[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 90 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4331-H4332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ISSUING PERMITS FOR NATURAL GAS PIPELINES IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 
                             NATIONAL PARK

  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3380) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue 
right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines within the boundary of 
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3380

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

     SECTION 1. PERMITS FOR EXISTING NATURAL GAS PIPELINES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior may issue 
     right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines that exist as 
     of September 1, 2001, within the boundary of Great Smoky 
     Mountains National Park.
       (b) Terms and Conditions.--A permit issued under subsection 
     (a) shall be--
       (1) issued consistent with laws and regulations generally 
     applicable to utility rights-of-way within units of the 
     National Park System; and
       (2) subject to any terms and conditions that the Secretary 
     deems necessary.

     SEC. 2. PERMITS FOR PROPOSED NATURAL GAS PIPELINES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior may issue 
     right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines within the 
     boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park that are 
     proposed to be constructed across the following:
       (1) The Foothills Parkway.
       (2) The Foothills Parkway Spur between Pigeon Forge and 
     Gatlinburg.
       (3) The Gatlinburg Bypass.
       (b) Terms and Conditions.--A permit issued under subsection 
     (a) shall be--
       (1) issued consistent with laws and regulations generally 
     applicable to utility rights-of-way within units of the 
     National Park System; and
       (2) subject to any terms and conditions that the Secretary 
     deems necessary, including--
       (A) provisions for the protection and restoration of park 
     resources that are disturbed by pipeline construction; and
       (B) assurances that construction and operation of the 
     pipeline will not adversely affect Great Smoky Mountains 
     National Park.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3380 was introduced by the gentleman from Tennessee 
(Mr. Jenkins) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue 
right-of-way permits for a natural gas pipeline to tie in an existing 
pipeline within the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National 
Park.
  In 2000, the Sevier County Utility District in rural east Tennessee 
made the request of the National Park Service to grant authority to tie 
in a natural gas pipeline to an already existing underground natural 
gas pipeline along U.S. Highway 441 in the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge 
spur. The existing pipeline

[[Page H4332]]

was installed prior to the Park Service's acquisition of the right-of-
way along the highway.
  After preparing to grant the request, it was discovered that while 
the Secretary possesses the authority to grant right-of-way permits 
through the units of the park system for various utility services, the 
Secretary did not possess the authority to grant a permit for natural 
gas and petroleum product pipelines.
  The pipeline would service homes in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. At the 
present time, these homes are reliant upon propane and electricity to 
meet their energy needs. Given some air quality issues at Great Smoky 
Mountains National Park, the Park Service believes it is in the best 
interests of the park to permit natural gas pipelines as a clean 
alternative for new homes and businesses.
  No permits will be granted until all environmental and safety reviews 
have been conducted. This authority would be consistent with the 
authority granted at the Blue Ridge and Natchez Trace Parkway park 
units.
  This is a noncontroversial bill supported by both the majority and 
the minority, as well as the administration, and I urge my colleagues 
to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Tennessee (Mr. Jenkins), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Osborne) for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate very much the subcommittee and the 
committee in their favorable consideration of this bill, and in 
recommending it for passage.
  The gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) has explained the 
provisions of this bill very well, and he pointed out that in planning 
this project, that it was discovered that the Secretary of the Interior 
had power to issue permits for other utilities, but not for natural 
gas, and that power has been given to the Secretary of the Interior on 
a case-by-case basis in the case of other national parks across this 
land.
  All of these lines will be laid underground. The lines will be all 
under a road, and there will be no diminution in the natural beauty of 
this great national park.
  As we know, this is the most visited national park in the country. 
There is substantial growth on all sides of this national park, in all 
of the border areas. The passage of this legislation will allow that 
growth to be clean growth. The Senate has passed this legislation, and 
we will appreciate the favorable consideration in the House of 
Representatives.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. WU asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3380 authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to issue right-of-way permits for an existing natural gas 
pipeline as well as future natural gas pipelines that would cross or 
parallel three road segments that lead into the Great Smoky Mountains 
National Park.
  We must be very careful in approving such activities. When the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands held a 
hearing on H.R. 3380 earlier this year, the National Park Service 
testified in support of the legislation, noting that the pipelines 
would cross or parallel only park roads and not involve other park 
resources. The National Park Service also assured the committee that 
all necessary steps would be taken to ensure that these pipelines have 
no negative impact on park resources or visitor use.
  Given those assurances and relying upon them, we have no objection to 
consideration of H.R. 3380 by the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kolbe). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Osborne) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3380.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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