By Jackie Whetzel For The Register-Herald
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introduced legislation in September to change the federal designation of the New River Gorge National River into a New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Capito introduced similar legislation in October 2018, but the bill didn’t advance – mainly because hunting was going to be restricted.
Both senators say a National Park designation will create a boost in tourism benefiting the state economically.
“Redesignating this and putting a gold medal stamp of a national park on this area says that West Virginia is a beautiful, attractive, spectacular place,” Capito said. “We want to share it with the nation and care for it at the same time.” …
