[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6499-H6500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WEST BUTTE ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY ACT

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4953) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to grant to 
Deschutes and Crook Counties in the State of Oregon a right-of-way to 
West Butte Road, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4953

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

     SECTION 1. COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY TO WEST BUTTE ROAD IN THE 
                   STATE OF OREGON.

       (a) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) West butte road.--The term ``West Butte Road'' means 
     the unpaved Bureau of Land Management road in the State of 
     Oregon identified on the map as BLM Road 6520.
       (2) County.--The term ``County'' means each of Crook County 
     and Deschutes County in the State of Oregon.
       (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``West 
     Butte Road Right of Way'' dated July 17, 2002.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of 
     Land Management.
       (b) Grant to Counties.--Notwithstanding any other Act, and 
     subject to subsection (d), the Secretary shall grant to each 
     County a right-of-way to the West Butte Road.
       (c) Boundaries.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the rights-of-
     way granted under subsection (b) shall--
       (A) extend in length from Reservoir Road in Crook County to 
     United States Route 20 in Deschutes County, Oregon; and
       (B) shall extend in width 100 feet on each side of the 
     centerline of West Butte Road.
       (2) Modifications.--
       (A) State roads.--
       (i) In general.--The Secretary shall amend the existing 
     rights-of-way of each of the Counties as contained in their 
     respective road case files to include the rights-of-way 
     granted under subsection (b).
       (ii) Effect.--The rights-of-way amended under clause (i) 
     shall be subject to the common terms, conditions, and 
     stipulations identified in the Counties' rights-of-way grants 
     that apply on the date of enactment of this Act.

[[Page H6500]]

       (iii) Consideration of environmental concerns.--
     Environmental concerns associated with any development of the 
     West Butte Road shall be addressed by the County in meeting 
     compliance requirements associated with State and Federal 
     highway projects and the National Environmental Policy Act of 
     1969 as administered by the Federal Highway Administration.
       (B) West butte road.--Notwithstanding any other Act, the 
     Secretary shall provide for adjustment to the right-of-way 
     width and alignment granted under subsection (b) in portions 
     of the West Butte Road necessary for the road to meet 
     applicable State and Federal highway standards.
       (d) Relinquishment of Right-of-Way.--The right-of-way 
     granted to each County under subsection (b) shall be 
     contingent upon the Counties relinquishing any right, title, 
     or interest in and to any RS 2477 right-of-way claim held by 
     the Counties to the portion of the road known as George 
     Millican Road that is located in the area described in 
     subsection (c)(1).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the author of the bill, to explain 
the legislation.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4953. 
This is a bill that would promote important transportation 
infrastructure improvements to an economically depressed area of 
central Oregon.
  Rapid population growth among the Bend and Redmond corridor in 
central Oregon has created a perpetual bottleneck along Highway 97, a 
vital north-south right-of-way and highway in central Oregon. H.R. 4953 
would authorize the relinquishment of rights-of-way between Crook and 
Deschutes Counties and the Bureau of Land Management, in effect a swap. 
The BLM would simply relinquish their management right to the West 
Butte Road, transferring that right to the counties. The counties, in 
turn, would relinquish their management rights to the George Millican 
Road, transferring those rights to the Bureau of Land Management.
  West Butte Road extends from Reservoir Road in Crook County to U.S. 
Route 20 in Deschutes County. This legislation would allow the counties 
to make improvements to West Butte Road, thereby providing real and 
meaningful access to U.S. Highway 20, which is a major transportation 
route in central Oregon. Improvements to the road would provide an 
alternative route for trucks and other vehicles that now travel on a 
very busy and congested U.S. Highway 97.
  A recent survey conducted by the Oregon Department of Transportation 
estimated that 25 percent of the trucks that now past through Bend from 
Highway 20 would use this alternative route, which would save an 
estimated 1 hour in travel time and reduce air pollutants as a result.
  Mr. Speaker, not only does H.R. 4953 alleviate traffic congestion in 
central Oregon, but it also spurs economic growth in Crook County, a 
county with a current unemployment rate of 8.2 percent. This 
unemployment rate is due to the dismantling of the timber industry and 
the exodus of industries linked to that industry. This legislation 
would divert the excess traffic on Highway 97, transferring to Highway 
20, providing incentives to businesses, enticing them to move to Crook 
County. It also gives businesses currently located in Crook County a 
reason to stay, due to the long-term viability of its transportation 
infrastructure. The long-term effect would be to provide family-wage 
jobs, to increase economic development, reduce pollutants, reduce 
commute times and trucking times, and free up access on Highway 97.
  This legislation is supported by both Crook and Deschutes Counties, 
the cities of Prineville, Bend and Redmond, the Oregon Department of 
Transportation and Central Oregon Area Transportation Committee.
  I would especially like to thank my friend and commend Judge Scott 
Cooper, who has worked tirelessly to make passage of this bill a 
reality.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4953 is a perfect opportunity for us to step up our 
efforts in alleviating the County's traffic congestion problems, 
provide additional commerce routes in central Oregon and work to reduce 
unemployment. I urge passage of H.R. 4953.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The minority has reviewed this bill and we support the majority's 
explanation of it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. 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. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4953, 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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