[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 94 (Monday, June 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5053-H5057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1445
CALIFORNIA DESERT AND MOUNTAIN HERITAGE ACT OF 2008
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3682) to designate certain Federal lands in Riverside County,
California, as wilderness, to designate certain river segments in
Riverside County as a wild, scenic, or recreational river, to adjust
the boundary of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National
Monument, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3682
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the
``California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act of 2008''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--DESIGNATION AND EXPANSION OF WILDERNESS AREAS
Sec. 101. Definition of Secretary.
Sec. 102. Designation of wilderness, Cleveland and San Bernardino
National Forests, Joshua Tree National Park, and Bureau
of Land Management land in Riverside County, California.
Sec. 103. Joshua Tree National Park potential wilderness.
Sec. 104. Administration of wilderness.
TITLE II--WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS
Sec. 201. Wild and scenic river designations, Riverside County,
California.
TITLE III--ADDITIONS AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO SANTA ROSA AND SAN
JACINTO MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT
Sec. 301. Boundary adjustment, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains
National Monument.
Sec. 302. Technical amendments to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains National Monument Act of 2000.
TITLE I--DESIGNATION AND EXPANSION OF WILDERNESS AREAS
SEC. 101. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this title, 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. 102. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS, CLEVELAND AND SAN
BERNARDINO NATIONAL FORESTS, JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL PARK, AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
LAND IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
(a) Agua Tibia Wilderness Additions.--In accordance with
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land in
the Cleveland National Forest and certain land administered
by the Bureau of Land Management in Riverside County,
California, together comprising approximately 2,053 acres, as
generally depicted on the map titled ``Proposed Addition to
Agua Tibia Wilderness'', and dated May 9, 2008, is designated
as wilderness and is incorporated in, and shall be deemed to
be a part of, the Agua Tibia Wilderness designated by section
2(a) of Public Law 93-632 (88 Stat. 2154; 16 U.S.C. 1132
note).
(b) Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness.--In accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land in the
San Bernardino National Forest, California, comprising
approximately 5,585 acres, as generally depicted on the map
titled ``Cahuilla Mountain Proposed Wilderness'', and dated
May 1, 2008, is designated as wilderness and, therefore, as a
component of the National Wilderness Preservation System,
which shall be known as the ``Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness''.
(c) South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness.--In accordance with
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land in
the San Bernardino National Forest, California, comprising
approximately 20,217 acres, as generally depicted on the map
titled ``South Fork San Jacinto Proposed Wilderness'', and
dated May 1, 2008, is designated as wilderness and,
therefore, as a component of the National Wilderness
Preservation System, which shall be known as the ``South Fork
San Jacinto Wilderness''.
(d) Santa Rosa Wilderness Additions.--In accordance with
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
[[Page H5054]]
1131 et seq.), certain land in the San Bernardino National
Forest, California, and certain land administered by the
Bureau of Land Management in Riverside County, California,
comprising approximately 2,149 acres, as generally depicted
on the map titled ``Santa Rosa-San Jacinto National Monument
Expansion and Santa Rosa Wilderness Addition'', and dated
March 12, 2008, is designated as wilderness and is
incorporated in, and shall be deemed to be a part of, the
Santa Rosa Wilderness designated by section 101(a)(28) of
Public Law 98-425 (98 Stat. 1623; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note) and
expanded by paragraph (59) of section 102 of Public Law 103-
433 (108 Stat. 4472; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note).
(e) Beauty Mountain Wilderness.--In accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land
administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Riverside
County, California, comprising approximately 15,621 acres, as
generally depicted on the map titled ``Beauty Mountain
Proposed Wilderness'', and dated April 3, 2007, is designated
as wilderness and, therefore, as a component of the National
Wilderness Preservation System, which shall be known as the
``Beauty Mountain Wilderness''.
(f) Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Additions.--In
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.),
certain land in Joshua Tree National Park, comprising
approximately 36,700 acres, as generally depicted on the map
numbered 156/80,055, and titled ``Joshua Tree National Park
Proposed Wilderness Additions'', and dated March 2008, is
designated as wilderness and is incorporated in, and shall be
deemed to be a part of, the Joshua Tree Wilderness designated
by section 1(g) of Public Law 94-567 (90 Stat. 2692; 16
U.S.C. 1132 note).
