[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4770-S4773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
OMNIBUS PARKS BILL
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, last Wednesday, the Senate passed H.R.
1296, the omnibus parks bill, by unanimous consent. I recognize that
this legislation had indeed gone through the mill. However, I am
pleased that we reached this agreement and passed this important bill
with strong bipartisan support.
In particular, I want to express my strong support for one title of
this bill, the Snowbasin Land Exchange Act, which was included within
the bill.
This measure contains provisions that will enable the U.S. Forest
Service and the Sun Valley Co. to prepare the Snowbasin Ski Resort,
which is located 40 miles north of Salt Lake City, for the major alpine
skiing events of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Utah. It
also concludes a land exchange process that began more than 11 years
ago.
I want to acknowledge the efforts of Senators Dole and Murkowski, who
have worked diligently to forge this package so that this particular
measure could pass the Senate and move forward in the legislative
process.
As my colleagues know, the International Olympic Committee selected
Salt Lake City to host the 2002 Winter
[[Page S4771]]
Olympic Games last June. I was honored to be present in Budapest when
this announcement was made.
Snowbasin, which is owned by the Sun Valley Co., was identified as
the site of six major Olympic downhill and slalom ski events. It was
selected due to its magnificent mountain with ideal terrain, elevation,
and techincal difficulty for Olympic competition.
It is estimated that Olympic racers will reach speeds exceeding 80
miles per hour in the first 5 seconds of competition on the Snowbasin
downhill course, a course that has been designed by Bernard Russi of
Switzerland, an Olympic medalist and internationally recognized Alpine
course designer.
In order to accommodate the planned events at Snowbasin, which are
estimated to have a television audience of nearly 3 billion people
worldwide, major new skiing, visitor, and support facilities will have
to be constructed at Snowbasin. Some of these facilities will be
constructed on the ski mountain, while other facilities are needed at
the base of the mountain.
Failure to pass the provisions that are included in this bill for
Snowbasin would have greatly jeopardized the success of the 2002
Olympic Games and, in general, sullied the reputation of U.S. Olympic
hosts before an international audience. So I appreciate the support of
my colleagues for these provisions.
My colleagues should understand that this legislation is a land
exchange--not a giveaway. The legislation exchanges 1,320 acres of
national forest land at the base of Snowbasin to the Sun Valley Co.
This transfer will allow development of base facilities that are needed
for the Olympics.
These facilities include a new access road, the Olympic stadium and
gateway, parking, day lodges, restaurants, and other support buildings.
These facilities will greatly increase services and amenities to the
public during the Olympics. They will also become the nucleus of a
world-class competitive venue at Snowbasin in future years.
It is altogether consistent with Forest Service policy that base
lands at ski areas be privatized for development. As my colleagues are
well aware, land exchanges have been routinely utilizied for this
purpose.
In return for the 1,320 acres, the Forest Service will receive more
than 4,100 acres of private lands with outstanding environmental,
recreational, and other values. Each of these lands has been identified
by Forest Service officials as highly desirable for acquisition to
benefit the public and the long-term management purposes of the Forest
Service in northern Utah.
Some of this acreage is immediately adjacent to Snowbasin; another
parcel is on the outskirts of the city of Ogden. In fact, one of the
parcels--Lightning Ridge--will open access to thousands of acres of
Forest Service land that is currently inaccessible to the public.
These are precisely the types of public benefits that should be
realized in land exchanges. The new Olympic quality recreational
opportunities added at Snowbasin, coupled with major additions to the
national forest, clearly make the exchange a win-win for the public.
When completed, the land exchange will add over 4 square miles of
land to the National Forest System in Utah.
Mr. President, there has been considerable discussion on this bill
regarding the so-called sufficiency language in the bill that exempts
the initial portions of development at Snowbasin from certain Federal
environmental laws. Let me discuss this for my colleagues.
Once the land exchange is completed, the ski mountain will remain as
National Forest System land. In order to prepare the ski mountain for
the Olympic events, numerous modifications are needed. These
modifications are referred to in the overall development plan for
Snowbasin as phase I and relate to the race courses for the competitors
as well as needed amenities for the public.
These items include new chair lifts, new and expanded courses,
helicopter pads for medivac purposes, snowmaking, safety netting, and a
mountain restaurant for food and warming purposes. It is estimated that
at least three summer construction seasons will be needed to construct
these facilities.
Moreover, to enable ski competitors to race the mountain prior to the
Olympics, and to test the new facilities for safety and other purposes,
international skiing events have been scheduled at Snowbasin beginning
in 1999.
I hope my colleagues can see that we must immediately begin the
process of preparing Snowbasin for important Olympic and pre-Olympic
events.
