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From : " Sen . Ellie Kinnaird " < Elliek@ncleg . net > <br /> Date : 6 / 1 / 00 10 : 32am <br /> Greetings from Raleigh . <br /> This week the Senate took an important. step toward protecting our <br /> environment when we approved a new proposal to protect North Carolina ' s open <br /> space . <br /> Senate Bill 1328 makes the goal of preserving 1 million acres of open space <br /> by 2010 part of state law . <br /> As anyone from the Triangle already knows , new development and population <br /> growth are eating up much of the open space North Carolinians have enjoyed <br /> for generations . In the last few years , 190 , 500 acres were lost to urban <br /> development in just the Triangle . I believe that if we don ' t get started <br /> soon , there won ' t be much open space left to protect by the time my <br /> grandchildren become adults . Conservationists agree • that ' s why they and <br /> Gov . Hunt have made the million • acre goal a top priority for North <br /> Carolina ' s environmental agenda . <br /> The million - acres bill passed this week puts the goal on North Carolina ' s <br /> law books and allows state agencies to earmark resources to meet it . It will <br /> also begin the process of encouraging our cities to preserve undeveloped <br /> land instead of letting sprawl gobble it up . And it will give our next <br /> governor • regardless of who wins in November a starting point for <br /> developing an environmental agenda for the new century . <br /> The million - acres bill now moves to the House for consideration . I will keep <br /> you posted about its progress . You can also visit <br /> www . sierraclub . nc . org/ millionacres <br /> < http : / /www . sierraclub • nc . org/ millionacres > to send an e - mail message to <br /> legislators supporting the million • acre goal . <br /> Warmest Regards <br /> Ellie <br /> Kathie Young <br /> Legislative Assistant <br /> Senator Ellie Kinnaird <br /> Room 2115 <br /> phone 733 . 5804 <br />