[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 120 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10240-S10241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MOYNIHAN (for himself and Mr. D'Amato):
  S. 2461. A bill to extend the extend the authorization for the Upper 
Delaware Citizens Advisory Council and to authorize construction and 
operation of a visitor center for the Upper Delaware Scenic and 
Recreational River, New York and Pennsylvania; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.


        upper delaware scenic and recreational river legislation

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, today I introduce, along with my 
friend and colleague Senator D'Amato, a bill that would extend the 
authorization for the Upper Delaware River Citizens Advisory Committee 
and authorize the construction of a visitors center. The Upper Delaware 
is a 73 mile stretch of free flowing water between Hancock and 
Sparrowbush, New York along the Pennsylvania border. The area is home 
to the Zane Gray Museum and to Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct, which is 
believed to be the oldest existing wire cable suspension bridge. The 
Upper Delaware is an ideal location for canoeing, kayaking, rafting, 
tubing, sightseeing, and fishing.
  In 1987 the Secretary of the Interior approved a management plan for 
the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River which called for the 
development of a visitors center at the south end of the river 
corridor. It would be owned and constructed by the National Park 
Service. In 1993 New York State authorized a lease with the Park 
Service for the construction of a visitor center on State-owned land in 
the town of Deerpark in the vicinity of Mongaup. This bill allows the 
Secretary to enter into such a lease and to construct and operate the 
visitor center.
  Mr. President, the many thousands of visitors to this wonderful river 
would benefit greatly from a place to go to find out about the 
recreational opportunities, the history, and the flora and fauna of the 
river. This bill would move that process along to its conclusion. It 
would also continue the Citizens Advisory Council that ensures that the 
views and concerns of local residents are kept in mind when management 
decisions are made. My colleague from

[[Page S10241]]

New York and I ask for the support of other Senators, and I ask 
unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2461

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR UPPER DELAWARE 
                   CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL.

       Section 704(f)(1) of the National Parks and Recreation Act 
     of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1274 note; Public Law 95-625) is amended 
     in the last sentence by striking ``20'' and inserting ``30''.

     SEC. 2. VISITOR CENTER FOR UPPER DELAWARE SCENIC AND 
                   RECREATIONAL RIVER.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) on September 29, 1987, the Secretary of the Interior 
     approved a management plan for the Upper Delaware Scenic and 
     Recreational River, as required by section 704(c) of the 
     National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1274 
     note; Public Law 95-625);
       (2) the management plan called for the development of a 
     primary visitor contact facility located at the southern end 
     of the river corridor;
       (3) the management plan determined that the visitor center 
     would be built and operated by the National Park Service;
       (4) section 704 of that Act limits the authority of the 
     Secretary of the Interior to acquire land within the boundary 
     of the river corridor; and
       (5) on June 21, 1993, the State of New York authorized a 
     99-year lease between the New York State Department of 
     Environmental Conservation and the National Park Service for 
     construction and operation of a visitor center by the Federal 
     Government on State-owned land in the town of Deerpark, 
     Orange County, New York, in the vicinity of Mongaup, which is 
     the preferred site for the visitor center.
       (b) Authorization of Visitor Center.--Section 704(d) of the 
     National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1274 
     note; Public Law 95-625) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(d) Notwithstanding'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(d) Acquisition of Land.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Visitor center.--For the purpose of constructing and 
     operating a visitor center for the segment of the Upper 
     Delaware River designated as a scenic and recreational river 
     by section 3(a)(19) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1274(a)(19)), subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Secretary of the Interior may--
       ``(A) enter into a lease with the State of New York, for a 
     term of 99 years, for State-owned land within the boundaries 
     of the Upper Delaware River located at an area known as 
     `Mongaup' near the confluence of the Mongaup and Upper 
     Delaware Rivers in the State of New York; and
       ``(B) construct and operate the visitor center on the land 
     leased under subparagraph (A).''.
                                 ______