[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10337-H10339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONVEYING TITLE TO TUNNISON LAB HAGERMAN FIELD STATION IN GOODLING 
                 COUNTY, IDAHO, TO UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2505) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
title to the Tunnison Lab Hagerman Field Station in Goodling County, 
Idaho, to the University of Idaho.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2505

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF TUNNISON LAB HAGERMAN FIELD STATION, 
                   HAGERMAN, IDAHO, TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey to the University of Idaho, without reimbursement, all 
     right, title, and interest of the United

[[Page H10338]]

     States in and to the property described in subsection (b) for 
     use by the University of Idaho for fish research.
       (b) Description of Property.--
       (1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (a) 
     consists of approximately 4 acres of land, the Tunnison Lab 
     Hagerman Field Station in Gooding County, Idaho, located 
     thereon, and all improvements and related personal property, 
     excluding water rights vested in the United States and 
     necessary access and utility easements and rights-of-way.
       (2) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the 
     property described under paragraph (1) shall be determined by 
     a survey that is satisfactory to the Secretary.
       (c) Reversionary Interest in the United States.--
       (1) Requirement.--If any property conveyed to the 
     University of Idaho under this section is used for any 
     purpose other than the use authorized under subsection (a), 
     all right, title, and interest in and to all property 
     conveyed under this section shall revert to the United 
     States.
       (2) Condition of property on reversion.--In the case of a 
     reversion of property under paragraph (1), the University of 
     Idaho shall ensure that all property reverting to the United 
     States under this subsection is in substantially the same 
     condition as, or in better condition than, on the date of 
     conveyance under subsection (a).
       (d) Compliance With Other Laws.--In connection with 
     property conveyed under this section, the University of Idaho 
     shall--
       (1) comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (16 
     U.S.C. 470 et seq.) for all ground disturbing activities, 
     with special emphases on compliance with sections 106, 110, 
     and 112 (16 U.S.C. 470f, 470h-2, 470h-4); and
       (2) protect prehistoric and historic resources in 
     accordance with the Archaeological Resources Protection Act 
     of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq.).
       (e) Liability.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), as a 
     condition of the conveyance of property under this section, 
     the University of Idaho shall hold the United States 
     harmless, and shall indemnify the United States, for all 
     claims, costs, damages, and judgments arising out of any act 
     or omission relating to the property conveyed under this 
     section.
       (2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a claim, 
     cost, damage, or judgment arising from an act of negligence 
     committed by the United States, or by an employee, agent, or 
     contractor of the United States, prior to the date of the 
     conveyance under this section, for which the United States is 
     found liable under chapter 171 of title 28, United States 
     Code.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2505, a bill 
introduced by our colleagues from Idaho, Senators Larry Craig and Dirk 
Kempthorne, to transfer the Tunnison Lab Hagerman Field Station to the 
University of Idaho.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Idaho (Mrs. Chenoweth) to explain the bill.
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me 
this time. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I rise to support 
the passage of Senate bill 2505, a bill that was guided very well 
through the Senate by our Idaho colleagues, Senators Craig and 
Kempthorne. And I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Saxton) and also the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for bringing 
this bill to the House floor.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a 
very large steelhead fish hatchery near Hagerman, Idaho. Part of that 
operation has been aquaculture research, and they have a laboratory 
there known as the Tunnison Lab Hagerman Field Station.
  Recognizing the importance of continuing aquaculture research, the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service reached a cooperative agreement 
with the University of Idaho 3 years ago.

