[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2125-H2127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CARIBBEAN NATIONAL FOREST WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT OF 2002

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3954) to designate certain waterways in the Caribbean 
National Forest in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3954

       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 ``Caribbean National Forest 
     Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002''.

     SEC. 2. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS, CARIBBEAN 
                   NATIONAL FOREST, PUERTO RICO.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (1) In the revised land and resource management plan for 
     the Caribbean National Forest/Luquillo Experimental Forest, 
     approved April 17, 1997, and the environmental impact 
     statement prepared as part of the plan, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture examined the suitability of rivers within the 
     Caribbean National Forest/Luquillo Experimental Forest for 
     inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
       (2) Based on such examination, the Rio Icacos, Rio Mameyes, 
     and Rio de La Mina were found to be free flowing waterways 
     and to possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, 
     geological, hydrological, biological, historical, and 
     cultural values, and, therefore,

[[Page H2126]]

     to qualify for addition to the National Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers System.
       (b) Designations.--Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new paragraph:
       ``(____) Rivers of Caribbean National Forest, Puerto 
     Rico.--
       ``(A) Rio mameyes.--The segment of approximately 4.5 miles 
     from its headwaters in the Bano de Oro Research Natural Area 
     to the boundary of the Caribbean National Forest, to be 
     administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as follows:
       ``(i) As a wild river from its headwaters in the Bano de 
     Oro Research Natural Area to the crossing point of Trail No. 
     24/11 (approximately 500 feet upstream from the confluence 
     with the Rio de La Mina), a total of approximately 2.1 miles.
       ``(ii) As a scenic river from the crossing point of Trail 
     No. 24/11 to the access point of Trail No. 7, a total of 
     approximately 1.4 miles.
       ``(iii) As a recreational river from the access point of 
     Trail No. 7 to the national forest boundary, a total of 
     approximately 1.0 miles.
       ``(B) Rio de la mina.--The segment of approximately 2.1 
     miles from its headwaters to its confluence with the Rio 
     Mameyes, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 
     as follows:
       ``(i) As a recreational river from its headwaters in the El 
     Yunque Recreation Area downstream to La Mina Falls, a total 
     of approximately 0.9 miles.
       ``(ii) As a scenic river from La Mina falls downstream to 
     its confluence with the Rio Mameyes, a total of approximately 
     1.2 miles.
       ``(C) Rio icacos.--The segment of approximately 2.3 miles 
     from its headwaters to the boundary of the Caribbean National 
     Forest, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as 
     a scenic river.''.
       (c) Special Management Considerations.--
       (1) Certain permitted activities.--Subject to paragraph 
     (2), the amendment made by the subsection (b) and the 
     applicability of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1271 et seq.) to the river segments added to the National 
     Wild and Scenic Rivers System by the amendment shall not be 
     construed to prevent any of the following activities within 
     the boundaries of the river segments:
       (A) Installation and maintenance of hydrologic, 
     meteorological, climatological, or atmospheric data 
     collection and transmission facilities, or any combination of 
     such facilities, when the Secretary of Agriculture determines 
     that such facilities are essential to the scientific research 
     purposes of the Luquillo Experimental Forest.
       (B) Construction and maintenance of nesting structures, 
     observation blinds, and population monitoring platforms for 
     threatened and endangered species.
       (C) Construction and maintenance of trails to such 
     facilities as necessary for research purposes and for the 
     recovery of threatened and endangered species.
       (2) Conditions.--The activities authorized by paragraph (1) 
     shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary 
     considers desirable. The Secretary shall ensure that the 
     scale and scope of such activities within the boundaries of a 
     river segment added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
     System by the amendment made by the subsection (b) are not 
     detrimental to the characteristics of the river segment that 
     merited its designation as a wild, scenic, or recreational 
     river.
       (d) Preservation of Commonwealth Authority.--Nothing in 
     this section or the amendment made by this section shall be 
     construed to limit the authority of the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico over waters and natural channels of public domain 
     pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Simpson) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, Resident Commissioner Acevedo-Vila introduced and 
amended H.R. 3954, the Caribbean National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act of 2002. The purpose of this Act is to designate three rivers 
within the Caribbean National Forest as Wild and Scenic Rivers.
  These three rivers were recommended for wild and scenic designation 
in the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Caribbean 
National Forest. This act is supported by the Committee on Resources 
and the administration. I urge my colleagues to favorably support this 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, the Caribbean National Forest 
Wildlife and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002 was introduced by the gentleman 
from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila), my friend and the distinguished 
Representative of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on March 13, 2002.
  The bill would designate approximately 9.9 miles of three rivers, Rio 
Mameyes, Rio De La Mina, and Rio Icacos, within the Caribbean National 
Forest in Puerto Rico as components of the National Wild and Scenic 
River System. The Forest Service found these river segments eligible 
and suitable for designation as National Wild and Scenic River in a 
study completed in 1997.
  The administration supports this bill, and I want to congratulate my 
colleague, the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, for his efforts 
and hard work on this bill, and I urge its adoption.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila, the Resident 
Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
  (Mr. (Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA) asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Madam Speaker, I introduced H.R. 3954 to provide 
maximum protection for three extraordinary rivers that run through the 
tropical forest lands of the Caribbean National Forest known in Puerto 
Rico as El Yunque. By further protecting the Rio Mayemes, the Rio 
Icacos, and the Rio de la Mina, Puerto Ricans and visitors to the 
Commonwealth would be able to enjoy these wonderful rivers in their 
free-flowing natural state for generations to come. These rivers have 
outstanding characteristics, including wonderful waterfalls, inviting 
pools, and large boulders. They also provide critical habitat for 
endangered species and sensitive tropical plant species.
  It is the intent of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 to 
preserve rivers and sections thereof, to protect the water quality of 
such rivers, and to fulfill other vital conservation purposes. This 
legislation will protect three rivers in El Yunque from every possible 
encroachment, including the urban interface, development and business 
interests, and pollution. Wild and scenic designation will provide 
maximum protection for these beautiful rivers that make up a 
significant part of the experience of visiting El Yunque.
  I want to thank the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), the ranking member, the gentleman 
from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), and all my colleagues on the committee 
for supporting this bill. I ask for my colleagues' support of the 
Caribbean Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002, and invite them to visit 
El Yunque upon their next visit to Puerto Rico. It is the only tropical 
rain forest within the national forest system and the only managed rain 
forest in the world. So the next time my colleagues visit Puerto Rico, 
I invite them to go, and I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of 
this bill.
  Madam Speaker, first I want to thank Chairman Hansen, Ranking Member 
Rahall, Subcommittee Chairman McInnis, Subcommittee Ranking Member 
Inslee and all of my colleagues on the Resources Committee who have 
supported this laudable legislation.
  I am proud that the House will consider H.R. 3954--The Caribbean 
National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002. Should you not yet 
be familiar, I encourage you to visit El Yunque upon your next visit to 
Puerto Rico. I am sure you will agree that El Yunque, the only tropical 
rain forest within the U.S. National Forest System, is a natural wonder 
and unique, resource that we must preserve, and protect forever. El 
Yunque is the only managed rain forest on earth, and with this 
distinction comes heightened responsibility in my opinion, to fully 
protect this important resource. The enactment of this bill, along with 
the wilderness legislation (H.R. 3955) approved by the Committee last 
month, will help ensure that the natural integrity of El Yunque is 
preserved for the 1 million annual visitors to the CNF for generations 
to come.
  H.R. 3954 would preserve and protect three rivers that flow within 
the boundaries of El Yunque. It is the intent of the Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act of 1968 to preserve rivers and sections thereof to protect 
the water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national 
conservation purposes. It is within this intent that I have introduced 
this bill, and I am fully committed to the preservation of these 
beautiful rivers. While there are additional rivers

