[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 98 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H5630-H5633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL WILD HERITAGE WILDERNESS ACT
Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 233) to designate certain National Forest System
lands in the Mendocino and Six Rivers National Forests and certain
Bureau of Land Management lands in Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa
Counties in the State of California as wilderness, to designate the
Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area, to designate certain segments
of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County, California as a wild or
scenic river, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows
H.R. 233
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Northern
California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
Sec. 3. Designation of wilderness areas.
Sec. 4. Administration of wilderness areas.
Sec. 5. Release of wilderness study areas.
Sec. 6. Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area.
Sec. 7. Wild and scenic river designation.
Sec. 8. King Range National Conservation Area boundary adjustment.
Sec. 9. Cow Mountain Recreation Area, Lake and Mendocino Counties,
California.
Sec. 10. Continuation of traditional commercial surf fishing, Redwood
National and State Parks.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means--
(1) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(2) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.), the following areas in the State of California are
designated as wilderness areas and as components of the
National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Snow mountain wilderness addition.--
(A) In general.--Certain land in the Mendocino National
Forest, comprising approximately 23,706 acres, as generally
depicted on the maps described in subparagraph (B), is
incorporated in and shall considered to be a part of the
``Snow Mountain Wilderness'', as designated by section
101(a)(31) of the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16
U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 98-425).
(B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in
subparagraph (A) are--
(i) the map entitled ``Skeleton Glade Unit, Snow Mountain
Proposed Wilderness Addition, Mendocino National Forest'' and
dated April 21, 2005; and
(ii) the map entitled ``Bear Creek/Deafy Glade Unit, Snow
Mountain Wilderness Addition, Mendocino National Forest'' and
dated July 21, 2006.
(2) Sanhedrin wilderness.--Certain land in the Mendocino
National Forest, comprising approximately 10,571 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Sanhedrin Proposed
Wilderness, Mendocino National Forest'' and dated April 21,
2005, which shall be known as the ``Sanhedrin Wilderness''.
(3) Yuki wilderness.--Certain land in the Mendocino
National Forest and certain land administered by the Bureau
of Land Management in Lake and Mendocino Counties,
California, together comprising approximately 53,887 acres,
as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Yuki Proposed
Wilderness'' and dated May 23, 2005, which shall be known as
the ``Yuki Wilderness''.
(4) Yolla bolly-middle eel wilderness addition.--Certain
land in the Mendocino National Forest and certain land
administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Mendocino
County, California, together comprising approximately 27,036
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Middle
Fork Eel, Smokehouse and Big Butte Units, Yolla Bolly-Middle
Eel Proposed Wilderness Addition'' and dated June 7, 2005, is
incorporated in and shall considered to be a part of the
Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, as designated by section 3
of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1132).
(5) Siskiyou wilderness addition.--
(A) In general.--Certain land in the Six Rivers National
Forest, comprising approximately 30,122 acres, as generally
depicted on the maps described in subparagraph (B), is
incorporated in and shall be considered to be a part of the
Siskiyou Wilderness, as designated by section 101(a)(30) of
the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;
Public Law 98-425).
(B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in
subparagraph (A) are--
(i) the map entitled ``Bear Basin Butte Unit, Siskiyou
Proposed Wilderness Additions, Six Rivers National Forest''
and dated June 28, 2005; and
(ii) the map entitled ``Blue Creek Unit, Siskiyou Proposed
Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest'' and dated
July 21, 2006;
(6) Mount lassic wilderness.--Certain land in the Six
Rivers National Forest, comprising approximately 7,279 acres,
as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Mt. Lassic
Proposed Wilderness'' and dated June 7, 2005, which shall be
known as the ``Mount Lassic Wilderness''.
(7) Trinity alps wilderness addition.--
(A) In general.--Certain land in the Six Rivers National
Forest, comprising approximately 22,863 acres, as generally
depicted on the maps described in subparagraph (B) and which
is incorporated in and shall be considered to be a part of
the Trinity Alps Wilderness as designated by section
101(a)(34) of the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16
U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 98-425).
(B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in
subparagraph (A) are--
(i) the map entitled ``East Fork Unit, Trinity Alps
Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest''
and dated September 17, 2004;
(ii) the map entitled ``Horse Linto Unit, Trinity Alps
Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest''
and dated September 17, 2004; and
(iii) the map entitled ``Red Cap Unit, Trinity Alps
Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest''
and dated June 7, 2005.
