John Doolittle

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Radanovich for his diligent work on H.R. 3147. H.R. 3147 will result in an equal value exchange of lands between the Bureau of Land Management [BLM] and the Merced Irrigation District [MID] supported by all interested parties. In 1991, Congress added 8 miles of the Merced River upstream from Lake McClure in Mariposa County, CA, to the National Wild and Scenic River System. Lake McClure is the main reservoir of the Merced Irrigation District. The Bureau of Land Management manages a significant amount of land in the Lake McClure area. Soon after the wild and scenic river designation, MID and the BLM began to discuss a possible land transfer to enhance their land management objectives. As a result of the discussions, MID and BLM worked out a land exchange in which BLM would convey several scattered parcels of land below Lake McClure in exchange for approximately 160 acres of land owned by MID along the national wild and scenic corridor. The land exchange proposal is contained in H.R. 3147. H.R. 3147 will enable the BLM to consolidate its land ownership in the Merced River region and enhance one of their most important recreational areas in California. At the same time, H.R. 3147 will benefit MID by allowing them to consolidate their ownership of lands in the Lake McClure area. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3147) to provide for the exchange of certain Federal lands in the State of California managed by the Bureau of Land Management for certain non-Federal lands, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Riggs], the author of this legislation.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, in October 1987, BLM sold 3.8 million board feet of timber within the Elkhorn Ridge area in Mendocino County near Laytonville, CA. As the result of a lawsuit filed with the Federal district court in 1989 by the Sierra Club, the BLM reassessed the impacts of the sale on the area's wild and scenic river corridor, northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet and the at-risk coho salmon, currently petitioned for Federal listing. The Elkhorn Ridge sale site lies within the South Fork Eel River Management Area, which has been identified as a tier 1 key watershed in the President's Northwest forest plan. The BLM signed a record of decision on May 27, 1994, stopping the harvest of the timber sale. Eel River Sawmills filed a claim under the Contract Disputes Act for resolution of the Elkhorn Ridge timber sale contract, seeking damages of $2.4 million. The BLM's preferred option in resolving the timber contract is to substitute timber from less environmentally sensitive areas in the region. BLM has identified three suitable sale areas which would be nearly equal in value to the Elkhorn timber sale. BLM's Regional and the Department of the Interior Solicitors have concurred in BLM's determination that such a substitute would be in the public interest and the most suitable resolution to this legal dispute. H.R. 2711 enjoys the support of the interested parties and would authorize such a substitute. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I urge passage of the bill.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2709, introduced by Mr. Riggs of California, to transfer ownership of 4.32 acres of national forest land in California to the Del Norte County Unified School District for the Gasquet Mountain School. The school district has leased the land from the Six Rivers National Forest for $900 per year for a school since 1961. While technically part of the Six Rivers National Forest, the parcel is actually in a town setting and would otherwise be unused by the Forest Service. Because the school district does not own title to the land, it has been unable to qualify for funding to upgrade or add to the school. There is no indoor facility for children in inclement weather. The transfer would enable the school to build a multipurpose room for use as a cafeteria, gymnasium, and meeting room. The bill was amended in the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Lands to clarify the reservations to the Federal Government, and then, at the administration's request, it was amended by the Committee on Resources to further clarify those reservations. As a result, H.R. 2709 ensures the Federal Government a right of reentry in the event the land is no longer used for public educational or recreational purposes. This commonsense legislation is needed so that a small rural community in northwest California can provide much-needed facilities for its students. I urge the Members of the House to join me in supporting H.R. 2709 for the school children of Del Norte County. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2438, introduced by Mr. McInnis of Colorado. H.R. 2438 corrects an encroachment into the Raggeds Wilderness on the White River National Forest, just west of the Town of Marble, CO. The encroachment, discovered in 1993 following a new boundary survey, consists of approximately 400 feet of power line and 450 feet of road. In addition, portions of four subdivision lots extend into the wilderness. The road is a county road and provides the sole legal access to the four lots. The entire encroachment is less than 1 acre of land. The land in question does not have any wilderness characteristics. This land was used as it is today for 23 years before Congress designated the Raggeds Wilderness in 1982. Although only 0.86 acres is affected, the Forest Service cannot settle the matter under authority of the Small Tracts Act because the lands in question are within the Raggeds Wilderness. H.R. 2438 adjusts the wilderness boundary to exclude the 0.86 acres from the wilderness area, and, as amended in the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands, it directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the affected lands to the landowners under the authority of the Small Tracts Act. I urge the Members of the House to support H.R. 2438, so that the Forest Service will have the authority it needs to complete this minor land adjustment. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2438) to provide for the conveyance of lands to certain individuals in Gunnison County, CO, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Hastings].

