
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 31, 1991                   TAG: 9103310126
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BYRD'S W.VA. PLANS ELICIT PRAISE, SCORN

When Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., gave up his position as Senate majority leader to become chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee two years ago, some congressional watchers wondered why he would seek an apparent demotion.

But Byrd boasted that he would use his new position to bring $1 billion worth of federal projects home to his poor state by 1994.

For that, some have accused Byrd of playing pork-barrel politics.

But Explore project director Bern Ewert says he admires what Byrd is doing - and says it has lessons for Southwest Virginia, too.

"I think he has a clear picture of what the future is for West Virginia, and it's their open spaces," Ewert says. "In terms of a strategic plan, their No. 1 asset is open space. He's generated big numbers of dollars to protect open spaces, to create parks and develop attractions there. I commend him for his vision."

The proposed $150 million U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service center at Harpers Ferry to train wildlife workers and create a "world-class" tourist attraction displaying North American wildlife is simply the best example, Ewert says, because it would play up the state's outdoor theme.

Southwest Virginia suffers many of the same problems that its neighbor does - declining population, dying industries, rugged terrain - and could use the same type of strategic plan, Ewert says.

He has long touted the potential of tourist attractions that emphasize nature, such as Explore, as the way to rejuvenate Southwest Virginia's economy.

But Virginia environmentalist Ed Clark complains that Byrd's interest in the outdoors is based more on ego than the environment.

He accuses Byrd of directing $5 million to the Forest Service for spraying gypsy moths in West Virginia that foresters there didn't need.

And in recent weeks, Byrd has attracted attention for bringing home projects that have nothing to do with the outdoors. He has persuaded the FBI to move its fingerprint processing center from Washington to Clarksburg, W.Va., bringing with it 2,600 jobs. Last week, the Treasury Department announced it was moving the Bureau of Public Debt from Washington to Parkersburg, W.Va., bringing 700 jobs.

And, at Byrd's behest, the CIA is studying taking some small offices now scattered throughout the Washington area and consolidating them near Harpers Ferry - the same place the wildlife center would go.

by CNB