[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H11410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page H11410]]



                              {time}  0945
             WALHALLA NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY CONVEYANCE ACT

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 3546) to direct the Secretary 
of the Interior to convey the Walhalla National Fish Hatchery to the 
State of South Carolina.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 1, after line 2 insert:

                TITLE I--WALHALLA NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY

       Page 2, line 1, strike out ``SECTION 1'' and insert ``SEC. 
     101''.
       Page 2, line 4, strike out ``SEC. 2'' and insert ``SEC. 
     102''.
       Page 3, after line 7 insert:

         TITLE II--CORRECTION OF COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES MAP

     SEC. 201. CORRECTIONS OF MAP.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     make such corrections to the set of maps described in 
     subsection (b) as are necessary to move the southern-most 
     boundary of Unit SC-01 of the Coastal Barrier Resources 
     System (known as the ``Long Pond Unit'') to exclude from the 
     Unit the structures known as ``Lands End'', ``Beachwalk'', 
     and ``Courtyard Villas'', including the land lying between 
     the structures. The corrected southern boundary shall extend 
     in a straight line, at the break in development, between the 
     coast and the north boundary of the unit.
       (b) Maps.--The set of maps described in this subsection is 
     the set of maps entitled ``Coastal Barrier Resources System'' 
     dated October 24, 1990, insofar as the maps relate to Unit 
     SC-01 of the Coastal Barrier Resources System.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Saxton] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton].
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, on July 30 of this year, the House 
overwhelmingly adopted H.R. 3546, a bill introduced by our colleague, 
Lindsey Graham, to transfer the Walhalla National Fish Hatchery to the 
State of South Carolina.
  This noncontroversial bill is nearly identical to measures the House 
has approved to transfer certain Federal fish hatcheries to non-Federal 
control.
  This hatchery, which is about 78 acres, is currently being operated 
by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources under a long-term 
agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Without this 
agreement, the Service would have closed the hatchery because it is no 
longer an essential component of its nationwide stocking program.
  The other body has now acted on H.R. 3546 and while they made no 
changes in the Walhalla provision, they did add a new title which makes 
technical changes to the Coastal Barrier Resources System.
  In fact, they have specifically redrawn the boundaries of unit 01 in 
South Carolina to delete certain properties, known as Beachwalk, 
Courtyard Villas, and Lands End, from the System. It is my 
understanding that there were structures on these properties prior to 
the passage of the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990. It is, 
therefore, appropriate to correct this mistake and to remove this 
property from the System because it does not satisfy the criteria for 
inclusion.
  Finally, I would advise my colleagues that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service has indicated they support this modification to the Coastal 
Barrier Resource System. This is the second time we have removed 
property from the System this year. In each instance, we have done so 
without undermining the fundamental goals of this important 
environmental law.
  I urge a vote in favor of this legislation and I compliment Lindsey 
Graham for his outstanding leadership on behalf of his South Carolina 
constituents.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, we join in the support of this 
legislation on the Walhalla National Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act. The 
committee did report out the legislation, and we think it does make 
sense to allow for the transfer of this hatchery. We have no objections 
to the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have not 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 New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 3546.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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