[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-414. A resolution adopted by the Commission of the City 
     of Key West, Florida relative to the Save Our Everglades 
     Initiative; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-415. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Alaska; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                      ``Legislative Resolve No. 19

       ``Whereas the Alaska tourism industry recognizes Denali 
     National Park as Alaska's premier visitor attraction because 
     of the majestic view of Mt. McKinley, the opportunity to 
     enjoy a wilderness experience, the chance to encounter 
     wildlife in its natural habitat, and the relative solitude of 
     the area; and
       ``Whereas enhancing the Mt. McKinley experience for 
     visitors would enhance the tourist industry statewide through 
     tourist satisfaction and expanded seasons; and
       ``Whereas insufficient access to premier viewing areas and 
     lack of facilities at these areas are major obstacles to 
     enhancing the wilderness experience; and
       ``Whereas the state is uniquely able to obtain rights-of-
     way into Kantishna through leases, land exchanges, assertion 
     of rights under RS 2477, application for transportation 
     utility corridors under Title XI of the Alaska National 
     Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), and other legal 
     claims to rights-of-way, and can monitor negotiations that 
     would allow private sector development to occur; and
       ``Whereas the Kantishna area, with its dry interior climate 
     and long daylight hours, offers splendid viewing 
     opportunities and a high potential to promote both summer and 
     winter activities; and
       ``Whereas access to Kantishna would provide the Alaska 
     private sector with the opportunity to meet the increased 
     demand for tourism facilities while taking advantage of a 
     historical transportation route and restricting potentially 
     deleterious environmental effects to areas historically used 
     by the mining industry; and
       ``Whereas it is necessary to design and construct these 
     facilities and transportation systems so that they have the 
     least possible negative effect on the environment, the area's 
     wildlife, and the state's fiscal resources;
       ``Be it resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature 
     respectfully urges the Governor and the executive branch to 
     be aggressive in their resolve to enhance the Mt. McKinley 
     experience for our visitors by developing new environmentally 
     sound access routes into Kantishna and a Kantishna visitor 
     activity area; and be it
       ``Further resolved, That appropriate state agencies should 
     work with the National Park Service and interested members of 
     the public and private sectors to thoroughly investigate the 
     potential of establishing a rail utility corridor into 
     Kantishna in which the private sector could construct and 
     operate a transportation system and other facilities that 
     would serve the public needs; and be it
       ``Further resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature 
     strongly supports the efforts of the Governor of Alaska, the 
     Alaska delegation to the U.S. Congress, and the President of 
     the United States in pursuit of the necessary studies, land 
     acquisitions processes, and other necessary permits that 
     would allow new environmentally sound routes into Kantishna 
     and a Kantishna visitor activity area.
       ``Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable 
     Bill Clinton, President of the United States; the Honorable 
     Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and 
     President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, 
     president Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable 
     Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; Roger Kennedy, Director of the National Park 
     Service; Jack Morhead, Regional Director for Alaska, National 
     Park Service; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the 
     Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable 
     Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska 
     delegation in Congress.''
                                  ____

       POM-416. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                    ``House Joint Resolution 94-1013

