[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5513-H5514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FORT PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT LEASE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4773) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease
certain lands within Fort Pulaski National Monument, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4773
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 ``Fort Pulaski National
Monument Lease Authorization Act''.
SEC. 2. LEASE AUTHORIZATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to
in this section as the ``Secretary'') may lease to the
Savannah Bar Pilots Association, or a successor organization,
no more than 30,000 square feet of land and improvements
within Fort Pulaski National Monument (referred to in this
section as the ``Monument'') at the location on Cockspur
Island that has been used continuously by the Savannah Bar
Pilots Association since 1940.
(b) Rental Fee and Proceeds.--
(1) Rental fee.--For the lease authorized by this Act, the
Secretary shall require a rental fee based on fair market
value adjusted, as the Secretary deems appropriate, for
amounts to be expended by the lessee for property
preservation, maintenance, or repair and related expenses.
(2) Proceeds.--Disposition of the proceeds from the rental
fee required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made in
accordance with section 3(k)(5) of Public Law 91-383 (16
U.S.C. 1a-2(k)(5)).
(c) Terms and Conditions.--A lease entered into under this
section--
(1) shall be for a term of no more than 10 years and, at
the Secretary's discretion, for successive terms of no more
than 10 years at a time; and
(2) shall include any terms and conditions the Secretary
determines to be necessary to protect the resources of the
Monument and the public interest.
(d) Exemption From Applicable Law.--Except as provided in
section 2(b)(2) of this Act, the lease authorized by this Act
shall not be subject to section 3(k) of Public Law 91-383 (16
U.S.C. 1a-2(k)) or section 321 of Act of June 30, 1932 (40
U.S.C. 1302).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.
General Leave
Ms. BORDALLO. 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
gentlewoman from Guam?
There was no objection.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4773, introduced by Representative
Jack Kingston of Georgia, would allow the National Park Service to
lease a small facility at Fort Pulaski National Monument to the
Savannah Bar Pilots Association.
The pilots perform a vital public service, keeping the Savannah River
and the harbor safe, and they have used this facility at Fort Pulaski
for more
[[Page H5514]]
than 40 years under a special use permit. H.R. 4773 would regularize
that arrangement under a lease.
Mr. Speaker, we urge support of H.R. 4773.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4773 would allow the Savannah Bar Pilots
Association to continue leasing a facility at Fort Pulaski National
Monument, as they have done since the 1940s. The National Park Service
supports this legislation, and we are pleased that this is one piece of
legislation that will not place additional burdens on American
taxpayers.
I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, in the simplest terms, my bill allows the
Secretary of the Interior to enter into a lease with the Savannah Bar
Pilots Association for the Bar Pilots' continued use of the pilot base
located on Cockspur Island at Fort Pulaski National Monument. They
currently operate under a similar arrangement, and this bill simply
aims to prolong the relationship between the Park Service and the Bar
Pilots. Since 1940, the Pilots Association has continuously occupied a
facility at Fort Pulaski which acts as a station for the pilots to move
to and from the vessels that call on the Port of Savannah. The original
special use permit allowing the pilots' station at Fort Pulaski was the
result of a direct order from the Secretary of the Interior.
The Bar Pilots perform a vital role in the operation of the Port of
Savannah. The pilots assist cargo ships navigating the Savannah River
to reach the Georgia Port Authority's Garden City Terminal, which is
about 20 miles from the mouth of the Savannah River. After an incoming
ship contacts the pilots and a meeting is established, the pilots are
ferried on one of several pilot boats, up to 12 miles, to the
``pilotage grounds'' outside the channel in the Atlantic Ocean, where
vessels wait for the pilots. The Bar Pilots then climb aboard the ship
and tell the ship's captain how to safely pass the dangerous sand bars
in the Savannah River. Pilots must not only hold an unlimited Coast
Guard license, but demonstrate an absolute knowledge of the river. The
Cockspur Island location was chosen due to its location between the
Garden City terminal and the pilotage grounds in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Savannah River Pilots contributions to Savannah can be traced
back to 1760s. According to early records, William Lyford established a
pilot house on Cockspur in 1768 to help ships from England carrying
lumber, cattle, hogs, and poultry navigate the shallow and muddy waters
of the Savannah River. By the early 1800s, trade between Savannah and
England was thriving, and more able pilots were needed to help the
influx of ships through the channel. In 1864, the Savannah Pilots
Association was formally organized to emphasize the city's commitment
to developing Savannah as a port city. Today, the Port of Savannah is
the second largest container port on the East Coast, the fourth largest
in the Nation, and the fastest growing container port in the United
States. One out of every 14 jobs in Georgia can be directly or
indirectly tied to the state's ports and over 1,700 new port-related
jobs were announced in 2009. The success of the Port of Savannah can be
tied to the expertise of the Bar Pilots who guide the container ships
safely into the harbor. Every cargo ship above 200 gross tons--which is
nearly every ship that calls on the Port of Savannah--must have bar
pilot on board.
Since 1940, the Savannah Bar Pilots Association has been entering
into special use permits with the U.S. Department of the Interior for
the use of the station at Fort Pulaski. The terms of these permits have
ranged in length from a one-year permit to a 20 year permit that
existed from 1973 to 1993. The current special use permit between the
Pilots Association and the Department of Interior was entered on
December 8, 2008 and expires on December 8, 2010. Because of recent
changes to the Department of the Interior's policies regarding special
use permits at various national parks and national monuments, the
National Park Service since 2007 has been discussing with the Pilots
Association a long term arrangement to enable the Pilots Association to
continue to use the facility at Fort Pulaski. H.R. 4773 is the result
of research done by attorneys for the Department of the Interior and
counsel for the Pilots Association. The legislation will enable the
Pilots Association to enter into a renewable 10 year lease with the
Department of Interior, the pricing for which will be based upon fair
market value for the property. The authorization for a 10 year lease
will enable Fort Pulaski National Monument and the Pilots Association
to continue their relationship spanning more than 70 years on Cockspur
Island that has been beneficial for both parties.
Other than the location at Fort Pulaski, there is no other available
land near the Savannah River entrance from which the pilot boats can
reach the pilotage grounds off the coast of Georgia. Any relocation of
the pilot station would result in longer transit times for vessels,
increased safety risks in foul weather, possible delays in ship
movements, and greater fuel usage and operating costs for the pilots
and ships requiring pilotage services. H.R. 4773 does not seek to give
any special treatment to the Bar Pilots. They currently operate under a
similar agreement, and this bill simply aims to prolong this
relationship between the Park Service and the Bar Pilots that has
allowed the Bar Pilots to effectively perform the valuable public
service of facilitating international commerce and economic
development. Employees of the Park Service initially approached the Bar
Pilots to suggest legislative action, and the Park Service has been
involved in this process every step of the way. This bill will not take
land out of the Park Service's protection, nor will it pose any cost to
the American taxpayers. In fact, the bill requires Bar Pilots will to
help with park maintenance costs. We are not aware of any local
opposition.
Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge all Members to support the
bill.
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
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4773.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. 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 motion will be
postponed.
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