[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E550-E551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       VIRGINIA NATIONAL PARKS ACT

                                 ______


                       HON. THOMAS J. BLILEY, JR.

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 1995
  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce legislation 
that responds to the concerns of Virginians regarding national parks in 
the Commonwealth. The Virginia National Parks bill confronts a number 
of Virginia's pressing park issues, addressing Shenandoah National 
Park, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Shenandoah Valley National 
Battlefields, and Colonial Parkway.
  First, my bill addresses constituent concerns about the expansion of 
Shenandoah National Park and Richmond National Battlefield Park. These 
two parks share an unusual status in that they are each a relatively 
small park with a much larger authorized boundary. The result of this 
situation is that, unlike the vast majority of national parks, these 
parks can expand whenever they want, without congressional approval or 
proper representation of local communities' interests.
  While Shenandoah National Park includes 196,000 acres of land, its 
enormous 1926 authorized boundary includes 521,000 acres, enveloping 
parts of many surrounding communities. Similarly, while Richmond 
National Battlefield is composed of several small sites surrounding 
Richmond, its sprawling 1936 authorized boundary includes about 250 
square miles of the metropolitan area.
  Many citizens and local governments within the authorized boundaries 
of both the Shenandoah and Richmond parks fear that there is a cloud 
hanging over local property titles and that the parks could expand 
without a fair consideration of the local communities' concerns. My 
bill would put to rest these fears by amending the two parks' 
authorized boundaries to conform to the land that the National Park 
Service currently owns. This legislation doesn't preclude future 
expansion of these parks. It simply gives the people most affected by 
park expansion a proper voice in the decision. I believe that these 
provisions will relieve the long-standing tensions between these parks 
and their neighbors and promote more cooperative and fruitful 
relationships.
  Another provision of my bill responds to a Virginia General Assembly 
resolution asking for legislation to allow for the maintenance of 
secondary roads inside Shenandoah National Park. Since the park's 
inception in 1935, Virginia has maintained and operated secondary roads 
in the park under a series of temporary-use permits. These permits have 
recently expired and the National Parks Service has not renewed them, 
leaving the State without permission to maintain the roads. Many of 
these secondary highways are regularly traveled by school buses and are 
badly in need of repairs and safety improvements. My bill returns these 
roads to the State so that they can be properly maintained.
  This legislation I introduced today also incorporates the provisions 
of the Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields Partnership Act, 
legislation sponsored by Congressman Wolf, which passed the other body 
last year. This legislation conserves for future generations 10 Civil 
War battlefields of the Shenandoah Valley. Importantly, the act 
accomplishes these goals without infringing on the rights of private 
 [[Page E551]] property owners. This legislation establishes 
partnerships between Federal, State, and local governments and the 
private sector to conserve and interpret the legacy of some of the most 
vital battlefields of the Civil War.
  Another provision of my bill authorizes the National Parks Service to 
buy a small plot of land for the Colonial Parkway near Jamestown.
  The Virginia National Parks bill addresses the concerns of Virginians 
on a variety of issues pertaining to national parks and I welcome the 
support of my colleagues in cosponsoring this legislation.


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