[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.

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