[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE SPANISH PEAKS WILDERNESS ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 2, 1999

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to give 
permanent protection as wilderness to the heart of the Spanish Peaks 
area in Colorado.
  The bill is cosponsored by several of my colleagues from Colorado, 
including Mr. Schaffer, whose district includes the portion of the 
Spanish Peaks within Las Animas county. I am also pleased to be joined 
by Mr. Hefley, Mr. Tancredo, and Mr. Mark Udall of Colorado. I greatly 
appreciate their assistance and support.
  Today, across the Capitol, Senator Allard is introducing an identical 
companion bill. I would like to extend my appreciation to the Senator 
for his active support of this worthwhile legislation.
  Finally, I would offer a note of appreciation and thanks to the 
former Members of Congress whose efforts made today's legislation 
possible. First, approximately 20 years ago, Senator William Armstrong 
of Colorado began this worthwhile process by proposing wilderness in 
Colorado, and in 1986 Senator Armstrong proposed protected status and 
management for the Spanish Peaks. His efforts set in place the 
foundation upon which today's bill is built. Second, I would like to 
thank the former Congressman from the Second District, Mr. Skaggs. 
Together, he and I introduced this legislation in the 105th Congress, 
which passed the House but due to time constraints did not pass the 
Senate. The efforts by both of these individual legislators helped make 
this bill possible.
  The mountains known as the Spanish Peaks are two volcanic peaks in 
Las Animas and Huerfano Counties whose Native American name is 
Wayatoya. The eastern peak rises to 12,683 feet above sea level, while 
the summit of the western peak reaches 13,626 feet. The two served as 
landmarks not only for Native Americans but also for some of Colorado's 
other early settlers and for travelers along the trail between Bent's 
Old Fort on the Arkansas River and Taos, New Mexico.
  With this history, it's not surprising that the Spanish Peaks portion 
of the San Isabel National Forest was included in 1977 on the National 
Registry of Natural Landmarks. The Spanish Peaks area has outstanding 
scenic, geologic, and wilderness values, including a spectacular system 
of over 250 free standing dikes and ramps of volcanic materials 
radiating from the peaks. The State of Colorado has designated the 
Spanish Peaks as a natural area, and they are a popular destination for 
hikers seeking an opportunity to enjoy an unmatched vista of 
southeastern Colorado's mountains and plains.
  The Forest Service reviewed the Spanish Peaks area for possible 
wilderness designation as part of its second roadless area review and 
evaluation--known as RARE II--and in 1979 recommended designation as 
wilderness of 19,570 acres. Concerns about private land inholdings in 
the area prompted Congress, in the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980, to 
instead provide for its continued management as a wilderness study 
area.

  A decade later, the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 included 
provisions for long-term management of all the other wilderness study 
areas in our State's national forests, but meanwhile questions about 
the land-ownership pattern in the Spanish Peaks area had prompted the 
Forest Service to change its mind about designating it as wilderness. 
That, in turn, led to inclusion in the 1993 wilderness bill of a 
requirement for its continued management of that area as a wilderness 
study area for 3 years--until August 13, 1996. The 1993 bill also 
required the Forest Service to report to Congress concerning the extent 
of non-Federal holdings in the likelihood of acquisition of those 
holdings by the United States with the owner's consent.
  The required report was submitted in 1995. It indicated that within 
the wilderness study area, there were about 825 acres where the United 
States owned neither the surface nor the mineral rights, and about 440 
acres more where the United States owned the surface but not the 
minerals. Since then, through voluntary sales, the United States has 
acquired most of the inholdings. Today only 166 acres of inholdings 
remain, and the Forest Service is in the process of or making efforts 
to acquire 134 of those acres. So the way is now clear for Congress to 
finish the job of protecting this outstanding area by designating it as 
part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
  The bill I am introducing today would designate as wilderness about 
18,000 acres of the San Isabel National Forest, including both of the 
Spanish Peaks as well as the slopes below and between them. This 
includes most of the lands originally recommended for wilderness by the 
Forest Service, but with boundary revision that will exclude some 
private lands. I would like to note that Senator Allard and I have made 
significant efforts to address local concerns about the wilderness 
designation, including: (1) adjusting the boundary slightly to exclude 
certain lands that are likely to have the capacity for mineral 
production; and (2) excluding from the wilderness a road that locals 
use for access to the beauty of the Spanish Peaks.
  The lands covered by this bill are not only striking for their beauty 
and value but also for recreation. They fully merit the protection that 
will come from their designation as wilderness. The bill itself is very 
simple. It would just add the Spanish Peaks area to the list of areas 
designated as wilderness by the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993. As a 
result, all the provisions of the act--including the provisions related 
to water--would apply to the Spanish Peaks area just as they do to the 
other areas on that list. Like all the areas now on that list, the 
Spanish Peaks area covered by this bill is a headwaters area, which for 
all practical purposes eliminates the possibility of water conflicts. 
There are no water diversions within the area.
  Mr. Speaker, enactment of this Spanish Peaks bill will not be the 
last step in protecting the Federal lands in Colorado. As this bill 
demonstrates, when an area is appropriate for wilderness designation 
and when all the outstanding issues have been satisfactorily addressed, 
the Colorado delegation will respond with appropriate legislation. I 
would also note that other protection short of the absolute wilderness 
designation may be appropriate in certain cases, and I would encourage 
Coloradans, the counties, local users and interests who would be 
impacted to consider this possibility when discussing how to best 
utilize public lands within Colorado.
  I will continue to work to achieve appropriate levels of protection 
for the pristine and beautiful areas within Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I 
close by urging the Congress to act without delay to pass this 
important measure for the Spanish Peaks area of Colorado.

                          ____________________