[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2288-H2289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA BOUNDARY REVISION ACT

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 788) to revise the boundary of the Glen Canyon National 
Recreation Area in the States of Utah and Arizona.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 788

       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 ``Glen Canyon National 
     Recreation Area Boundary Revision Act''.

     SEC. 2. GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA BOUNDARY 
                   REVISION.

       (a) In General.--The first section of Public Law 92-593 (16 
     U.S.C. 460dd; 86 Stat. 1311) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``That in'' and inserting ``Section 1. (a) 
     In''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) In addition to the boundary change authority under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary may acquire approximately 152 
     acres of private land in exchange for approximately 370 acres 
     of land within the boundary of Glen Canyon National 
     Recreation Area, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
     `Page One Land Exchange Proposal', number 608/60573a-2002, 
     and dated May 16, 2002. The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service. Upon conclusion of the exchange, 
     the boundary of the recreation area shall be revised to 
     reflect the exchange.''.
       (b) Change in Acreage Ceiling.--Such section is further 
     amended by striking ``one million two hundred and thirty-six 
     thousand eight hundred and eighty acres'' and inserting 
     ``1,256,000 acres''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 788, as introduced by the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. Cannon), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to complete 
a land exchange that would help protect an important viewshed located 
in southern Utah at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and revise 
the boundaries of the park to reflect the change. The exchange would 
facilitate the acquisition of 152 acres, including an important scenic 
viewshed by the National Park Service, while the private developer 
would acquire 370 acres of land on the other side of Highway 89 that is 
more appropriate for development. The parcel acquired by the Park 
Service will also help facilitate a more manageable boundary at the 
park's most visited entrance. While the Park Service will be acquiring 
land of considerably greater value than the developer, the private 
developer has expressed his willingness to donate the approximately 
$350,000 difference in value to the National Park Service. Both parties 
consider the exchange to be mutually beneficial.
  The House passed legislation containing this same exchange during the 
107th Congress. The bill is supported, as it was during the last 
Congress, by both the majority and the minority as well as the 
administration, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, we also support the passage of H.R. 788, a 
bill which is similar to legislation which passed the House in June of 
last year. It must be said, however, that there continues to be great 
concern regarding most cases where public land owned by the American 
taxpayer is exchanged for private land. In many instances it is not at 
all clear that the taxpayers are receiving full value for the lands 
being traded away in their names. In fact, in many cases it is clear 
that they are not.
  We have been working with our friends on the other side of the aisle 
and the Federal Land Management agencies to develop a more 
comprehensive approach to exchanges that might address the failures in 
the current process, and we look forward to continuing those efforts. 
In the meantime,

[[Page H2289]]

it is our hope that we would only approve specific exchanges that truly 
serve the best interests of the American taxpayer.
  Fortunately, it appears we have such an exchange in this instance. 
The basic concept of the exchange contained in H.R. 788 appears to 
serve both the interests of the private landowner as well as the park. 
In addition, once authorized, this exchange will go through a full NEPA 
process, including appraisals, which should identify and address any 
remaining issues.
  We commend the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon) on his legislation 
and support passage of H.R. 788 and encourage our colleagues to do the 
same.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon).
  Mr. CANNON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 788. This bill has two 
purposes: first, it will revise the boundary of the Glen Canyon 
National Recreation Area in Utah by exchanging 152 acres of land owned 
by Page One LLC for approximately 370 acres of land within the National 
Recreation Area. This exchange will enable both entities to consolidate 
the properties and make it possible for the Park Service to better 
protect the area around Lake Powell and Highway 89.
  The second purpose of the bill is to increase the acreage ceiling for 
the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The park's enabling 
legislation incorrectly identified the total acreage within the park 
boundary. H.R. 788 will correct that error.
  The bill is the result of years of discussion and negotiation between 
Page One and the National Park Service. The Park Service has been 
involved from day one. The local communities have also voiced their 
support for this bill. In addition, the Kane County Planning and Zoning 
Commission, the Southern Utah Planning Advisory Council, and the 
National Parks Conservation Association all endorse this land exchange.
  H.R. 788 is a noncontroversial piece of legislation that is 
beneficial to the park, to the private developer, and to the public at 
large. I urge its support.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 788.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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