MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on Obertstar-Vento compromise over motor use in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wildnerness. Northern Minnesotans hope the compromise will settle long standing disputes over the region. Congressman Jim Oberstar's proposal to allow trucks on two wilderness portages has been entered into the transportation bill now under consideration by a Congresional Conference Committee. It has Congressman Bruce Vento's reluctant support after the addition of a provision removing some lakes from motor access.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area was declared a Wilderness in 1978, but the debate continues over what that means. A limited use of motors was grandfathered into the region's wilderness status. But environmental groups have been fighting, at times in the courts, to further limit motors and force management of the region more in line with wilderness values. Their efforts culminated in a 1993 court ruling which pulled trucks off portages.