[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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