National Parks Group Dissappointed by Congress' Failure to Protect St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Minnesota
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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | October 5, 2011 |
| Contact: | Lynn McClure, Midwest Regional Director, National Parks Conservation Association P: 312-263-0111 OR C: 312-343-7216 Alison Zemanski, Media Relations Manager, National Parks Conservation Association P: 202.454.3332; C: 202.384.8762 |
National Parks Group Dissappointed by Congress' Failure to Protect St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Minnesota
Statement by: Lynn McClure, Midwest Regional Director, National Parks Conservation Association
“We oppose H.R. 850 and the St. Croix River Crossing specified in the legislation because it will allow construction of a bridge in defiance of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Representative Michele Bachmann’s 160-foot tall, freeway-bridge calls for an exemption in the Act, creating the first exemption for this type of construction in the law’s 40-year history.
“In addition, we oppose this massive bridge because it simply costs too much. The state of Minnesota is currently in a fiscal crisis, so proposing to spend most, if not all of the state’s transportation budget on one bridge costing nearly $700 million – more than twice the cost of the I35-W bridge -- does not make sense. A bridge can be built within the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that is less intrusive on the St. Croix and far less costly.
“We are disappointed in the members of the House Committee on Natural Resources who allowed this bill for the proposed freeway bridge to move forward. After reading hundreds of letters from Minnesotans opposed to an oversized, costly bridge, we know there is not in consensus locally for this massive bridge.
“We applaud Representatives Raul Grijalva, Rush Holt, and Ranking Member Ed Markey for introducing an amendment to protect and preserve the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway at today’s hearing.”
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