[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7258-H7259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CASTLE NUGENT FARMS, ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS, NATIONAL PARK
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2663) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study
the suitability and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent Farms,
located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National Park
System, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2663
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING CASTLE
NUGENT FARMS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Castle Nugent Farms, located on the southeastern shore
of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, is the largest parcel of
privately-held land in the Virgin Islands and has been an
operating cattle ranch for 50 years.
[[Page H7259]]
(2) This land has the largest and healthiest fringing coral
reef anywhere in the Virgin Islands.
(3) It consists of Caribbean dry forest and pasturelands
with considerable cultural resources including both pre-
Columbian and post-European settlement.
(4) Castle Nugent Farms contains a large historic 17th
century Danish estate house that sits on over 4 miles of
pristine Caribbean oceanfront property.
(5) In addition to being an area for turtle nesting and
night heron nesting, it is the home for the Senepol cattle
breed, a unique breed of cattle that was developed on St.
Croix in the early 1900's to adapt to the island's climate.
(b) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall carry out a
study regarding the suitability and feasibility of
designating Castle Nugent Farms as a unit of the National
Park System.
(c) Study Process and Completion.--Section 8(c) of Public
Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)) shall apply to the conduct and
completion of the study required by this section.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs.
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
General Leave
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2663, the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Mexico?
There was no objection.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2663, introduced by my colleague on the Committee
on Resources, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs.
Christensen), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study
the suitability and feasibility of designating the Castle Nugent Farms,
located on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National
Park System.
I understand that the owners of the Farm, the largest parcel of
privately-held land in the U.S. Virgin Islands, are aware of this
legislation and support the National Park Study.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2663 is supported by the majority and minority of
the Committee on Resources and the administration. I urge adoption of
the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1430
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased the House is
considering my bill, H.R. 2663, to provide for a study to determine the
feasibility and suitability of designating Castle Nugent Farms on my
home island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands as a unit of the
National Park System.
Castle Nugent Farms is a unique 1,350-acre property located on the
southeastern shore of St. Croix. It contains natural and cultural
resources which could provide an unparalleled insight into the
plantation period of the Virgin Islands.
Castle Nugent Farms is presently operated as a cattle ranch by owners
who are very interested in preserving and interpreting the natural and
cultural resources of the area. I want to take this opportunity to
commend Caroline Gasperi and her family for the stewardship of this
land for more than 50 years and for her enthusiasm and dedication to
this cause.
The owners are justifiably proud of their ranch which contains more
than 4 miles of pristine oceanfront with a large and healthy fringing
coral reef. The interior of the property consists of Caribbean dry
forest and pasture lands with cultural resources from both pre-
Columbian and post-European settlement. A large Danish estate house,
dating to the 1730s, sits on the property. That house is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
At various points in its history, Castle Nugent Farms has been
operated as a cotton plantation and a sugarcane plantation. Its current
use as a cattle ranch involves raising unique Senepol cattle, a breed
which is well-suited to the climate and vegetation of the area.
H.R. 2663 is a noncontroversial bill. The National Park Service has
no objections to the legislation, and the property's owners not only
support a park study of the site but are enthusiastic about the
opportunity to preserve the natural and cultural resources of the farm.
Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the park study will provide the
blueprint by which we can preserve and interpret this unique piece of
island history and resources for the benefit of present and future
generations.
I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for taking
the time to personally communicate with my constituent, Mrs. Gasperi,
and for his strong support and for shepherding this bill through the
committee. And I thank my colleagues on the Committee on Resources for
their favorable consideration of H.R. 2663 and express my wholehearted
support for the adoption of this bill by the House this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2663.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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