[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10554-H10556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ARCHES NATIONAL PARK EXPANSION ACT OF 1997

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2283) to expand the boundaries of Arches National Park in 
the State of Utah to include portions of the following drainages, Salt 
Wash, Lost Spring Canyon, Fish Sheep Draw, Clover Canyon, Cordova 
Canyon, Mine Draw, and Cottonwood Wash, which are currently under the 
jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and to include a portion 
of Fish Sheep Draw, which is currently owned by the State of Utah, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2283

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

[[Page H10555]]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Arches National Park 
     Expansion Act of 1997''.

     SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, UTAH.

       (a) Boundary Expansion.--Subsection (a) of the first 
     section of Public Law 92-155 (16 U.S.C. 272; 85 Stat. 422) is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) By inserting after the first sentence the following new 
     sentence: ``Effective on the date of the enactment of the 
     Arches National Park Expansion Act of 1997, the boundary of 
     the park shall also include the area consisting of 
     approximately 3,140 acres and known as the `Lost Spring 
     Canyon Addition', as depicted on the map entitled `Boundary 
     Map, Arches National park, Lost Spring Canyon Addition', 
     numbered 138/60,000-B, and dated April 1997.''.
       (2) In the last sentence, by striking ``Such map'' and 
     inserting ``Such maps''.
       (b) Inclusion of Land in Park.--Section 2 of Public Law 92-
     155 (16 U.S.C. 272a) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new sentences: ``As soon as possible after the date 
     of the enactment of the Arches National Park Expansion Act of 
     1997, the Secretary of the Interior shall transfer 
     jurisdiction over the Federal lands contained in the Lost 
     Spring Canyon Addition from the Bureau of Land Management to 
     the National Park Service. The lands included in the park 
     pursuant to the Arches National Park Expansion Act of 1997 
     shall be administered in accordance with the laws and 
     regulations applicable to the park.''.
       (c) Proctection of Existing Grazing Permit.--Section 3 of 
     Public Law 92-155 (16 U.S.C. 272b) is amended as follows:
       (1) By inserting ``(a)'' before ``Where''.
       (2) By adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b)(1) In the case of any grazing lease, permit, or 
     license with respect to lands within the Lost Spring Canyon 
     Addition that was issued before the date of the enactment of 
     the Arches National Park Expansion Act of 1997, the Secretary 
     of the Interior shall, subject to periodic renewal, continue 
     such lease, permit, or license for a period of time equal to 
     the lifetime of the permittee as of that date and any direct 
     descendants of the permittee born before that date. Any such 
     grazing lease, permit, or license shall be permanently 
     retired at the end of such period. Pending the expiration of 
     such period, the permittee (or a descendant of the permittee 
     who holds the lease, permit, or license) shall be entitled to 
     periodically renew the lease, permit, or license, subject to 
     such limitations, conditions, or regulations as the Secretary 
     may prescribe.
       ``(2) Any such grazing lease, permit, or license may be 
     sold during the period specified in paragraph (1) only on the 
     condition that the purchaser shall, immediately upon such 
     acquisition, permanently retire such lease, permit, or 
     license. Nothing in this subsection shall affect other 
     provisions concerning leases, permits, or licenses under the 
     Taylor Grazing Act.
       ``(3) Any portion of any grazing lease, permit, or license 
     with respect to lands within the Lost Spring Canyon Addition 
     shall be administered by the National Park Service.''.
       (d) Withdrawal From Mineral Entry and Leasing; Pipeline 
     Management.--Section 5 of Public Law 92-155 (16 U.S.C. 272d) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c)(1) Subject to valid existing rights, Federal lands 
     within the Lost Spring Canyon Addition are hereby 
     appropriated and withdrawn from entry, location, 
     selection, leasing, or other disposition under the public 
     land laws, including the mineral leasing laws.
       ``(2) The inclusion of the Lost Spring Canyon Addition in 
     the park shall not affect the operation or maintenance by the 
     Northwest Pipeline Corporation (or its successors or assigns) 
     of the natural gas pipeline and related facilities located in 
     the Lost Spring Canyon Addition on the date of the enactment 
     of the Arches National Park Expansion Act of 1997.''.
       (e) Effect on School Trust Lands.--
       (1) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (A) A parcel of State school trust lands, more specifically 
     described as section 16, township 23 south, range 22 east, of 
     the Salt Lake base and meridian, is partially contained 
     within the Lost Spring Canyon Addition included within the 
     boundaries of Arches National Park by the amendment by 
     subsection (a).
       (B) The parcel was originally granted to the State of Utah 
     for the purpose of generating revenue for the public schools 
     through the development of natural and other resources 
     located on the parcel.
       (C) It is in the interest of the State of Utah and the 
     United States for the parcel to be exchanged for Federal 
     lands of equivalent value outside the Lost Spring Canyon 
     Addition, in order to permit Federal management of all lands 
     within the Lost Spring Canyon Addition.
       (2) Land exchange.--Public Law 92-155 is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 8. LAND EXCHANGE INVOLVING SCHOOL TRUST LANDS.

