[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 41 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3732-S3733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BENNETT:
  S. 612. A bill to revise the boundary of the Glen Canyon National 
Recreation Area in the States of Utah and Arizona; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Glen 
Canyon National Recreation Area Boundary Revision Act.''
  This legislation will revise the total acreage within the National 
Recreation Area's, NRA, boundary to reflect the actual acreage within 
the NRA, and it will also do much to protect the scenic view of Lake 
Powell as seen by those traveling along U.S. Highway Route 89.
  As enacted into law, the enabling legislation for the Glen Canyon 
National Recreation Area, inaccurately reflected the acreage within the 
NRA boundary. This legislation would correct the acreage ceiling by 
estimating the acreage within the NRA to be 1,256,000 instead of 
1,236,880.
  Secondly, this bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior, to 
exchange 320 NRA acres for 152 acres of privately owned land in Kane 
County, UT. Currently, Page One L.L.C. owns 152 acres between U.S. 
Highway 89 and the southwestern shore of Lake Powell. This private land 
provides a breathtaking view of Lake Powell from Highway 89, which is 
the main viewshed corridor between the highway and the lake. This land 
also encompasses three highway access rights-of-way and a developed 
culinary water well. In an effort to protect this viewshed and better 
manage its boundaries along its most visited entrance, the National 
Park

[[Page S3733]]

Service, NPS, has been negotiating with Page One to exchange 370 acres 
of NRA lands for these 152 acres. The approximate value of the NRA 
lands is $480,000 whereas the private land's appraised value is 
$856,000. Page One has agreed to donate the balance of appraised value 
to the NPS.
  By authorizing this land exchange, this bill will allow the NPS to 
preserve and better manage the corridor between the park and Highway 
89, which affords such a scenic view of Lake Powell. This boundary 
change would not add any facilities, increase operating costs, or 
require additional staff and as such, it will not add to the NPS 
maintenance backlog.
  Because of the common interest in preserving this scenic corridor 
from development, this legislation has garnered the support of the 
administration, the Kane County Planning and Zoning Commission, the 
National Parks Conservation Association, and the Southern Utah Planning 
Advisory Council. In light of the benefits provided by and community 
support for this proposal, I look forward to working with my Senate 
colleagues and the administration to pass this legislation this year.
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