(8) Cache creek wilderness.--Certain land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management in Lake County, California,
comprising approximately 27,245 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Cache Creek Wilderness Area'' and dated
July 22, 2006, which shall be known as the ``Cache Creek
Wilderness''.
(9) Cedar roughs wilderness.--Certain land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management in Napa County, California,
comprising approximately 6,350 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Cedar Roughs Wilderness Area'' and
dated September 27, 2004, which shall be known as the ``Cedar
Roughs Wilderness''.
(10) South fork eel river wilderness.--Certain land
administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Mendocino
County, California, comprising approximately 12,915 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``South Fork Eel River
Wilderness Area and Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness'' and
dated June 16, 2005, which shall be known as the ``South Fork
Eel River Wilderness''.
(11) King range wilderness.--
(A) In general.--Certain land administered by the Bureau of
Land Management in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties,
California, comprising approximately 42,585 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``King Range
Wilderness'', and dated November 12, 2004, which shall be
known as the ``King Range Wilderness''.
(B) Applicable law.--With respect to the wilderness
designated by subparagraph (A), in the case of a conflict
between this Act and Public Law 91-476 (16 U.S.C. 460y et
seq.), the more restrictive provision shall control.
(12) Rocks and islands.--
(A) In general.--All Federally-owned rocks, islets, and
islands (whether named or unnamed and surveyed or unsurveyed)
that are located--
(i) not more than 3 geographic miles off the coast of the
King Range National Conservation Area; and
(ii) above mean high tide.
(B) Applicable law.--In the case of a conflict between this
Act and Proclamation No. 7264 (65 Fed. Reg. 2821), the more
restrictive provision shall control.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
(a) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, each
area designated as wilderness by section 3 shall be
administered by the Secretary in accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that--
(1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall
be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of
Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the
Secretary that has jurisdiction over the wilderness.
[[Page H5631]]
(b) Map and Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a
legal description of each wilderness area designated by
section 3 with--
(A) the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(2) Force of law.--A map and legal description filed under
paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct
errors in the map and legal description.
(3) Public availability.--Each map and legal description
filed under paragraph (1) shall be filed and made available
for public inspection in the appropriate office of the
Secretary.
(c) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land
within the boundary of a wilderness area designated by this
Act that is acquired by the Federal Government shall--
(1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is
located; and
(2) be managed in accordance with this Act, the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and any other applicable law.
(d) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid rights in existence on
the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal land
designated as wilderness by this Act is withdrawn from all
forms of--
(1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land
laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and
geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
(e) Fire, Insect, and Disease Management Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may take such measures in
the wilderness areas designated by this Act as are necessary
for the control and prevention of fire, insects, and
diseases, in accordance with--
(A) section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(d)(1)); and
(B) House Report No. 98-40 of the 98th Congress.
(2) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review existing
policies applicable to the wilderness areas designated by
this Act to ensure that authorized approval procedures for
any fire management measures allow a timely and efficient
response to fire emergencies in the wilderness areas.
(f) Access to Private Property.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide any owner of
private property within the boundary of a wilderness area
designated by this Act adequate access to such property to
ensure the reasonable use and enjoyment of the property by
the owner.
(2) King range wilderness.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), within the
wilderness designated by section 3(11), the access route
depicted on the map for private landowners shall also be
available for persons invited by the private landowners.
(B) Limitation.--Nothing in subparagraph (A) requires the
Secretary to provide any access to the landowners or persons
invited by the landowners beyond the access that would be
available if the wilderness had not been designated.
(g) Snow Sensors and Stream Gauges.--If the Secretary
determines that hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological
instrumentation is appropriate to further the scientific,
educational, and conservation purposes of the wilderness
areas designated by this Act, nothing in this Act prevents
the installation and maintenance of the instrumentation
within the wilderness areas.
(h) Military Activities.--Nothing in this Act precludes
low-level overflights of military aircraft, the designation
of new units of special airspace, or the use or establishment
of military flight training routes over wilderness areas
designated by this Act.