       ``Whereas, in 1976, the United States Congress enacted the 
     Payments-In-Lieu-Taxes (PILT) program administered by the 
     United States Bureau of Land Management to compensate county 
     governments for the tax-exempt nature of and costs associated 
     with maintaining federal lands; and
       ``Whereas, the PILT program provides payments to over 1700 
     counties in 49 states to compensate for taxes lost through 
     federal ownership of open space lands; and
       ``Whereas, PILT payments are spent by local governments for 
     programs and services such as emergency search and rescue, 
     law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, solid 
     waste disposal, road maintenance, and health and human 
     services, all of which are necessary to support the vast 
     system of national parks, national forests, fish and wildlife 
     refuges, and reclamation areas; and
       ``Whereas, the Consumer Price Index has skyrocketed over 
     120% since 1976, while the amount of PILT payments has not 
     been increased, causing the purchasing power of the payments 
     to be worth less than half of the original value; and
       ``Whereas, restrictions on the economic uses of federal 
     lands, such as mining, logging, and grazing, have a direct 
     impact on county governments and threaten the stability of 
     communities serving federal lands; and
       ``Whereas, shared natural resource payments to counties 
     from certain economic uses of federal lands are absolutely 
     vital to the financial stability of many county governments, 
     and the importance of PILT payments has increased 
     dramatically as natural resource payments to county 
     governments decline; and
       ``Whereas, counties continue to relay on property taxes to 
     fund the operation of local government, and statewide tax 
     limitation measures have constrained the growth of local 
     property taxes; and
       ``Whereas, under the current formula there is an inequity 
     whereby low-population counties in western states do not 
     receive the annual minimum per acre payment; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Congress is presently 
     considering legislation that will increase the amount of PILT 
     payments by adjusting for changes in the Consumer Price Index 
     each year; now, therefore,
       ``Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 
     Fifty-ninth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the 
     Senate concurring herein:
       ``That we, the members of the General Assembly, urge that 
     consideration be given to correcting any formula inequities 
     for low-population counties and support the adoption of S. 
     455, sponsored by Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon, and H.R. 
     1181, sponsored by Representative Pat Williams of Montana, in 
     order to aid county governments with their burden of 
     maintaining federal lands.
       ``Be it further resolved, That copies of this Resolution be 
     sent to the President of the United States, the Secretary of 
     the Interior, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and 
     the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-417. A resolution adopted by the Municipal Council of 
     the Township of Woodbridge, New Jersey; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.
       POM-418 A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Kansas; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                 ``House Concurrent Resolution No. 5030

       ``Whereas, the protection of the public health and welfare 
     is the primary concern of public water supply systems; and
       ``Whereas, the ability of public water supply systems to 
     protect the health and welfare of its citizenry has been 
     greatly reduced by unfunded federal mandates contained in the 
     Safe Drinking Water Act; and
       ``Whereas, public water supply systems cannot afford to 
     commit limited resources on federal mandates which provide 
     little or no benefit to public health, but must rather be 
     permitted to focus their resources on protections which 
     ensure the highest safety for public health; and
       ``Whereas, H.R. 3392, the Safe Drinking Water Act 
     Amendments of 1993, introduced by Representatives Jim 
     Slattery of Kansas and Representative Thomas Bliley of 
     Virginia, would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to allow 
     public water supply systems greater ability to effectively 
     protect the public health and welfare by ensuring that 
     limited public resources can be sensibly focused on the most 
     serious risks presented by contaminants in drinking water: 
     Now, therefore
       ``Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 
     State of Kansas, the Senate concurring therein:
       ``That the legislature urges Congress to amend the Safe 
     Drinking Water Act in such a manner as will permit public 
     water supply systems to focus their resources on issues which 
     threaten public health and which will provide flexibility in 
     meeting the real health needs of its citizenry; and
       ``Be it further resolved, That the Secretary of State be 
     directed to send enrolled copies of this resolution to the 
     speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     President of the United States Senate, all members of the 
     congressional delegation from the State of Kansas, the 
     Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency and the Regional Administrator, Region VII of the 
     United States Environmental Protection Agency.''
                                  ____

       POM-419. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Iowa; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                       ``House Resolution No. 102

