[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT

 Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, in the Energy and Water 
Appropriations Conference Report, which this body may consider as early 
as tomorrow, is a provision that encourages the Corps of Engineers to 
make a decision on permits for a 50-foot dock extension at the Port of 
Seattle.
  Over the past several years the Port of Seattle, Muckleshoot Indian 
Tribe, and Corps of Engineers have been involved in a debate over the 
replacement of a 350-foot wood dock with a 400-foot concrete dock at 
the Port of Seattle. In an effort to move this process forward and 
break the deadlock between the parties, I included report language in 
the Energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report asking the Corps 
of Engineers promptly to consider the permit issue.
  Due to the continued cooperation and hard work of the Muckleshoot 
Indian Tribe and Port of Seattle, an agreement was reached this past 
Friday evening over the dock extension. I would like to praise the 
judgment and cooperation of the Port of Seattle and the Muckleshoot 
Indian Tribe both. Their willingness to work together has not only 
averted a protracted conflict but also provide a positive example for 
other local governments and tribal governments in reaching agreements 
under similar circumstances.
  As a result of this agreement, the language which I included in the 
Energy and Water Appropriation Conference Report is redundant and no 
longer necessary. I have discussed this point with Congressman Norm 
Dicks in the House and would like the official record to show that both 
the House and Senate agree that this language is effectively voided by 
the agreement. Furthermore, I would like to request that the final 
version of the Energy and Water Conference Report that will be 
considered by the Senate not contain this language. In any event, that 
language should be treated as having no effect.

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