(i) Livestock.--Grazing of livestock and the maintenance of
existing facilities related to grazing in wilderness areas
designated by this Act, where established before the date of
enactment of this Act, shall be permitted to continue in
accordance with--
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(d)(4)); and
(2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of the report of
the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of
Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress
(H. Rept. 101-405).
(j) Fish and Wildlife Management.--
(1) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary may
carry out management activities to maintain or restore fish
and wildlife populations and fish and wildlife habitats in
wilderness areas designated by this Act if such activities
are--
(A) consistent with applicable wilderness management plans;
and
(B) carried out in accordance with applicable guidelines
and policies.
(2) State jurisdiction.--Nothing in this Act affects the
jurisdiction of the State of California with respect to fish
and wildlife on the public land located in the State.
(k) Use by Members of Indian Tribes.--
(1) Access.--In recognition of the past use of wilderness
areas designated by this Act by members of Indian tribes for
traditional cultural and religious purposes, the Secretary
shall ensure that Indian tribes have access to the wilderness
areas for traditional cultural and religious purposes.
(2) Temporary closures.--
(A) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary, on request of an Indian tribe, may temporarily
close to the general public 1 or more specific portions of a
wilderness area to protect the privacy of the members of the
Indian tribe in the conduct of the traditional cultural and
religious activities in the wilderness area.
(B) Requirement.--Any closure under subparagraph (A) shall
be made in such a manner as to affect the smallest
practicable area for the minimum period of time necessary for
the activity to be carried out.
(3) Applicable law.--Access to the wilderness areas under
this subsection shall be in accordance with--
(A) Public Law 95-341 (commonly known as the ``American
Indian Religious Freedom Act'') (42 U.S.C. 1996 et seq.); and
(B) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(l) Adjacent Management.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in section 3 creates protective
perimeters or buffer zones around any wilderness area
designated by section 3.
(2) Nonwilderness activities.--The fact that nonwilderness
activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within a
wilderness area designated by section 3 shall not preclude
the conduct of those activities or uses outside the boundary
of the wilderness area.
(m) Cherry-Stemmed Roads.--
(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``cherry-
stemmed road'' means a road that is excluded from the
wilderness areas designated by section 3 by a non-wilderness
corridor having designated wilderness on both sides, as
generally depicted on the maps described in such section
(2) Closures and restrictions.--The Secretary shall not--
(A) close any cherry-stemmed road that is open to the
public as of the date of the enactment of this Act;
(B) prohibit motorized access on a cherry-stemmed road that
is open to the public for motorized access as of the date of
the enactment of this Act; or
(C) prohibit mechanized access on a cherry-stemmed road
that is open to the public for mechanized access as of the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Exceptions.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed as precluding the Secretary from closing or
restricting access to a cherry-stemmed road for purposes of
significant resource protection or public safety.
SEC. 5. RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that, for the purposes of
section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), any portion of a wilderness study area
described in subsection (b) that is not designated as
wilderness by section 3 or any previous Act has been
adequately studied for wilderness.
(b) Description of Study Areas.--The study areas referred
to in subsection (a) are--
(1) the King Range Wilderness Study Area;
(2) the Chemise Mountain Instant Study Area;
(3) the Red Mountain Wilderness Study Area;
(4) the Cedar Roughs Wilderness Study Area; and
(5) those portions of the Rocky Creek/Cache Creek
Wilderness Study Area in Lake County, California which are
not in R. 5 W., T. 12 N., sec. 22, Mount Diablo Meridian.
(c) Release.--Any portion of a wilderness study area
described in subsection (b) that is not designated as
wilderness by section 3 or any other Act enacted before the
date of enactment of this Act shall not be subject to section
603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
(43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).
SEC. 6. ELKHORN RIDGE POTENTIAL WILDERNESS AREA.
(a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain public land
in the State administered by the Bureau of Land Management,
compromising approximately 11,271 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ``South Fork Eel River
Wilderness Area and Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness'' and
dated June 16, 2005, is designated as a potential wilderness
area.
(b) Management.--Except as provided in subsection (c) and
subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall manage
the potential wilderness area as wilderness until the
potential wilderness area is designated as wilderness under
subsection (d).