To accomplish this goal, Congress needs to provide general approval
to facilities that need to be constructed on national forest lands at
Snowbasin for the Olympics, to put the construction of these facilities
on a timetable, and to protect the decisions of the Forest Service
during this process from appeals and lawsuits. Without such action,
construction of these facilities could be delayed for years.
Regrettably, this type of delay is precisely what is currently being
experienced at Snowbasin.
A 1994 Forest Service decision to allow construction of a small chair
lift and new ski run on the mountain has been appealed and litigated
and is now before a Federal district court in Salt Lake City.
Construction of the lift has already been delayed for 2 years and the
matter could remain in the courts well into the future. Therefore, this
legislation allows the construction of traditional mountain facilities
at Snowbasin that are needed for important Olympic and pre-Olympic
events.
However, my colleagues should realize that over the years, Snowbasin
has been subject to numerous environmental studies and reviews. In
fact, in testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management, I displayed a huge stack of these studies.
Since 1990, the Forest Service has prepared, among many items, an
environmental impact statement and an environmental analysis on base
mountain lands at Snowbasin. The public was fully involved in the
development of these documents.
The Snowbasin master plan, referenced in the legislation, has been
developed taking into full account the environmental considerations
noted in these studies. Also, the Sun Valley Company has frequently
consulted with the Forest Service to ensure that environmental aspects
of the land exchange are properly considered.
Our legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to impose
construction and operation conditions on the Sun Valley Co. that are
consistent with Forest Service policies to protect forest resources.
Further, the Forest Service is empowered to make any changes to the
facilities to protect public health and safety, including water
quality.
I think it is also safe to say that no one would want to visit this
area if it were an environmental wreck. There is clearly an economic
incentive to doing this the right way. Responsible development of this
land is necessary any way you look at it.
Also, we learned from testimony provided by the members of the Salt
Lake organizing committee that one of the reasons Snowbasin was
selected as the site for the Olympic downhill races was to keep Olympic
downhill events from being conducted in the environmentally sensitive
canyon areas immediately adjacent to Salt Lake City.
I am pleased to note that the significant addition of land to the
National Forest System resulting from this legislation will be
accomplished without having to spend scarce land and water conservation
fund dollars.
Moreover, our legislation ensures that an equal value exchange in
every respect will be conducted, and there will not be a giveaway of
any kind to the Sun Valley Company. Instead, the Sun Valley Company
will assume the economic risks and costs of preparing Snowbasin to the
highest of Olympic standards for the 2002 Winter Games.
Mr. President, I again want to extend my sincere thanks to each
member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee--all of
whom endorsed this legislation. The efforts of Senators Murkowski,
Craig, and Bumpers, and my Utah colleague, Senator Bennett, have helped
to perfect this bill and move it forward.
Again, I want to thank the majority leader for his leadership in
solving the impasse that had developed over the earlier version of the
omnibus parks bill.
Having said that, I must admit my disappointment that one title of
the original package, the Utah wilderness
[[Page S4772]]
bill, has been deleted from the bill. I would have preferred that the
Senate adopt this measure as well, but I know a roadblock when I see
one. I will continue to work on those provisions that could not be
included in this package.
However, everyone in this chamber should know that this is a
temporary setback for our Utah wilderness bill. Our bill is not dead,
as many have said or wished. I am just as committed today as I was
during the recent filibuster to see this body pass legislation that
resolves this 17-year-old problem that has plagued our State.
As I mentioned, Senator Dole has demonstrated tremendous leadership
to forge the compromise that allowed the omnibus bill to pass, and his
suggestion for a temporary detour around the matter of Utah Wilderness
and Sterling Forest enables the other important provisions of the
omnibus parks bill to move forward, including the Snowbasin exchange. I
commend him for that.
Mr. President, Snowbasin will be an electrifying site for the
prestigious skiing events of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The huge
challenge that Snowbasin will present to the international competitors
will be a true test of their Olympic ability. America is fortunate to
be selected as the host nation for these games, and Salt Lake City is
honored to be the host city. I thank my colleagues for supporting this
urgently needed legislation to make these games a reality at Snowbasin.
I ask unanimous consent that a letter from Utah Governor Mike
Leavitt, a resolution from the Ogden City Council, an editorial from
the Salt Lake Tribune, and a resolution from the Utah State
Legislature--all expressing support for this legislation--be inserted
in the Record at this point.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
State of Utah,
Office of the Governor,
Salt Lake City, December 12, 1995.
Representative James V. Hansen,
Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands,
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Jim: I am writing in strong support of H.R. 2402, the
Snowbasin Land Exchange legislation, and its companion bill
in the Senate, S. 1371. I applaud your efforts, as Chairman
of the subcommittee of jurisdiction, in holding hearings and
gaining co-sponsors.
