[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S137-S138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Kyl):
  S. 152. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of certain land 
adjacent to the Walnut Canyon National Monument in the State of 
Arizona; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senator Kyl 
in reintroducing legislation to authorize a special resources and land 
management study for lands adjacent to the Walnut Canyon National 
Monument in Arizona. The study is intended to evaluate a range of 
management options for public lands adjacent to the monument to ensure 
adequate protection of the canyon's cultural and natural resources. A 
similar bill was introduced last Congress and received a hearing in the 
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on 
National Parks. The bill being introduced today reflects suggested 
changes of that Subcommittee and includes language that met their 
approval. I am grateful for the input of the members of the 
Subcommittee and their staff.
  For several years, local communities adjacent to the Walnut Canyon 
National Monument have debated whether the land surrounding the 
monument would be best protected from future development under 
management of the U.S. Forest Service or the National Park Service. The 
Coconino County Board and the Flagstaff City Council have passed 
resolutions concluding that the preferred method to determine what is 
best for the land surrounding Walnut Canyon National Monument is by 
having a Federal study conducted. The recommendations from such a study 
would help to resolve the question of future management and whether 
expanding the monument's boundaries could compliment current public and 
multiple-use needs.
  The legislation also would direct the Secretary of the Interior and 
the Secretary of Agriculture to provide recommendations for management 
options for maintenance of the public uses and protection of resources 
of the study area. I fully expect that as this measure continues 
through the legislative process, Congress will ensure that funding 
offsets are provided to it and every other spending measure as we work 
to restore fiscal discipline to Washington in a bi-partisan manner.
  This legislation would provide a mechanism for determining the 
management options for one of Arizona's high uses scenic areas and 
protect the natural and cultural resources of this incredibly beautiful 
monument. I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

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