[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 21 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GALLATIN LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RICK HILL

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 5, 1998

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, today I join with my Montana colleagues, U.S. 
Senators Conrad Burns and Max Baucus in introducing the ``Gallatin Land 
Consolidation Act of 1998.'' This legislation is designed to protect 
key wildlife habitat in the Taylor Fork area near Yellowstone National 
Park, save taxpayer dollars through consolidation of checkerboard 
federal lands and enhance hunting and other recreational pursuits. This 
bipartisan solution is a major step towards ending the uncertainty 
regarding the future of these critical land areas.
  This bill reflects input from a wide range of community and public 
interests gathered through a series of meetings and discussions held 
over the last several months. While there are still details to be 
addressed with regard to balancing the assets identified for exchange, 
this bill provides the underlying framework for completing the final 
phase of the Gallatin Land Consolidation Act. This legislation also 
proves that it's possible to achieve a balance between responsible 
natural resource management, which includes preservation of public 
resources, recreational opportunities and jobs.
  It's also important to recognize one of the goals of this exchange is 
to improve public access to the forest. This legislation directs the 
Forest Service to initiate a planning process that will involve the 
public in determining management of the lands to be acquired in this 
exchange. During the interim, existing public access to those areas 
will be maintained.
  Mr. Speaker, one other important aspect of this legislation involves 
the use of federal timber as one of the assets for balancing this land 
exchange. Twenty million board feet of timber is dedicated over a two-
year period to acquiring lands in the Taylor Fork. To ensure that the 
timber is available in that time frame, local conservationists and 
sportsmen have committed to the Montana Congressional delegation that 
they will work proactively with the U.S. Forest Service to review 
timber sales and resolve environmental concerns up front, rather than 
waiting to file appeals. That collaboration most clearly illustrates 
the high level of public support that exists for completing this 
exchange.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is important to my home state of Montana. With 
a hearing already scheduled in the Forests and Forest Health 
Subcommittee, I look forward to working with the rest of Montana's 
delegation and my House colleagues to complete this exchange during 
this session of Congress.

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