[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            VIRGIN RIVER DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT PRESERVATION ACT

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                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2001

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I rise today to 
introduce the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve Act. This 
legislation is vital if we hope to preserve some of our nations most 
intact and rare pre-Jurassic paleontological discoveries.
  In February of 2000, Dr. Sheldon Johnson began development 
preparations on land adjacent to the Virgin River in southern Utah. 
After dropping the backhoe and noticing a square fracture in the Navajo 
sandstone, Mr. Johnson turned the earth over. To his utter amazement, 
there in the stone were dinosaur tracks, taildraggings, and skin 
imprints of unprecedented quality. These paleontological discoveries 
are touted by scientists in the field as some of the most amazing ever 
discovered. The clarity and completeness of the imprints are 
unparalleled.
  Since that time over 140,000 people from all 50 states and at least 
54 foreign countries have visited the site. This attention is welcomed 
by the present owners, but overwhelming at the same time. Over 5,000 
people came to visit on Easter weekend alone when only two volunteers 
were available to help! With current facilities meager at most, this is 
beginning to cause traffic and congestion problems for the owners and 
neighbors of the sight, as well as for the city of St. George, Utah.
  In addition to the logistical nightmare caused by this discovery, the 
preservation of these valuable resources is now in jeopardy. The 
fragile sandstone in which the impressions have been made is 
susceptible to the heat and wind typical of the southern Utah climate. 
Rain is nearly catastrophic for these unearthed impressions.
  The community and the land owners have come together and have done 
what they can do to help. They have constructed makeshift shelters for 
the exposed impressions and volunteers have stepped up to help with 
tours. Even after all of these efforts, they still need help. The 
community has asked if there is anything Congress can do to help. Since 
these resources are of value to the entire world, there is a legitimate 
role for Congress and the Administration. We have even discussed the 
possibility that the area might be worthy of National Monument 
designation. It is my hopes that by introducing this legislation, we 
will attract the attention of the Administration and protect these 
irreplaceable resources at the same time.
  We must act quickly if these national treasures are to be saved. This 
bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to purchase the land 
where the footprints and taildraggings are found, then authorize the 
conveyance of the property to the city of St. George, Utah, which will 
then work with the property owners and the county to preserve and 
protect the area and resources in question. The Secretary of the 
Interior would then enter into a cooperative agreement with the city 
and provide assistance to help further the protection of the resources.
  The American people deserve the chance to see these treasures and the 
scientific community deserves to be able to study and learn from them 
as well. Without this legislation, this opportunity might not be 
possible. Who knows what the cost of inaction might be. I hope my 
colleagues will support this bill.

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