[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY REVISION ACT OF 
                                  2005

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHANIE HERSETH

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Wind Cave 
National Park Boundary Revision Act of 2005.
  South Dakota's Wind Cave National Park was one of our nation's first 
national parks and is one of the jewels in our national park system. 
President Theodore Roosevelt signed the legislation creating Wind Cave 
National Park on January 9, 1903. With that act, Wind Cave became the 
first cave in the world to be designated as a national park.
  The cave itself, after which the park is named, is one of the world's 
oldest, longest and most complex cave systems, with more than 114 miles 
of mapped tunnels. To this day, cave enthusiasts continue to explore 
the cave and map new passages. In fact, Wind Cave has very recently 
become recognized as the fifth-longest cave in the world. It is well 
known for its exceptional display of boxwork, a rare, honeycomb-shaped 
formation that protrudes from the cave's ceilings and walls.
  While the cave is the focal point of the park, the land above the 
cave is equally impressive, with more than 28,000 acres of grasslands, 
forests, and streams. The park is one of the few remaining mixed-grass 
prairie ecosystems in the country, and is a National Game Preserve that 
provides a home for abundant wildlife such as bison, deer, elk and 
birds.
  The Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act will help expand 
the park by approximately 20 percent in the southern ``keyhole'' 
region. The current landowners are willing sellers that would like to 
see it protected from development and preserved for future generations. 
The land is a natural extension of the park, and boasts the mixed-grass 
prairie and ponderosa pine forests, including a dramatic river canyon. 
The addition of this land will enhance recreation for hikers who come 
for the solitude of the park's back country. It will also protect 
archaeological sites, such as a dramatic buffalo jump, over which early 
Native Americans once drove the bison they hunted.
  This plan to expand the park has strong support in the surrounding 
community. Most South Dakotans recognize the value in expanding the 
park, not only to encourage additional tourism in the Black Hills, but 
to permanently protect these extraordinary lands for future generations 
of Americans to enjoy.
  Governor Michael Rounds has expressed his support for the park 
expansion and both Senators in South Dakota's delegation, Tim Johnson 
and John Thune, are introducing companion legislation in the Senate to 
expand the park boundaries.
  I believe that this expansion can be achieved without a reduction in 
the acreage accessible to the public for hunting, and without a loss of 
tax revenue to county governments. Also, I would look to the National 
Parks Service to tackle issues like chronic wasting disease and deal 
with them effectively. These are reasonable concerns that should be met 
as this process moves forward.
  Wind Cave National Park has been a valued American treasure for more 
than 100 years. We have an opportunity with this legislation to expand 
the park and enhance its value to the public so that visitors will 
enjoy it forever. It is my hope that my colleagues will support this 
expansion of the park and pass this legislation in the near future. .

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