[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8682-H8683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CRAWFORD NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY CONVEYANCE ACT
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3287) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the
Crawford National Fish Hatchery to the city of Crawford, NE, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3287
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Crawford National Fish
Hatchery Conveyance Act''.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF CRAWFORD NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY TO THE
CITY OF CRAWFORD, NEBRASKA.
(a) Conveyance Requirement.--Within 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior
shall convey to the city of Crawford, Nebraska, without
reimbursement, all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the property described in subsection (b),
for use by the city for a city park and other public
recreational purposes.
(b) Property Described.--The property referred to in
subsection (a) is the property known as the Crawford National
Fish Hatchery, located in the city of Crawford, Nebraska,
consisting of 5.95 acres (more or less), and all improvements
and related personal property under the control of the
Secretary that is located on that property, including
buildings, structures, equipment, and all easements, leases,
and water rights relating to that property.
(c) Use and Reversionary Interest.--If any of the property
conveyed to the city of Crawford, Nebraska, under this
section is used by the city for any purpose other than the
uses authorized under subsection (a), all right, title, and
interest in and to all property conveyed under this section
shall revert to the United States. The city of Crawford,
Nebraska, shall ensure that all property that reverts to the
United States under this subsection is in substantially the
same or better condition as at the time of conveyance to the
city.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey [Mr. Saxton] and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds]
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton].
(Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss H.R. 3287, the
Crawford National Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act. This bill was
introduced by Congressman Bill Barrett on April 23, 1996. Under the
terms of this bill, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the
city of Crawford, within 180 days of enactment and without
reimbursement, all right, title, and interest to the Crawford hatchery
facility to the city of Crawford. This facility will be used as a city
park and for other public recreation purposes. The proposal also
contains a reversionary clause that stipulates that the property will
be returned to the Federal Government if it is used for something other
than recreational purposes.
It is important to note that the hatchery is located in the middle of
an existing city park. While the city has spent a considerable amount
of money restoring those parklands under their jurisdiction, the
hatchery buildings and ponds are in a highly deteriorated state. There
is little likelihood that this facility will ever again be used by
either the State of Nebraska or the Federal Government as a hatchery.
I urge all Members to support this noncontroversial bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the tension is palpable here. This is an extraordinary
moment. We have already given more time to this than I think it really
deserves. It is utterly noncontroversial. This is the standard
procedure by which, for many years, we have approved the transfer of
these hatcheries.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 3287, the
Crawford National Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act, introduced by our
colleague from Nebraska, Bill Barrett.
[[Page H8683]]
This measure is somewhat different from other fish hatchery transfer
bills in that it will convey about 6 acres of Federal lands not to the
State, but to the city of Crawford, NE.
For nearly 62 years, this hatchery was used by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the Nebraska State Game and Park Commission to
produce millions of bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, various
species of trout, and their eggs.
Unfortunately, in 1991, the Crawford National Fish Hatchery was
severely damaged from flooding of the White River. The facilities were
closed, no repairs were made, the buildings have not been maintained,
and there is no likelihood that either the Federal or the State
Government will reopen this hatchery in the future.
Furthermore, the hatchery is located in the middle of the city park.
While the local community has spent a substantial amount of money to
rebuild its park facilities, these efforts have been undermined by this
unwanted, rapidly deteriorating, and increasingly dangerous fish
hatchery.
H.R. 3287 will convey the hatchery property to the city of Crawford,
which has made a commitment to restore and use certain buildings for
various recreational activities. In addition, the bill contains the
standard reversionary clause that requires the city of Crawford to
return this property to the Federal Government, if it is used for
anything other than the authorized purposes.
I urge an ``aye'' vote on this legislation and compliment Bill
Barrett for his outstanding leadership in this matter.
Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
3287, a bill to transfer the old Crawford National Fish Hatchery to the
city of Crawford. I'd also like to extend my thanks to Chairman Saxton
for his assistance with this bill, and the Lake Minatare legislation.
Crawford is a small town with approximately 1,300 residents in
northwest Nebraska. It's a friendly town with large city park on its
western city limit. However, within the boundaries of the city park is
an abandoned fish hatchery.
In the 1920's Crawford granted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the
rights to build a fish hatchery in the city park. It was successfully
operated by the Service from 1929 to 1983. It was mainly used to breed
trout. During the early 1980's, Federal financial support for the
hatchery diminished, and the State Game and Parks Commission took over
the operation and maintenance of the facility.
In 1991, the Game and Parks Commission completed construction of a
new facility and prepared to close the Crawford site. Later that year,
Crawford sustained heavy damage caused by a 100-year flood. The
hatchery was severely damaged, and essentially destroyed. Currently,
neither the Service nor the State operate the facility, and the ruined
buildings continue to fall apart, creating an eyesore in the city park.
Due to the lack of interest in repairing the hatchery, the Fish and
Wildlife Service is preparing to declare the property as excess to its
needs and turn it over to the General Services Administration for
disposition, with the recommendation that the property be returned to
the city. Unfortunately, the disposition process is often slow, and, in
the case of Crawford, the outcome may not be what the city desires.
In the regard, I introduced a bill, H.R. 3287, a transfer the
property back to the city. The city intends to restore some of the
damaged buildings and use them for public meeting rooms. These
improvements will greatly enhance the city park.
This action has the support of the city, the State Game and Parks
Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I urge my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no more 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 New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3287, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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