(c) Ecological Restoration.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of ecological restoration
(including the elimination of non-native species, removal of
illegal, unused, or decommissioned roads, repair of skid
tracks, and any other activities necessary to restore the
natural ecosystems in the potential wilderness area), the
Secretary may use motorized equipment and mechanized
transport in the potential wilderness area until the
potential wilderness area is designated as wilderness under
subsection (d).
(2) Limitation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall use the minimum tool or administrative
practice necessary to accomplish ecological restoration with
the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character
and resources.
(d) Eventual Wilderness Designation.--The potential
wilderness area shall be designated as wilderness and as a
component of the National Wilderness Preservation System on
the earlier of--
[[Page H5632]]
(1) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the
Federal Register notice that the conditions in the potential
wilderness area that are incompatible with the Wilderness Act
(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) have been removed; or
(2) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(e) Administration as Wilderness.--On its designation as
wilderness under subsection (d), the potential wilderness
area shall be--
(1) known as the ``Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness''; and
(2) administered in accordance with section 4 and the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
SEC. 7. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATION.
(a) Designation of Black Butte River, California.--Section
3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(__) Black Butte River, California.--The following
segments of the Black Butte River in the State of California,
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 16 miles of Black Butte River, from the Mendocino
County Line to its confluence with Jumpoff Creek, as a wild
river.
``(B) The 3.5 miles of Black Butte River from its
confluence with Jumpoff Creek to its confluence with Middle
Eel River, as a scenic river.
``(C) The 1.5 miles of Cold Creek from the Mendocino County
Line to its confluence with Black Butte River, as a wild
river.''.
(b) Plan; Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
submit to Congress--
(A) a fire management plan for the Black Butte River
segments designated by the amendment made by subsection (a);
and
(B) a report on the cultural and historic resources within
those segments.
(2) Transmittal to county.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall transmit to the Board of Supervisors of Mendocino
County, California, a copy of the plan and report submitted
under paragraph (1).
SEC. 8. KING RANGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARY
ADJUSTMENT.
Section 9 of Public Law 91-476 (16 U.S.C. 460y-8) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) In addition to the land described in subsections (a)
and (c), the land identified as the King Range National
Conservation Area Additions on the map entitled `King Range
Wilderness' and dated November 12, 2004, is included in the
Area.''.
SEC. 9. COW MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA, LAKE AND MENDOCINO
COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA.
(a) Establishment.--In order to enhance the recreational
and scenic values of the Cow Mountain area in Lake and
Mendocino Counties, California, while conserving the wildlife
and other natural resource values of the area, there is
hereby established the Cow Mountain Recreation Area (in this
section referred to as the ``recreation area'') consisting of
approximately 51,513 acres of land in such counties, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Cow Mountain
Recreation Area'' and dated July, 22, 2006, including the
following:
(1) The ``South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area'', as
generally depicted on the map.
(2) The ``North Cow Mountain Recreation Area'', as
generally depicted on the map.
(b) Legal Descriptions; Correction of Errors.--
(1) Preparation and submission.--As soon as practicable
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Interior shall prepare a map and legal descriptions of
the boundaries of the recreation area. The Secretary shall
submit the map and legal descriptions to the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives and to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(2) Legal effect.--The map and legal descriptions of the
recreation area shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct
clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal
descriptions. The map shall be on file and available for
public inspection in appropriate offices of the Bureau of
Land Management.
(c) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
administer the recreation area in accordance with this
section and the laws and regulations generally applicable to
the public lands, including the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
(2) Existing rights.--The establishment of the recreation
area shall be subject to all valid existing rights.
(d) Recreational Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
continue to authorize, maintain, and enhance the recreational
use of the land included in the recreation area, including
motorized recreation, hiking, camping, mountain biking,
sightseeing, and horseback riding, as long as such
recreational use is consistent with this section and other
applicable law.
(2) Off-road and motorized recreation.--Motorized
recreation shall be a prescribed use within the South Cow
Mountain OHV Management Area, occurring only on roads and
trails designated by the Secretary for such use, except as
needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an
emergency. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as
precluding the Secretary from closing any trail or route from
use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.
(3) Mountain biking.--Mountain biking shall be a prescribed
use within the recreation area, occurring only on roads and
trails designated by the Secretary for such use. Nothing in
this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the Secretary
from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of
resource protection or public safety.