       ``Whereas, members of the Iowa House of Representatives, 
     including members serving on the Committee On Agriculture, 
     the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, and the 
     Committee on Small Business, Economic Development and Trade, 
     have supported the ethanol production industry as a vital 
     component in promoting clean air and water and revitalizing 
     the state's economy by reducing imported nonrenewable energy 
     sources; and
       ``Whereas, persons involved in the production and 
     processing of corn in Iowa significantly contribute to the 
     wealth of this national supported by the production of 
     agricultural commodities and value-added products; and
       ``Whereas, the ethanol market in Iowa has been developed by 
     the valiant efforts of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, through 
     its producer-members who are committed to this renewable 
     resource; and
       ``Whereas, more than 416,000 bushels of corn, representing 
     the average harvest of corn on more than 3,400 acres of Iowa 
     land, are processed each day into ethanol; and
       ``Whereas, economic activity generated in Iowa from ethanol 
     production equals $1.5 billion; and
       ``Whereas, ethanol production has added an estimated $190 
     million to the value of the 1992 Iowa corn crop, creating 
     approximately $14.50 per acre additional income to Iowa corn 
     producers; and
       ``Whereas, the production of ethanol creates a high protein 
     livestock feed which has proven to be an excellent 
     nutritional source for cattle and poultry; and
       ``Whereas, more than 12,000 Iowa jobs are affected by Iowa 
     ethanol production, including 2,500 jobs in the corn 
     processing industry associated with ethanol production, with 
     the average annual wage for persons employed in the wet corn 
     milling industry in Iowa equaling $37,000; and
       ``Whereas, over 500 million gallons of ethanol-blended fuel 
     were sold in Iowa in 1992, representing a 52 million gallon 
     increase over 1991; and
       ``Whereas, the United States produced more than 1.5 billion 
     gallons of ethanol which reduced foreign oil imports by more 
     than 58 million barrels; and
       ``Whereas, motor vehicle fuel which includes a blend of 10 
     percent ethanol enhances octane levels and provides more 
     oxygen for fuel combustion resulting in reduced levels of 
     carbon monoxide; and
       ``Whereas, if only one-half of this nation's mass transit 
     diesel buses used ethanol fuels, new markets for 100 million 
     bushels of corn each year would be produced; and
       ``Whereas, blending 10 percent ethanol with all gasoline 
     sold in the United States would require four billion bushels 
     of corn; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency in implementing amendments to the federal Clean Air 
     Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq., is establishing standards 
     for reformulating motor vehicle fuel used in nonattainment 
     areas designated in the United States; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency has proposed a renewable oxygenate standard which 
     requires the use of renewable oxygenates in reformulated 
     gasoline; and
       ``Whereas, ethanol is a renewable oxygenate and the 
     proposed standard could increase demand for corn used in 
     ethanol production; and
       ``Whereas, ethanol's full market potential can be realized 
     under the renewable oxygenate standard if the rules are 
     finalized as scheduled in June 1994: Now therefore,
       ``Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, That the 
     Iowa House of Representatives, including members serving on 
     the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Energy and 
     Environmental Protection, and the Committee on Small 
     Business, Economic Development and Trade, urge that the 
     United States Environmental Protection Agency adopt the 
     proposed renewable oxygenate standard in a manner and form 
     which allows ethanol to fully compete in the marketplace; and
       ``Be it further resolved, That copies of this Resolution be 
     delivered to the Governor; and
       ``Be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be 
     delivered to the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency for inclusion within the record, Docket A-93-49; and
       ``Be it further resolved, That copies of this Resolution be 
     delivered to the President of the United States, the 
     Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
     Forestry of the United States Senate, the Chairperson of the 
     Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and members of Iowa's congressional 
     delegation.
       ``We, Harold Van Maanen, Speaker of the House and Elizabeth 
     Isaacson, Chief Clerk of the House, hereby certify that the 
     above and foregoing Resolution was adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly.''
                                  ____

       POM-420. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       POM-421. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Louisiana; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                       ``Senate Resolution No. 4

