[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 79 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      THE VANCOUVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                          HON. JOLENE UNSOELD

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 1994

  Mrs. UNSOELD. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
provide for the long-term preservation and interpretation of the 
significant cultural, natural, and recreational resources located in 
the relatively small area of Vancouver, WA. My bill would establish a 
Federal, State, and local partnership to coordinate the management of 
public properties that represent some of the most significant and 
interesting history in the Pacific Northwest.
  Vancouver might be described as the cradle of civilization and 
settlement in the Pacific Northwest. Native Americans built a rich 
cultural and trading center along the shores of the Columbia River, and 
there came into contact with such early American explorers as Lewis and 
Clark. Later in the 19th century and early 20th century English and 
American settlements and military forces were headquartered in 
Vancouver. Since the early 20th century, Vancouver has been home to one 
of the oldest and most historically significant operating airports in 
the country. Each of these chapters in the history of the Northwest and 
the United States are represented by sites and facilities clustered in 
Vancouver's historic district.
  Six principal sites make up the historic area of Vancouver:
  One.--Fort Vancouver was founded in 1825 and served as the regional 
headquarters for the Hudson's Bay Company. The fort was seminal to 
European settlement and commercial growth in the Pacific Northwest and 
is now the re-constructed fort--a National Historic Site owned and 
managed by the National Park Service.
  Two.--The Vancouver Barracks are immediately adjacent to Fort 
Vancouver. From the mid-19th century until World War I the barracks 
were the principal administrative outpost of the U.S. Army in the 
Pacific Northwest.
  Three.--Officers Row is an avenue of 21 elegant houses overlooking 
Fort Vancouver and the Columbia River. For over 100 years, Officers Row 
housed some of our Nation's greatest military leaders. Officers Row was 
recently acquired from the Department of the Army and restored by the 
city of Vancouver.
  Four.--Between the Columbia River and Fort Vancouver lies Pearson 
Airpark, one of the oldest continuously operating commercial airports 
in the Nation. Pearson is managed by the city of Vancouver and 
partially owned by the National Park Service. The airpark has played an 
important role in the history of military and civilian aviation in the 
Northwest, including the landing of Valeri Chkalov, the ``Soviet 
Lindbergh,'' marking the first transpolar flight between Russia and the 
United States. Today Pearson is a home to a diverse array of 
historically significant aircraft, and an acclaimed air museum.
  Five.--The Columbia waterfront links the history of all these sites. 
Pieces of the waterfront currently owned by the National Park Service 
were the site of early Indian activity landings by the explorers.
  Six.--The Marine Park is a stretch of mostly wild and undeveloped 
land along the Columbia River which captures the natural ambiance of 
the river before the arrival of French, British, and early American 
explorers.
  Mr. Speaker, the concentration of these historic sites--all located 
in one 366-acre corner of Vancouver, WA--presents both management 
opportunities and challenges. For example, one of the critical issues 
facing the city of Vancouver, the National Park Service, and interested 
parties in the Vancouver area has been the future of Pearson Airpark. 
In 1972, the city's of Vancouver sold the eastern half of the Pearson 
runway to the Park Service, which planned, after the expiration of the 
city lease in 2002, to replace that part of the runway with 
interpretive plantings around the reconstructed Fort. Since the sale, a 
growing appreciation for the importance of Pearson's role in aviation 
and national history along with the region's demand for general 
aviation facilities has triggered a reconsideration of the future of 
aviation at Pearson, as well as a rethinking about the future of the 
entire historic district of Vancouver.

  In 1990 under the guidance of Chairman Vento, I authored successful 
legislation to respond to the managerial challenges facing the region 
by establishing a commission to analyze various management strategies 
for these historic properties. The commission was composed of 
representatives of the major entities interested in the area, including 
the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the city of 
Vancouver, and the State of Washington. The commission completed its 
work in April 1993 by recommending that a partnership be established to 
ensure effective, coordinated management of the area.
  The legislation that I am introducing today implements the findings 
of the commission as reported in the April 1993 study. Specifically, it 
will establish a local, State, and Federal partnership that will draw 
upon the expertise and experience of the National Park Service as a 
partner in managing and protecting of this entire area. The bill will 
protect Fort Vancouver and interpret the period of history that it 
represents. And it will also preserve and enhance Pearson Airpark, the 
Vancouver Barracks, Officers Row, the Columbia Riverfront, and the 
Marine Park, and the equally significant historic periods and events 
which they represent. Most importantly, by unifying and coordinating 
the management of all of these historical assets, the partnership will 
develop the full educational, recreational and historical potential of 
the proposed heritage area.
  What makes this bill exciting is that by creating a partnership and 
leveraging non-Federal participation, this legislation will preserve 
and interpret these important parts of our history at a fraction of the 
cost to the Federal Government of having the Federal Government 
purchase all the lands in the 366-acre site.
  The best history of our Nation isn't written in books, it's in the 
buildings, lands, and waterways of historic areas. When we visit these 
areas and when we take our children to them, we understand the past and 
we connect it to the future. I'm fortunate to have such a historic area 
in my district. For the people of Vancouver, for the visitors to the 
Pacific Northwest, and for the children who need to understand their 
own history; I urge my colleagues to support the Vancouver National 
Heritage Area Partnership Act of 1994.

