[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7315-S7316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DASCHLE:
  S. 2788. A bill to revise the boundary of the Wind Cave National Park 
in the State of South Dakota; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Wind Cave 
National Park Boundary Revision Act.
  Wind Cave National Park, located in southwestern South Dakota, is one 
of the Park System's precious natural treasures and one of the Nation's 
first national parks. The cave itself, after which the park is named, 
is one of the world's oldest, longest and most complex cave systems, 
with more than 103 miles of mapped tunnels. The cave is well known for 
its exceptional display of boxwork, a rare, honeycomb-shaped formation 
that protrudes from the cave's ceilings and walls. While the cave is 
the focal point of the park, the land above the cave is equally 
impressive, with 28,000 acres of rolling meadows, majestic forests, 
creeks, and streams. As one of the few remaining mixed-grass prairie 
ecosystems in the country, the park is home to abundant wildlife, such 
as bison, deer, elk and birds, and is a National Game Preserve.
  The Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act will help expand 
the park by approximately 20 percent in the southern ``keyhole'' 
region. This land currently is owned by a ranching family that wants to 
see it protected from development and preserved for future generations. 
The land is a natural extension of the park, and boasts the mixed-grass 
prairie and ponderosa pine forests found in the rest of the park, 
including a dramatic river canyon. The addition of this land will 
enhance recreation for hikers who come for the solitude of the park's 
back country. It will also protect archaeological sites, such as a 
buffalo jump over which early Native Americans once drove the bison 
they hunted, and improve fire management.
  This plan to expand the park has strong, but not universal, support 
in the surrounding community, whose views recently were expressed 
during a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. Most South 
Dakotans recognize the value in expanding the park, not only to 
encourage additional tourism in the Black Hills, but to permanently 
protect these extraordinary lands for future generations of Americans 
to enjoy. Understandably, however, some are legitimately concerned 
about the potential loss of hunting opportunities and local tax 
revenue.
  Governor Janklow has expressed his conditional support for the park 
expansion, stating that there must be no reduction in the amount of 
lands with public access that currently can be hunted, that there must 
be no loss of tax revenue to the county from the expansion, and that 
chronic wasting disease issues must be dealt with effectively. There 
are reasonable conditions that should be met as this process moves 
forward.
  The legislation I am introducing today protects hunting opportunities 
for sportsmen by excluding 880 acres of School and Public Lands 
property from the expansion. In addition, Wind Cave National Park and 
the Trust for Public Lands are working with interested parties to find 
a way to offset the loss of local county tax revenues. Finally, I 
understand that the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department has 
reached an agreement with Wind Cave officials to expand research into 
chronic wasting disease, which will benefit wildlife populations 
nationwide. I am satisfied that the legitimate concerns about the 
potential expansion have been effectively addressed and today am moving 
forward to begin the legislative phase of this process.
  In conclusion, Wind Cave National Park has been a valued American

[[Page S7316]]

treasure for nearly 100 years. We have an opportunity with this 
legislation to expand the park and enhance its value to the public so 
that visitors will enjoy it even more during the next 100 years. It is 
my hope that my colleagues will support this expansion of the park and 
pass the legislation in the near future.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2788

       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 ``Wind Cave National Park 
     Boundary Revision Act of 2002''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Wind 
     Cave National Park Boundary Revision'', numbered 108/80,030, 
     and dated June 2002.
       (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Wind Cave National 
     Park in the State.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of South 
     Dakota.

     SEC. 3. LAND ACQUISITION.

       (a) Authority.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire the land or 
     interest in land described in subsection (b)(1) for addition 
     to the Park.
       (2) Means.--An acquisition of land under paragraph (1) may 
     be made by donation, purchase from a willing seller with 
     donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
       (b) Boundary.--
       (1) Map and acreage.--The land referred to in subsection 
     (a)(1) shall consist of approximately 5,675 acres, as 
     generally depicted on the map.
       (2) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (3) Revision.--The boundary of the Park shall be adjusted 
     to reflect the acquisition of land under subsection (a)(1).

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer any land 
     acquired under section 3(a)(1) as part of the Park in 
     accordance with laws (including regulations) applicable to 
     the Park.
       (b) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall transfer from the 
     Director of the Bureau of Land Management to the Director of 
     the National Park Service administrative jurisdiction over 
     the land described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Map and acreage.--The land referred to in paragraph (1) 
     consists of the approximately 80 acres of land identified on 
     the map as ``Bureau of Land Management land''.

     SEC. 5. GRAZING.

       (a) Grazing Permitted.--Subject to any permits or leases in 
     existence as of the date of acquisition, the Secretary may 
     permit the continuation of livestock grazing on land acquired 
     under section 3(a)(1).
       (b) Limitation.--Grazing under subsection (a) shall be at 
     not more than the level existing on the date on which the 
     land is acquired under section 3(a)(1).
       (c) Purchase of Permit or Lease.--The Secretary may 
     purchase the outstanding portion of a grazing permit or lease 
     on any land acquired under section 3(a)(1).
       (d) Termination of Leases or Permits.--The Secretary may 
     accept the voluntary termination of a permit or lease for 
     grazing on any acquired land.

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