[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 66 (Monday, May 19, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT COMPLETION ACT

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                            HON. LINDA SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 16, 1997

  Mrs. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, under the leave to extend my 
remarks in the Record, I include the following:
  Mr. Speaker, on the morning of May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted 
in an awesome display of nature's power. The 250 miles per hour 
avalanche and high winds destroyed almost 150 square miles of forest 
and sent a plume of ash toward eastern Washington like a slow-moving 
tidal wave.
  In 1982, Congress enacted legislation establishing the Mount St. 
Helens National Volcanic Monument, protecting the 110,000 acres around 
the volcano for recreation, education, and research. The monument 
preserves this extraordinary event of natural history for future 
generations, and it also provides a living classroom where young and 
old alike can learn about nature's slow but steady process of healing.
  Since the monument was created, new camping and picnic areas, trails, 
and visitor centers have been added as the number of visitors keeps 
climbing. Every year thousands of people trek to the rim of the crater 
to see firsthand a live volcano.
  To make sure that the monument is protected now and for future 
generations, the 1982 act required the Federal Government to 
consolidate all the land and interests within its boundaries. The 
exchange of the surface rights was promptly accomplished. 
Unfortunately, however, the Federal Government has yet to finish 
obtaining all the privately owned mineral and geothermal resources 
within the monument boundaries. Even though the 1982 act mandated that 
all the private property be acquired by 1983, some still remains 15 
years later.
  Today, I am introducing the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic 
Monument Completion Act. This measure fulfills the requirements of the 
original 1982 act by establishing a process for the monument to obtain 
the remaining private geothermal and mineral rights. A companion 
measure is pending in the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, the work begun in 1982 needs to be finished. The Mount 
St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Completion Act will allow us to 
complete that work, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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