[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 199 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE STERLING FOREST

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 13, 1995

  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce, along with 
my colleagues Richard Pombo and Frank Lucas, the Federal Lands 
Prioritization Act of 1995. This legislation will sell idle public 
lands deemed pointless for Federal ownership and will use the proceeds 
to purchase Sterling Forest; therefore ending the funding deadlock that 
has existed in Congress with regard to Sterling Forest.
  With the help of Representatives Pombo and Lucas, I now introduce a 
bill that, not only saves Sterling Forest, but also specifies a funding 
source for its acquisition. Last week I heard of Representative Frank 
Lucas' desire to sell public lands in Oklahoma and approached 
Representative Pombo of the House Resources Committee to propose that 
Sterling Forest be the beneficiary of funds from those Federal lands 
being reverted to private ownership.
  Together, we were able to propose a bill that makes the Federal land 
acquisition process more fiscally responsible, and sets a precedent 
that the Federal Government reprioritize its land holding policies and 
streamline its inventory to better target budget resources and meet 
environmental goals.
  As a Passaic County Freeholder, I understood early on the need to 
take action to protect Sterling Forest. In fact, during my service on 
the Passaic County Board of Freeholders, the board was the first entity 
to secure part of Sterling Forest in 1993--purchasing 2,000 acres. I 
have since been looking forward to the day that the reserve would have 
complete Federal protection. Selling dead-weight public lands to buy 
Sterling Forest is a fiscally responsible solution to a decade-old 
stalemate.
  Located in southern New York and bordering northern New Jersey, 
Sterling Forest, in its current undeveloped State, is important to 
the residents of both States for a variety of reasons.

  Sterling Forest is a 17,500-acre water and recreational reserve that 
area residents and public officials have repeatedly requested the 
Federal Government protect. Stalls in the actual purchase have been 
attributed to budget-cutting times and the concern about adding more 
public land to the already bloated Federal Government inventory.
  As a recreational area for New York and New Jersey, Sterling Forest 
offers a haven for families and individuals interested in leaving 
behind stresses of everyday life. The picturesque beauty of this 
natural sanctuary provides a wide variety of outdoor activities for the 
enjoyment of everyone. Sterling Forest even serves as a connections to 
the Northeast with the Appalachian trail winding its way through the 
forest's rough terrain.
  Most importantly, however, Sterling Forest is a watershed for most of 
northern New Jersey and the surrounding area. It provides nearly 2 
million New Jersey residents with clean and safe drinking water.
  Proposed development and urbanization of this area will destroy a 
great bounty of natural resources to the entire Northeast. Furthermore, 
if the land is developed, the water that flows from Sterling Forest 
could become polluted. The only viable solution at that point would be 
to build a water treatment center at the cost of $150 million to New 
Jersey taxpayers. Not only would this cost the taxpayers revenue they 
just don't have, but it is, at best, a second-rate solution. 
Truthfully, Mr. Speaker, there is just no comparison between treated 
water and water from a natural watershed such as Sterling Forest.
  Sterling Forest is an issue of national significance, involving one 
of Government's most essential functions: the preservation of a vital, 
life-sustaining resource--water. As stated before, Sterling Forest 
provides clean water for 2 million Americans in New Jersey alone--a 
fact that transcends any suggestion of parochial interests.
  For this reason, an alliance of governmental agencies and public 
interest groups have joined together in the fight to save this vital 
resource. This legislation sets up a management and fiscal partnership 
between all levels of Government. In fact, purchasing this land is just 
a one-time expense. The Department of the Interior will not be burdened 
by the costs of managing and maintaining the forest, for this will be 
done jointly by New York and New Jersey. A partnership such as this of 
local, State, and Federal Government is positive for all involved and 
should serve as a model for future land acquisition. It is our 
responsibility to protect Sterling Forest and assure an ample water 
supply for generations to come.

  It is important to note that there is a bipartisan consensus to save 
Sterling Forest. Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey has already 
sponsored a bill in the U.S. Senate, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman of New 
Jersey signed the appropriation and authorization of $10 million toward 
the project, and Gov. George Pataki of New York approved the 1995-96 
budget including $18 million for land conservation. Many members in the 
New Jersey delegation have been active in the collective pursuit of 
this achievement, and I commend them for all they have done.
  The States and the Federal Government have been working to preserve 
this vital resource to insure that Sterling Forest is around to meet 
both the recreation and environment needs of the area. It is time that 
we realize our goals.
  No matter how you look at this project, saving the forest yields no 
negative repercussions. The preservation of a vital source of water to 
one of the most populated areas of the country is not simply a laudable 
aspiration, but rather a necessary undertaking. Furthermore, the 
residents are opposed to development; the local governments are opposed 
to development; and the taxpayers are opposed to development.
  Three sites totalling 56,000 acres will be put up for sale to the 
private sector: Optima ``Lake''--the failed flood control project, 
which now consists of a 17,000-foot earthen dam and a dry lake bed 
(13,500 acres), Black Kettle National Grasslands (30,710 acres), and 
Rita Blanca National Grasslands (13,576 acres). Both Black Kettle and 
Rita Blanca are odd-lot Federal tracts. These proceeds will be 
earmarked for the purchase of the Washita National Battlefield and 
Sterling Forest.
  Please support this budget-friendly preservation of land that 
actually needs the Federal Government protection. Support the Federal 
Lands Prioritization Act of 1995.

                          ____________________