[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1679-E1680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE LAMPREY 
     RIVER AS COMPONENTS OF THE NATIONAL WILD & SCENIC RIVER SYSTEM

                                 ______


                      HON. WILLIAM H. ZELIFF, JR.

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Mr. ZELIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today at the request of the citizens 
and elected and appointed officials of the towns of Lee, Durham, and 
Newmarket, NH, to introduce legislation that adds the portion of the 
Lamprey River which flows through these towns to the Wild & Scenic 
Rivers system.
  This is a special day for me, as the first legislation I introduced 
when I first took office in 1990 was the legislation authorizing the 
study of the Lamprey for inclusion in the Wild & Scenic program. For 
the last 5 years my staff and I have worked with the Lamprey River 
Advisory Committee consisting of local representatives, the New 
Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and the National Park 
Service to study the Lamprey River and educate both the involved towns 
and river-front landowners of the effort underway and of the tremendous 
natural assets the river possesses.
  The results of this study are that the river is eligible for 
inclusion in the Wild & Scenic program. However, determining that the 
studied portion of the Lamprey is eligible was just the first step in 
this process. Next came the challenge of soliciting the opinions and 
input of landowners, citizens, town boards, and elected officials in 
the development of a detailed river management plan to serve as the 
basis for local votes in support of, or in opposition to, Wild & Scenic 
designation. It has always been my policy that I will submit 
designating legislation for a portion of a river only if the impacted 
townspeople, or their local elected officials, vote in favor of seeking 
such designation.
  The Lamprey River Advisory Committee initiated a comprehensive, and 
very effective and heartfelt effort to involve local elected officials 
and citizens in the development of the management plan, as well as to 
explain exactly what designation would entail and why, in the 
committee's opinion, it would be a good thing for the river and for 
river-front landowners.

[[Page E1680]]

  The towns of Durham, Newmarket, and Lee have all expressed vigorous 
support for the inclusion of the river in the program. Although the 
portion of the Lamprey in the town of Epping was included in the study 
and deemed eligible for inclusion in the program, the town has opted 
not to vote on designation at this time but may seek designation for 
its portion of the river at some point in the future.
  The management of the Lamprey will be based on the locally-developed 
river management plan. The plan emphasizes the importance of both 
individual responsibility to ``Tread Lightly'' and of local zoning laws 
and public education. Federal acquisition of land by condemnation is 
prohibited. In essence this plan will insure that local concerns and 
interests are the basis for the management of the river. The State of 
New Hampshire will continue to be involved in the management of the 
river, as it has since the river was included in the State's River 
Protection Program in 1988. Additionally, the National Park Service 
will continue to offer its assistance to the Lamprey River Advisory 
Committee as it is needed.
  In closing, there has been a great deal of discussion here in 
Washington on the issue of what the Federal Government's role should be 
when it comes to the protection of our natural resources. The local, 
State, Federal partnership that has developed in relation to the 
Lamprey River is a perfect example of the direction we must head in; 
namely, an emphasis on local input and control, with State and Federal 
agencies working to assist and provide information and expertise where 
appropriate.
  I am very proud to submit this legislation at the request of my 
constituents in Lee, Newmarket, and Durham, NH, as well as for the 
scores of people who use the Lamprey River for the recreational and 
educational opportunities it offers. I am also very pleased to see the 
circle completed, having initiated both the legislation to study the 
river and today's legislation to include the studied portion of the 
Lamprey in Lee, Newmarket, and Durham in the Wild & Scenic program. I 
am grateful that the citizens of New Hampshire have given me this 
opportunity.


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