[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11213-H11214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CLARION RIVER NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS DESIGNATION

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3568) to designate 51.7 miles of the Clarion River, located 
in Pennsylvania, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3568

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(  ) Clarion river, pennsylvania.--The 51.7-mile segment 
     of the main stem of the Clarion River from the Allegheny 
     National Forest/State Game Lands Number 44 boundary, located 
     approximately 0.7 miles downstream from the Ridgway Borough 
     limit, to an unnamed tributary in the backwaters of Piney Dam 
     approximately 0.6 miles downstream from Blyson Run, to be 
     administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in the following 
     classifications:
       ``(A) The approximately 8.6-mile segment of the main stem 
     from the Allegheny National Forest/State Game Lands Number 44 
     boundary, located approximately 0.7 miles downstream from the 
     Ridgway Borough limit, to Portland Mills, as a recreational 
     river.
       ``(B) The approximately 8-mile segment of the main stem 
     from Portland Mills to the Allegheny National Forest 
     boundary, located approximately 0.8 miles downstream from 
     Irwin Run, as a scenic river.
       ``(C) The approximately 26-mile segment of the main stem 
     from the Allegheny National Forest boundary, located 
     approximately 0.8 miles downstream from Irwin Run, to the 
     State Game Lands 283 boundary, located approximately 0.9 
     miles downstream from the Cooksburg bridge, as a recreational 
     river.
       ``(D) The approximately 9.1-mile segment of the main stem 
     from the State Game Lands 283 boundary, located approximately 
     0.9 miles downstream from the Cooksburg bridge, to an unnamed 
     tributary at the backwaters of Piney Dam, located 
     approximately 0.6 miles downstream from Blyson Run, as a 
     scenic river.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Hansen] and the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. 
Faleomavaega] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen].
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. HANSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, introduced by our 
colleague Mr. Clinger, which provides for the designation of 51.7 miles 
of the Clarion River in Pennsylvania under the Wild and Scenic River 
Act. About 60 percent of the river courses through Forest Service and 
State game lands, and the balance is abutted by private property 
owners. The Forest Service has studied this river pursuant to a 
directive by Congress several years ago. The Forest Service found 
strong local support for designation of the river, as attested to by a 
proclamation issued by Gov. Tom Ridge designating June 1996 as Clarion 
River Month.
  The administration fully supports this legislation and I am aware of 
no objections to it, therefore, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
3568.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3568 would designate 51.7 miles 
of the Clarion River in Pennsylvania, as a component of the national 
wild and scenic rivers system. I would note for the Record that we are 
being asked to

[[Page H11214]]