       ``Whereas, industrial and agricultural growth and 
     development are necessary for the continued economic 
     viability and security of the state and its citizens; and
       ``Whereas, the health, welfare, and socio-economic 
     condition of these citizens can be irreparably and 
     significantly affected by unnecessary infringement on 
     industrial growth and development, and on liberty and 
     property rights; and
       ``Whereas, the interests of industrial and agricultural 
     progress can be effectuated in concert with the protection 
     and maintenance of natural resources; and
       ``Whereas, the protection of wildlife species should be 
     accomplished in conformance with an appropriately designed 
     plan which recognizes, addresses, and accommodates all social 
     and economic benefits and adverse effects; and
       ``Whereas, the implementation of governmental programs 
     should be undertaken in a manner to prevent or minimize 
     infringement on constitutional rights of property and 
     liberty; and
       ``Whereas, on January 7, 1992 the United States Department 
     of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service determined the 
     Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) to be a 
     threatened species within its historic range, including 
     southern Mississippi, Louisiana, and east Texas; and
       ``Whereas, the designation of the Louisiana black bear as a 
     threatened species is based upon questionably reliable 
     taxonomic and morphological distinctiveness; and
       ``Whereas, population estimates for the Louisiana black 
     bear are acknowledged by federal agencies to range in 
     accuracy from crude to little more than intuition; and
       ``Whereas, the United States has proposed to designate as 
     habitat for the Louisiana black bear an area comprised of 
     some three million acres, including one million two hundred 
     and fifty thousand acres of ``critical'' habitat in 
     Avoyelles, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Iberia, 
     Iberville, Pointe Coupee, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, 
     St. Mary, Tensas, and West Carroll parishes; and
       ``Whereas, the designation of said lands as a habitat for a 
     threatened species will effectively remove said lands from 
     commerce, and prevent, preclude, or prohibit the use of such 
     lands for economic growth and development, including 
     silvicultural and agricultural activities; and
       ``Whereas, the designation of habitat in the Atchafalaya 
     Basin may significantly and detrimentally affect ongoing 
     conservation programs of the state of Louisiana related to 
     this and other species; and
       ``Whereas, the United States has pursued this designation 
     of critical habitat prematurely on an inadequate scientific 
     basis without thorough and complete investigation and 
     evaluation of the short and long term cumulative and 
     synergistic effect of the proposed habitat designation; and
       ``Whereas, the proposed designation of critical habitat 
     poses an immediate and direct threat to the rights and 
     liberties of the citizens of the state.
       ``Therefore, be it resolved, That the Senate of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana hereby memorializes the United 
     States Congress, the secretary of the Department of Interior, 
     and the director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service to oppose the designation of critical habitat for the 
     Louisiana black bear in certain portions of south Louisiana, 
     as proposed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on 
     December 2, 1993.
       ``Be it further resolved, That the Senate of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana opposes the designation of any 
     habitat for the Louisiana black bear which designation is not 
     based on sound fundamental scientific principles and findings 
     regarding the criticality of any areas so designated to the 
     survival of a unique species.
       ``Be it further resolved, That the Senate of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana hereby urges and requests that an 
     environmental impact statement be prepared by the Department 
     of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service on all phases of the 
     proposed designation of habitat for the Louisiana black bear, 
     including consideration of the designation of the Louisiana 
     black bear as a threatened species and all socio-economic 
     consequences of the proposed habitat designation.
       ``Be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the Congress of the United States of America, 
     the secretary of the Department of Interior, and the director 
     of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.''
                                  ____

       POM-422. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of West Virginia; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                  ``Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5

       ``Whereas, much consideration is being given to the 
     enhancement of the nation's federal highway system; and
       ``Whereas, the mission of this effort is to enhance 
     commerce and highway safety; and
       ``Whereas, Interstate 73 would enhance southwestern West 
     Virginia's economic development by serving the communities of 
     Bluefield, Welch, Williamson, Logan and Huntington; and
       ``Whereas, the continued growth of the state in the 
     southwestern zone is being threatened by lack of sufficient 
     highways serving the region; therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
       ``That the state of West Virginia gives full support to the 
     construction of the I-73 linkage from Detroit, Michigan, to 
     Charleston, South Carolina; and, be it
       ``Further resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby 
     directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Senator 
     Robert C. Byrd and the United States Senate.''
                                  ____

       POM-423. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                    ``House Concurrent Memorial 2002

       ``Whereas, Arizona's public/private partnerships support 
     the concept of multistate collaboration in the planning of 
     the national highway system and intermodal transportation 
     systems as prescribed by the Intermodal Surface 
     Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991; and
       ``Whereas, negotiations on the proposed North American Free 
     Trade Agreement (NAFTA) were completed in August of 1992, 
     President George Bush signed the agreement in December of 
     1992 and ratification of the NAFTA by the United States 
     Congress is expected in the near future; and
       ``Whereas, the NAFTA will pull together a market of 
     approximately three hundred sixty million consumers in the 
     United States, Canada and Mexico; and
       ``Whereas, the competitive position of the individual 
     states and the nation in international trade is directly 
     related to the quality of the transportation system; and
       ``Whereas, several existing and emerging trade corridors 
     will be needed to serve the increased trade resulting from 
     the NAFTA; and
       ``Whereas, significant corridor opportunities exist to 
     provide continuous trade routes traversing over two thousand 
     miles from the port at Gaymas, Mexico through the state of 
     Arizona to the major cities of the Pacific northwest and 
     western Canada; and
       ``Whereas, among these corridors there is a three hundred 
     mile segment between Interstate 17 in Flagstaff, Arizona and 
     Interstate 15 in southern Utah that needs to be upgraded to 
     interstate standards; and
       ``Whereas, upgrading of this three hundred mile corridor 
     segment and other possible corridors through the state of 
     Arizona will positively impact the economies of at least six 
     western states.
       ``Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives 
     of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       ``1. That the United States Congress approve the concept of 
     extending Interstate 17 north from Flagstaff, Arizona to a 
     connection with Interstate 15 in southern Utah.
       ``2. That the United States Congress provide funding for 
     Arizona and Utah to study the economic and environmental 
     feasibility of this proposed extension and connection.
       ``3. That the United States Congress authorize funds for 
     the development of national trade corridors and trade routes 
     west of the Mississippi River, including the extension of 
     Interstate 17 and improvements to other possible trade routes 
     through Arizona, to serve the economic opportunities created 
     by the NAFTA.
       ``4. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, to the President of United States Senate, to 
     the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and 
     to each Member of the Arizona Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-424. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                   ``Senate Concurrent Memorial 1003