       ``(a) Exchange Requirements.--If, not later than one year 
     after the date of the enactment of the Arches National Park 
     Expansion Act of 1997, and in accordance with this section, 
     the State of Utah offers to transfer all right, title and 
     interest of the State in and to the parcel of school trust 
     lands described in subsection (b)(1) to the United States, 
     the Secretary of the Interior shall accept the offer on 
     behalf of the United States and, within 180 days after the 
     date of such acceptance, transfer to the State of Utah all 
     right, title and interest of the United States in and to the 
     parcel of land described in subsection (b)(2). Title to the 
     State lands shall be transferred at the same time as 
     conveyance of title to the Federal lands by the Secretary of 
     the Interior. The exchange of lands under this section shall 
     be subject to valid existing rights, and each party shall 
     succeed to the rights and obligations of the other party with 
     respect to any lease, right-of-way, or permit encumbering the 
     exchanged lands.
       ``(b) Description of Parcels.--
       ``(1) State conveyance.--The parcel of school trust lands 
     to be conveyed by the State of Utah under subsection (a) is 
     section 16, township 23 south, range 22 east of the Salt Lake 
     base and meridian.
       ``(2) Federal conveyance.--The parcel of Federal lands to 
     be conveyed by the Secretary of the Interior consists of 
     approximately 639 acres and is identified as lots 1 through 
     12 located in the S\1/2\N\1/2\ and the N\1/2\N\1/2\N\1/2\S\1/
     2\ of section 1, township 25 south, range 18 east, Salt Lake 
     base and meridian.
       ``(3) Equivalent value.--The Federal lands described in 
     paragraph (2) are of equivalent value to the State school 
     trust lands described in paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Management by State.--At least 60 days before 
     undertaking or permitting any surface disturbing activities 
     to occur on the lands acquired by the State under this 
     section, the State shall consult with the Utah State Office 
     of the Bureau of Land Management concerning the extent and 
     impact of such activities on Federal lands and resources and 
     conduct, in a manner consistent with Federal laws, inventory, 
     mitigation, and management activities in connection with any 
     archaeological, paleontological, and cultural resources 
     located on the acquired lands. To the extent consistent with 
     applicable law governing the use and disposition of State 
     school trust lands, the State shall preserve existing grazing 
     recreational, and wildlife uses of the acquired lands. 
     Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the 
     State from authorizing or undertaking surface or mineral 
     activities authorized by existing or future land management 
     plans for the acquired lands.
       ``(d) Implementation.--Administrative actions necessary to 
     implement the land exchange described in this section shall 
     be completed within 180 days after the date of the enactment 
     of the Arches National Park Expansion Act of 1997.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Hansen] will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen].
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 2283, the Arches National Park Expansion 
Act of 1997, which was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Cannon].
  This worthwhile legislation would expand the boundaries of the park 
by approximately 3,140 acres, consisting primarily of public lands 
currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The expansion, 
known as the Lost Spring Canyon Addition, would follow canyons and rims 
and natural forms instead of section lines and other manmade features. 
This addition to the 73,400-acre Arches National Park adds additional 
concentrations of stone arches and numerous geologic features such as 
spires, pinnacles, pedestals, and balanced rocks.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Utah [Mr. 
Cannon], for his work in developing a consensus on H.R. 2283 within the 
State of Utah, conservation organizations, the Congress, and the 
administration. I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Utah [Mr. 
Cannon], the sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to rise as the sponsor of 
the Arches National Park Expansion Act of 1997. I represent Utah's 
Third Congressional District, a huge and incredibly scenic district 
that is nearly the size of Ohio.
  One of the true gems of my district is the Arches National Park. 
Arches is world-renowned as the home of hundreds of spectacular stone 
arches created by wind and water erosion. This poster depicts one of 
those arches, Delicate Arch.
  When Arches National Park was created, the park boundaries were drawn 
here in Washington using straight lines. But Mother Nature's creations 
are not linear. In the northeast corner of the park, the boundary was 
drawn through the middle of the arch through Lost Springs Canyon, 
leaving it half in

[[Page H10556]]

the park and half outside. Currently, the Bureau of Land Management 
manages the upper half of this canyon, while the National Park Service 
manages the lower portion.