(e) Access to Private Property.--The Secretary of the
Interior shall provide any owner of private property within
the boundaries of the recreation area adequate access to the
property to ensure the reasonable use and enjoyment of the
property by the owner.
(f) Land Acquisition.--
(1) Acquisition from willing persons only.--The Secretary
of the Interior may acquire lands or interests in lands in
the recreation area only by--
(A) donation;
(B) exchange with a willing party, as expressed in a
written agreement between the Secretary and the party; or
(C) purchase from a willing seller, as expressed in a
written agreement between the Secretary and the seller.
(2) Administration of acquired lands.--Lands or interests
in lands within or adjacent to the boundaries of the
recreation area that are acquired by the Bureau of Land
Management, and title or possession of which is vested in the
United States after the date of the enactment of this Act,
shall be managed by the Secretary as part of the recreation
area.
(g) Adjacent Management.--Nothing in this section creates
protective perimeters or buffer zones around the recreation
area.
SEC. 10. CONTINUATION OF TRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL SURF FISHING,
REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS.
(a) Availability of Limited Number of Permits.--For the
sole purpose of continuing traditional commercial surf
fishing, the Secretary of the Interior shall permit the right
of entry for authorized vehicle access onto the wave slope
area at that area known as Gold Bluffs Beach, Prairie Creek
Redwoods State Park, and that portion of the beach north and
south of Redwood Creek in Redwood National and State Parks.
The number of permits issued under the authority of this
section shall be limited to the number of valid permits that
were held on the date of enactment of this Act. The permits
so issued shall be perpertual and subject to the same
conditions as the permits held on the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(b) Wave Slope Area Defined.--In this section, the term
``wave slope area'' refers to the area that has been wet by
the wave action of the previous high tide, but does not
include any vegetated areas.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.
{time} 1545
General Leave
Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. 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 Oregon?
There was no objection.
Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
H.R. 233, the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness
Act, was introduced by our colleague Congressman Mike Thompson at the
beginning of the 109th Congress.
Last July, the Resources Committee held a legislative hearing on this
bill. Though Mr. Thompson worked hard to gain support for the bill, it
was clear that some issues needed to be resolved before the bill could
move forward. Since then, Chairman Pombo and Congressman Thompson have
worked cooperatively to develop a compromise on H.R. 233.
The changes in the bill include a reduction of approximately 11,000
acres of proposed wilderness in Del Norte County because of community
concerns; removing the Perkins Creek Trail portion of Cache Creek area
to ensure that mountain biking, which is prohibited in wilderness under
the 1964 act, could continue; and eliminating nearly 6,500 acres of
proposed wilderness in the Mad River Buttes area to make certain
motorized and mechanized recreation may continue in this important
recreational area.
To ensure that not only wilderness but also recreation was protected,
the bill codifies mountain bike and motorized recreation as a
prescribed use in
[[Page H5633]]
the 51,000-acre Cow Mountain Recreation Area. Because of concerns about
access to wilderness areas, the bill will also mandate that all cherry-
stemmed roads will remain open and mountain bike and motorized
recreation access will continue on these roads. These measures will
ensure that the public will have a variety of recreational options on
the public lands.
Finally, the bill addresses a longstanding problem with surf fishing
permits on the beaches of Redwood National and State Park. When the
Redwood National Park was created in 1968, you may recall it was with
the intent that surf fishing in the area would continue. Yet since
then, many fishing permits have been canceled and will soon be
completely phased out. This bill will put a stop to the phase-out by
continuing 27 fishing permits for smelt. Surf fishing in this area is
an important tradition within the community and the continuation of
these permits will help to enhance a stagnant local economy.
On behalf of full Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, I want
to thank Congressman Thompson for his willingness to work with the
committee to make this wilderness bill a bipartisan and broadly
supported piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support
this balanced and bipartisan measure.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, the majority has already explained the
purpose of H.R. 233, which was introduced by my colleague from
California, Representative Mike Thompson. The gentleman is to be
commended for his efforts to preserve the wild lands of his Northern
California district. He has worked diligently with Federal, State, and
local interests to preserve and enhance the wilderness experience.
Madam Speaker, overall, we support H.R. 233, and we recommend its
adoption by the House today.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Northern California (Mr. Thompson), the sponsor of this
legislation.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman
for yielding.
