WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bills have been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to rename the Olympic Wilderness within Olympic National Park the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness in honor of the former Washington governor and senator.

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, and Patty Murray, D-Seattle, introduced S. 3028, while H.R. 5397 was sponsored by members of the Washington delegation in the House, including Derek Kilmer.

Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.

The change would not effect the name of Olympic National Park, which would remain the same.

Evans’ service

Evans, 90, served in the state House of Representatives from 1956 to 1965 before he was elected governor.

He served three terms as governor, from 1965 to 1977, and was a U.S. Senator from 1983 to 1989.

He was considered for the Republican vice presidential nomination in 1968 and 1976.

He lives in Seattle.

Wilderness legislation

During his time in the U.S. Senate, Evans was the lead sponsor of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 which designated more than 1.5 million acres of wilderness areas in Olympic, North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks, according to Cantwell.

“Sen. Dan Evans was instrumental in the passage of more than 2.5 million acres of wilderness designations in our state,” said Cantwell, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“Naming the Olympic National Park wilderness in his honor is an appropriate recognition of his many years of work to protect and preserve Washington’s national parks and forests.”

Cantwell said she hopes to hold a hearing on the Senate bill in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee this month.

Said Sen. Murray: “Throughout his decades in public service, former U.S. Sen. Dan Evans was a champion of Washington state’s special places.”

Evans, Murray continued, “played a pivotal role in the passage of the 1984 and 1988 Washington Wilderness Acts, and knew these wild places personally as an avid outdoorsman.”

The 1988 law designated 877,000 acres within Olympic National Park as “the Olympic Wilderness.”

“I cannot think of a better way to honor his legacy than to rename the incredible Olympic National Park Wilderness the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness,” Murray said.

Companion bill

H.R. 5397 is sponsored by Kilmer and other Democrats — Suzan DelBene, Dennis Heck, Rick Larsen, Jim McDermott and Adam Smith, and Republicans Jaime Herrera Beutler, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dan Newhouse and Dave Reichert.

“As a conservationist and an outdoor recreationalist, Sen. Dan Evans understands the importance of protecting Washington state’s natural treasures so they can be enjoyed by future generations,” the sponsors said in a joint statement.

“It is only fitting that the name of the Olympic National Park wilderness recognizes the efforts of the man who fought so hard to preserve it.”

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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.