[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2472-S2473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KYL (for himself and Mr. McCain):
  S. 2466. A bill to authorize and direct the exchange and conveyance 
of certain National Forest land and other land in southeast Arizona; to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join with Senator 
McCain to introduce a modified version of S. 1122, the Southeast 
Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act, which we introduced last 
year. This modified bill is a culmination of months of negotiation with 
members of the climbing community, local and state stakeholders, and 
other interested parties. It is an effort to strengthen the land 
exchange in a way that better meets the needs of outdoor recreation, 
conservation, resource protection, and mining interests.
  Let me briefly explain the new provisions in this bill. First, you 
may recall that S. 1122 contained a placeholder for additional climbing 
provisions. I included this provision in our bill as a good faith offer 
to the climbing community to work with us and the proponent of this 
land exchange, Resolution Copper Company, to address the loss of public 
access to climbing at Oak Flat in a way that did not compromise public 
safety. The discussions over the last six months have been fruitful. 
There will be continued interim use of Oak Flat and some additional 
access to climbing on Resolution Copper's private land--all subject to 
public safety requirements.
  This modified bill goes a step further in addressing the loss of 
recreation at Oak Flat. S. 1122 required the identification and 
development of a replacement climbing site. I am pleased to announce 
that representatives from Resolution Copper, working in cooperation 
with climbers and federal land managers, have found a climbing gem 
about 20 miles from Oak Flat, near Hayden and Kearny, Arizona in the 
Tam O'Shanter Mountains. ``Tamo,'' as it is now nicknamed, has the 
quality of rock and the elevation and diversity of cliffs, climbing 
walls, and boulders that rock climbers seek. Couple these 
characteristics with Arizona's mild weather and this site has the 
potential to be a four season climbing destination and tourism draw for 
Arizona.
  Recognizing this potential, Arizona State Parks, Resolution Copper, 
and the Bureau of Land Management in cooperation with the communities 
and other mining interests, have been working together on a proposal to 
turn ``Tamo'' into Arizona's newest State park. This proposed State 
park would place a special emphasis on rock climbing, but would also 
have opportunities for camping and other outdoor recreation. To turn 
``Tamo'' into State park is not an easy task. Currently, Arizona State 
Parks lack the legal authority to acquire ``Tamo,'' but it is seeking 
it through the Arizona state legislature. I am pleased to report that a 
State bill containing this authority successfully passed the state 
Senate with overwhelming support from the Sierra Club, Access Fund, and 
ASARCO, a mining company operating in the vicinity. The stakeholders 
tell me this issue and others concerning access to the site are close 
to resolution. For this reason, I am including language in this bill 
that would facilitate a recreation and public purposes conveyance of 
``Tamo'' to Arizona State Parks.

[[Page S2473]]

This conveyance, of course, would be subject to resolution of these 
issues.
  Besides addressing climbing and recreation concerns, this modified 
bill does even more for environmental conservation and effective land 
management than the original by adding to the private land package two 
additional parcels: East Clear Creek and Dripping Springs.
  The East Clear Creek parcel encompasses 640 acres and is one of the 
largest single blocks of private inholdings within the Coconino 
National Forest. The parcel includes two miles of East Clear Creek, 
hence its name, and magnificent canyons that drop as much as 2,000 feet 
in some areas. This unique landscape is a wildlife transition zone 
between the upper plateau dominated by ponderosa pine and the riparian 
corridor of the creek, allowing it to support several threatened and 
sensitive species including bald eagle, peregrine falcon, fish, reptile 
and amphibian species and big game species such as Rocky Mountain elk, 
mule deer, turkey, and black bear. This parcel has been identified and 
is strongly endorsed for public acquisition by the U.S. Forest Service 
and the Trust for Public Lands.
  The Dripping Springs parcel encompasses 160 acres in the Dripping 
Springs Mountains near Tam O'Shanter Peak in Gila County. This parcel 
has rock formations with excellent climbing opportunities and is within 
the contemplated boundaries of the proposed state park.
  In summary, this land exchange gives us the ability to preserve 
highly sought-after land, important for wildlife habitat, cultural 
resources, watershed and land-management objectives, to promote outdoor 
recreation and tourism, and to generate economic opportunities for 
state and local residents in the copper triangle region in Arizona. It 
is good for our environment and our economy. I urge my colleagues to 
approve the legislation at the earliest possible date.

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