[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8860-H8861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  GRAZING AT GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 708) to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
study concerning grazing use of certain land within and adjacent to 
Grand Teton National Park, WY, and to extend temporarily certain 
grazing privileges, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 708

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) open space near Grand Teton National Park continues to 
     decline;
       (2) as the population continues to grow in Teton County, 
     Wyoming, undeveloped land near the park becomes more scarce;
       (3) the loss of open space around Teton Park has negative 
     impacts on wildlife migration routes in the area and on 
     visitors to the Park, and its repercussions can be felt 
     throughout the entire region;
       (4) a few ranches make up Teton Valley's remaining open 
     space, and the ranches depend on grazing in Grand Teton 
     National Park for summer range to maintain operations;
       (5) the Act that created Grand Teton National Park allowed 
     several permittees to continue livestock grazing in the Park 
     for the life of a designated heir in the family;
       (6) some of the last remaining heirs have died, and as a 
     result the open space around the Park will most likely be 
     subdivided and developed;
       (7) in order to develop the best solution to protect open 
     space immediately adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, the 
     Park Service should conduct a study of open space in the 
     region; and
       (8) the study should develop workable solutions that are 
     fiscally responsible and acceptable to the National Park 
     Service, the public, local government, and landowners in the 
     area.

     SEC. 2. STUDY OF GRAZING USE AND OPEN SPACE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     conduct a study concerning grazing use and open space in 
     Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, and associated use of 
     certain agricultural and ranch lands within and adjacent to 
     the Park, including--
       (1) base land having appurtenant grazing privileges within 
     Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, remaining after January 
     1, 1990, under the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a new 
     Grand Teton National Park in the State of Wyoming, and for 
     other purposes'', approved September 14, 1950 (16 U.S.C. 
     406d-1 et seq.); and
       (2) any ranch and agricultural land adjacent to the Park, 
     the use and disposition of which may affect accomplishment of 
     the purposes of the Act.
       (b) Purpose.--The study shall--
       (1) assess the significance of the ranching use and 
     pastoral character of the land (including open vistas, 
     wildlife habitat, and other public benefits);
       (2) assess the significance of that use and character to 
     the purposes for which the park was established and identify 
     any need for preservation of, and practicable means of, 
     preserving the land that is necessary to protect that use and 
     character;
       (3) recommend a variety of economically feasible and viable 
     tools and techniques to retain the pastoral qualities of the 
     land; and
       (4) estimate the costs of implementing any recommendations 
     made for the preservation of the land.
       (c) Participation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary 
     of the Interior shall seek participation from the Governor of 
     the State of Wyoming, the Teton County Commissioners, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, affected land owners, and other 
     interested members of the public.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years from the date funding 
     is available for the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of 
     the Interior shall submit a report to Congress that contains 
     the findings of the study under subsection (a) and makes 
     recommendations to Congress regarding action that may be 
     taken with respect to the land described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF GRAZING PRIVILEGES.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary 
     of the Interior shall reinstate and extend for the duration 
     of the study described in section 2(a) and until such time as 
     the recommendations of the study are implemented, the grazing 
     privileges described in

[[Page H8861]]

     section 2(a)(1), under the same terms and conditions as were 
     in effect prior to the expiration of the privileges.
       (b) Effect of Change in Land Use.--If, during the period of 
     the study or until such time as the recommendations of the 
     study are implemented, any portion of the land described in 
     section 2(a)(1) is disposed of in a manner that would result 
     in the land no longer being used for ranching or other 
     agricultural purposes, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     cancel the extension described in subsection (a).

