The Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act

Floor Speech

Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act, along with my colleague Congressman Larsen. Green Mountain Lookout, located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, was built in 1933 as a Civilian Conservation Corps project. During the Second World War, the lookout was used to detect fires and to spot enemy aircraft. It is no surprise that with such a rich history, the Green Mountain Lookout is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Unfortunately, severe weather caused the Green Mountain Lookout to fall into disrepair, and the U.S. Forest Service began taking steps to preserve the historic structure for future generations. However, a group based out of Montana filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service for using machinery in order to conduct repairs, and a U.S. District Court ordered the Forest Service to remove the lookout. This legislation would protect the Green Mountain Lookout, one of the few surviving fire lookouts in the West, by allowing critical maintenance while keeping this iconic structure in its original home.

The Green Mountain Lookout represents a significant piece of the Pacific Northwest's history and it deserves to be protected for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy today and in the years to come. I urge my colleagues to preserve a part of our Nation's history by supporting this bill.

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