(g) Orocopia Mountains Wilderness Additions.--In accordance
with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain
land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in
Riverside County, California, comprising approximately 4,635
acres, as generally depicted on the map titled ``Orocopia
Mountains Proposed Wilderness Addition'', and dated May 8,
2008, is designated as wilderness and is incorporated in, and
shall be deemed to be a part of, the Orocopia Mountains
Wilderness as designated by paragraph (44) of section 102 of
Public Law 103-433 (108 Stat. 4472; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note),
except that the wilderness boundaries established by this
subsection in Township 7 South are intended to exclude--
(1) a corridor 250 feet north of the centerline of the
Bradshaw Trail;
(2) a corridor 250 feet from both sides of the centerline
of the vehicle route in the unnamed wash that flows between
the Eagle Mountain Railroad on the south and the existing
Orocopia Mountains Wilderness boundary; and
(3) a corridor 250 feet from both sides of the centerline
of the vehicle route in the unnamed wash that flows between
the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range on the south and
the existing Orocopia Mountains Wilderness boundary.
(h) Palen/McCoy Wilderness Additions.--In accordance with
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land
administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Riverside
County, California, comprising approximately 22,645 acres, as
generally depicted on the map titled ``Palen-McCoy Proposed
Wilderness Additions'', and dated May 8, 2008, is designated
as wilderness and is incorporated in, and shall be deemed to
be a part of, the Palen/McCoy Wilderness as designated by
paragraph (47) of section 102 of Public Law 103-433 (108
Stat. 4472; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note).
(i) Pinto Mountains Wilderness.--In accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land
administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Riverside
County, California, comprising approximately 24,404 acres, as
generally depicted on the map titled ``Pinto Mountains
Proposed Wilderness'', and dated February 21, 2008, is
designated as wilderness and, therefore, as a component of
the National Wilderness Preservation System, which shall be
known as the ``Pinto Mountains Wilderness''.
(j) Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness Additions.--In
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.),
certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in
Riverside County, California, comprising approximately 12,815
acres, as generally depicted on the map titled ``Chuckwalla
Mountains Proposed Wilderness Addition'', and dated May 8,
2008, is designated as wilderness and is incorporated in, and
shall be deemed to be a part of the Chuckwalla Mountains
Wilderness as designated by paragraph (12) of section 102 of
Public Law 103-433 (108 Stat. 4472; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note).
(k) Maps and Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and
legal description of each wilderness area and wilderness
addition designated by this section with the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and 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 title, 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.
(l) Utility Facilities and Corridors.--The wilderness areas
and wilderness additions designated by this section are
intended to exclude rights of way for existing utility
facilities, such as power, gas, and telecommunications lines,
and associated structures and access roads, and existing
designated utility corridors. Nothing in this section or the
Wilderness Act shall be construed to prohibit construction,
operation, and maintenance, using standard industry
practices, of existing utility facilities located outside of
the wilderness areas and wilderness additions designated by
this section.
SEC. 103. JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK POTENTIAL WILDERNESS.
(a) Designation of Potential Wilderness.--Certain land in
the Joshua Tree National Park, comprising approximately
43,300 acres, as generally depicted on the map numbered 156/
80,055, and titled ``Joshua Tree National Park Proposed
Wilderness Additions'', and dated March 2008, is designated
potential wilderness and shall be managed by the Secretary of
the Interior insofar as practicable as wilderness until such
time as the land is designated as wilderness pursuant to
subsection (b).
(b) Designation as Wilderness.--The land designated
potential wilderness by subsection (a) shall be designated as
wilderness and incorporated in, and be deemed to be a part
of, the Joshua Tree Wilderness designated by section 1(g) of
Public Law 94-567 (90 Stat. 2692; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note),
effective upon publication by the Secretary of the Interior
in the Federal Register of a notice that--
(1) all uses of the land within the potential wilderness
prohibited by the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.)
have ceased; and
(2) sufficient inholdings within the boundaries of the
potential wilderness have been acquired to establish a
manageable wilderness unit.
(c) Map and Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date on
which the notice required by subsection (b) is published in
the Federal Register, the Secretary shall file a map and
legal description of the land designated as wilderness and
potential wilderness by this section with the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(2) Force of law.--The map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, 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.
