[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H9854-H9855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              LAMPREY WILD AND SCENIC RIVER EXTENSION ACT

  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1615) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to extend the 
designation of a portion of the Lamprey River in New Hampshire as a 
recreational river to include an additional river segment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1615

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Lamprey Wild and Scenic 
     River Extension Act''.

     SEC. 2. LAMPREY RECREATIONAL RIVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

       (a) Additional Segment.--The paragraph entitled ``Lamprey 
     River, New Hampshire'' in section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``11.5-mile segment extending from the 
     southern Lee town line'' and inserting ``23.5-mile segment 
     extending from the Bunker Pond Dam in Epping''; and
       (2) by striking ``towns of'' and inserting ``towns of 
     Epping,''.
       (b) Management.--Section 405 of division I of the Omnibus 
     Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (Public Law 
     104-333; 110 Stat. 4149; 16 U.S.C. 1274 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ``Epping,'' before 
     ``Durham''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (c).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) and the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. 
Romero-Barcelo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1615.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 1615, introduced by my colleague 
the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Sununu). The gentleman is to be 
congratulated for his work in protecting a valuable and picturesque 
river.
  Specifically, H.R. 1615 amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to 
extend the Wild and Scenic River designation to a 12-mile segment of 
the Lamprey River running through New Hampshire. This new addition 
would be designated as a recreational river in accordance with the Wild 
and Scenic Rivers Act.
  As part of the Omnibus Parks and Public Land Management Act of 1996, 
an 11\1/2\ mile segment of the Lamprey River was designated at that 
time as a recreational river. The study done for this segment also 
found that an additional 12-mile segment upstream warrants a like 
designation. Now that there is overwhelming local support, this section 
of the Lamprey River is ready for the designation.
  This bill is supported by the National Park Service, and I urge my 
colleagues also to support H.R. 1615.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, in 1991, the Congress directed the

[[Page H9855]]

National Park Service to study the Lamprey River in New Hampshire to 
determine what portion of the river might be eligible for designation 
as a Wild and Scenic River.
  In 1995, the National Park Service concluded that a little more than 
23 miles met the requirements for such designation. However, at the 
time, there was local support for designating only 11\1/2\ miles of the 
river. As a result, in 1996, Congress abided by the wishes of the local 
community and designated only the 11.5-mile segment.
  Just 3 years later, the designation is so popular in those areas 
which have it and the programs which grow out of this Wild and Scenic 
River designation are so successful that those communities where 
support was once lacking have now voted overwhelmingly to have their 
segment of the river included. H.R. 1615 would add the additional 12-
mile segment to the portion of the Lamprey that is already designated a 
Wild and Scenic River.
  Mr. Speaker, there are two very important things to note here. In 
designating the Lamprey, the National Park Service and the Congress 
have been very careful to listen to the wishes of the local communities 
and to abide by them. In addition, contrary to the views offered by 
critics of this program, when local communities have an opportunity to 
see firsthand the positive effects of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Program, they cannot wait to be included.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan bill that has bipartisan support, 
and we urge our colleagues to support H.R. 1615.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Hampshire (Mr. Sununu).
  Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for yielding 
me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1615, the Lamprey Wild 
and Scenic River Extension Act. This legislation seeks to fulfill the 
original intent of the 1996 Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management 
Act by incorporating a 12-mile river segment that runs through the Town 
of Epping, New Hampshire, under the Lamprey River's existing Wild and 
Scenic designation. H.R. 1615 helps to put the finishing touch on a 29-
year effort to protect the Lamprey as a valuable and historic natural 
resource.
  The Lamprey is located in the southeast region of our State and 
continues to be among New Hampshire's important tributaries.

                              {time}  1730

  As one of only two rivers to achieve Wild and Scenic status, it spans 
60 miles and flows through six communities before emptying into the 
Seacoast Great Bay Estuarine Reserve. Over 300 species of plants and 
150 species of birds inhabit its river banks as well as its neighboring 
marshes and forests, providing a diverse and scenic landscape. The 
Lamprey is also host to a large quantity of anadromous fish throughout 
the Great Bay watershed, which include Atlantic salmon, American shad, 
herring and sea Lamprey as well.
  Apart from its impressive ecology, the Lamprey has long been a 
popular recreational resource for swimming, fishing, hiking and cross-
country skiing. The watershed region also houses several historically 
significant sites including the Wiswall Dam, which is listed on the 
National Register of Historic Places.
  Realizing the importance of the Lamprey as both a natural and 
economic resource, several organizations and local entities have 
collaborated in efforts to ensure its stability and long-term 
preservation. For years, the towns of Durham, Epping, Lee and Newmarket 
have worked with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services 
to ensure the safekeeping and quality of the Lamprey River. They have 
been joined by the Lamprey River Advisory Committee, the Stafford 
Regional Planning Commission and New Hampshire Fish and Game as well to 
ensure common-sense, local approaches to conservation. The coalition's 
hard work has led to State efforts to safeguard the river under the New 
Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program, and ultimately the 
1996 Wild and Scenic River designation of the 11.5 mile portion of the 
Lamprey in Durham, Lee and Newmarket.
  Most notably, the Lamprey River Advisory Committee, whose members are 
nominated by each town in the area and the New Hampshire Department of 
Environmental Services, has made significant strides in preserving and 
protecting the integrity of the Lamprey by implementing this river 
management plan. Two years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with the 
members of the committee, touring the river's many scenic areas and 
historic sites and surveying some of the projects upon which the 
organization has focused its efforts.
  Although the National Park Service determined in 1995 that Epping's 
portion of the Lamprey met the criteria of eligibility for the Wild and 
Scenic designation, the town opted to wait until the initiative 
received broad based local support through a town meeting and vote. 
Last March, with the backing of the Board of Selectmen and the local 
conservation commission, the citizens of Epping voted by a large margin 
in support of the expanded Wild and Scenic River designation. At their 
request, I have introduced H.R. 1615 to enable this community of over 
5,000 to build upon the success of the original Lamprey designation and 
to ensure the continued integrity of this important historic tributary.
  Again, I want to thank the members of the committee for their support 
in moving this legislation forward. I urge the passage of H.R. 1615.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1615.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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