[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 91 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             UPPER WHITE SALMON WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT

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                               speech of

                           HON. DOC HASTINGS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 27, 2005

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Upper 
White Salmon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, H.R. 38, passed the House by a 
voice vote. I want to make clear where I stand on this issue.
  The White Salmon River begins in the Cascade Mountains, fed by 
snowmelt from nearby Mt. Adams and the rains for which Western 
Washington is famous. The river makes its way south, winding through 
Skamania and Klickitat counties, until it meets the Columbia River in 
the heart of the Columbia River Gorge.
  The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act made much of the 
lower river part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program. At the 
same time, it directed the Forest Service to study the suitability of 
the upper river for designation as well. The legislation passed this 
week adds 20 miles of the Upper White Salmon River and Cascade Creek to 
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program. This portion of the river 
is entirely within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and outside of 
the Fourth District of Washington, which I represent.
  While I did not oppose the legislation the House passed earlier this 
week, I do want to make clear that I would have considerable concerns 
with any proposal to declare as Wild and Scenic any currently 
undesignated portions of the White Salmon River that flows through the 
district that I represent. The views of local county commissioners, 
elected officials and affected landowners would be of paramount 
interest to me should any such designation be suggested or proposed. 
This portion of the river does not run through Federal land, but 
through private property of economic importance to the landowners and 
local communities. The burden of Federal regulation is already very 
heavy on the area, and I have great reservations about actions that 
would make the load even more difficult to bear.
  We have an obligation to protect the natural treasures of the 
Columbia Gorge while also protecting the livelihoods of those that make 
their homes there. I look forward to continuing to work closely with my 
colleagues from the Northwest to make sure we strike the right balance 
on such matters.

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