SEC. 104. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS.
(a) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, the land
designated as wilderness or as a wilderness addition by this
title 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 of that
Act shall be deemed to be a reference to--
(A) the date of the enactment of this Act; or
(B) in the case of the wilderness addition designated by
subsection (b) of section 513, the date on which the notice
required by such subsection is published in the Federal
Register; and
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of
Agriculture shall be deemed to be a reference to the
Secretary that has jurisdiction over the land.
(b) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land
within the boundaries of a wilderness area or wilderness
addition designated by this title that is acquired by the
United States shall--
(1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is
located; and
(2) be managed in accordance with this title, the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and any other
applicable law.
(c) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid rights in existence on
the date of enactment of this Act, the land designated as
wilderness by this title 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.
(d) Fire Management and Related Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may take such measures in a
wilderness area or wilderness addition designated by this Act
as are necessary for the control and prevention of fire,
insects, and diseases (including the use of prescribed
burning, priority treatments, or fuels reduction) in
accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and House Report 98-40 of the 98th
Congress.
(2) Funding priorities.--The designation of wilderness
areas and wilderness additions by this title is not intended
to alter the priorities afforded the land so designated in
allocating funds for fire and related fuels management.
(3) Revision and development of local fire management
plans.--As soon as practicable after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall amend the local
fire management plans that apply to the Santa Rosa Wilderness
and Agua Tibia Wilderness, and prepare local fire management
plans for the Beauty Mountain Wilderness, Cahuilla Mountain
Wilderness, and South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness Area, to
identify appropriate local officials to take such actions in
the wilderness areas as are necessary for fire prevention and
watershed protection consistent with paragraph (1), including
best management practices for fire pre-suppression and fire
suppression measures and techniques.
(4) State or local agencies.--Consistent with paragraph (1)
and other applicable Federal law, the Secretary may delegate
by written agreement primary fire fighting authority and
related public safety activities to an appropriate State or
local agency.
(e) Grazing.--Grazing of livestock in a wilderness area or
wilderness addition designated by
[[Page H5055]]
this title shall be administered in accordance with the
provisions of section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)) and the guidelines set forth in House
Report 96-617 to accompany H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress.
(f) Native American Uses and Interests.--
(1) Effect of designation.--Nothing in the designation of
the Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness by this title affects the
unique cultural artifacts and sacred sites of the Indian
tribes that are contained within that wilderness area, as
identified by Indian tribes and the Forest Service.
(2) Access and use.--To the extent practicable, the
Secretary shall ensure access to the Cahuilla Mountain
Wilderness by members of an Indian tribe for traditional
cultural purposes. In implementing this subsection, the
Secretary, upon the request of an Indian tribe, may
temporarily close to the general public use of one or more
specific portions of the wilderness area in order to protect
the privacy of traditional cultural activities in such areas
by members of the Indian tribe. Any such closure shall be
made to affect the smallest practicable area for the minimum
period necessary for such purposes. Such access shall be
consistent with the purpose and intent of Public Law 95-341
(42 U.S.C. 1996), commonly referred to as the American Indian
Religious Freedom Act, and the Wilderness Act (11 U.S.C. 1131
et seq.).
(3) Indian tribe defined.--In this subsection, the term
``Indian tribe'' means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or
other organized group or community of Indians which is
recognized as eligible by the Secretary of the Interior for
the special programs and services provided by the United
States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
TITLE II--WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS
SEC. 201. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS, RIVERSIDE
COUNTY, 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 new
paragraphs:
``(_) North Fork San Jacinto River, California.--The
following segments of the North Fork San Jacinto River in the
State of California, to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture:
``(A) The 2.12-mile segment from the source of the North
Fork San Jacinto River at Deer Springs in Mt. San Jacinto
State Park to the State Park boundary, as a wild river.
``(B) The 1.66-mile segment from the Mt. San Jacinto State
Park boundary to the Lawler Park boundary in section 26,
township 4 south, range 2 east, San Bernardino meridian, as a
scenic river.
``(C) The 0.68-mile segment from the Lawler Park boundary
to its confluence with Fuller Mill Creek, as a recreational
river.