Utah has been given an extraordinary opportunity in hosting
the 2002 Winter Olympics. Snowbasin is the venue for some of
the most visible and popular downhill events. Over 3 billion
people around the world will have their eyes set on Snowbasin
during the Olympics. We must be ready for them.
In order to successfully host this venue, certain
facilities must be built and improvements added to
accommodate all of the activities which are demanded of an
Olympic site. For over seven years, those plans have been
under review and scrutiny by the public and the Forest
Service. Environmental impacts have been carefully reviewed.
The required land exchange between Snowbasin and the Forest
Service has now bogged down in the administrative appeals
process. Further delays would seriously threaten the
timetable needed to be met for the 2002 games. That is why
your legislation is so vital.
I am also supportive of the land exchange authorized by the
legislation because it will enhance economic development for
Northern Utah by making Snowbasin a true world-class tourist
destination. Further, the public stands to benefit greatly by
receiving access to large tracts of pristine recreational
lands, such as Taylor Canyon, Lighting Ridge Wheeler Creek,
and the North Fork Ogden River-Devil's Gate Valley, which are
now in private ownership.
This legislation represents a win-win for the state of Utah
and the people of Weber County. I urge you to continue to
work for passage of this legislation and stand ready to
assist you in any way possible.
Sincerely,
Michael O. Leavitt,
Governor.
____
Resolution of the Ogden City Council No. 96-6
Whereas the property development of a year-round ski and
recreational destination resort in the Snowbasin area would
be beneficial to the people of the City of Ogden; and
Whereas the recent awarding of the 2002 Winter Olympic
Games to Salt Lake City increases ski and recreational
opportunities of the Snowbasin area; and
Whereas Snowbasin has been designated as the site of
several 2002 Winter Olympic events, with pre-Olympic events
scheduled in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001; and
Whereas these Olympic and pre-Olympic events add to the
urgency to develop the Snowbasin area; and
Whereas Snowbasin Resort and its owner Sun Valley Company
have requested 1,320 acres of public land be transferred to
Snowbasin Resort for the purpose of developing a year-round
recreational destination resort; and
Whereas Snowbasin Resort has agreed to transfer into the
public domain at least 4,100 acres of land which possesses
outstanding recreational, environmental and other values, and
which opens access to other Forest Service lands for public
enjoyment; and
Whereas much of the land presently under Forest Service
supervision in the Snow Basin area was originally transferred
without monetary consideration into the public domain by
Ogden City for the purpose of promoting and fostering the
future development thereof, and where previous Ogden City
Councils have adopted resolutions supporting this land
transfer of 1,320 acres of property to Snowbasin in order to
effectuate such desired development; and
Whereas the proper development of the Snowbasin area would
increase tourism in the State of Utah and would be beneficial
to the residents of northern Utah; and
Whereas a delay in facilitating the desired exchange could
hamper the State's hosting of several Olympic and
international alpine skiing events; and
Whereas the United States Congress is currently considering
legislation which would complete the Snowbasin land exchange
and enable the timely construction of facilities at Snowbasin
needed for Olympic and pre-Olympic events. Now, Therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Ogden City Council urges the United
States Forest Service, the United States Congress and
President William Clinton to enact Snowbasin Land Exchange
legislation for the purpose of preparing Snowbasin for
Olympic and pre-Olympic events, and for developing Snowbasin
as a multi-use, four season recreational resort area.
Passed and adopted this 9th day of April 1996.
____
Ralph W. Mitchell,
Chair.
[From the Salt Lake Tribune, Apr. 1, 1996]
Approve Snowbasin Swap
When the Utah wilderness legislation submerged an omnibus
parks bill in the U.S. Senate last week, one of the dozens of
items that sank with it was another proposal of keen interest
to Utah--the Snowbasin/Forest Service land exchange. The
Snowbasin proposal deserves resuscitation and passage, either
as part of a revived omnibus bill sans Utah wilderness or as
stand-alone legislation.
This plan would provide long-term benefits to Utah, the
most conspicuous being the development of a four-season
resort at Snowbasin by an operator, the Sun Valley Company,
that has a proven record of good stewardship. And, as part of
that development, the site of the downhill and Super-G ski
races for the 2002 Winter Olympics would be completed on a
faster track.
Under the legislation, Snowbasin would acquire 1,320 acres
from the U.S. Forest Service in exchange for some 4,100
acres, spread across four different parcels in the same
general area, that are currently owned by Sun Valley.
Assuming a fair appraisal process--and the legislation calls
for an exchange of equal value--this proposal amounts to an
even land swap, not the land grab that opponents claim it is.
