[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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