[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4999-H5000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MOUNT NAOMI WILDERNESS BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4870) to make certain adjustments to the boundaries 
of the Mount Naomi Wilderness Area, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4870

       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 ``Mount Naomi Wilderness 
     Boundary Adjustment Act''.

     SEC. 2. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS.

       (a) Lands Removed.--The boundary of the Mount Naomi 
     Wilderness is adjusted to exclude the approximately 31 acres 
     of land depicted on the Map as ``Land Excluded''.
       (b) Lands Added.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
     boundary of the Mount Naomi Wilderness is adjusted to include 
     the approximately 31 acres of land depicted on the Map as 
     ``Land Added''. The Utah Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 
     98-428) shall apply to the land added to the Mount Naomi 
     Wilderness pursuant to this subsection.

     SEC. 3. MAP.

       (a) Definition.--For the purpose of this Act, the term 
     ``Map'' shall mean the map entitled ``Mt. Naomi Wilderness 
     Boundary Adjustment'' and dated May 23, 2002.
       (b) Map on File.--The Map shall be on file and available 
     for inspection in the office of the Chief of the Forest 
     Service, Department of Agriculture.
       (c) Corrections.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
     technical corrections to the Map.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, this bill was sponsored by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), the chairman of the Committee on 
Resources. Mount Naomi is located in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest 
near Logan, Utah in the gentleman from Utah's (Mr. Hansen) district.
  It is a beautiful area composed of approximately 44,523 acres, making 
it one of the largest wilderness areas in the State of Utah. It is the 
host of many different families of both plants and animals and 
undoubtedly deserves wilderness protection.
  Mount Naomi was designated a wilderness area by the Utah Wilderness

[[Page H5000]]

Act of 1984. However, some complications have arisen because of the 
close proximity of the wilderness boundary to Logan City limits. 
Management and maintenance problems have been reported by the Forest 
Service and Logan City.
  Within the southwest corner of the wilderness boundary, lying 
adjacent to Logan City limits, is a utility corridor with several 
lines, including power, communication and water lines. This utility 
corridor existed prior to the designation of the wilderness area. 
Because no motorized or mechanized equipment is allowed to operate 
within the wilderness area, maintenance of these facilities is 
difficult, if not impossible, to conduct.
  A simple adjustment of the wilderness boundary would provide a 
commonsense solution to both the utility corridor's maintenance and the 
Forest Service's management problems.
  This legislation would adjust the wilderness boundary to exclude the 
31-acre parcel that houses the utility corridor. The new boundary would 
follow the natural contour lines of Mount Naomi.
  To compensate for this adjustment, and prevent a net loss of 
wilderness, the Forest Service has identified a separate 31-acre parcel 
with wilderness characteristics to the southern boundary of the 
wilderness area to be added. This adjustment would thus provide a 
manageable, natural boundary for the wilderness area.
  This legislation has support from the local Forest Service, Logan 
City and Cache County, and is the smallest area needed to accomplish 
this purpose.
  Additionally, a small portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail has 
been proposed within the 31-acre area adjacent to the Logan City 
limits. This portion of the trail would connect with a number of other 
trails in the Bonneville Shoreline Trail system and provide outstanding 
recreational opportunities to thousands of people each year. When 
completed, the trail system will travel along the shoreline of the 
ancient Lake Bonneville, which stretches from northern Utah to southern 
Utah, near present-day Cedar City.
  This trail system has been incredibly popular for hikers, mountain 
bikers and equestrian traffic. This is the only portion of this trail 
system that lies within the wilderness area.
  This is good legislation. I want to compliment the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) on proposing it and urge all my colleagues to support 
it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my good friend from 
Alaska for his management of this proposed legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today is sponsored by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), the honorable chairman of our 
Committee on Resources.
  The bill would remove from wilderness designation some 31 acres of 
land in one section and would add 31 acres to another portion of the 
Mount Naomi Wilderness Area. I understand the legislation was requested 
by the city of Logan, Utah, to facilitate the development of the 90-
mile nonmotorized Bonneville Shoreline Trail used by pedestrians and 
cyclists. The proposed trail crosses the Mount Naomi wilderness area 
where mountain biking is not allowed.
  The Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing 
concerning this legislation. There was no opposition to it. It is my 
understanding also, Mr. Speaker, that the administration also supports 
this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4870, 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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