[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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