``(D) The 2.15-mile segment from its confluence with Fuller
Mill Creek to .25 miles upstream of the 5S09 road crossing,
as a wild river.
``(E) The 0.6-mile segment from .25 miles upstream of the
5S09 Road crossing to its confluence with Stone Creek, as a
scenic river.
``(F) The 2.91-mile segment from the Stone Creek confluence
to the northern boundary of section 17, township 5 south,
range 2 east, San Bernardino meridian, as a wild river.
``(_) Fuller Mill Creek, California.--The following
segments of Fuller Mill Creek in the State of California, to
be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 1.2-mile segment from the source of Fuller Mill
Creek in the San Jacinto Wilderness to the Pinewood property
boundary in section 13, township 4 south, range 2 east, San
Bernardino meridian, as a scenic river.
``(B) The 0.9-mile segment in the Pine Wood property, as a
recreational river.
``(C) The 1.4-mile segment from the Pinewood property
boundary in section 23, township 4 south, range 2 east, San
Bernardino meridian, to its confluence with the North Fork
San Jacinto River, as a scenic river.
``(_) Palm Canyon Creek, California.--The 8.1-mile segment
of Palm Canyon Creek in the State of California from the
southern boundary of section 6, township 7 south, range 5
east, San Bernardino meridian, to the San Bernardino National
Forest boundary in section 1, township 6 south, range 4 east,
San Bernardino meridian, to be administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture as a wild river, and the Secretary shall enter
into a cooperative management agreement with the Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to protect and enhance
river values.
``(_) Bautista Creek, California.--The 9.8-mile segment of
Bautista Creek in the State of California from the San
Bernardino National Forest boundary in section 36, township 6
south, range 2 east, San Bernardino meridian, to the San
Bernardino National Forest boundary in section 2, township 6
south, range 1 east, San Bernardino meridian, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
recreational river.''.
TITLE III--ADDITIONS AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO SANTA ROSA AND SAN
JACINTO MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT
SEC. 301. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT, SANTA ROSA AND SAN JACINTO
MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT.
Section 2 of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains
National Monument Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-351; 114 U.S.C.
1362; 16 U.S.C. 431 note) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(e) Expansion of Boundaries.--In addition to the land
described in subsection (c), the boundaries of the National
Monument shall include the following lands identified as
additions to the National Monument on the map titled `Santa
Rosa-San Jacinto National Monument Expansion and Santa Rosa
Wilderness Addition', and dated March 12, 2008:
``(1) The `Santa Rosa Peak Area Monument Expansion'.
``(2) The `Snow Creek Area Monument Expansion'.
``(3) The `Tahquitz Peak Area Monument Expansion'.
``(4) The `Southeast Area Monument Expansion', which is
designated as wilderness in section 512(d), and is thus
incorporated into, and shall be deemed part of, the Santa
Rosa Wilderness.''.
SEC. 302. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE SANTA ROSA AND SAN
JACINTO MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT ACT OF
2000.
Section 7(d) of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains
National Monument Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-351; 114 U.S.C.
1362; 16 U.S.C. 431 note) is amended by striking ``eight''
and inserting ``a majority of the appointed''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Costa) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which 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. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 3682 will designate more than 180,000 acres of new and potential
wilderness in Riverside County, California. H.R. 3682 also will add 31
miles of new river segments to the National Wild and Scenic River
System and add nearly 8,400 acres to the Santa Rosa-San Jacinto
Mountains National Monument.
This legislation is carried by Representative Bono Mack, the author
of the bill. We want to commend her on her diligence. She has spent
years crafting this legislation. Her hard work has paid off with a
conservation achievement that takes careful account of fire concerns,
which are oftentimes a part of the natural conditions of that area,
recreational interests and all of the magnificent resources that lie
within her beautiful district.
This measure, H.R. 3682, will protect dramatic mountain vistas and
vast desert landscapes, coastal sage and scrub and chaparral, and
ancient Joshua trees. The areas covered by the bill include the largest
ironwood ecosystem in the California desert, and one of the most
pristine watersheds in southwestern California.
This legislation has broad support from over 400 organizations and
businesses including local, State and national wilderness groups, as
well as the National Hispanic Environmental Council.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this measure, H.R. 3682, as
amended.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to commend Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack for including the
language in this wilderness legislation that will allow fuels reduction
and prescribed burns in wilderness areas, just as the 1964 Wilderness
Act allows.
