[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1682-H1683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EIGHT MILE RIVER WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY ACT OF 2001
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 182) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a
segment of the Eight Mile River in the State of Connecticut for study
for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System,
and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 182
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 ``Eightmile River Wild and
Scenic River Study Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut
possesses important resource values, including wildlife,
ecological, and scenic values, and historic sites and a
cultural past important to America's heritage;
(2) there is strong support among State and local
officials, area residents, and river users for a cooperative
wild and scenic river study of the area; and
(3) there is a longstanding interest among State and local
officials, area residents, and river users in undertaking a
concerted cooperative effort to manage the river in a
productive and meaningful way.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY.
Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1276(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(138) Eightmile River, Connecticut.--The segment from its
headwaters downstream to its confluence with the Connecticut
River.''.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT.
Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1276(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(18) The study of the Eightmile River, Connecticut, named
in paragraph (138) of subsection (a) shall be completed by
the Secretary of the Interior and the report thereon
submitted to Congress not later than 3 years after the date
of the enactment of this paragraph.''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley).
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 182, introduced by the gentleman from Connecticut
(Mr. Simmons) would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct
a study of the Eightmile River in Connecticut for the purpose of
evaluating its eligibility for designation as a Wild and Scenic River.
This study could ultimately result in adding a segment of the Eightmile
River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
The Eightmile River in Connecticut is host to a variety of natural,
cultural and recreational resources and is currently listed on the
National Park Service Nationwide Rivers Inventory, which lists river
areas believed to be good candidates for Wild and Scenic River
designation.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 182 is a noncontroversial bill that has strong
support from State and local officials and the residents of surrounding
communities in Connecticut.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 182 would authorize a study to
determine whether it would be appropriate to designate the Eightmile
River in Connecticut as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers program. The
Eightmile has already been identified by the National Park Service as a
potential Wild and Scenic River based on its outstanding scenic,
geologic and wildlife values, and an official study is the next step in
the process. It is our hope that once the study has been completed, the
Eightmile can be added to the impressive list of waterways included in
this important program.
We support H.R. 182 and urge our colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 182, which is a bill to
study the inclusion of Connecticut's Eightmile River into the National
Wild and Scenic River System.
Eastern Connecticut has a wealth of natural beauty, such as the
Eightmile River. The river and the watershed it supports are an
outstanding ecological system. The streams are free-flowing, they
display excellent water quality, and they contain a diversity of fish
species, including native trout. The Eightmile River is also an
important recreational asset and contributes to the character of the
communities that surround it.
That is why on January 3 of this year, on my very first day as a
Member of this body, I introduced H.R. 182, to study the Eightmile
River for wild and scenic status. I was particularly pleased to be
joined in this initiative by all of my House colleagues from
Connecticut across party lines. I was also pleased to be joined by
Senators Dodd and Lieberman, who have introduced companion legislation
in the Senate.
For more than 30 years, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has
safeguarded some of our Nation's most precious rivers. The act intends
to select rivers of the Nation which possess exceptional scenic,
recreational, geologic, fish, wildlife, historic, cultural and other
values, that they be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they
be protected for the benefit of present and future generations.
Designated rivers receive Federal protection to preserve their free-
flowing condition, the water quality and other conservation values.
Currently, only one river in Connecticut has this status, the
Farmington River.
I believe that the Eightmile River also possesses all of these
qualities, and I believe these protections should be considered and
extended to this river by the National Park Service.
I am very proud to submit this legislation on behalf of my
constituents in East Haddam, Lyme and Salem. I particularly thank East
Haddam First Selectman Sue Merrow and Nathan Frohling of the
Connecticut Nature Conservancy for their hard work, and I especially
express my deep thanks and gratitude to the gentleman from Colorado
(Chairman Hefley) and to the gentleman from Utah (Chairman Hansen) for
moving this legislation forward so quickly.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me.
I would like to just add a voice to the prior issue that was
discussed on the floor, H.R. 182, the Eight-Mile River Wild and Scenic
River Study Act of 2001. I want to compliment my colleague, the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) for sponsoring the bill and
spearheading the protection effort.
The Eight-Mile River is a vast watershed with farms and villages. It
is an incredible resource and a treasure that the State of Connecticut
has. It was once described as the Nation's best-landscaped sewer, and
thanks to hard-fought clean-up and protection efforts over the last 30
years, it has been designated a Last Great Place by the Nature
Conservancy.
We have made great strides in reversing years of neglect. Much
remains to be accomplished. It is seriously endangered by incremental
unplanned growth and pollution. What we want to do is to provide the
localities there and the communities with the tools they need to
balance the needs of conservation and growth to protect this national
treasure.
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Connecticut
(Mr. Simmons) for his tenacious approach to this piece of legislation.
The gentleman has given me no peace until
[[Page H1683]]
it gets to the floor and gets passage. I think that is an example where
a freshman can come to this body and have an impact early on. We
appreciate the gentleman's diligence and his effort in this.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very worthwhile project. It has bipartisan
support. I do not think there is any reason why we should not all
support this piece of legislation and move it on down the road.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 182, Eight Mile River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2001,
sponsored by my colleague Rob Simmons from Connecticut.
At the outset, Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank and commend Mr. Simmons
and my other colleagues from Connecticut who have co-sponsored this
bill.
This bill would authorize the National Park Service to conduct a
study of Connecticut's Eight Mile River for possible inclusion as part
of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System was established by Congress in 1968 to recognize
and support exceptional rivers.
Connecticut is a State proud of its heritage and natural beauty,
ranging from the Connecticut River, to the Litchfield Hills, to the
Long Island Sound and the Eight Mile River in Eastern Connecticut. The
Eight Mile River and the watershed that supports it is an outstanding
ecological system. The designation of the Eight Mile River as part of
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System will offer federal
protection and mutually agreed conservation policies that are all
desperately needed in a time when the condition of this river is in
danger.
This free-flowing river is home to a variety of fish and wildlife and
provides cultural, recreational, and scenic benefits that State, local
officials, and area residents support. It is a pleasure to see how a
project can work in bringing a community together for the greater good
of protecting our natural environment.
As a supporter of the Eight Mile River, its recognition and
conservation, I am proud to stand here today as an original co-sponsor
of H.R. 182 that highlights one of Connecticut's treasures and I urge
my colleagues to vote in favor of this measure.
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 182, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``To amend the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Eightmile River in
the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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