[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 151 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H10171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ALLOWING USE OF CERTAIN ROADS WITHIN DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL
RECREATION AREA
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3721) to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management
Act of 1996 to allow certain commercial vehicles to continue to use
Route 209 within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and to
allow the National Park Service to continue to collect fees from those
vehicles, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3721
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. USE OF CERTAIN ROADS WITHIN DELAWARE WATER GAP.
Section 702 of Division I of the Omnibus Parks and Public
Lands Management Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-333; 110 Stat.
4185) is amended--
(1) by striking ``2005'' and inserting ``2015, or whenever
a feasible alternative exists, whichever comes first,'' each
place it appears; and
(2) by amending the last sentence in subsection (c)(2) to
read as follows: ``Such fee shall be set to fully cover the
cost of operation of the road, but not to exceed $40 per
trip.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave).
General Leave
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 3721, introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Sherwood) and amended by the Resources Committee, would amend the
Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to continue to
permit certain commercial vehicles to utilize Route 209 within the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania as well as
allow the National Park Service to continue to collect fees from these
vehicles.
Since 1996, this route has become an increasingly important north-
south artery connecting the two northeast Pennsylvania towns of Milford
and Stroudsburg. While an alternate routes does exist outside the
Recreation Area, the fact is that the route transverses a much more
mountainous region and thus takes more time and is more dangerous,
especially during the winter months. I urge adoption of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, the majority has again already explained the purpose of
H.R. 3721, which deals with truck traffic on a park road within the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Congress has dealt
with this issue on three different occasions in the past. It is our
hope that this will be the last time we will need to address this
subject.
Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to its adoption as amended by the
House today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood).
Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member
Rahall for working with me to get H.R. 3721 on the suspension calendar
and considered in an expeditious fashion.
At the request of the National Park Service, I introduced H.R. 3721
which would extend for 10 years the current authority for commercial
vehicle traffic through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
along Route 209. All bordering counties and boroughs are supportive of
the bill.
In supporting the bill, the National Park Service cites the
continuing need for commercial vehicle traffic to travel through the
park in a manner that protects park resources and visitors while also
providing the Water Gap Recreational Area the financial means for
monitoring and enforcement of commercial use restrictions.
The bill is needed to continue a program that has worked for the Park
Service and the community surrounding the Water Gap National Recreation
Area for over 20 years. The fee collection system resolved the
potential problems raised when the 21-mile segment of U.S. Route 209
was transferred to Park Service control. The system allows limited
commercial vehicle access, and the tolls allow the Park Service to
monitor the road without using regular operation and maintenance
budgets.
Authorization for the program was done in 10-year increments. The
most recent 10-year increment authorization expired September 30. My
bill would extend the authorization to September 30, 2015.
The current program has been in operation since 1983 and was largely
successful until it started running a deficit. The main problem with
the existing program is the lack of the ability for the park to adjust
the fee schedule to cover the expense of operating the contact
stations. This problem is resolved by authorizing the park
superintendent to adjust fees as necessary to cover operating costs.
A reduction or elimination of commercial traffic is not feasible at
this time as the commercial traffic continues to serve local businesses
immediately adjacent to the park and concessionaires within the park
and is necessary for continued business operation within the area for
another decade.
The management of U.S. Route 209, in accordance with this
legislation, meets the goals of the park and is supported by the
experience of the park, public sentiment, and economic analysis. On
behalf of the National Park Service, I ask for your support for this
legislation.
Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3721, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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