Also commendable is codifying an energy corridor which will allow
renewable energy to be created and transferred through this new
wilderness area.
I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and his staff for allowing this
language to be included in the bill, and I look forward to seeing this
commonsense language included in future wilderness legislation. It will
help protect lives and help provide energy which I think is critical as
we begin to look at new wilderness areas being created around the
country.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTA. I reserve.
Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland).
Mr. WESTMORELAND. I thank my friend for yielding.
It was mentioned a while ago about all of the different land that was
available for oil companies to drill in, that they weren't taking
advantage of, and I would like to quote some figures, Mr. Speaker, for
you and for the American
[[Page H5056]]
people to hear because one of the things, I guess, that is part of this
secret plan for our energy is to tax oil companies. Somehow the
majority has got in their mind by taxing companies, the price of their
product is going to come down. I don't understand that, and I know that
most of the people in the Third Congressional District of Georgia do
not understand that, and I am sure there are probably people all over
the world that don't understand that. But that seems to be their answer
to everything, is to raise taxes.
When you talk about, Mr. Speaker, domestic oil and gas production, in
2006 the top 27 U.S. energy producing companies paid $81.5 billion in
corporate Federal income taxes. That is $81.5 billion in corporate
taxes, an 81 percent increase over 2004. In addition, they paid $3.1
billion in State and local government taxes. Those 27 companies paid 21
percent of the total corporate income taxes collected by this Federal
Government in 2006. These 27 companies paid 21 percent of all the
corporate taxes paid into the Federal Government.
Yet these 27 companies make up one one-thousandth of the domestic
corporate filers. And yet they paid 21 percent of all the total
corporate Federal taxes paid into our treasury.
Total non-income taxes paid in 2006 by the big 27 was $8.2 billion,
and that was a 46 percent increase over 2004. Excise taxes collected by
these same 27 companies on behalf of the Federal, State and local
governments total $48.1 billion in 2006.
In 2006, these 27 companies were responsible for 44 percent of the
total U.S. crude oil and natural gas production, and 81 percent of the
domestic refining capacity.
For fiscal year 2006, $10.48 billion was collected in the form of
bonus bids, rent and royalties from oil and gas companies operating on
Federal lands.
The OCS, the Outer Continental Shelf, covers 1.7 billion acres of
which 85 percent is off-limits to drilling. However, the Minerals
Management Service broke records for bonus bids in several recent OCS
lease sales. Last summer in the western gulf off the shore of Texas
they received more than $289.9 million for tracts totaling 18 million
acres. In February 2008 they received $2.6 billion for leases covering
approximately 2.7 million acres in the Chukchi Sea. And in March, they
received $3.7 billion in bonus bids in the central and eastern Gulf of
Mexico.
The CRS estimates that ANWR production would deliver $191.1 billion
in corporate income tax and royalty to the Federal treasury at today's
prices.
So while they may not be drilling, you can see that 85 percent of the
Federal land is off-limits. Maybe the land that they have to drill on
doesn't have any oil reserves under it, any natural gas under it, any
coal under it. That would be something, Mr. Speaker, for the chairman
of the subcommittee to tell us, if there are any oil reserves or
natural gas reserves or coal reserves under this 85 percent of Federal
lands that does not have the ability to be drilled under. And then if
it does have reserves for oil or natural gas or coal, maybe he could
tell us, Mr. Speaker, why we can't drill there, why it is off-limits,
what technology are we missing to be able to drill in an
environmentally friendly way.
So yes, some of these companies do have land that they may be able to
drill on. But as we see that this is a profitable thing for the Federal
Government, to allow those companies to drill domestically, we can see
the amount of money that it brings in. And goodness knows, the way the
majority party loves to spend money, they passed a thing called PAYGO,
the American people pay and we will go spend it. Now this is a great
opportunity to get more revenue coming into our treasury by allowing us
to take advantage of our own resources that we have in this country.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy
and Minerals on Public Lands, it is my opinion that the oil and gas
companies would not be buying the leases to these lands if they did not
believe that oil and gas could be produced there. Yet these same
companies are producing in other areas. Two months ago I was in the
Gulf of Mexico surveying a lot of good work that is being done there,
American companies and others that are actively drilling for both oil
and gas.
