[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 80 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3570-H3571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SHOSHONE NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL MANAGEMENT ACT

  Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3936) to designate and provide for the management of the 
Shoshone National Recreation Trail, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3936

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHOSHONE NATIONAL TRAIL.

       (a) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the 
     following definitions shall apply:
       (1) Appropriate secretary.--The term ``appropriate 
     Secretary'' means--
       (A) the Secretary of Agriculture when referring to land 
     under the jurisdiction of that Secretary; and
       (B) the Secretary of the Interior when referring to any 
     land except that under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of 
     Agriculture.
       (2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``James 
     V. Hansen Shoshone National Trail'' and dated April 5, 2002.
       (3) Trail.--The term ``Trail'' means the system of trails 
     designated in subsection (b) as the James V. Hansen Shoshone 
     National Trail.
       (b) Designation.--The trails that are open to motorized use 
     pursuant to applicable Federal and State law and are depicted 
     on the Map as the Shoshone National Trail are hereby 
     designated as the ``James V. Hansen Shoshone National 
     Trail''.
       (c) Management.--
       (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act, 
     the appropriate Secretary shall manage the Trail consistent 
     with the requirements of a national recreation trail in 
     accordance with--
       (A) the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et 
     seq.); and
       (B) other applicable laws and regulations for trails on 
     Federal lands.
       (2) Cooperation; agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     and the Secretary of Agriculture shall cooperate with the 
     State of Utah Department of Natural Resources and appropriate 
     county governments in managing the Trail. The appropriate 
     Secretary shall make every reasonable effort to enter into 
     cooperative agreements with the State of Utah Department of 
     Natural Resources and appropriate county governments 
     (separately, collectively, or in an any combination, as 
     agreed by the parties) for management of the Trail.
       (3) Primary purpose.--The primary purpose of this Act is to 
     provide recreational trail opportunities for motorized 
     vehicle use on the Trail. The Trail shall be managed in a 
     manner that is consistent with this purpose, ensures user 
     safety, and minimizes user conflicts.
       (4) Addition of trails.--
       (A) In general.--The appropriate Secretary may add trails 
     to the Trail in accordance with the National Trails System 
     Act and this Act. The Secretary shall consider the Trail a 
     national recreation trail for the purpose of making such 
     additions.
       (B) Requirement for addition of trails on non-federal 
     land.--If a trail to be added to the Trail is located on non-
     Federal land, the appropriate Secretary may add the trail 
     only if the owner of the land upon which the trail is located 
     has--
       (i) consented to the addition of the trail to the Trail; 
     and
       (ii) entered into an agreement with the appropriate 
     Secretary for management of the additional trail in a manner 
     that is consistent with this Act.
       (5) Notice of open routes.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     and the Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that the public 
     is adequately informed regarding the routes open for the 
     Trail, including by appropriate signage along the Trail.
       (d) No Effect on Non-Federal Land and Interests in Land.--
     Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect 
     ownership, management, or other rights related to any non-
     Federal land or interests in land, except as provided in an 
     agreement related to that land entered into by the landowner 
     under subsection (c)(4)(B)(ii).
       (e) Acquisition of Land and Interests in Land.--The 
     appropriate Secretary may acquire land and interests in land 
     for the purposes of the Trail only from willing owners.
       (f) Map on File; Updated.--The Map shall be--
       (1) kept on file at the appropriate offices of the 
     Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture; 
     and
       (2) updated by the appropriate Secretary whenever trails 
     are added to the Trail.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3936, which I introduced, would designate and 
provide for the management of approximately 337 miles of existing 
trails, already open to OHV use in northern Utah on the Wasatch-Cache 
National Forest and adjacent BLM lands.
  It would also allow that, consistent with the National Trails System 
Act, additional segments might be added administratively on Federal 
land at a later point, and that trails on non-Federal lands might be 
added once local communities have identified the most appropriate 
access points and local trails. Once these additional segments are 
added, it is expected that there will be approximately 500 miles of 
trails in the system. In addition, the bill I bring to the floor today 
also contains an amendment to insert the proper map title and to 
clarify how the agencies may add additional segments under the National 
Trails System Act.
  In recent years Utah has seen a dramatic increase in the number of 
registered off-highway vehicles. This growth has presented Federal and 
State land managers with the difficult challenge of finding and 
identifying appropriate places to ride for this growing group of 
recreationalists. Experience has shown when an organized system of 
trails has been identified, it becomes easier to direct these 
recreational activities to appropriate places and to protect the areas 
where OHV riding would not be appropriate.
  This bill is a proactive attempt to handle this growing recreational 
activity. In fact, as meetings were held with local community leaders, 
it was interesting to note that the concept was supported not only by 
locally elected officials, but also by some local conservationists who, 
while not generally

