[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 88 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H4924-H4925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PAINT BANK AND WYTHEVILLE NATIONAL FISH HATCHERIES CONVEYANCE ACT
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 5061) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey
Paint Bank National Fish Hatchery and Wytheville National Fish Hatchery
to the State of Virginia.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 5061
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Paint Bank and Wytheville
National Fish Hatcheries Conveyance Act''.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF PAINT BANK AND WYTHEVILLE NATIONAL FISH
HATCHERIES TO THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
(a) In General.--Within 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall
convey to the State of Virginia without reimbursement all
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the
property described in subsection (b) for use by the Virginia
Department of Fish and Game as part of the State of Virginia
fish culture program.
(b) Property Described.--The property referred to in
subsection (a) consists of--
(1) the real property comprising Paint Bank National Fish
Hatchery and Wytheville National Fish Hatchery, located at
Paint Bank and Wytheville, Virginia, respectively, as
described in the 1982 Cooperative Agreement between the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of
Virginia;
(2) all improvements and related personal property under
the control of the Secretary that is located on that real
property, including buildings, structures, and equipment; and
(3) all easements, leases, and water rights relating to the
property described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
(c) Reversionary Interest.--If any of the property conveyed
to the State of Virginia under this section is used for any
purpose other than the use authorized under subsection (a),
all right, title, and interest in and to all property
conveyed under this section shall revert to the United
States. The State of Virginia shall ensure that all property
reverting to the United States under this subsection is in
substantially the same or better condition as at the time of
transfer to the State.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam 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
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I am pleased to support H.R. 5061, introduced by our colleagues,
Congressmen Rick Boucher and Virgil Goode, to convey the Paint Bank and
Wytheville National Fish Hatcheries to the State of Virginia.
This action is appropriate and timely since the State has been
superbly operating these facilities for the past 23 years. During this
time nearly 1 million brook, brown, and rainbow trout have been
produced each year. In fact, this represents over 40 percent of the
total amount of trout that have been stocked for public fishing in
Virginia. These fish provide recreational opportunities for thousands
of people.
This is not an example of the Federal Government's simply ridding
itself of unwanted assets. These two hatcheries are not considered
components of the National Fish Hatchery System, and the State of
Virginia has demonstrated its commitment to manage these facilities
effectively. In fact, the State has spent nearly $400,000 in State
resources to improve these hatcheries. However, to undertake additional
renovations that may cost as much as $4.5 million, it is necessary that
ownership is transferred from the Federal Government. This is a
position that is supported by all interested parties.
I urge an ``aye'' vote on this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, we support this legislation that would
transfer the Paint Bank and Wytheville National Fish Hatcheries to the
Commonwealth of Virginia. Both hatcheries have been operated by the
Commonwealth for several years under a long-term management agreement
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This conveyance will enable
the State to finance improvements to upgrade these facilities which
would otherwise be left unaddressed by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
I want to commend the bill's Democratic sponsor, Congressman Rick
Boucher, for introducing this legislation which will enhance sports
fishing opportunities in Virginia.
I urge Members to support this noncontroversial bill.
Mr. BOUCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5061,
bi-partisan legislation which I introduced with my colleague from
Virginia Mr. Goode.
H.R. 5061 would simply convey two federal fish hatcheries located in
the towns of Wytheville and Paint Bank in my Congressional district to
the State of Virginia for continued operation by the Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The legislation enjoys wide
support and no opposition. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services as well
as the State of Virginia both endorse the conveyance of these two
properties.
The two facilities have been operated by the Virginia Department of
Game and Inland Fisheries since 1983 under a 25 year lease agreement.
In the early 1980's the federal government was in the process of
divesting some federal hatcheries which were not involved in fish stock
mitigation activities. The Wytheville and Paint Bank hatcheries are not
used for fish stock mitigation and breed fish for recreational fishing
only--both facilities provide brook, brown and rainbow trout for the
stocking of streams on federal lands. At that time, Virginia expressed
interest in operating the facilities under a 25 year lease agreement,
and the State has been operating the facilities since that time. The
lease is set to expire in 2008, and all parties are in agreement that a
title transfer before that expiration date is appropriate.
The two facilities have an estimated combined economic effect of $40
million annually and produced a combined total of approximately 290,729
pounds of trout during Fiscal Year 2005.
Since beginning operation of the facilities under the lease
agreement, the State has made numerous investments in the two
hatcheries. The State has invested approximately $159,350 for
improvements to the Wytheville facility and approximately $230,000 at
the Paint Bank facility.
In addition, during that time the facilities have been thoroughly
tested for various contaminants, and there are now no contaminant
issues associated with either hatchery. The State would like to
continue operation and investment in the facilities for a variety of
reasons. For example, in order for extensive capital expenditures or
any federal funding to be used for additional improvements, the
ownership must be transferred from the federal government. Given the
fact that the State of Virginia would like to assume ownership and that
the federal government has been making a broad effort to divest of non-
mitigation related hatcheries, this conveyance is in the interest of
all parties.
H.R. 5051 would simply transfer title of the Wytheville and Paint
Bank Fish Hatcheries to the State of Virginia. I appreciate the work of
Subcommittee Chairman Gilchrest and Ranking Member Pallone as well as
that of Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall of the House Resources
Committee in bringing this measure to the floor for consideration, and
I urge its adoption.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5061.
The question was taken.
[[Page H4925]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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