[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 85 (Monday, June 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H3831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
                  NEW RIVER GORGE BOUNDARY ACT OF 2002

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3858) to modify the boundaries of the New River Gorge 
National River, West Virginia.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3858

       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 ``New River Gorge Boundary Act 
     of 2002''.

     SEC. 2. NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER BOUNDARY 
                   MODIFICATIONS.

       (a) Boundary Modification.--Section 1101 of the National 
     Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 460m-15) is 
     amended by striking ``NERI-80,028A, dated March 1996'' and 
     inserting ``NERI 80,034, dated May 2001''.
       (b) Land Exchange.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     complete a fee simple land exchange in the vicinity of Beauty 
     Mountain, Fayette County, West Virginia, to acquire a tract 
     of land identified as NERI Tract Number 150-07 that lies 
     adjacent to the boundary of the New River Gorge National 
     River in exchange for a tract of land identified as NERI 
     Tract Number 150-08 located within such boundary.
       (2) Treatment of exchanged lands.--Upon the completion of 
     such land exchange--
       (A) the land acquired by the United States in the exchange 
     shall be included in the boundaries, and administered as 
     part, of the New River Gorge National River; and
       (B) the land conveyed by the United States in the exchange 
     shall be excluded from the boundaries, and shall not be 
     administered as part, of the New River Gorge National River.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Dan Miller of Florida). Pursuant to the 
rule, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon) and the gentlewoman from the 
Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon).
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3858, introduced by the ranking member of the Committee on 
Resources, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), would 
authorize the expansion of the boundary of the New River Gorge National 
River in West Virginia.
  The New River Gorge National River was established in 1978 to 
preserve and protect approximately 53 miles of the free-flowing New 
River. It was also designated an American heritage river in July of 
1998. The rugged New River flows northward through deep canyons and is 
considered to be among the oldest rivers on the continent. The National 
River Park unit presently encompasses approximately 70,000 acres. The 
park contains miles of hiking trails and even some mountain biking and 
horseback trails.
  This bill would modify the boundaries of the park unit to take in six 
tracts of land, totaling 1,962 acres, from five different owners, all 
of whom are willing sellers. The modification to the boundary would 
allow for the preservation of scenic viewsheds within the park as well 
as accommodating certain recreational activities within the park. The 
bill would also address an encroachment issue in which a property owner 
unknowingly built his private home within the boundaries of the park. 
This encompasses approximately only a third of an acre.
  The bill is supported by both the majority and the minority, and I 
urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3858, introduced by my colleague and the ranking 
Democrat on the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Rahall), would modify the boundary of the New River Gorge 
National River in West Virginia to add approximately 1,962 acres to the 
park and correct a minor boundary encroachment.
  The proposed boundary modifications would enhance the management and 
use of the resource values of the New River. These additions consist of 
six tracts of land held by five owners, all of whom are willing 
sellers. The legislation would also correct the very minor boundary 
encroachment with a private landowner who has inadvertently constructed 
a portion of a home on Federal land.
  The Committee on Resources held a hearing on H.R. 3858, and the bill 
was favorably reported by the committee last month. I would note that 
the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) worked closely with the 
National Park Service on the development of this legislation, and I 
want to commend him for his long-standing efforts to provide for the 
protection and the use of the New River Gorge National River.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the favorable consideration of H.R. 3858 by the 
House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. 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. Cannon) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3858.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________