But let me repeat again the current circumstance which we are dealing
with. Trends include not only the fact that 13 million acres are
actually being used out of the 47 million acres that are on shore, but
when you look at offshore, 10 million acres of the gas and oil land
that has been leased to these companies are being used out of the 44
million acres that are currently being leased.
If we extrapolate from that, the fact is that today's production
rates on Federal land and waters, we can estimate that 68 million acres
of leased but currently inactive Federal land and waters could produce
4.8 million barrels of oil and 44.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas
each day, if the vast amount of land that is leased on which permits to
drill have been allowed but is not currently being utilized were taking
place. Are there other opportunities or options out there along with
all of the other variables of trying to come together with a
comprehensive energy plan, certainly. But I think my parents told me a
long time ago that to be prudent, you first ought to use those
available resources that have been approved by both the Federal
Government in terms of Federal lands, both on shore as well as
offshore, and the States that we are also dealing with in the
circumstance.
So we are inventorying them and keeping a close eye on it, and we
want to encourage that those lands already leased are utilized to the
degree they could be utilized. And clearly, obviously, we will continue
to look at all of the renewable sources of energy that are in our
energy toolbox because there is no one silver bullet.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire how much time is
remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes)
has 13 minutes. The gentleman from California (Mr. Costa) has 15\1/2\
minutes.
{time} 1500
Mr. NUNES. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
The key here, Mr. Speaker, is that 86 percent of our Federal lands
are off-use for drilling. What we have to really recognize in this
country is that we have to quit blaming people and have to start, in my
opinion, place the blame on ourselves. It's not a Democrat problem;
it's not a Republican problem. It's the whole Congress itself that's
the problem, because for decades now, we haven't been able to open up
the Federal lands for drilling for oil. And there's a lot of us in this
body who believe that what we ought to do is open up these areas for
drilling, but, instead of using that tax revenue to go to pay for a lot
of the things that we waste money here in Washington on, but instead
take that tax revenue and invest it into the next generation of energy.
That's what we're attempting to do on the Republican side of the aisle.
We actually, I've worked with, including Mr. Costa and other
Democrats, to develop bipartisan legislation that would, in fact, open
these areas up for drilling, and then basically make the largest
investment in American-made energy in our Nation's history. And that's
how we move from fossil fuels to the next generation of clean and
renewable energy.
Today a half a percent of our total energy is produced from solar and
wind power; and so to think that we're going to go from a half a
percent anywhere close to the energy needs that we need, it's not
possible at this time, Mr. Speaker, and we need to be honest with the
American people about what really is the problem, why don't we have an
abundant energy availability in this country? Why are we exporting so
many dollars overseas?
And the longer that we sit around and blame oil companies or blame
OPEC or blame speculators, quite frankly, the longer it is the American
people are going to be paying $5 per gallon per gas, as they are in
California, or possibly even higher.
What I'd like to see us do, Mr. Speaker, I said this earlier,
bringing bills to the floor that are not only wilderness bills but
would actually open up large vast areas for drilling, and not only
bringing these bills to the floor, but bringing them up in a way where
they
[[Page H5057]]
don't come to the floor with a closed rule, where the Republicans can't
offer any of their alternatives. Because, essentially, what's happening
is that a majority of this Congress, I believe, both Republicans and
Democrats, would vote to open up for drilling in this country. They
would vote for that. We'd probably get 230, 240 votes, I would think.
Because a lot of the folks that were elected last year, that helped put
the Democrats in the majority, they ran on a pro-drilling platform. The
problem is that we have to allow those people that were elected here,
the new Members to this body, to have a chance, under an open rule, to
vote on things that will really make substantial impacts for the
American people.
And I believe that if we have open rules in this Congress, where we
bring bills to the floor that we can actually vote on, the majority
will rule, and it would be a majority of Republicans and Democrats
working together to open up our energy resources in this country so
that we can begin to rely on American-made energy, and not continuing
to export so many dollars outside of this country, which is, in my
opinion, one of the most irresponsible things that this Congress has
done for decades.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTA. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I'd urge the Members to support
H.R. 3682, as amended, 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. Costa) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3682, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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