[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H3100-H3101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DESIGNATING THE GREAT WESTERN SCENIC TRAIL AS A STUDY TRAIL
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 531) to designate the Great Western Scenic Trail as a study
trail under the National Trails System Act, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 531
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. POTENTIAL ADDITION OF GREAT WESTERN SCENIC TRAIL
TO NATIONAL TRAIL SYSTEM GREAT WESTERN TRAIL.
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C.
1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(38) The Great Western Scenic Trail, a system of trails
to accommodate a variety of travel users in a corridor of
approximately 3,100 miles in length extending from the
Arizona-Mexico border to the Idaho-Montana-Canada border,
following the approximate route depicted on the map
identified as `Great Western Trail Corridor, 1988', which
shall be on file and available for public inspection in the
Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, United States
Department of Agriculture. The trail study shall be
conducted
[[Page H3101]] by the Secretary of Agriculture, in
consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, in
accordance with subsection (b) and shall include--
``(A) the current status of land ownership and current and
potential use along the designated route;
``(B) the estimated cost of acquisition of lands or
interests in lands, if any; and
``(C) an examination of the appropriateness of motorized
trail use along the trail.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah [Mr. Hansen] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman
from New Mexico [Mr. Richardson] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen].
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. HANSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 531 is a noncontroversial measure that
would simply study the prospect of adding the Great Western Trail to
the National Trails System. The Great Western Trail extends from Mexico
to Canada through the Rocky Mountain West and will take advantage of
existing roads, trails, and corridors that enjoy nearly all types of
recreational travel. The Great Western Trail is envisioned as truly a
western trail. This corridor celebrates the heritage and spirit of the
West and the many types of recreational travel people enjoy. Whether
you prefer horseback, backpack, canoe, mountain bike, or four-wheel
drive, the Great Western Trail will provide you access to the most
scenic areas of the West.
There was much discussion in our subcommittee hearing regarding
possible conflicts with private property. This is exactly what this
trail study is designed to accomplish. H.R. 531, with the amendment I
offered in subcommittee, will specifically look at the current status
of landownership and the estimated cost of any acquisition if
necessary. We cannot know what those impacts will be until this study
is completed. I can assure the Members that private property rights are
of a highest concern to me and this study will simply let Congress know
what the potential impacts will be, giving us sufficient information to
decide at a later time whether or not to actually designate this trail.
The amendment to H.R. 531 adopted in subcommittee would delete the
language regarding the inventory of rights-of-way along the corridor
and would replace that language with the protections called for in the
National Trails System Act. The amendment also retains the requirement
that the Secretary look at the appropriateness of motorized trail use.
I believe this amendment will ensure that the Secretary include in the
study a complete look at possible private property conflicts prior to
actual congressional designation of the trail. I urge the Members to
support H.R. 531.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 531, as amended, is a good bill
which will provide for a study of the proposed Great Western Trail for
possible designation as a national trail. While the bill only provides
for a study, the subcommittee hearing on H.R. 531 entailed a
considerable discussion about the possible impacts a trail could have
on private property. Having authored national trail legislation myself,
I have always found such trails to be highly popular with the public,
with good relations among the affected interests and property owners.
In any event, this bill just provides for a study, so that if any
problems do exist they can be identified and perhaps addressed during
the study process.
H.R. 531 was amended by the Resources Committee to substantively
modify the bill language regarding the detailed identification of
rights-of-way and private property along the proposed trail. This was
an improvement over the bill, as introduced. I was concerned, as was
the administration, about the original bill language's potential cost
and workability. The committee amendment reintegrates the provisions of
the National Trails System Act on these matters. I believe such
language addresses any concerns. Therefore I support the bill as
amended and recommend its adoption by the House.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 531, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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