[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR THE EXCHANGE OF LANDS WITHIN ADMIRALTY ISLAND NATIONAL 
                                MONUMENT

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 213, H.R. 1266.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1266) to provide for the exchange of lands 
     within Admiralty Island National Monument, and for other 
     purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to join with the senior Senator 
from Alaska to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1266.
  This bill ratifies a land exchange agreement in Alaska between the 
Forest Service and the Kennecott Greens Creek Mining Co. The agreement 
will help provide 300 jobs in Alaska, promote sound economic and 
environmentally responsible resource development, and further the 
interest of land consolidation on conservation systems in the Tongass 
National Forest.
  Mr. President, this bill has bipartisan support. Chairman Don Young 
was the author of the bill in the House and as a result of his efforts, 
the bill passed the House of Representatives with support from the 
ranking member of the Resource Committee. Chairman Don Young deserves 
credit for his hard work on this bill.
  In the Senate, the Greens Creek Land Exchange was reported out the 
Energy and Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent. The bill 
is supported by the Forest Service and local environmental 
organizations.
  Mr. President, let me explain the history of the Greens Creek Mine 
and this agreement. The Greens Creek Mine was located under the mining 
laws while the area was still part of the general National Forest area. 
As you may know, in 1980 the area became part of the Admiralty Island 
National Monument through the enactment of the Alaska National Interest 
Lands Conservation Act [ANILCA]. Because this mine had world-class 
potential, Congress made special provisions in the act to ensure that 
the mine could go forward.
  I was pleased to participate in the opening ceremonies of the Greens 
Creek Mine. The mine provided high-paying jobs to Juneau residents and 
supported the local economy. Unfortunately, low metal prices caused the 
temporary closure of the mine in April 1993. Kennecott worked 
diligently to reorient its mining development plan to permit the mine 
to reopen. In fact, they recently announced plans to reopen the mine 
during the next several months.
  Mr. President, this land exchange is the combination is a 10-year 
effort by Kennecott to deal with one of the problems created by the 
special management regime in ANILCA. Although that regime permitted the 
perfection and patenting of certain claims, it did not provide an 
adequate time for exploration of all the area of mineral potential 
surrounding the Greems Creek Mine.
  Since Kennecott determined that it would be unable to fully explore 
all the areas of interest during the 5-year time period it was allowed 
to provide exploration under ANILCA, it has been searching for a way to 
explore these areas.
  They have engaged in a multiyear negotiation with the Forest Service 
to develop a land exchange which would permit access to the area in a 
manner which is compatible with the monument designation provided by 
Congress in 1980.
  In other words, the land exchange allows exploration under strict 
environmental regulations. The terms of the exchange require Kennecott 
to utilize its existing facilities to the maximum extend possible to 
ensure minimal changes to the existing footprint.
  Additionally, the development of any areas once explored would be 
under the same management regime by which Kennecott developed the 
existing Greens Creek Mine.
  This land exchange also provides other major benefits to the 
Government, the community, and the environment.
  At the end of mining, Kennecott will revert its existing patented 
claims and any other claims which it holds on Admiralty Island to the 
Federal Government.
  Kennecott will also fund the acquisition of over 1 million dollars' 
worth of inholdings in the Admiralty Island National Monument and other 
conservation system units in the Tongass.
  Finally, the exchange improves the likelihood that 300 jobs will 
return to the Juneau area for many years to come.
  Mr. President, the Greens Creek Land Exchange is good policy. I 
congratulate Kennecott and the Forest Service for negotiating a fair 
agreement and urge the President to sign the bill as soon as possible.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
deemed read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be placed at 
the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (H.R. 1266) was considered and passed.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I make the request of the clerk, who is 
asking me to do that on behalf of leadership, to discount any 
personalized knowledge as to the complexities which we have ruled upon.
  I have been asked to further make this request for unanimous consent.

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