                              {time}  1950

  This agreement would allow the University to continue and expand the 
work that is presently being done at Hagerman.
  The collaboration has worked very well, but now, with the passage of 
this bill, we have the opportunity to do even better. The University of 
Idaho has secured $1.75 million in combination with Federal, State and 
private funds to finance the improvements at this laboratory in order 
to bring it up to current research standards and make it a truly viable 
research facility for aquaculture.
  With the transfer of this property to the University of Idaho, the 
people of Idaho, the local aquaculture industry, the State of Idaho and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to reap the benefits 
of the very important work being done at this laboratory.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure that most of my colleagues are aware of how 
very important the salmon is to the State of Idaho. In fact, it is a 
social icon in Idaho and a cultural icon. It is at the very headwaters 
of this whole environmental debate in the Northwest.
  At this time, hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent each 
year on the recovery of this declining species. Some have proposed 
drastic and heavy-handed measures, using unproven science, to save the 
species. However, I have advocated that finding solutions to this 
complex and very difficult issue will require sound science, the kind 
of science that the University of Idaho will utilize in the research of 
salmon biology at the Hagerman Laboratory.
  The University of Idaho has undertaken very important work here to 
help find practical solutions, workable solutions, to aid the efforts 
to conserve our native salmonid species. Survival rates of hatchery 
raised fish in the wild are notoriously low, but solutions as simple as 
developing new hatchery diets can greatly improve their survival rates. 
This work is already under way at the laboratory at Hagerman, but, in 
addition, the University proposes to make the Hagerman Lab home to an 
innovative cryogenic gene bank for salmon genetic material to ensure 
that we have access to the full range of genetic material needed to 
maintain a salmonid population's genetic integrity when raising fish to 
release in the wild, which is very, very important for our future.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is a win-win. It is good for the people of 
Idaho. It is good for the Northwest. It is good for the industry, and 
it is good, most importantly, for the native salmonids. It is a win for 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and for the State of Idaho, 
and I am pleased to see it considered and passed in the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present to the House S. 2094, the Fish 
and Wildlife Revenue Enhancement Act. This bill would amend the Fish 
and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 to enable the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service to utilize funds obtained from the sale of certain 
abandoned or forfeited products.
  The House version of this legislation, introduced by our colleagues, 
Bob Schaffer and David Skaggs, was the subject of an extensive hearing 
before my subcommittee. At that time the Fish and Wildlife Service made 
a compelling case for changing the law to allow them to pay the costs 
associated with shipping, storage, and disposal of certain wildlife 
items.
  While thousands of wildlife items legally enter this country on a 
daily basis with proper documentation, other products are confiscated 
at our borders because they lack the proper or necessary import 
permits. While some of these goods are made from endangered or 
threatened species and, therefore, cannot be legally possessed, many of 
these products, like boots and handbags, can be legally owned.
  Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for 
transporting all confiscated and forfeited goods to the National 
Wildlife Property Repository in Commerce City, CO. Some of the goods 
are distributed to high schools and other educational facilities in 
what the Service calls Cargo for Conservation kits. However, the 
constant supply of goods coming into the Repository far exceeds the 
demand for these items. In fact, the Repository currently has about 
450,000 items, of which 200,000 can be legally sold.
  While the Service may dispose of these items by any means it deems 
appropriate, it must do so at its own cost. Any funds obtained in 
excess of the storage costs or money paid to individuals as a reward 
for information must be deposited into the General Fund of the U.S. 
Treasury. Last year, the Repository was appropriated $310,000. After 
paying overhead and operations, only $30,000 was left to implement 
programs that loan wildlife items to schools, universities, and museums 
and to assist Native Americans in meeting their religious and 
ceremonial needs. Therefore, there is no incentive for the Service to 
sell any of these legal products, since it lacks the resources to 
undertake this effort.

[[Page H10339]]

  S. 2094 gives the Service the opportunity to sell certain wildlife 
goods now in storage through a public auction process. These auctions 
would only sell those goods that are legal to possess, and no items 
derived from endangered or threatened species would be available. By 
doing this, the stockpile will be reduced, better storage techniques 
would be implemented, and programs, like Cargo for Conservation, could 
be expanded to help educate thousands of additional students each year.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a sound piece of legislation and I compliment 
the author, Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado, for his outstanding 
leadership in this matter. I urge an ``aye'' vote on S. 2094.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation. It is supported by 
the administration, and I want to thank Senator Kempthorne and Senator 
Craig and the gentlewoman from Idaho (Mrs. Chenoweth) for their work. I 
am aware of no controversy.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Snowbarger). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2505.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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