       ``Whereas, Arizona's public and private partnerships 
     support the concept of multistate collaboration in the 
     planning of the national highway system and intermodal 
     transportation systems as prescribed by the Intermodal 
     Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991; and
       ``Whereas, negotiations on the proposed North American Free 
     Trade Agreement (NAFTA) were completed in August of 1992, 
     President George Bush signed the agreement in December of 
     1992 and ratification of the NAFTA by the United States 
     Congress is expected in the near future; and
       ``Whereas, the North American Free Trade Agreement will 
     pull together a market of approximately three hundred sixty 
     million consumers in the United States, Canada and Mexico; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the competitive position of the individual 
     states and the nation in international trade is directly 
     related to the quality of the transportation system; and
       ``Whereas, several existing and emerging trade corridors 
     will be needed to serve the increased trade resulting from 
     the NAFTA; and
       ``Whereas, a significant corridor opportunity exists to 
     provide a continuous trade route traversing over two thousand 
     miles from the port at Guaymas, Mexico to the major cities of 
     the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada; and
       ``Whereas, within this corridor there is a three hundred 
     mile segment between Interstate 17 in Flagstaff, Arizona and 
     Interstate 15 in southern Utah that needs to be upgraded to 
     interstate standards; and
       ``Whereas, within this corridor there is a one hundred 
     fifty mile segment of US 93 from Sun City, Arizona to 
     Interstate 40 in northwest Arizona that needs to be upgraded 
     to interstate standards; and
       ``Whereas, upgrading of this three hundred mile corridor 
     segment, as well as state routes and primary arterials that 
     connect with the interstate systems along the continuous 
     trade route from the port at Guaymas, Mexico to western 
     Canada, will positively impact the economies of at least six 
     western states.
       ``Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of 
     Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:
       ``1. That the United States Congress approve the concept of 
     establishing a north-south trade corridor through the states 
     of Arizona and Utah to facilitate international trade with 
     the countries of Mexico and Canada.
       ``2. That the United States Congress provide funding for 
     Arizona and Utah to study the economic and environmental 
     feasibility of this proposed corridor.
       ``3. That the United States Congress authorize monies for 
     the development of national trade corridors and trade routes 
     west of the Mississippi River, including the extension of 
     Interstate 17 and the upgrading of US 93 to interstate 
     standards, to serve the economic opportunities created by the 
     NAFTA.
       ``4. That the United States Congress authorize monies for 
     improvements to state routes and primary arterials that 
     connect with the interstate systems that will have to handle 
     the influx of commercial traffic along the proposed trade 
     route from the port at Guaymas, Mexico to western Canada.
       ``5. That the United States Congress establish procedures 
     to ensure that federal and state transportation planning 
     efforts properly consider existing and emerging 
     transportation systems in Canada and Mexico.
       ``6. That the United States Congress establish procedures 
     to ensure that federal and state transportation departments 
     consult and cooperate with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and 
     the appropriate tribal leadership regarding the NAFTA--
     related transportation projects that pass through an Indian 
     Reservation.
       ``7. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, to the President of the United States Senate, 
     to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 
     and to each Member of the Arizona Congressional Delegation.''

                          ____________________