[[Page H3571]]

supportive of OHV recreation, expressed their support because of its 
ability to channel these recreational activities to appropriate places.
  For years the more extreme environmental voices have claimed that 
they are not opposed to OHV use if it is on designated trails. However, 
I believe their true agenda is on display by the fact that while this 
bill does everything they claim to want, including designating only 
those trails that are already open to OHV use and directing that 
funding be used for informing the public of open routes through mails 
and trail signage, some of the more extreme environmental voices in the 
State of Utah remain opposed. While they continue to claim that these 
are the solutions that they really favor, they have never stepped 
forward with any realistic leadership to wisely and responsibly provide 
for how to help mitigate the increasing demand for OHV opportunities.
  While extreme voices have shown they have no solutions to match their 
complaints, I am proud of this bill and proud of the fact that while 
some have offered mere rhetoric as their contribution to our public 
lands, we are providing real leadership and proactive solutions.
  I would like to state, Madam Speaker, that a lot of people are of the 
opinion that I wrote this on the back of an envelope while I was 
traveling on an airplane. That is far from the truth. This bill was 
brought about by a group of folks in the State of Utah. The director of 
the Public Lands Area of Parks, Courtland Nelson, his deputy, the 
national resource people, Federal people, State people, OHV riders, 
they got together and determined how this would work.
  In southern Utah there is a trail called the Paiute Trail, and there 
are 2,500 miles of marked areas where people can ride OHVs and have a 
good experience doing it. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, because I 
wanted to see how it is done, I spent 2 days on that trail; a very 
interesting experience. I would urge others to do it. It is well taken 
care of. The public takes good care of it. People have adopted the 
trail. There is a lady close to 80 years old that gets on their Polaris 
ATV and rides along with one of those sticks to pick up papers and 
cans, and then she has a basket in the front of her ATV, and she puts 
debris in there. Then she brings it down. If anyone makes a mess on her 
trail, Barbara runs out and lectures them, and they never do it again.

  It is kind of encouraging to see people take this upon themselves, 
and I would expect the same thing to happen with this trail. I am 
amazed how many of these OHVs there are in America. There are literally 
thousands. People pay from $4,000 to $8,000 for these, and they want a 
place to ride. It behooves our committee to help provide a place for 
Americans to enjoy these vehicles. They are used on farms. A rancher 
told me the other day that they do not use quarter horses and pickup 
trucks anymore, we use OHVs. They are a lot of fun to ride, and they 
open up areas for America.
  Of course, we do not want to spoil the pristine areas of America, we 
do not want them in wilderness areas, but we do have to create a place 
for them to ride. If my home State of Utah did anything right, it did 
the Paiute Trail. That is what brought all of these people together to 
do the Shoshone Trail, which we are talking about today, which is in 
northern Utah.
  Madam Speaker, as much as I would like to take credit for being the 
one who wrote this, I did not. Contrary to what has been in all of our 
local papers that I wrote it on the back of an envelope when I was 
bored riding an airplane, that is not the truth. It was done by people 
with much more knowledge and understanding about public lands than I 
have, and I compliment them.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3936, which was introduced by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), would designate a series of off-road 
vehicle trails on Federal, State and private land in north central Utah 
as a national trail.
  The Committee on Resources held a hearing on H.R. 3936 in April. 
While it was obvious from the hearing there was a measure of support 
for a trail designation in this area, there were also a number of 
issues and concerns that had been raised with the legislation regarding 
use and access.
  Madam Speaker, I want to compliment the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Hansen) and his staff for their willingness to work with the minority 
to address the concerns and issues raised with the bill. The amendment 
in the nature of a substitute that the Committee on Resources adopted 
contains language worked out with the minority. The amendment slightly 
alters the name of the trail, designates only routes that are currently 
open and eligible for ORV use, minimizes user conflicts, and eliminates 
conflicts with other trail laws and policies.
  I would note the change in the name of the trail to the James V. 
Hansen Shoshone National Trail. I am very pleased with the change in 
the name. The gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) is one of the finest 
Members of this body. The gentleman is a Member of great civility, a 
Member of great integrity, a gentleman whom I am proud to number among 
my personal friends. If we had more James Hansens in this House, we 
could get more done rather than sitting around shouting at each other. 
I am very pleased, as I say, to have him among my personal friends.
  The name change was the result of an amendment offered by the ranking 
member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), who wanted to 
recognize the chairman for the work he has done on this and many other 
pieces of legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I believe that with the changes made by the Committee 
on Resources, we have a bill that everyone can support. I am pleased 
that the House will proceed to pass this legislation today.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I appreciate the very kind words from the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3936, 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 
designate and provide for the management of the James V. Hansen 
Shoshone National Trail, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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