[[Page H2127]]

within El Yunque that have received wild and scenic designation 
recommendations, the areas of these rivers are covered under H.R. 3955 
through wilderness designation, or are within the existing Bano de Oro 
Natural Area. Therefore, I have followed recommendations to focus on 
rivers running outside of the proposed El Toro wilderness Area and 
outside of existing natural areas.
  The three rivers that would be designated under this act were all 
recommended for inclusion under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System by the revised land and resource management plan for the CNF, 
approved April 17, 1997. This management plan was the basis for the 
introduction of this bill, and I ask for your support during its 
consideration.
  The three rivers include the Rio Mameyes, the Rio Icacos, and the Rio 
de La Mina. All three have outstanding characteristics and make up an 
integral part of the experience when visiting the forest.
  The Rio Mameyes offers outstanding scenic, biological and 
recreational values to visitors. It flows over large boulders and 
numerous waterfalls, forming enjoyable pools. Trails run along gorges 
that descend through the forest. The water quality along the upper 
segment is optimum, with no interference from human encroachment.
  The Rio Mameyes provides important habitat for the Puerto Rican 
Parrot and Puerto Rican Boa, both endangered species. Furthermore, the 
endangered Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and the threatened 
Peregrine Falcon, are also known to use this area. The Mameyes system 
enjoys the highest natural aquatic diversity and species richness of 
any forest watershed. The Mameyes remains the only uninterrupted, free 
flowing river in Puerto Rico.
  The Rio de la Mina is judged as eligible based on its outstanding 
scenic, recreation, biological and historic values. Like the Mameyes, 
the Rio de La Mina descends over boulders and waterfalls, forming 
rapids and pools. Trails parallel the river and provide for numerous 
recreation areas. The most spectacular waterfalls in the forest exist 
along the Rio de la Mina. These falls, known as La Mina Falls, play an 
important role in promoting Puerto Rico as a prime vacation 
destination. The water quality is good within the proposed designation 
area. The Rio de la Mina also provides habitat for endangered animal 
and plant species.
  The Rio Icacos is judged as eligible based on its outstanding scenic, 
historic, cultural and ecological values. The Rio Icacos has some of 
the most varied terrain of any of El Yunque's rivers. Near the 
headwaters, the gradient is less steep than further downstream where it 
also descends over boulders and waterfalls. In the upper section, the 
streambed exhibits a unique sandy bed due to its origin in the upper, 
flatter section. The palm forest is very striking along the bank, more 
so than in any other area of the forest. Water quality is high within 
the proposed designation area. Endangered animal and plant species are 
present within the proposed area.
  With your support, these wild and scenic river designations in El 
Yunque can become a reality this year. Please let me know when and if 
you will visit the Caribbean National Forest. Puerto Ricans take great 
pride in El Yunque, and I assure you it is worth the trip to visit.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume to once again commend the gentleman from Puerto Rico for his 
hard work on this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to also commend the gentleman from Puerto Rico.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3954, 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.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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