[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER

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                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 1996

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2292 as reported by the Committee on 
Resources contains a number of provisions relating to three units of 
the National Park System in the State of West Virginia.
  The primary purpose of these provisions are to make boundary 
modifications to the New River Gorge National River. In this regard, I 
would note that similar boundary modifications passed the House of 
Representatives on two occasions: in the 102d Congress as part of H.R. 
4382 and in the 103d Congress as title I of H.R. 3252. At the beginning 
of the 104th Congress, I reintroduced these boundary modifications as 
part of H.R. 640.
  In this regard, a provision of H.R. 2292 would modify the boundary of 
the New River Gorge National River to expand it by 8,768 acres. Of this 
total, one tract, known as the Ward estate property, accounts for 7,000 
acres with an additional 800 acres of inholdings within that tract. 
This property is viewed as a critical addition to the national park 
unit, as it is located directly across from the Grandview area which is 
one of the most highly visited and scenic areas of the New River. It 
should be noted that there is no intention to acquire the 800 acres of 
inholdings. The remaining 968 acres consisting of willing seller 
property remnants of which 786 acres have already been acquired with 
the remaining 182 acres pending acquisition.
  All in all, the proposed additions to the New River Gorge National 
River would enhance scenic or natural resources already included in the 
park unit, including peregrine falcon sites, as well as provide for 
better visitor access.
  The pending legislation would also provide for a minor boundary 
modification to the Bluestone National Scenic River to include 40 acres 
of riverfront land that were inadvertently excluded when the river was 
designated in 1988.
  Aside from these boundary matters, the legislation would reaffirm the 
State of West Virginia's jurisdiction over fish and wildlife resources 
within the New River Gorge National River, as well as over fish 
stocking activities there. This is a conforming amendment as a similar 
provision is contained in the enabling legislation for the neighboring 
Gauley River National Recreation Area.
  Further, the bill would conform the act which designated the New 
River Gorge National River with provisions applicable to the Gauley 
River National Recreation Area in two other respects. First, it would 
extend to the National River a provision in the National Recreation 
Area's enabling legislation authorizing the Secretary to enter into a 
cooperative agreement with the State of West Virginia to maintain and 
improve existing roads and public rights-of-way within the boundary of 
the National River to the extent necessary to facilitate and improve 
reasonable access. Second, the amendments would extend to the National 
River a provision in the National Recreation Area's enabling 
legislation authorizing the acquisition of remnant lands in order to 
minimize the payment of severance costs.
  Also in the way of technical and sundry amendments, the bill would 
amend the enabling legislation for the Gauley River National Recreation 
Area by providing for the upstream river boundary to revert to its 
original location in the event construction on a proposed hydroelectric 
power facility is not commenced within the time required in its 
license. The enabling legislation established the upstream boundary at 
the foot of Summersville Dam, but provided for an automatic downstream 
boundary adjustment in the event a hydroelectric power facility was 
licensed for the area within a prescribed period of time. The facility 
was licensed, however, no provision was made in the enabling 
legislation to readjust the boundary upstream in the event the power 
facility was never constructed.
  The Gauley River National Recreation Area is also affected by this 
legislation by a provision which provides river access for 
noncommercial recreation users within the National Recreation Area at a 
place known as Woods Ferry. Currently, the only public access to the 
area is located at its upstream boundary, with all other access sites 
being privately owned primarily by commercial whitewater outfitters. 
This situation poses an access problem for the general public, 
including private boaters. The Woods Ferry site, located in the middle 
section of the Recreation Area, is ideal because and access road is 
already in place and it is owned by willing sellers to the National 
Park Service.
  A final provision of this bill would amend the designating 
legislation for the Bluestone National Scenic River to authorize the 
Secretary to negotiate a memorandum of understanding or cooperative 
agreement with the owner of a tract of land outside of the boundary of 
the scenic river or to acquire the tract with the owner's consent, in 
order to provide upstream access to the scenic river.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend this bill to the House.

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