[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE PUBLIC APPEALS PARITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 1999

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to introduce the Public 
Appeals Parity Act of 1999. This Act is needed so that the general 
public, who have legitimate interests in federal land management 
decisions, has an avenue to appeal certain decisions made by the 
National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
Currently, no such appeals system exists within these two federal 
agencies and the public's only recourse for relief is through the court 
system.
  The idea of an internal agency appeal system is not new. Right now, 
two other primary federal land management agencies, the United States 
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have an administrative 
process whereby the public can appeal certain decisions in regard to 
land management decisions made by these agencies. This Act would 
initiate a similar administrative appeal process for the public in 
regard to decisions made by the National Park Service and the Untied 
States Fish and Wildlife Service. The Secretary of the Interior would 
be directed to establish procedures for an appeals process for the Park 
Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service which will afford the public, 
prior to the implementation of the project, activity, or plan, an 
opportunity to appeal decisions made by these agencies in regard to 
land and resource management decisions which occur in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act.
  The regulations developed by the Secretary of the Interior per this 
Act would mirror those already established for the U.S. Forest Service 
and would include such things as the type of decisions that may be 
appealed, who may appeal decisions, the procedures that apply to 
appealing the decision, and other important steps which the public 
could follow.
  This Act is fair, is not precedent setting, and levels the playing 
field so that the public has an avenue to appeal decisions made by 
federal agencies rather than to take them to court. I urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor and support the Public Appeals Parity Act of 
1999.

                          ____________________