[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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