[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    EAGLES NEST WILDERNESS EXPANSION

  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 588) to provide for the expansion of the Eagles Nest 
Wilderness within the Arapaho National Forest and the White River 
National Forest, CO, to include land known as the Slate Creek Addition.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 588

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

     SECTION 1. SLATE CREEK ADDITION TO EAGLES NEST WILDERNESS, 
                   ARAPAHO AND WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FORESTS, 
                   COLORADO.

       (a) Slate Creek Addition.--If, before December 31, 2000, 
     the United States acquires the parcel of land described in 
     subsection (b)--
       (1) on acquisition of the parcel, the parcel shall be 
     included in and managed as part of the Eagles Nest Wilderness 
     designated by Public Law 94-352 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 90 
     Stat. 870); and
       (2) the boundary of Eagles Nest Wilderness is adjusted to 
     reflect the inclusion of the parcel.
       (b) Description of Addition.--The parcel referred to in 
     subsection (a) is the parcel generally depicted on a map 
     entitled ``Slate Creek Addition-Eagles Nest Wilderness'', 
     dated February 1997, comprising approximately 160 acres in 
     Summit County, Colorado, adjacent to the Eagles Nest 
     Wilderness.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth] and the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. 
Faleomavaega] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth].
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHENOWETH asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, S. 588 is a noncontroversial bill 
affecting Forest Service lands in the district of the gentleman from 
Colorado [Mr. McInnis] which passed the House earlier this year as H.R. 
985. I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. McInnis] and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Hinchey], the subcommittee ranking member, 
for their cooperation with passage of this measure.
  This bill provides that a 160-acre parcel at Slate Creek in Summit 
County, CO, will be added to the Eagles Nest Wilderness and 
administered as part of the wilderness area if the land is acquired by 
the United States within the next 4 years.
  The Slate Creek parcel is proposed for acquisition by the United 
States in a land exchange; however, the current owners are unwilling to 
convey the land unless it is added to the Eagles Nest Wilderness and 
permanently managed as wilderness. Since the Slate Creek parcel is 
surrounded on three sides by the wilderness area, it only makes sense 
that it be made a part of the wilderness area if the land is acquired 
by the United States.
  I urge support for this measure, which does really enjoy broad 
support of the Summit County Board of County Supervisors and 
Commissioners, the Summit County Open Space Advisory Council, the 
Wilderness Land Trust and other interested parties.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, on today's agenda we have four 
previously House-passed Colorado bills. Senate bill 588 expands the 
Eagles Nest Wilderness within the Arapaho National Forest and the White 
River National Forest to include land known as the Slate Creek 
Addition. The House passed this bill in the form of H.R. 985 on June 17 
of this year.
  To their credit, the owners of this 160-acre parcel want assurances 
that their land will be protected as wilderness if acquired by the U.S. 
Forest Service. Accordingly, the bill provides that if the United 
States acquires the Slate Creek property prior to the year 2000, it 
will be included in the Eagles Nest Wilderness.
  Mr. Speaker, this is good legislation, consistent with the desires of 
both the private property owners and in the public interest. I urge my 
colleagues to adopt this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 588.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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