[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1753-S1754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Smith of Oregon, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 423. A bill to amend the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the 
establishment of Fort Clatsop National Memorial in the State of Oregon, 
and for other purposes''; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Fort 
Clatsop National Memorial Expansion Act of 2001 with my friends and 
colleagues, Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon and Senator Patty Murray 
from Washington.
  The Fort Clatsop Memorial marks the spot where Meriwether Lewis, 
William Clark, and the Corps of Discovery

[[Page S1754]]

spent 106 days during the winter of 1805. The bicentennial of their 
historic journey is fast approaching. It is estimated that over a 
quarter-million people will visit the memorial during the bicentennial 
years of 2003 though 2006. Despite this anticipated influx of visitors, 
the memorial is legally limited to be no larger than 130 acres. This 
legislation would authorize a boundary expansion of the memorial up to 
1500 acres and will therefore help accommodate the increasing number of 
visitors expected during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. The bill 
also authorizes a study of the national significance of Station Camp, 
another Lewis and Clark stopping point in 1805, located in Washington 
State.
  Since the 1980s, the United States Park Service in Astoria, OR has 
been negotiating with Willamette Industries to acquire approximately 
928 acres for the expansion of the Ft. Clatsop National Memorial. These 
acres are integral to the interpretation and enjoyment of the 
memorial's historic site. The Park Service and Willamette Industries 
have reached an agreement that will enable the Park Service to acquire 
this property. However, this legislation is necessary to authorize the 
expansion of the memorial's boundary before any additional lands can be 
acquired.
  The Park Service has targeted the expansion of the Fort Clatsop 
Memorial as one of its highest priorities. The Clatsop County 
Commission supports this legislation, as do the local landowners in and 
around the memorial. In addition, I have heard from the National Parks 
and Conservation Association NPCA, the Trust for Public Lands, and the 
Conservation Fund, all of whom support this effort to expand the Ft. 
Clatsop Memorial.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation 
because the protection of this important American historic area will 
enable us to illustrate the story of Oregon and America's western 
expansion for all who visit this special place. I ask unanimous consent 
that the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 423

       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 ``Fort Clatsop National 
     Memorial Expansion Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) In 1805, the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 
     built Fort Clatsop at the mouth of the Columbia River near 
     Astoria, Oregon, where they spent 106 days waiting for the 
     end of winter and preparing for their journey home. The Fort 
     Clatsop National Memorial was created by Congress in 1958 for 
     the purpose of commemorating the culmination, and the winter 
     encampment, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition following its 
     successful crossing of the North American continent, and is 
     the only National Park Service site solely dedicated to the 
     Lewis and Clark expedition.
       (2) The 1995 General Management Plan for the Fort Clatsop 
     National Memorial, prepared with input from the local 
     community, calls for the addition of lands to the memorial to 
     include the trail used by expedition members to travel from 
     the fort to the Pacific Ocean and to include the shore and 
     forest lands surrounding the fort and trail to protect their 
     natural settings.
       (3) The area near present day McGowan, Washington where 
     Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery camped after 
     reaching the Pacific Ocean, performed detailed surveying, and 
     conducted the historic ``vote'' to determine where to spend 
     the winter, is of undisputed national significance.
       (4) The National Park Service and State of Washington 
     should identify the best alternative for adequately and cost 
     effectively protecting and interpreting the ``Station Camp'' 
     site.
       (5) Expansion of the Fort Clatsop National Memorial would 
     require Federal legislation because the size of the memorial 
     is currently limited by statute to 130 acres.
       (6) Congressional action to allow for the expansion of Fort 
     Clatsop for both the trail to the Pacific and, possibly, the 
     Station Camp site would be both timely and appropriate before 
     the start of the national bicentennial celebration of the 
     Lewis and Clark Expedition planned to take place during the 
     years 2004 through 2006.

     SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF LANDS FOR FORT CLATSOP NATIONAL 
                   MEMORIAL.

       The act entitled ``An Act to provide for the establishment 
     of Fort Clatsop National Memorial in the State of Oregon, and 
     for other purposes'', approved May 29, 1958 (Chapter 158; 72 
     Stat. 153), is amended--
       (a) by inserting in section 2 ``(a)'' before ``The 
     Secretary''.
       (b) by inserting in section 2 a period, ``.'', following 
     ``coast'' and by striking the remainder of the section.
       (c) by inserting in section 2 the following new 
     subsections:
       ``(b) The Memorial shall also include the lands depicted on 
     the map entitled `Fort Clatsop Boundary Map', numbered and 
     dated `405-80016-CCO-June-1996'. The area designated in the 
     map as a `buffer zone' shall not be developed but shall be 
     managed as a visual buffer between a commemorative trail that 
     will run through the property, and contiguous private land 
     holdings.
       ``(c) The total area designated as the Memorial shall 
     contain no more than 1,500 acres.''
       (d) by inserting at the end of section 3 the following:
       ``(b) Such lands included within the newly expanded 
     boundary may be acquired from willing sellers only, with the 
     exception of corporately owned timberlands.''

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF STUDY OF STATION CAMP.

       The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a study of the 
     area known as ``Station Camp'' near McGowan, Washington, to 
     determine its suitability, feasibility, and national 
     significance, for inclusion into the National Park System. 
     The study shall be conducted in accordance with Section 8 of 
     Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
                                 ______