[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         SUPPORT FOR H.R. 1995

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 1998

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the Point Reyes National Seashore Farmland 
Protection Act, H.R. 1995, is a unique solution to a growing problem in 
our country--How do we protect disappearing farmland while 
simultaneously protecting our natural resources?
  Keeping local farms in agriculture is absolutely essential to local 
economies across the country, and California's Sixth Congressional 
District is a prime example. Approximately, 167,000 acres--half of 
Marin County's total land--are farms or ranches. In Sonoma County, 40 
percent of the 1.2 million acres of land is agriculture. The majority 
of this farmland is divided into small third and fourth generation 
family-owned operations. Of the 285 agricultural operations currently 
in Marin County, 78 are considered large farms (annual gross income of 
$100,000 or more), and 207 are considered small or mini-farms. The 
average farm size is 588 acres.
  By authorizing the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, 
H.R. 1995 allows willing landowners to receive compensation for keeping 
their farms in agriculture. At the same time, the lands remain on the 
tax rolls, and private property rights are protected. The majority of 
local landowners support this bill--including Joe and Doris Mendoza.

                                      Point Reyes Station, CA,

                                                 November 7, 1997.
     Hon. James Hansen,
     Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Hansen: We are writing in support of Lynn 
     Woolsey's legislation H.R. 1995, the Point Reyes National 
     Seashore Farmland Protection Act. We operate a 500-cow dairy 
     on the ``Historic B Ranch'' located on the Point Reyes 
     peninsula which became part of the Point Reyes National 
     Seashore when it was authorized in 1962. We have enjoyed a 
     favorable tenant/landlord relationship with the National Park 
     Service for over 25 years, and have operated a viable 
     business partnership with our son during that period.
       We reinvested our proceeds from the sale of the ``B'' Ranch 
     in 2,300 acres of land on the east side of Tomales Bay. This 
     property lies within the boundary of the Farmland Protection 
     Act. Lynn Woolsey has worked very diligently to write this 
     legislation in a manner to address the concerns of the 
     agricultural land owners while protecting the interests of 
     the people of the United States and their investment in the 
     lands of the Park.
       We feel that this innovative concept protects the land from 
     development for the benefit of the park while providing for 
     agriculture's need of a ``critical mass''. It leaves the land 
     in private ownership and on the local tax rolls. Win! Win! We 
     also greatly support the principle of using a local land 
     trust to administer this arrangement.
       Please enter our support of H.R. 1995.
           Sincerely,
     J.H. Mendoza, Sr.
     Doris S. Mendoza.

     

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