Madam Speaker, this bill will protect some of the most beautiful
wilderness area in my entire congressional district. It is the product
of over 5 years of hard, grass-roots work. It represents town hall
meetings, I can't tell you how many town hall meetings, field tours
with all the different stakeholder groups, open debate, both in the
House and the committee, and the Senate, both in the committee and on
the floor, in city hall chambers and board of supervisors chambers
throughout my district, stakeholder meetings with people representing
timber, hunting and fishing, conservation, government, off-road
vehicles, mountain bikes, businesses, farming. It is 5 years of
exhaustive and inclusive work.
The result is the added protection to 275,000 acres of the most
beautiful and the most important landscapes in all of California's
First Congressional District. It includes the famous King Ranch, which
the Bush administration in testifying in committee on this identified
that particular portion as being the crown jewel of our entire national
wilderness system. It is an absolutely spectacular area.
This bill is also important in regard to the federally listed salmon
and trout throughout my district. It will enhance the watersheds of the
habitat areas of these fish, and it will ensure a source of clean and
reliable water to ensure the continued improvement to these fisheries.
Fire protection was an issue on this bill, and we went out of our way
to make sure that we protected the land managers' ability to fight fire
and to use pre-suppression measures to ensure that we minimized the
likelihood of wildland fires.
Also road access was an issue, and my friend Mr. Walden from Oregon
talked about the cherry-stemmed roads. We went out of our way to make
sure not a single legal road existing today will be closed by this
bill. Mountain bikes and the off-road vehicle community raised some
concerns, and we dealt with those. In regard to the mountain bikers, we
created an area adjacent to the King Ranch area that the local
newspaper, the Eureka Times Standard, called a world-class mountain
bike trail system that will give them more bicycling opportunities than
they had before.
As mentioned, we put in place protections for the Cow Mountain area,
where off-road vehicle users and mountain bikers ride today. We
protected their rights to do so in perpetuity on this 79,000-acre
portion of property that is so important to them.
This is a collaborative effort where all the stakeholders have come
in, and we worked in an unprecedented manner to make sure that this
bill is the right bill for this property.
It wouldn't have happened had it not been for the hard work of a lot
of dedicated folks. I want to thank particularly both the chairman and
the ranking member on the Resources Committee, who worked very, very
hard, and their staffs that worked extremely hard in making sure that
this was a good measure.
There were outside interest groups that worked. Ryan Henson from the
California Wilderness Coalition stands out amongst those who worked so
hard and knows this area so well.
As was mentioned, this touches land in just about every county in my
district. Each county board had a spokesperson or a point person. It
was Martha McClure in Del Norte County; Jim Wattenberger in Mendocino
County; John Wooley in Humboldt County; Ed Roby in Lake County; and
Dianne Dillon in Napa County, and they are to be commended. Senator
Boxer's staff, Jeffrey Rosato, and Senator Feinstein's staff, Jon
Watts, also worked extremely hard. Leading this effort was Mark Kadesh
from Senator Feinstein's staff, who helped us so much.
I want to thank Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein, who were the
coauthors of this measure. Their bill passed the Senate earlier this
year 100-0. They understand the importance of this area, and they
worked tirelessly to make sure that it was protected.
Although we all worked for 5 years to make sure that this happened,
there was one person that really worked probably 6 or 7 years' worth of
time during that 5-year block, and that was Jonathan Birdsong on my
staff. This was just outstanding work by him. He did a great job, and I
want to publicly thank him on the floor.
Madam Speaker, this is a great bill. It is carefully crafted to take
all interests into consideration, and I humbly ask for your ``aye''
vote in support of this measure.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Again, I want to say that we support H.R. 233, and I want to at this
time take the opportunity to thank my colleague from Oregon, Mr.
Walden. It has been a pleasure to manage these bills today with him.
Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back my time.
Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for that very kind comment. It
has been a pleasure to work these through the floor with you as well.
I want to commend my colleagues from California, especially Mr.
Thompson, who I know has passionately been trying to move this
legislation forward, and his work with Chairman Pombo has brought about
a bill that we all can support.
Madam Speaker, with that, I think we have concluded our business on
this bill and others from the Resources Committee. I yield back the
balance of my time and call on my colleagues to support this
legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 233, 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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