                              {time}  2215

  This bill will simply move the park boundary to the far edge of the 
canyon to include all of Lost Spring Canyon. By doing so, the park 
boundary will be redrawn where it should have been originally. In doing 
so, this bill adds approximately 3,140 acres to one of our most 
spectacular national parks. This is an area of hundred-foot canyon 
walls, gentle grass valleys and delicate sandstone arches. This common-
sense boundary adjustment will bring at least 10 new arches under park 
protection. It will also have the side benefit of allowing the park to 
offer a back-country experience, an aspect that is currently missing.
  But this addition does not just make sense aesthetically. It also 
makes sense from a management standpoint. The proposed new boundary 
will put the National Park Service in charge of an area with clear 
geographic division, specifically the rim of a canyon. Visitors, park, 
and BLM employees will know where the park ends and BLM land begins.
  Part of the proposed addition also includes a section of school trust 
land owned by Utah's school children. That section really should be 
part of Arches. My staff sat down with the Utah School Trust and the 
Bureau of Land Management to find a section of Federal land that could 
be traded for the school trust section. A section was identified, and a 
trade for that section is in the bill. I believe this is one of the key 
provisions of the measure. In Utah we have had a long history of our 
school children being forced to bear the burden of Federal land 
management decisions. In contrast, this bill protects both the land and 
Utah's school children.
  We worked long to ensure that this bill had the input of all the 
different parties concerned with the park expansion. Comments were 
taken from elected officials, local citizens, interest groups, 
Government agencies, and a wide variety of groups who cherish this 
land. Their opinions were considered carefully during the drafting and 
redrafting of this bill. I feel strongly that this bill is a good 
balance of the competing interests.
  I believe that is why 49 of my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, 
have joined me on this measure. That is why the Utah School Trust, 
local officials and I believe a majority of the residents of Grand 
County favor this proposal. That is why both the Grand Canyon Trust and 
the National Parks and Conservation Association are on board, and that 
is why the National Park Service and the administration have indicated 
support. This is a pro-environment, pro-open process, pro-park vote 
and, most importantly, it is the right thing to do.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for an affirmative vote.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Congressional Record the 
attached language that clarifies the operation and maintenance of the 
existing natural gas pipeline in Arches National Park and the proposed 
Lost Spring Canyon addition to the park.
  This language has been agreed to by the majority and minority staffs 
of the National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee, the sponsor of the 
bill, Mr. Cannon, the National Park Service, and the operator of the 
pipeline.
  Section 2(d)(2) provides that the natural gas pipeline currently 
located within the boundary of Arches National Park, and that is 
located in the Lost Spring Canyon addition to the park, can continue to 
be operated and maintained in a manner necessary to achieve compliance 
with Federal pipeline safety regulations.
  This language does not give the operator of the pipeline authority to 
expand the pipeline's current capacity, replace the pipeline, or 
construct new facilities. Section 2(d)(2) simply recognizes that the 
operator is bound by the Federal pipeline safety law and implementing 
regulations to maintain certain safety standards. The committee 
believes the operator should not be forced into a position where the 
operator is in violation of those requirements and where the safe 
operation of the pipeline is jeopardized.
  For example, safety regulations require that pipeline operators 
maintain certain levels of cathodic protection along pipelines to 
protect against corrosion. Cathodic protection involves the creation of 
a small electrical current along the pipe to counter the current that 
naturally occurs between the pipe and the soil. By neutralizing this 
natural current, corrosion of the pipe is avoided. The committee 
understands that the pipeline operator now maintains a cathodic 
protection facility in the Lost Spring Canyon addition to the park. 
This language insures that such facility could continue to operate if 
retaining a facility in this area is necessary to achieve the levels of 
cathodic protection required by Federal regulation.
  The committee understands that the National Park Service periodically 
renews the permit governing the operation of the pipeline located 
within the park. This language in no way is intended to interfere with 
the National Park Service's ability to require operation of the 
pipeline in a manner that minimizes its impact on the park. Again, the 
language is intended to ensure that the pipeline operator is not forced 
to operate the pipeline in a manner that is unsafe and inconsistent 
with Federal law and regulations governing safety.
  Mr. COOK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2283, the Arches 
National Park Expansion Act. This bill simply expands the existing 
national park by 3,140 acres to include scenic wonders that were left 
out when the park boundaries were drawn 25 years ago. These sites 
belong in the park and should have been included the first time around. 
Let me give you an example: Lost Spring Canyon is a spectacular canyon. 
Nature has carved at least 10 arches in the walls of this dramatic 
canyon. Yet, only a small portion of the canyon is part of the Arches 
National Park. The rest was cut out because park boundaries were drawn 
along sectional lines. This bill now brings the entire canyon into the 
park.
  This is an inexpensive, practical move that has the broad support of 
the people in my district and my State. I urge the passage of H.R. 
2283. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Callahan). 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. 2283, 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 of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to expand 
the boundaries of Arches National Park in the State of Utah to include 
portions of the following drainages: Salt Wash, Lost Spring Canyon, 
Fish Seep Draw, Clover Canyon, Cordova Canyon, Mine Draw, and 
Cottonwood Wash, which are currently under the jurisdiction of the 
Bureau of Land Management, and to include a portion of Fish Seep Draw, 
which is currently owned by the State of Utah.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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