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<Month> <Day>, 2010
The Honorable Phil Roe
P.O. Box 1728
Kingsport, TN 37662
Dear Congressman Roe,
I am writing today to urge you to work with other members of Tennessee’s Congressional Delegation to protect Tennessee’s wild lands and heritage.
The US Forest Service formally recommended 20,537 acres as wilderness in their Land and Resource Management Plan that was finalized in 2003. I fully support these recommendations and urge you to protect these lands along with other wilderness quality lands on the Cherokee National Forest by expanding the Big Frog and Bald River Gorge Wilderness Areas.
Wilderness areas are important for a variety of reasons. Wilderness ensures recreational opportunities like hiking, camping, horsebackriding and paddling are protected for future generations. Wilderness protects important wildlife habitat as well as hunting and fishing opportunities, while safeguarding watersheds and drinking water sources for nearby communities. Wilderness also contributes greatly to our fast-growing tourism economy and the quality of life in Tennessee.
Wild lands on the Cherokee National Forest deserving permanent protection include the Upper Bald River proposed wilderness along with expansions of the Bald River Gorge, Big Frog, Little Frog, Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock, Big Laurel Branch and Sampson Mountain Wilderness Areas. I hope you will work to protect these and all wilderness quality lands for now and generations to come.
Sincerely,
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