    [House Document 108-235]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

    108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-235

        THE STUDY, FINDINGS, AND REPORT FOR THE SQUIRREL RIVER IN ALASKA

                                   __________

                                 COMMUNICATION

                                      from

                       THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                                  transmitting

       THE STUDY, FINDINGS, AND REPORT FOR THE SQUIRREL RIVER IN ALASKA,
    CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 5(a) OF THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT, PUBLIC
                             LAW 90-542, AS AMENDED

    November 18, 2004.--Referred to the Committee on Resources and ordered
                                 to be printed
    To the Congress of the United States:
        I transmit herewith the enclosed study, findings, and
    report for the Squirrel River in Alaska. The report and my
    recommendations are submitted pursuant to my authority under
    Article II, section 3, of the Constitution of the United
    States, and consistent with section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic
    Rivers (WSR) Act, Public Law 90-542, as amended. The Squirrel
    River suitability study was authorized by Public Law 96-487
    (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act).
        The study conducted by the Bureau of Land Management
    determined that all 100 miles of the river are nonsuitable for
    inclusion in the National WSR System. Consistent with the
    study, I recommend that the Congress take no action to
    designate the river. The withdrawal provided by section 5(a) of
    the WSR Act would expire within 3 years of the date of this
    message (unless other action is taken by the Congress).
    Approximately 81,501 acres of State-selected lands would be
    opened to mineral entry although mineral potential has been
    assessed as very low and there are no past or active mining
    claims.

                                                        George W. Bush.
        The White House, November 17, 2004.