[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1694-S1695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 2140. A bill to expand the boundary of the Mount Rainier National 
Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce--along with my 
colleague Senator Murray--the Expanding and Making Mount Rainier 
National Park More Accessible Act.
  This bill authorizes a boundary expansion of Mount Rainier National 
Park to allow the National Park Service to acquire 800 acres of land 
from private landowners, on a willing seller basis. These lands are 
located near the Carbon River and, if acquired, they would be included 
in Mount Rainier National Park, one of America's greatest national 
parks.
  If enacted, the proposed expansion will improve access for visitors, 
allow for a new campsite to be built, and save taxpayers money that 
will no longer be needed to repair a frequently washed out road.
  While this legislation will make Mount Rainier National Park safer 
and

[[Page S1695]]

more accessible for families and outdoor enthusiasts, it is important 
to note that this expansion will also promote the local economy. 
Outdoor recreation is more than an activity in the Northwest, it is 
also a key part of our economy. By improving access to the park, my 
bill will make it easier for visitors to enjoy the park and to purchase 
goods and services in nearby communities.
  This expansion will ensure continued access to the park because the 
northwest entrance road is continually washed out by seasonal 
fluctuations of the glacier-fed Carbon River. The river, which now 
flows at a higher elevation than the roadbed, has blocked visitors from 
accessing the National Park Service's Ipsut Creek campground and nearby 
hiking trails inside the park. The repairs to this road have proven 
both costly and short-lived and have strained the National Park 
Service's already limited maintenance budget. In the long run, the 
expansion will save taxpayers money because the road will not have to 
be maintained to current standards. If this bill is enacted, the 
National Park Service plans to provide a shuttle service to take 
visitors to the Carbon Glacier trailhead. That way, visitors will still 
be able to hike to the Carbon Glacier during day trips.
  If this bill is enacted, local conservation groups and the National 
Park Service will work to reach agreements with landowners in the 
proposed expansion area. I am pleased that the current landowners 
actively participated in the process and enthusiastically support this 
legislation. In fact, they are eager to sell their land to the National 
Park Service so that these lands will be permanently protected for the 
enjoyment of future generations.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate as well as 
other members of the Washington state congressional delegation to 
ensure swift passage of this important legislation.

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