[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 2418. A bill to prohibit commercial air tour operations over the 
Black Canyon National Park; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.


 Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Commercial Overflights Ban 
                                  Act

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that 
would prohibit commercial tour overflight operators from flying in and 
over the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The Black Canyon 
of the Gunnison National Park, our nation's 55th and newest national 
park is a breathtaking canyon of diverse magnitude, which is why I 
worked for over 13 years to get it dedicated as a national park.
  I cannot imagine having the many visitors who tour my home state to 
view Colorado's newest national park enjoying the sound of airplanes or 
helicopters buzzing overhead while they are trying to listen to the 
flowing river at the bottom of the canyon. Because of the deep, narrow 
nature of the canyon, rescue and recovery operations for aircraft that 
experience problems would be extremely difficult, dangerous and costly.
  My bill would amend the FAA reauthorization act of 2000 and would 
only restrict overflights on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National 
Park. I worked with my friend and colleague Senator Allard for over 
five years in support of his effort to get commercial overflights 
banned over the Rocky Mountain National Park. Similar action by 
Congress is now necessary for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
  I believe National Park visitors seek peacefulness when they visit a 
national park and my legislation would help provide that. We contacted 
the Superintendent of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 
and he informed us that currently no commercial overflights are taking 
place, but there may have been flights in the past.
  My bill would amend already existing law and would not negatively 
affect the operation of emergency, military and commercial high-level 
airlines or private planes.
  The Denver Post recently published an editorial supporting 
Congressional action on the issue of aircraft noise, citing how such 
operations would create noise which would echo terribly off the walls 
of the Canyon. As a member of the National Park and Historic 
Preservation Subcommittee, I have confronted these types of issues in 
the past and know how important it is for the visitors to our national 
parks to have everlasting and fond memories when they take the time and 
effort to visit the natural wonders we are blessed with in this 
country.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Denver Post editorial and the bill 
be printed in the Record. And, I ask my colleagues to support this 
needed legislation.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2418

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

     SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AIR TOUR 
                   OPERATIONS.

       Section 806 of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act 
     of 2000 is amended by inserting ``or the Black Canyon of the 
     Gunnison National Park'' after ``Rocky Mountain National 
     Park''.
                                  ____


                        Keep Planes Out of Parks

       April 10--It took five years, but the wonderful quiet over 
     Rocky Mountain National Park has been permanently preserved. 
     However, the state's congressional delegation should take 
     steps to protect other national parks in Colorado from being 
     pestered by the constant drone of low-flying planes and the 
     thunderous whapping of helicopter blades. Of particular 
     concern is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
       Aircraft noise has become a huge problem in some national 
     parks, such as the Grand Canyon.
       So, when a helicopter tour company wanted to start scenic 
     flights over Rocky Mountain National Park in the mid-1990s, 
     Estes Park residents became alarmed.
       A temporary ban on commercial flights over the park was put 
     in place, thanks to efforts by then-U.S. Rep. Wayne Allard, a 
     Republican who at the time represented the district that 
     includes Estes Park; then-U.S. Rep. David Skaggs, a Democrat 
     who at the time represented the district that includes 
     Boulder County, where part of the park is located; and then-
     U.S. Transportation Secretary Federico Pena, a former Denver 
     mayor.
       But the ban wasn't really a done deal until this week. 
     Allard, now a U.S. senator, amended the Federal Aviation 
     Administration's authorization bill to include a permanent 
     ban on aircraft tours over Rocky Mountain National Park. U.S. 
     Rep. Bob Schaffer, another Republican who now represents 
     Colorado's Fourth Congressional District, co-sponsored a 
     similar amendment on the House side.
       Unfortunately, their work may not yet be finished. In the 
     last several months, some outdoor recreation groups have 
     raised worries that commercial flights could become a problem 
     over the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. That 
     prospect could make it impossible for visitors to enjoy 
     standing on the rim and listening to the Gunnison River roar 
     thousands of feet below. Aircraft noise would echo terribly 
     off the rock walls, and the narrow canyon could present 
     safety problems.
       The use of commercial aircraft is justifiable in a few 
     national parks. In Alaska, for example, airplanes are needed 
     to reach parts of Denali National Park, including the main 
     climbing route on Mount McKinley.
       But in the national parks in Colorado, commercial tour 
     flights simply aren't appropriate. The state's congressional 
     delegation should continue to work on the issue.
                                 ______