[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 149 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11363-S11364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY (for himself and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 1609. A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of 
desig-
nating the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail extending through 
western Massachusetts and central Connecticut as a national historic 
trail; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill along with 
my senior Senator, Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, to amend the 
National Trails System Act to conduct a study on the feasibility of 
designating the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail extending through 
western Massachusetts and central Connecticut as a national historic 
trail.
  The National Trails System was created in 1968 to provide outdoor 
recreation and to conserve the scenic, historic, natural, and cultural 
qualities of the areas through which trails more than 100 miles long 
pass. Trails provide opportunities for outdoor recreation to citizens 
in Massachusetts and around the country. People enjoy bicycling, cross-
country skiing, day hiking, jogging, camping, and long-distance 
backpacking. In addition, National Scenic Trails promote tourism and 
foster economic development. National trails

[[Page S11364]]

can only be authorized and designated by Acts of Congress.
  The Metacomet-Monadnock-Matta-
besett Trail plays an important role in land protection and wildlife 
habitat preservation. It is a system of trails and potential trails 
extending southward approximately 180 miles from the Metacomet-
Monadnock Trail in western Massachusetts, across central Connecticut on 
the Metacomet Trail and the Mattabesett Trail, and ending at Long 
Island Sound. Dozens of waterfalls, natural areas, and wildlife viewing 
spots can be found along the route. There are dramatic traprock ledges 
and summits that provide tremendous views of the Connecticut River 
Valley. At a time when the Northeast corridor is faced with 
overdevelopment, designating the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett as a 
national trail would help protect it, facilitate better planning for 
power lines, pipelines, and roads, and help maintain natural habitats 
through the financial and technological assistance of the National Park 
Service, nonprofit organizations, and local volunteers.
  I would like to share a few of the comments from organizations in 
Massachusetts and Connecticut that support this legislation. Peter 
Westover, the conservation director for the town of Amherst, wrote to 
express strong support for the trail. He is confident that there will 
be widespread support among trail managers and trail users throughout 
the region. Both Durand, the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental 
Affairs, wrote that the Metacomet-Monadnock portion of the trail is an 
important recreational, scenic, and historic resource that could be 
significantly enhanced by this project. The Massachusetts director of 
the Nature Conservancy, Wayne Klockner, expressed his strong support 
for the trail, writing that he supports the benefits that designation 
can bring to a fragile area and that he looks forward to increased land 
protection, funding and technical expertise. From Connecticut, Leslie 
Kane, chairman of the Guilford Land Acquisition Committee, supports the 
trail because it will preserve Connecticut's natural heritage for all 
people to enjoy. These comments represent only a handful of the letters 
of support that my colleagues and I have received.
  Establishing a new national scenic trail is typically a four-step 
process, which, on average, can take 10 years to complete. In 10 years, 
given the rapid development in the Northeast, entire landscapes and 
habitats can change and become endangered. The first step in the 
process to establish a new national trail is amending the National 
Trails System Act to allow for a feasibility study. Senator Kennedy and 
I are asking today that we take that first step and get started 
protecting the natural heritage of this small part of New England.
                                 ______