[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               CORRIDOR H

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Wise] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, as Congress heads home today for the August 
recess, and I will be driving home via Route 55, and in much of the 
eastern Panhandle and eastern part of our State during August, Route 55 
and the other roads are going to be curvy. But because of action taken 
today, the trip will be a little bit lighter.
  The Federal Highway Administration today is releasing its Federal 
record of decision on corridor H. The record of decision is a very 
significant milestone for this important highway because it is the 
final signoff for authorizing the West Virginia Division of Highways to 
proceed with the final design, including the right of way designation. 
Now the State can begin advertising for engineering for the final 
design process.
  Mr. Speaker, this work is important, and it has been done and 
achieved because of work done by Governor Caperton and Senator Byrd 
particularly. Because of Senator Byrd, about 20 percent of the funding 
is already appropriated. Governor Caperton has provided the matching 
funds in the West Virginia legislature, so that roughly $200 million is 
banked to begin this construction. Their efforts and the teamwork of 
the entire congressional delegation have kept this vital project moving 
forward.
  Now corridor H enters what is known as the contract planned phase 
that physically locates the actual route, identifies the property 
owners, does the negotiations. Ground breaking could begin as early as 
year's end.
  This record of decision reflects the analysis of engineering, 
economic and environmental issues. To those concerned about 
environmental issues, and I have been involved in this from the very 
beginning, particularly on a segment between Buckhannon and Elkins 
where we satisfactorily resolve those issues, and now many people 
happily drive that four-lane segment.
  To those concerned about environmental issues, they should know there 
has been review, and it is reflected in the ROD issued today, the 
record of decision of acid mine drainage, excess excavation and 
flooding issues. We have suffered again flooding in significant parts 
of eastern West Virginia, as I speak, and you should know and people 
should know that once again these areas are flooding. Corridor H has 
not been built there.
  To those who are concerned corridor H would make that situation 
worse, aggravate it, they should know that it does not change the 
flooding situation in those segments, and so construction of corridor H 
does not affect the flooding that we have seen. We flooded, 
incidentally, in many parts of the State that do not have corridor H 
yet. We flooded three times this year already.
  This highway is over 100 miles long, running from Elkins to the 
Virginia line.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would yield, you mentioned 
the Virginia line, that it runs to my district, and I had expressed 
concern. I keep hearing the West Virginia officials talking about 
dumping traffic in my area. We have decided in Virginia we do not want 
corridor H.
  I would ask the gentleman to deal with the West Virginia highway 
officials to resolve this matter, because if this matter is not 
resolved, I may very well come out and do everything in my power to 
kill corridor H from the Virginia line clear on into West Virginia.
  Mr. WISE. Taking my time back, I appreciate the gentleman's remarks. 
The gentleman and I have talked before, and we are interested in 
building corridor H in West Virginia. If the gentleman chooses not to 
build it in Virginia, that is fine. We think that it is an important 
project for our State. What is done in Virginia is the decision of my 
colleague and the Virginia officials, and I would hope that we could 
continue to work together on that.
  I would like to be able to complete my remarks.
  Mr. WOLF. If the gentleman would just yield for a second, just so I 
can make it on the record. I am not involving myself in West Virginia, 
as you know, but I am concerned about the statements that the West 
Virginia Highway Department is now saying we are going to bring it up 
to the edge and dump it into Virginia; that will show the people in 
Virginia.
  I would ask the gentleman to look into that.
  Mr. WISE. Reclaiming my time again, I am happy to work with the 
gentleman. As I say, I think the gentleman and I can satisfactorily 
conclude what is done in West Virginia. We will build in West Virginia. 
We are not trying to affect Virginia, and Virginia's decision is 
Virginia's decision. We respect the gentleman for what he wants to do 
in Virginia, and we ask his respect for what we want to do in West 
Virginia.
  Having said that, I think this project is importantly moving ahead in 
West Virginia. This is a significant day, and those in the eastern end 
of the State can know that this project has reached that very, very 
important point.
  Yes, it very likely there could be an environmental lawsuit filed; we 
will see what happens as a result. But the important thing is that with 
this record of decision, many of these concerns have already been 
looked at, reviewed, satisfactorily met. We can now begin to move 
ahead. Hopefully we could see a ground breaking take place somewhere 
along this 100 mile segment between Elkins and the Virginia line 
sometime by the end of the year.

                              {time}  1715

  For those who have waited many, many years, today is an important 
day. We have many more obstacles and many more challenges ahead of us, 
but the trip home is going to be a little bit better today because of 
this decision on corridor H.

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