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2518, introduced by Mr. Hastings of Washington. This legislation provides for the transfer of 122 acres of National Forest System lands and a sewage treatment plant to Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County. In exchange, the Forest Service will receive 109 acres of unencumbered land owned by the P.U.D. on the Wenatchee River. H.R. 2518 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct an appraisal to determine the current fair market value of the lands and requires payment needed to equalize any difference in land value. It also requires that all right, title, and interest in the wastewater treatment facility shall be conveyed to the P.U.D., and that the P.U.D. shall provide a credit, equal to the fair market value of the treatment facility, applied to the United States' share of any new or modified facilities constructed by the P.U.D. after November 4, 1991. Mr. Hastings is to be commended for his efforts to ensure that the legislation fully meets the needs of both the Forest Service and the public utility district. H.R. 2518 is supported by the administration and is needed to provide for the more efficient management of wastewater treatment in the Lake Wenatchee area of Chelan County, Washington. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to facilitate this land exchange and support H.R. 2518. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2518) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange certain lands in the Wenatachee National Forest, WA, for certain lands owned by Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County, WA, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Hastings].

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2292, a bill to preserve the Hanford reach of the Columbia River and for other purposes. Mr. Speaker, this is good bi-partisan legislation which provides for the preservation and improved management of important rivers thoughout the country. Title I, authored by Mr. Hastings, of the bill provides for permanent protection of the last free-flowing section of the Columbia River which support native salmon spawning beds. In 1988, Congress enacted legislation to prohibit damming and dredging of this river segment for 8 years while directing the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan for future management of this river segment. While Secretary Babbitt has yet to send us the required study, the moratorium on damming and dredging is about to expire and therefore it is important for Congress to renew this moratorium in perpetuity. I applaud the gentleman from Washington, [Mr. Hastings], for his effort to preserve the Hanford Reach. Title II of the bill is a measure authored by Congressman Zeliff which designates 11.5 miles of the Lamprey River in New Hampshire as a wild and scenic river. This legislation is based on a report prepared pursuant to a previous act of Congress. Although the river is bounded by mostly private property, this legislation contains adequate safeguards to protect private property and is strongly supported by local persons. Title III, authored by Mr. Rahall relates to several wild and scenic rivers in the State of West Virginia which are also units of the park system. It reflects the work of the committee over the last 4 years to amend boundaries and make technical amendments to improve the management of these parks. This title adds important lands to these parks, assures that the State can continue to manage wildlife and improves public access to the rivers. Title IV, authored by Mr. Johnson of South Dakota prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from using condemnation along a 39-mile segment of the Missouri Wild and Scenic River in the State of South Dakota. Since the NPS has already stated their intent not to use condemnation along this stretch of river, this legislation simply puts into action the plans already adopted by the NPS. Title V of the bill simply contains technical amendments to the Wild and Scenic River Act which provides for the numbering of the study and designation paragraphs of the existing act. Title VI of the bill, authored by Mr. Skaggs provides for the protection of the St. Vrain Creek in Colorado. This provision also enhances the protection of Rocky Mountain National Park through which the stream flows. In all Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill with many strong protection measures. I commend the many Members for their work on this bill and urge all my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2292) to preserve and protect the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2122, sponsored by Mrs. Vucanovich of Nevada, which would change the designation of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to the Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is made up of portions of three national forests, including the Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests in California and the Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada. Since 1973, the Forest Service has administered these lands--approximately 152,000 acres--as a single management unit. A land management plan for the unit was adopted by the agency in 1988. H.R. 2122 would not change the way the lands are managed. The bill was amended by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands to ensure that the designation encompasses all lands included in the management unit since it was established in 1973, as requested by the administration and agreed to by Mrs. Vucanovich. The administration supports the bill in its current form, and the Forest Service supported similar legislation in the 102d Congress. I urge the Members of the House to approve this commonsense measure that will clarify the designation of the national forests in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.