[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            GRAZING OPERATIONS IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

 Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I rise to express my desire to work 
with the National Park Service to address the issue of open space in 
the Teton Valley and its interrelationship with grazing in Grand Teton 
National Park. Since establishment of the park in 1950, a limited 
number of local ranchers, who had grazing privileges within the 
boundaries of Grand Teton Park before its establishment, have been 
allowed to continue to graze within the area. These grazing permits 
were given for the life of the designated heirs of the permit holders 
who were local ranchers that required the summer range to maintain 
their ranches.
  This arrangement has not only benefitted the ranch families involved, 
but helped support the ecology in the park and preserved open space in 
Jackson Valley for visitors to this unique region. Unfortunately, in 
the past few years, both of the designed heirs to these grazing permits 
have died. Although both families have expressed their interest in 
continuing to ranch in Jackson Valley, the Park Service may be forced 
to terminate these grazing permits unless a reasonable solution can be 
found. Without the summer range available in the park, these ranchers 
may be forced to end their operations and sell their ranches. If these 
ranches are sold, they would be immediately subdivided and developed 
and the open space provided by these areas would be gone forever.
  It is an imperative environmental issue that we work to ensure that 
open space is preserved in and around Grand Teton National Park. This 
region is truly unique and it is vital for both the wildlife living in 
and around the park and the environment throughout the region that open 
space is protected. Unless the ranchers are allowed to continue grazing 
in the park, the region will be threatened with development that will 
harm the wildlife and the ecology in and around the park.
  In the coming months, the Wyoming congressional delegation plans to 
work with the National Park Service, the ranch families, the 
environmental community and local citizens to develop a solution to 
this situation. By working together, I am hopeful we can continue to 
protect the open space in this magnificent region and continue an 
activity that has been monitored and managed by the Park Service for 
over 45 years. Make no mistake about it, ending grazing operations in 
Grand Teton National Park will be harmful to park resources, wildlife 
in the area and will destroy open space for visitors to this 
outstanding region. I look forward to working with the National Park 
Service in the coming months to address this critical matter.

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