[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 101 (Thursday, July 19, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S7963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BENNETT:
  S. 1205. A bill to adjust the boundaries of the Mount Nebo Wilderness 
Area, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Mount Nebo 
Wilderness Boundary Adjustment Act. This legislation is intended to 
correct several small boundary issues that have frustrated Juab County 
and its residents' attempts to maintain their sources of water.
  Mount Nebo, located in Juab County, UT, is an 11,929 foot peak in the 
Wasatch Mountains. The surrounding area is home to bighorn sheep, 
spectacular views of the Great Basin, primitive recreation, and the 
source of water for many who live and farm around the towns of Nephi 
and Mona, UT. Due to the wilderness characteristics of the lands 
including and surrounding Mount Nebo, Congress designated the 28,000 
acre Mount Nebo Wilderness as part of the Utah Wilderness Act of 1984. 
While the United States Forest Service was drawing the maps of the 
newly designated Mount Nebo Wilderness, nine areas were improperly 
included in the wilderness boundaries that contained springs, 
pipelines, and other water structures which provide water to the 
residents of Juab County.
  Water in the west is truly the lifeblood of the region. Without 
water, our towns and cities, both large and small, would dry up and 
blow away. Equally important is the ability to maintain springs, 
pipelines, and other structures that allow water to be put to 
beneficial use. The water that flows from the Mount Nebo Wilderness 
provides irrigation for Juab County farmers, is part of the Nephi City 
culinary water system, and provides water directly to a number of 
residents who live in close proximity to the wilderness. It should be 
noted that the water rights for some of these springs were granted as 
early as 1855 and have been providing water ever since. These pipelines 
and water structures are old and need constant maintenance. Wilderness 
prohibitions do not provide the flexibility needed by the county to 
maintain its water sources.
  This legislation would redraw the boundaries of the wilderness area 
to allow motorized access for the county and other affected users in 
order to maintain existing water structures. Because this boundary 
adjustment will result in the removal of lands from the Mount Nebo 
Wilderness, the county has identified existing USFS land adjacent to 
the wilderness to serve as replacement acreage which will result in a 
net gain of 14 acres of wilderness. I believe this is legislation that 
benefits all parties. The Forest Service will have a wilderness area 
with fewer access issues and the counties will be able to maintain 
their critical water sources.
  I am offering a simple piece of legislation that will solve a 
longstanding problem for one of Utah's counties. I would greatly 
appreciate Senator Bingaman's help in moving this bill through his 
committee as soon as possible.
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