide over Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, sponsor of HR 2638, told a joint House hearing that the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act would protect large swaths of federal roadless land across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and create biological corridors linking habitat for species such as grizzly bears, wolves and woodland caribou.

"We are only talking about federal lands. It does not take any private land at all," Maloney said, adding that the bill would not change the status of private or state land and would not designate lands currently open to timber and mining.

The hearing made plain a deep split between bill supporters and federal land-management agencies. "The Department of Agriculture recommends that HR 26 38 not be enacted," Mark Reimers, deputy chief for legislation at the U.S. Forest Service, told the committees, arguing the proposal would "bypass existing processes and laws" such as the National Forest Management Act and the agency's forest…