[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 23, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H7153-H7155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
METACOMET-MONADNOCK-SUNA-PEE-MATTABESETT TRAIL STUDY ACT OF 2001
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1814) to amend the National Trails System Act to designate
the Metacomet-Monadnock-Sunapee-Mattabesett Trail extending through
western New Hampshire, western Massachusetts, and central Connecticut
for study for potential addition to the National Trails System, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1814
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 ``Metacomet-Monadnock-
Mattabesett Trail Study Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF METACOMET-MONADNOCK-MATTABESETT TRAIL
FOR STUDY FOR POTENTIAL ADDITION TO THE
NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM.
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C.
1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
[[Page H7154]]
``(____) Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail.--The
Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail, a system of trails and
potential trails extending southward approximately 180 miles
through western Massachusetts on the Metacomet-Monadnock
Trail, across central Connecticut on the Metacomet Trail and
the Mattabesett Trail, and ending at Long Island Sound.''.
SEC. 3. EXPEDITED REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Notwithstanding the fourth sentence of section 5(b) of the
National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b)), the Secretary
of the Interior shall submit the study required by the
amendment made by section 2 to Congress not later than two
years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr.
Rahall) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1814, introduced by the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Olver), authorizes a study to include the Metacomet-
Monadnock-Sunapee-Mattabesett Trail for designation into the National
Trail System. The trail would extend from southern Connecticut to
northern Massachusetts and winds through some of the most scenic areas
in these States. The trail also would help interpret much of the
important early history of the Eastern United States.
The National Park Service would be in charge of conducting the study,
which would then forward their recommendation to the appropriate
congressional committees within 2 years.
If the study recommends inclusion into the National Trail System,
Congress would then seek to approve the actual designation.
Mr. Speaker, this bill was amended during the committee proceedings
to address concerns of private landowners in New Hampshire. The bill is
now ready to move forward. It is supported by both the minority and the
administration. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1814 as amended.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1814, introduced by our colleague, the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver), would provide for a study of a series
of trails extending through western Massachusetts and central
Connecticut. The purpose of this study would be to determine if the
trails in question are a suitable and feasible addition to the National
Trails System.
The trails are well established and traverse several hundred miles to
provide a link to a number of historical and recreational sites in the
Northeastern region. The testimony before the Committee on Resources
indicate widespread public support for the trails, and the National
Park Service testified that the trails would be a good candidate for
study for possible designation as part of the National Trail System.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Olver) for his initiative and for his pursuing this along every step of
the away. I am aware of no opposition to the legislation, and I would
urge its adoption by the House.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver).
Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1814, which authorizes the
Department of Interior to conduct a feasibility study of the combined
Metacomet-Monadnock-Sunapee-Mattabesett trails in Massachusetts and
Connecticut for possible inclusion in the National Trail System.
Before I describe this project in my own words, I want to thank the
chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), and
particularly the previous chairman, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr.
Hefley), and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from the Virgin
Islands (Mrs. Christensen), of the Subcommittee on National Parks and
Public Lands, and, of course, the chairman of the Committee on
Resources, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), who happens to be in
the Speaker's chair today, along with the ranking member, the gentleman
from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), along with all of the staff for the
subcommittee and the full committee for so expeditiously bringing this
legislation to the floor for action.
Mr. Speaker, these identified and potential trails begin with the
Metacomet-Monadnock Trail at the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border and
continue southward within the Connecticut River watershed along the Mt.
Tom and Mt. Holyoke ranges through Massachusetts and Connecticut, then
connect with Mattabesett Trail in Connecticut and eventually end at the
shore of Long Island Sound.
Unique cultural, scenic, historic, and geological features of these
New England trails distinguish them as worthy of this study and
national recognition. The geological features are dominated by the
steep volcanic trap-rock basalt ridges which rise more than 1,000 feet
above the Connecticut River Valley floor in Massachusetts and
Connecticut. These basalt ridges are the erosion-resistant remains of a
250 million-year-old volcanic activity. They define the route of the
proposed National Scenic Trail and pass within just a few miles of
major cities in Connecticut: New Haven, Meriden, New Britain, and
Hartford; and in Massachusetts: Springfield, Holyoke, Westfield, and
Amherst.
The trails provide over 180 miles of recreational hiking and
backpacking for nearby residents of the Connecticut River Valley,
including rural and major urban areas. In a region of increasing growth
and sprawl, these trails also provide important open space and wildlife
habitat.
Mr. Speaker, this bill has been co-sponsored by every Member of this
House who has part of the trail passing through their district and has
the support of local communities, conservation groups, and
constituents.
In Massachusetts, I would like to thank Pat Fletcher and Chris Ryan
of Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club and Peter
Westover at the Amherst Conservation Commission for their dedication to
the project. In Connecticut, I would like to recognize the work of Ann
Colson and Patty Pentergast at the Connecticut Forest and Parks
Association, which is the organization that runs all of the public
trail system managed by the State of Connecticut.
Other groups that have supported this effort include the Nature
Conservancy, the New England Wildflower Organization, the Trustees of
Reservation in Massachusetts, and the Kestrel Trust in the Connecticut
River Valley. These citizens and hundreds of other volunteers and paid
staff work hard to maintain and protect these trails.
Through this legislation, I, and the other sponsors of the bill, hope
to provide additional resources and opportunities for the good work
that all of those citizens and volunteers and organizations do. I urge
a yes vote on H.R. 1814.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman
from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this
bill that will provide the resources to enable us to study these
trails, many of which go back hundreds of years, well before
independence, and to study the possibilities they hold for future
generations of preservation and restoration. It will be a great benefit
to New England as well as to the whole country to be able to have the
information to preserve these trails and to make sure that they will be
there to serve future generations.
In New England, of course, it is a different matter than other parts
of the country. These trails go in large measure through private lands
and have a long tradition of being open and available to the public. So
we look forward to the results of the study, and we thank the Speaker
for considering this today.
I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver) for his
leadership in this matter. Without his personal involvement and the
fact that he has hiked all these trails personally, I think this bill
would not have moved along as rapidly as it has, and I thank the
gentleman from Massachusetts for his leadership.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I, too, want to join in the commendation to the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Olver). I said in the beginning he has walked this
legislation
[[Page H7155]]
along every step of the way. I did not realize he had walked every step
of the trail as well. So I commend him for his leadership and personal
involvement on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hansen). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1814, 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: ``A bill to amend
the National Trails System Act to designate the Metacomet-Monadnock-
Matta-
besett Trail extending through western Massachusetts and central
Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Trails
System.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________