    Section-by-Section Summary of H.R.     , the Vancouver National 
          Heritage Area Partnership Act of 1994--June 21, 1994


                         section 1. short title

       The act may be cited as the ``Vancouver National Heritage 
     Area Partnership Act of 1994''.


                    section 2. findings and purpose

       The proposed heritage area includes sites and facilities in 
     Vancouver, Washington which represent distinct and 
     overlapping historic themes and periods. The purpose of this 
     act is to preserve, enhance, and interpret the significant 
     aspects of the lands, water, structures and history of the 
     proposed heritage area, and to provide a partnership that 
     will develop and implement an integrated management program 
     to achieve these aims.


                         section 3. definitions

              section 4. vancouver national heritage area

       Establishes the Vancouver National Heritage Area. The area 
     shall include: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 
     Vancouver Barracks, Pearson Airfield and Museum, Officers 
     Row, Old Apple Tree Park, the Marine Park and the identified 
     waterfront area, as well as the indicated path and easements.


        section 5. vancouver national heritage area partnership

       Establishes the Vancouver National Heritage Area 
     Partnership to oversee the protection, enhancement, and 
     development of the heritage area. The Partnership shall be 
     composed of five members appointed by the Secretary who 
     represent the interests of the Department of the Interior 
     (National Park Service), the State of Washington, Department 
     of the Army, City of Vancouver, and the general public. Each 
     member shall serve on a volunteer basis, except that their 
     expenses may be reimbursed by the Partnership.


                  section 6. staff of the partnership

       The Partnership shall have the power to appoint and fix 
     compensation of such staff as may be necessary to carry out 
     its duties. The Partnership may also accept the services of 
     staff from federal agencies and State and local governments, 
     for which such entities will be reimbursed.


                  section 7. powers of the partnership

       Partnership members will continue to exercise primary 
     management responsibility for the lands and facilities over 
     which they currently have jurisdiction. The Partnership will 
     be authorized to: hold hearings, receive gifts, enter 
     cooperative agreements, establish advisory groups, and 
     perform other actions.


         section 8. compact between members of the partnership

       Within 12 months after it conducts its first meeting the 
     Partnership shall prepare, sign and submit to the Secretary a 
     compact that identifies the members of the Partnership, the 
     goals of the heritage area, the responsibilities of each 
     member of the Partnership, and the objectives that are likely 
     to be included in the management plan.


                Section 9. Heritage Area Management Plan

       Within 36 months after it convenes its first meeting, the 
     Partnership shall develop and submit to the Secretary a plan 
     that defines a timetable for the various actions of the 
     Partnership and the development of specific programs and 
     facilities in the heritage area.


                      Section 10. Pearson Airpark

       The Partnership will develop the Pearson Airpark Viability 
     and Mitigation Plan. This Plan would propose incentives and 
     regulations to encourage a transition from basing 
     predominantly general aviation aircraft to basing historic 
     aircraft at Pearson. This transition shall be completed by 
     April 3, 2022, unless a continuation of general aviation is 
     expressly authorized by Congress. Also included in the 
     Pearson Economic Plan would be a report to Congress regarding 
     the advisability of continuing to base some general aviation 
     at Pearson, and a program to mitigate any conflicts related 
     to the operation of the Airpark and the other activities 
     within the heritage area.
       In addition, the city of Vancouver shall be required to 
     removes all non historic, aviation-related buildings and 
     devices from the property of the National Park Service by 
     2003. The city of Vancouver will rent land from the National 
     Park Service for the Airpark and the Air Museum, and shall be 
     liable and responsible for the use and operation of these 
     facilities. The National Park Service will be required to 
     approve all structural improvements and additions to the Air 
     Museum facilities on Park Service property.


       Section 11. Duties and Powers of the Secretary of Interior

       The National Park Service shall be the lead federal agency 
     for implementing the management plan, and planning, designing 
     and supervising all common heritage area facilities. Upon 
     request of the Partnership, the Secretary may provide grants 
     and technical assistance to prepare the compact and to 
     prepare and implement the management plan. In consultation 
     with the Partnership, the Secretary shall approve or 
     disapprove the management plan.


              Section 12. Duties of Other Federal entities

       Other federal entities shall cooperate with the Secretary 
     and the Partnership in carrying out their duties under this 
     Act.


              Section 13. Authorization of Appropriations

       There is authorized such funds as may be necessary to carry 
     out this Act. The federal share of the cost for the heritage 
     area in any fiscal year may not exceed 50 percent of the 
     total cost of the heritage area.

                          ____________________