[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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