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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 10, 1994                   TAG: 9408100077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

HOUSE OKS GOODLATTE'S SCENIC AREA BILL

The House of Representatives passed legislation Monday protecting 7,580 acres of the George Washington National Forest with the nation's seventh scenic area designation.

The Mount Pleasant Scenic Area bill was sent to the Senate. Virginia Sens. Charles Robb and John Warner have said they support the effort.

``I'm excited that the full House agrees ... that the Mount Pleasant area has unique natural beauty and should be protected permanently,'' said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, the bill's sponsor.

The scenic area designation prohibits timber harvesting and road construction in the area but would not be as restrictive as the wilderness designation requested by Amherst County officials. The wilderness designation would have prohibited the use of chain saws to maintain the Appalachian Trail and other trails in the area.

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by CNB