[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 150 (Tuesday, November 19, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11650-S11651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              VIRGIN RIVER DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT PRESERVE ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 591, H.R. 2385.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by 
title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2385) to convey certain property to the city 
     of St. George, Utah, in order to provide for the protection 
     and preservation of certain rare paleontological resources on 
     that property, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill 
which had been reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources with amendments, as follows:
  [Strike the part shown in black brackets and insert the part shown in 
italic.]

                               H.R. 2385

       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 ``Virgin River Dinosaur 
     Footprint Preserve Act''.

     SEC. 2. VIRGIN RIVER DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT PRESERVE.

       [(a) Authorization for Grant To Purchase Footprint 
     Preserve.--As soon as is practicable after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, if the City agrees to the conditions 
     set forth in subsection (b), the Secretary of the Interior 
     may award to the City a grant equal to the lesser of $500,000 
     or the fair market value of up to 10 acres of land (and all 
     related facilities and other appurtenances thereon) generally 
     depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed Virgin River Dinosaur 
     Footprint Preserve'', numbered 09/06/2001-A, for purchase of 
     that property.]
       (a) Authorization for Grant To Purchase Preserve.--Of the 
     funds appropriated in the section entitled ``Land 
     Acquisition'' of the Fiscal Year 2002 Interior and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, Public Law 107-63, the Secretary 
     of the Interior shall grant $500,000 to the City for--
       (1) the purchase of up to 10 acres of land within the area 
     generally depicted as the ``Preserve Acquisition Area'' on 
     the map entitled ``Map B'' and dated May 9, 2002; and
       (2) the preservation of such land and paleontological 
     resources.

[[Page S11651]]

       (b) Conditions of Grant.--The grant under subsection (a) 
     shall be made only after the City agrees to the following 
     conditions:
       (1) Use of land.--The City shall use the Virgin River 
     Dinosaur Footprint Preserve in a manner that accomplishes the 
     following:
       (A) Preserves and protects the paleontological resources 
     located within the exterior boundaries of the Virgin River 
     Dinosaur Footprint Preserve.
       (B) Provides opportunities for scientific research in a 
     manner compatible with subparagraph (A).
       (C) Provides the public with opportunities for educational 
     activities in a manner compatible with subparagraph (A).
       (2) Reverter.--If at any time after the City acquires the 
     Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve, the Secretary 
     determines that the City is not substantially in compliance 
     with the conditions described in paragraph (1), all right, 
     title, and interest in and to the Virgin River Dinosaur 
     Footprint Preserve shall immediately revert to the United 
     States, with no further consideration on the part of the 
     United States, and such property shall then be under the 
     administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.
       (3) Conditions to be contained in deed.--If the City 
     attempts to transfer title to the Virgin River Dinosaur 
     Footprint Preserve (in whole or in part), the conditions set 
     forth in this subsection shall transfer with such title and 
     shall be enforceable against any subsequent owner of the 
     Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve (in whole or in 
     part).
       (c) Cooperative Agreement and Assistance.--
       [(1) Cooperative agreement.--The Secretary shall enter into 
     a cooperative agreement with the City for the management of 
     the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve by the City.
       (2)] (1) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide to the 
     City--
       (A) financial assistance, if the Secretary determines that 
     such assistance is necessary for protection of the 
     paleontological resources located within the exterior 
     boundaries of the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve; 
     and
       (B) technical assistance to assist the City in complying 
     with subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1).
       [(3)] (2) Additional grants.--
       (A) In general.--In addition to funds made available under 
     subsection (a) and paragraph (2) of this subsection, the 
     Secretary may provide grants to the City to carry out its 
     duties under the cooperative agreement entered into under 
     paragraph (1).
       (B) Limitation on amount; required non-federal match.--
     Grants under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $500,000 and 
     shall be provided only to the extent that the City matches 
     the amount of such grants with non-Federal contributions 
     (including in-kind contributions).
       (d) Map on File.--The map shall be on file and available 
     for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the 
     Department of the Interior.
       (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the 
     following definitions apply:
       (1) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of St. George, 
     Utah.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (3) Virgin river dinosaur footprint preserve.--The term 
     ``Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve'' means the 
     property (and all facilities and other appurtenances thereon) 
     described in subsection (a).

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to say a few words about S. 
1497, the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve Act and its 
companion measure in the House, H.R. 2385. This bill would convey 
certain property to the city of St. George, Utah, in order to provide 
for the protection and preservation of certain rare paleontological 
resources on that property.
  This legislation would provide vital protections to one of our 
nation's most recent, and most intact pre-Jurassic paleontological 
discoveries. In February 2000, Sheldon Johnson of St. George, UT, began 
development preparations on his land when he uncovered one of the 
world's most significant collections of dinosaur tracks, tail 
draggings, and skin imprints in the surrounding rock. Without any 
advertising, the site has attracted many tens of thousands of visitors 
and the interest of some of the world's top paleontologists.
  This was a fantastic discovery that has added important new insights 
into the Jurassic period. However, now that these prints have been 
uncovered, the fragile sandstone in which the impressions have been 
made is in jeopardy due to the heat and wind typical of the southern 
Utah climate. We must act quickly if these footprints from our past are 
to be preserved. This bill would authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to purchase the land where the footprints and tail draggings 
are found and convey the property to the city of St. George. The city 
will work together with the property owners and Washington County to 
preserve and protect the area and the resources found there.
  We owe a debt of gratitude to Sheldon and LaVerna Johnson who made 
this discovery on their land and have dedicated thousands of hours of 
their personal time and much of their own money to trying to preserve 
this site. They have done all they can to protect it, while at the same 
time opening up their land for visitors and scientists to view the new 
findings free of costs. They have given so much to this cause, but they 
cannot keep it up indefinitely. They desperately hope that the 
Government will step up and help carry the burden of managing this 
precious resource, and with passage of this legislation tonight we will 
provide them with the relief they deserve.
  I thank Senators Bingaman and Murkowski, the chairman and ranking 
member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, for 
their assistance in seeing this measure passed by Congress and sent to 
the President. I also thank Representative James Hansen, my good friend 
and the sponsor of the companion measure in the House for all he has 
done to make this legislation possible.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-
reported amendments be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read 
the third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The committee amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (H. R. 2385), as amended, was read the third time and 
passed.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, before we get to the next matter, let me 
express my appreciation to the Senator from Utah, Mr. Bennett. He has 
been here all night. But for him, we would not have made the progress 
we have. All Senators should be very grateful for his weighing in on 
these delicate matters. I appreciate what the Senator from Utah has 
done to help us get to this point.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I thank the assistant majority leader. I 
wish to make it clear that without his leadership and cooperation, we 
would not be doing what we are doing. It takes two hands to clap. We 
were waving our hands uselessly in the air until the Senator from 
Nevada stepped in. I am very grateful to him.

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