[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION ON THE CONNELL LAKE WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RECREATION 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, today I introduce a really simple 
bill which will help one of the towns in my home State of Alaska. This 
bill will fix a problem which cannot be solved without this 
legislation. The bill, entitled the Connell Lake Watershed Protection 
bill, will allow the Forest Service to apply the Recreation and Public 
Purposes Act to a vital watershed in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
  By doing this, the local government, the Borough, can manage and 
protect the watershed which is now owned by the Forest Service. While 
the Forest Service can manage this area, it is better that the local 
government has control of its own watershed since that watershed is 
located within the Borough's boundaries.
  This is a small area--just 880 acres consisting of a natural lake 
which was enlarged by a dam constructed in the 1950s when the area was 
used by the now defunct Ketchikan Pulp Company. The company needed a 
water source and constructed a small dam to enlarge the already 
existing, natural Connell Lake. That lake has since served as a water 
source for the Ketchikan area and the Borough wishes to own and 
maintain the lake and the surrounding area.
  If Ketchikan were not completely contained within the Tongass 
National Forest, there would be an easy solution, the Recreation and 
Public Purposes Act, which is specifically designed to solve problems 
like these. If these lands were in the public domain in the lower 48 
States, the Bureau of Land Management would simply process a deed under 
that Act to allow the Borough obtain ownership of the land subject to a 
reverter if the land is not used for either recreation of public 
purposes.
  However, the Recreation and Public Purposes Act does not apply to the 
National Forest System. So, Congress must approve the use of the act 
for this purpose. This is not an unprecedented situation, and Congress 
has passed similar legislation in the past. For example, in The 
Southern Nevada Public Land Management act of 1998, P. L. 105-263, 
Congress approved a bill to allow this Act to be used in both Southern 
Nevada and in the Tahoe Basin, which lands became part of the National 
Forest System.
  So, Madam Speaker, I ask only that this bill be passed to allow local 
government to use the Act just as it would in Nevada or any other 
western state. The Borough is well able to handle this management and 
will maintain the current management which is as a recreational site 
and for water source and watershed protection. The full terms and 
conditions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act would apply--no 
exceptions are being asked.
  I look forward to rapid consideration and passage of this bill.

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