[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4828-S4829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      STEENS MOUNTAIN RUNNING CAMP

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, in the 106th Congress, we were 
the sponsors of the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and 
Protection Act of 2000, a landmark piece of legislation to enhance the 
protection of the Steens Mountain area in southern Oregon, while 
preserving the historic ranching and recreational opportunities in the 
area. It took us over 1 year to negotiate out the provisions of this 
bill between Members of Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, the 
Governor of Oregon, the local ranching community, local outfitters, and 
environmental organizations.
  It was clear at the time that we were trying to create a new, 
innovative approach to cooperative management of the area between the 
federal government and the local landowners. We believed that 
Oregonians, as leaders in environmental stewardship, could craft a new, 
locally supported approach that did not attempt to impose on this 
management area an existing land management classification. That is why 
the area is called the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and 
Protection Area. We also created a Steens Mountain Advisory Council, a 
diverse group

[[Page S4829]]

of stakeholders who are to provide ongoing input concerning the 
management of the area to the Bureau of Land Management.
  I am becoming increasingly concerned, however, about efforts to harm 
the operations of the Steens Mountain Running Camp, an excellent 
facility that has trained thousands of runners and has operated on the 
mountain for the past quarter century. I am concerned that the 
operations of the camp are trying to be harmed by those who have a more 
restrictive reading of the implementation of the Steens Mt. Protection 
Act than we intended. It was clearly congressional intent that historic 
uses of the mountain be allowed to continue under this Act. In fact, 
one of the objectives of the Area, as identified in the statute, is 
``to promote grazing, recreation, historic and other uses that are 
sustainable.'' Isn't that your understanding?
  Mr. WYDEN. That is certainly my understanding, and I agree with you 
that it was clearly our intent that the running camp be able to 
continue its historic operations on the mountain under this Act. In 
fact, the House report language states that the Act ``is intended to 
enhance statutory protections for the area while maintaining the 
viability of historic ranching and recreational operations in the 
Steens Mountain area.'' The real tragedy of this situation is that the 
running camp conducts most of its operations on the mountain on private 
lands, and is only in the wilderness areas on the mountain for two 
eight-hour periods the entire year. Most of the environmental 
organizations in Oregon support the running camp and the unique 
experience it offers to high school athletes. It would be a shame if 
these young runners were denied this experience because of the extreme 
solitude guidelines that a select few are trying to impose on the area, 
because I believe that these young people know and appreciate the 
ecological values of the wilderness that they are using.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. I am committed to a resolution of this situation 
that enables the Steens Mountain running camp to continue its historic 
operations on the mountain.
  Mr. WYDEN. I share that commitment, and I look forward to working 
with you and the Bureau of Land Management to ensure that congressional 
intent is following on this matter.

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