Timeline of AWR's Activities: 1992-1994

March 4, 1992 Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead writes editorial, "Forest for Sale: It's a Steal", for The NewYork Times denouncing S. 1696.

Spring, 1992 National opposition mounts against S. 1696. Joining the fight are Dr. John Craighead (right) as well as 37 celebrities who sent a letter to Congress. They included Kirstie Alley, Ted Danson, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox,Whoopi Goldberg,Woody Harrelson, Magic Johnson, Carole King, Demi Moore, Robert Redford, Wesley Snipes, and Bruce Willis.

June 9-10, 1992 Hearings are held in Washington on the "Baucus-Burns bill," S. 1696. Mike Bader testified against the bill. At a press conference in front of the Capitol Building, Representative Peter Kostmayer, Ralph Nader, Carole King, and Dr. Thomas Power, denounced S. 1696.

September, 1992 AWR sponsors a report by Dr. Thomas Power (right), chair of the University of Montana Economics Department, on "The Timber Employment Impact of the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act." This study serves as a baseline of economic data for several years to come.

September 9, 1992 Representative Peter Kostmayer, D-PA introduces The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is the first-ever wilderness ecosystem protection bill. He is joined by 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats in sponsoring the bill.

September 16, 1992 Representative Peter Kostmayer (D-PA) offers a NREPA-style amendment to the Montana Wilderness Bill. This marks the first time ever that bioregional wilderness ecosystem protection is debated on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

October 27, 1992 AWR, the Friends of the Wild Swan, and the Swan View Coalition file a petition for listing of the bull trout under the Endangered Species Act.

May 12, 1993 Senator Max Baucus issues a political threat to Representative Joseph Kennedy, D-MA, that he will kill funding for the cleanup of Boston Harbor unless Kennedy withdraws his plan to introduce the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.

May 17, 1993 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service publishes a "positive" 90 day finding in the Federal Register on the petition to list the bull trout. This initiates a one-year formal review status to determine if listing is warranted.

July 14, 1993 Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduces The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.

September 1, 1993 More than 50 leading scientists send a letter to Congress in support of The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act including Drs. John Craighead (right), Lee Metzgar, Reed Noss and Michael Soule'.

April 12, 1994 Representative Bruce Vento (D-MN) holds a hearing on The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. This historic hearing, the first-ever on a wilderness ecosystem protection bill, gains new credibility for NREPA. The same day, AWR sponsors its own "field" hearing in Missoula, complete with a court reporter, at which numerous scientists and local citizens had an opportunity to speak out on NREPA.

May 4, 1994 NREPA gains a historic joint committee hearing in Congress (above). Testimony is presented by Dr. John Craighead, Dr. Lee Metzgar, Carole King, economist Michael Garrity, and Mike Bader. Written testimony is submitted by President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Thomas Power. The multi-hour hearing sets the stage for serious consideration of the ecosystem approach. The committees print a hearing record.

June 1, 1994 Lee Newspapers releases the results of its statewide opinion poll which shows that 32% of Montanans support NREPA, compared to just 16%, 14%, and 14% for the Baucus, Williams, and Burns bills, respectively. In just over 5 years since the founding of AWR, the amount of people in Montana who support wilderness designation for all roadless areas triples from 10% to 32%.

June 8, 1994 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issues a "warranted, but precluded" finding on the bull trout petition. AWR and FOWS announce intent to file lawsuit challenging the finding.

August 29, 1994 AWR takes on salvage logging at a congressional field hearing in Boise, Idaho and begins "Where There's Smoke, There's Liars" campaign with a full page ad in the Idaho Statesman and a press conference in Boise.

October, 1994 AWR releases its new documentary video program, Beyond Borders, Wildlands of the Northern Rockies. This video went on to win awards at the International Wildlife Film Festival and was aired on more than 60 PBS television stations nationwide. Thousands of copies are distributed nationwide making it one of the most successful and widely viewed conservation programs ever.

Further down the timeline: 1995-98

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