Granted, this legislation does carry some baggage. For
instance, its supporters have couched this bill as a
necessity in order for the Olympic ski races to be held at
Snowbasin, but that's not quite right. Sun Valley may need
the 1,320 acres for condos and residential units, but it
doesn't need nearly that many for an Olympic ski venue.
In addition, granting an exemption from environmental
laws--as this bill does for Phase I, or the mountain
development aspect, of the plan--is not a step that should be
taken cavalierly, particularly in the name of an Olympic
movement that holds the environment as a top priority.
Adherence to local and state laws will mitigate this concern,
but it won't completely erase it.
And it hasn't helped the bill's cause that its chief
proponent, Utah Rep. Jim Hansen, has made some ill-chosen
comments recently, to the effect that the downhill could be
run at Snowbird if the Snowbasin bill fails. This needlessly
resurrected a dead-and-buried concern that the Cottonwood
canyons might be used for the Olympics; it only aroused the
opposition to his own bill.
Still, Rep. Hansen's rhetoric aside, the voice that counts
most on this proposal should be that of the U.S. Forest
Service, the current steward of the 1,320 acres in question.
And the Forest Service, which had already approved an
exchange of 695 of those acres in 1990, has signed off on
this one after finding boundary problems with the parcel it
had earmarked five years ago.
While legitimate complaints can be raised over the manner
in which the Snowbasin proposal has been maneuvered around
normal USFS channels and over the use of the Olympics as a
wedge to gain congressional support, there still is nothing
fundamentally objectionable about the land exchange itself.
As long as the USFS can be assured that it will obtain equal
value for those 1,320 acres, this is a development plan that
Utahns--and Congress--can and should support.
____
State of Utah Concurrent Resolution No. 4
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor
concurring therein
Whereas the proper development of a year-round ski and
recreational resort in the
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Snowbasin area would be beneficial to the people of the state
of Utah;
Whereas the recent awarding of the 2002 Olympics to Salt
Lake City increases the ski and recreational opportunities of
the Snowbasin area;
Whereas Snowbasin has been designated as the site of
several 2002 Winter Olympic event, with pre-olympic events
scheduled for 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001;
Whereas these olympic and pre-olympic events add to the
urgency to develop the Snowbasin area;
Whereas approximately 55 years ago, 4,300 acres of land in
the Snowbasin area was transferred with little monetary
consideration from private ownership to the United States
Forest Service under the leadership of the Ogden Chamber of
Commerce to stop overgrazing and to develop a year-round
recreation area;
Whereas the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce and many civic
leaders now favor the transfer of 1,320 acres of this same
land at Snowbasin to the Sun Valley Company for the purpose
of developing a year-round recreational resort;
Whereas the Sun Valley Company has agreed to acquire and
transfer into the public domain property of comparable value
as selected by the United States Forest Service in exchange
for the 1,320 acres received in the Snowbasin area;
Whereas Earl Holding, developer of world famous Sun Valley
Resort, has established a proven track record as a developer
of high-quality recreational resort facilities;
Whereas the proper development of the Snowbasin area would
increase tourism in the state of Utah and would be extremely
beneficial to the residents of northern Utah by creating
numerous jobs and business opportunities;
Whereas the state of Utah has expended an excess of
$14,000,000 to construct the Trappers Loop Highway for the
purpose of servicing the Snowbasin/Upper Ogden Valley area;
Whereas the delay in facilitating the exchange of the
number of areas requested by the Sun Valley Company could
hamper the state's hosting of several olympic and
international alpine skiing events and may make the
development of a year-round resort economically infeasible;
Whereas the exchange of property to the Sun Valley Company
would allow the United States Forest Service to acquire
additional property as an exchange that, if property
selected, would open up large areas of the public domain and
better suit the Forest Service's objective of preserving the
public land for public use than the retention of the proposed
transfer property;
Whereas the intended use of the property in question when
it was transferred into Forest Service supervision was to
develop a ski and recreational area; and
Whereas The United States Congress is currently considering
legislation that would complete the Snowbasin land exchange
and enable the timely construction of facilities at Snowbasin
needed for olympic and pre-olympic events: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
Governor concurring therein, the United States Forest
Service, the United States Congress and President William J.
Clinton to enact Snowbasin Land Exchange legislation for the
purpose of preparing Snowbasin for olympic and pre-olympic
events, and for developing Snowbasin as a multi-use, four
season recreational resort area. Be it further
Resolved, that copies of this resolution be sent to the Sun
Valley Company, the United States Forest Service, the
President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the
United States House of Representatives, the members of Utah's
congressional delegation, and President Clinton.
____________________