  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. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 708 and urge its adoption. 
Senator Thomas of Wyoming introduced similar legislation in the form of 
S. 308 in the Senate. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public 
Lands of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held hearings on 
that legislation and it has been widely supported by the people of 
Jackson Hole, WY, the administration, conservation groups, and the 
ranching community.
  I applaud the gentlewoman from Wyoming [Mrs. Cubin] for her hard work 
on this issue and I am pleased to be sending this message to the 
President for his signature after it is worked out with the Senate.
  H.R. 708 recognizes the increasing demand on private lands within the 
Jackson Hole area of Wyoming and the benefits that open space and 
ranching provide Grand Teton National Park. This legislation would 
require the Secretary to conduct a study concerning grazing and open 
space in and around Grand Teton National Park. Moreover, the Secretary 
must analyze the benefits of existing ranching and grazing operations 
to wildlife, the national park, and other public benefits.
  This legislation initiated by the gentlewoman from Wyoming recognizes 
the development pressures on resort lands in and around national parks. 
If the public policy is to drive these long-held ranching families out 
of business, we must be prepared to deal with the consequences of 
ranches being sold to pay the estate taxes and development into resort 
communities.
  In some groups' zeal to drive livestock grazing off the public lands, 
we are leaving no alternative to these landowners but to sell out to 
developers. The gentlewoman from Wyoming has convinced the people of 
Jackson Hole to stand back and take another look at this situation and 
assess the benefits of these ranches on wildlife and the park itself. I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 708.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam 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. Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, the gentleman from 
Utah, [Mr. Hansen], for his management of this legislation, and also 
the chief sponsor of this legislation, the gentlewoman from Wyoming 
[Mrs. Barbara Cubin] for her leadership in providing this legislation 
for our consideration.
  Madam Speaker, the goals of H.R. 708 are quite laudable. The National 
Park Service and the Jackson Hole community are concerned that the 
ranchlands and open space surrounding Grand Teton National Park may be 
developed, furthering the loss of wildlife habitat, migration routes, 
and scenic values.
  Much of the land south of Grand Teton has already been developed or 
is under pressure of development. H.R. 708 provides for a study to 
determine if there are viable means to preserving open space and 
ranching operations for the benefit of both the park and the community.
  When the Committee on Resources held a markup of H.R. 708, an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted that incorporated 
many of the suggested changes made by the National Park Service. The 
changes that were made improved the bill. This study has the potential 
to be a win-win situation for both the park and the local community. I 
hope that this is the case and look forward to seeing the final study.
  Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 708, as amended, and urge my colleagues 
to approve this proposed bill.
  Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, Jackson Hole, WY is one of the most 
beautiful and unique areas of our Nation. Over 3 million visitors per 
year come to hike, camp, ski, and sightsee amidst the grandeur of the 
Teton range and the winding Snake River in Grand Teton National Park 
and the Greater Yellowstone area beyond.
  Many wildlife species such as moose, bear, eagles, and trumpeter swan 
make the valley their home, while the largest elk herd in the lower 48 
states annually migrates through it to winter on the wildlife refuge at 
its southern end.
  While much of the valley is protected in perpetuity by Federal 
ownership, some of the most valuable wildlife habitat, migration 
routes, and scenic vistas remain in private ownership as working ranch 
lands.
  Conservation groups in Jackson Hole and around the country have 
worked for years to help protect these ranches from development through 
the use of scenic easements and other means and are to be commended for 
their good work.
  The concept of preserving and protecting parts of the Teton Range and 
Jackson Hole date from the time settlers moved into the valley in the 
late 1800's. In January 1929 the U.S. Senate reported on a bill to 
establish Grand Teton National Park and stated:
  The Teton range presents the most profoundly impressive view in 
America. It is a gift to the Nation and posterity in which the people 
of Wyoming may be proud, and the wilderness surrounding them may be 
preserved in their natural state for the benefit and enjoyment of the 
people of these United States and future generations to come.
  In 1950, the act establishing Grant Teton National Park allowed the 
continuation of grazing privileges within the boundaries of the new 
park for the life of the designated heirs of the current holders of 
grazing permits.
  Early management of the park determined that managing cattle in a 
concentrated area with irrigated grass was less destructive to the 
resource and less intrusive to the visiting public than random grazing 
throughout the park.
  The purpose of my legislation, H.R. 708, is not about granting 
special grazing rights; it is about doing the right thing to maintain 
the scenic wonderment that encompasses this magnificent area and keep 
the area open for wildlife, especially migratory elk.
  This pristine land obviously comes with a price tag. Real estate 
prices have skyrocketed, and intense development pressure has occurred 
because of this fact.
  Through this legislation I have worked in cooperation with officials 
from Grant Teton National Park to resolve many issues. I know that all 
parties involved in this matter are striving to reach the same goal: 
maintain the scenic beauty that those of us who have been fortunate 
enough to spend time in the Tetons will continue to enjoy the park for 
a long time to come.
  I have incorporated some changes to the legislation proposed by the 
Park Service during the National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee 
hearing this summer, and the bill reflects some, but not all, of those 
changes.
  Mr. Speaker, I am dedicated to maintaining the highly valuable open 
space and ranching culture in this vicinity of the park. The 
authorization of a 3-year study will allow time to explore a network of 
relationships and avoid the indiscriminate development that will occur 
on these pastoral lands.
  Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam 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. 708, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to require the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study concerning grazing use and 
open space within and adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 
and to extend temporarily certain grazing privileges.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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