proceed to designate the Clarion River despite the fact that the wild 
and scenic river study that this House authorized in the 102d Congress 
has not been completed. However, we had favorable testimony on this 
proposal from the administration, the bill's sponsor, and the local 
community. That being the case we will not object H.R. 3568, and I urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger], the author of the 
legislation.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here today and to 
rise in support of H.R. 3568--a bill to designate 51.7 miles of the 
Clarion River--located in Pennsylvania--as part of the National Wild 
and Scenic Rivers System.
  This effort started 4 years ago when the Clarion River became 
eligible for study by direction of Public Law 102-271 which conveyed a 
wild and scenic designation upon the Allegheny River.
  In March of this year, the Forest Service determined after lengthy 
analysis that 51.7 miles of the Clarion River contain outstanding 
scenic and recreational values of regional significance. Mr. Speaker, 
while I do not share the professional expertise of those who made this 
determination, I can attest to the fact that the eligible corridor is 
indeed a natural and beautiful environmental treasure.
  The Clarion River corridor is located in the unglaciated Allegheny 
plateau, is free flowing and relatively slow moving. For that reason, 
more than 130,000 people have floated on the Clarion River in 1995. In 
fact, one of my staff members had the opportunity to float the river 
this summer during celebration of Pennsylvania Rivers Month during 
which the Clarion River was recognized.
  Apart from the Clarion River's recreational value--which winds its 
way through the Allegheny National Forest--its hallmark is its beauty 
and serenity. I strongly believe that such a unique natural resource-
especially in the eastern United States--should be preserved and 
protected for the enjoyment of this and future generations.
  And judging from the communication that I have had with the residents 
of the area over the past 4 years, they overwhelmingly agree. During 
hearings on H.R. 3568 before Chairman Hansen's Subcommittee on National 
Parks, Forests, and Lands, we heard positive testimony from two 
residents of the Clarion area--one private landowner and one travel and 
tourism representative.
  The testimony of Ms. Kimberly Miller, a landowner herself and a self-
described caretaker of the land, was especially important considering 
her property along the corridor has been in family ownership since 
1883.
  Another Pennsylvania resident came to the Capitol for the hearing 
last July to tell the subcommitttee about the economic benefit that 
will follow designation of the corridor. Mr. David Morris, executive 
director of a regional visitors bureau, stated that according to the 
U.S. Travel Data Center, more than $127 million are spent annually by 
visitors to the Clarion area. This translates into some 1,700 jobs and 
over $3 million in local tax receipts--jobs and revenue that might well 
be lost in the future if the extraordinary recreational values of the 
river became degraded.
  Despite the many positive comments I received about H.R. 3568, and 
the outpouring of public support that fueled this effort from the 
start, that's not to say reservations have not been voiced, but the 
critics have been few and largely limited to those who oppose any 
designation under the act on philosophical grounds.
  It has been my goal since the inception of this project to maintain 
an open dialog with any and all interested parties. Pending passage of 
this measure, drafting of the management plan for the river will be 
developed with the same goal in mind: to achieve consensus among local, 
State, and Federal agencies along with the interests of private 
citizens.
  I believe it's important to note that H.R. 3568 does not contain any 
unfunded mandates; does not permit the Government to acquire land 
through condemnation since more than 50 percent of the land is publicly 
owned; and would merely require the continuation of a requirement to 
submit new permit applications for projects on public lands to be 
reviewed by the responsible State or Federal agency. This has already 
been the case since 1992.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to very gratefully thank all of my Pennsylvania 
colleagues--Republican and Democrat--who lent their support to this 
effort, including 15 Pennsylvania House Members and both of our Members 
from the other body--who introduced companion legislation in the 
Senate. Their cosponsorship is testimony to the fact that preservation 
of our national resources is an issue that knows no boundaries--
congressional or otherwise.
  I believe the words spoken by one of my constituents best capture the 
sentiment and commitment by residents to see the successful conclusion 
of this effort, as part of our national infrastructure, this employer 
will not relocate for warmer weather or for less expensive labor as 
some other industries have done. The Clarion is part of us and is here 
as long as we are.
  So, Mr. Speaker, in the waning days of the 104th Congress--which 
brings to a close my career as a Member of this House--it's a great 
opportunity to consider and pass this legislation which means so much 
to the people who have sent me back to Washington for the past 18 
years. While I have been fortunate to guide many very important reform 
measures through the House this year, H.R. 3568 allowed me to work hand 
in hand with the citizens who are passionate about preserving our local 
resources for the benefit of fellow Pennsylvanians and all Americans.
  With that, I want to thank Chairman Young  and Chairman Hansen for 
their support over the past months in bringing this measure to the 
floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I also express my appreciation to the gentleman from 
American Samoa for his willingness to also support the legislation.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I certainly would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania who 
is the chief sponsor of this legislation and am most appreciative of 
his comments. We do not have any additional speakers, but I want to say 
to the gentleman from Pennsylvania that hopefully sometime in the 
future I look forward to visiting the Clarion Wild River and perhaps 
even asking other Members.
  I can say also to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, we have a very 
sensitive appreciation of what it means to try to pass legislation for 
not 1 year, not for 2 years, 3 years, but for 4 years. Sometimes our 
friends from downtown are not exactly very cooperative of some of the 
things that we here as Members have tried to do in formulating pieces 
of legislation.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend again the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania for bringing this piece of legislation to the floor and 
having the sense of bipartisanship and support of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 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 Utah [Mr. Hansen] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3568.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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