[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S14522]]
        THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LANDS TO PARK COUNTY, WYOMING

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise in support of legislation that I and 
my colleague, Senator Craig Thomas, introduced on Tuesday, November 9, 
1999, that would authorize the sale of certain federal lands near Cody, 
Wyoming to Park County Wyoming for future use as an industrial park.
  By purchasing this property, and zoning it as an industrial park, 
Park County will be able to provide, protect, and recognize an area 
that is well suited for industrial development, in a manner consistent 
with uses on surrounding properties, and do so in a way that does not 
burden other areas in the community whose uses are more residential or 
commercial in nature.
  The property in question consists of approximately 190 acres of 
federal land just north of the Cody City limits. Part of this land is 
currently leased to a number of light industrial corporations including 
a gypsum wall board manufacturing facility, a meat processing facility, 
a trucking company, an oil company, a concrete company, and a lumber 
company. The property is also currently used as a utility corridor and 
is encumbered by a natural gas pipeline, several electricity and oil 
and gas pipeline rights of way, and a railroad easement held by the 
Chicago Burlington Quincy Railroad.
  This proposal offers a needed shot in the arm for an economy that has 
not been able to attract a diversity of new jobs based on of a shortage 
of available industrial property. This shortage was created by a strong 
federal presence--82 percent of the land in Park County is owned by the 
Federal Government, with 52 percent of that land designated and managed 
as Wilderness. This high concentration of federal land drives up the 
price on available private land making industrial development very 
difficult.
  In conclusion Mr. President, I hope my colleagues can join with me in 
support of this legislation and together we can provide the Cody area 
with a wonderful community building opportunity.

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