[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ROTA CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES STUDY ACT

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                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2011

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am re-introducing the Rota Cultural 
and Natural Resources Study Act. The bill authorizes the Secretary of 
the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating 
certain areas of prehistoric, historic, and natural significance on the 
island of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands as a unit of the 
National Park System.
  Rota is truly a ``jewel,'' as the gentlewoman from California, Ms. 
Napolitano, called the island at last year's hearing on this same bill. 
National Park Service representatives who conducted a reconnaissance 
survey there in 2004 reported that Rota has the best-preserved village 
sites of the ancient Chamorro people and that Rota's native limestone 
forests provide habitat to locally and federally protected, rare bird 
species.
  The House of Representatives approved the Rota Park study under 
suspension of the rules in July last year. There was no objection or 
controversy. But, unfortunately, the other body did not have time on 
its agenda to act before the 111th Congress ended.
  Now, I ask that we quickly restart the process of having the Park 
Service study the suitability and feasibility of designating parts of 
Rota for a national park.
  There are time pressures involved. Rota is at a crossroads. Major 
land use changes are possible resulting from development by the U.S. 
military on the neighboring island of Guam. We have to know which areas 
on Rota can be and need to be protected, so that the people of Rota can 
maintain the important cultural and natural features of their island 
while at the same time taking advantage of opportunities for economic 
development.
  For these reasons the leaders of Rota support the study. The 
Honorable Teresita Santos, Rota's representative in the Northern 
Mariana Islands House of Representatives, flew to Washington, DC to 
speak in support of the bill at the hearing by Natural Resources 
Subcommittee on Oceans, Wildlife and Insular Affairs last year.
  The Mayor of Rota, the Honorable Melchor Mendiola, submitted his 
letter for the record during last year's consideration of the bill in 
the House. He, too, supported passage.
  Today, I am including another letter of support for the study bill. 
This letter is from the Honorable Paul S. Manglona, President of the 
Northern Mariana Islands Senate, who represents Rota in the Senate.
  And, of course, the National Park Service reconnaissance survey also 
recommended that the cultural and natural resources are truly of 
national significance and that the appropriate next step is a 
suitability and feasibility study.
  The people of Rota have done a tremendous job over the millennia in 
protecting the treasures of their remarkable island. Let us support 
their efforts. Let us determine whether this ``jewel'' should be 
considered by Congress for inclusion in the National Park System.
  I ask that my colleagues support the Rota Cultural and Natural 
Resources Study Act.

         The Senate,


                   Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature,

                                       Saipan, MP, March 15, 2011.
     Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
     Delegate, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
         Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman, I am writing to support the Rota Cultural 
     and Natural Resources Study Act (Act). The Act authorizes the 
     Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability of 
     designating prehistoric, historic and limestone forest sites 
     on Rota as a unit of the National Park System.
       As testified to by Commonwealth Legislator Representative 
     Teresita Santos for the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
     Oceans, and Insular Affairs, the Island of Rota is unique in 
     the Marianas as the only primarily inhabited island spared 
     fighting during World War II. Consequently, plant and animal 
     life was spared the near total destruction similar on Saipan 
     and Tinian.
       Archaeologists describe Rota as having the most intact and 
     numerous historic sites of any island in the Mariana 
     Archipelago. Rota has the best examples in the Marianas of 
     Latte houses, the ancient stone houses of the Chamorro 
     culture. Four prehistoric sites on Rota are included in the 
     Register of Historic Places, Monchon Archeological District, 
     Taga Latte Stone Quarry, the Dugi Archeological Site, and the 
     Chugai Pictograph Cave containing examples of ancient 
     Chamorro rock art.
       In addition to prehistoric sites, historic relics from the 
     Japanese period--on the Historic Register of Historic 
     Places--include Kohatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Sugar Mill, Japanese 
     Coastal Defense Gun and the Japanese Hospital.
       Natural resources are prevalent on Rota primarily due to 
     its native limestone forests that provide habitat for 
     federally endangered listed species including the Mariana 
     crow and the Rota bridled white-eye birds, in addition to two 
     (2) plant species endemic to Rota.
       The National Park Service completed a preliminary resource 
     assessment regarding Rota in 2005, concluding designating 
     Rota as part of the national park system appeared to be the 
     best way to ensure the long term protection of Rota's pre-
     historic and historic natural and man-made habitat and 
     structures. I strongly encourage you, along with the Rota 
     Legislative Delegation, to authorize the Secretary of the 
     Interior to study the suitability of designating prehistoric, 
     historic and limestone forest sites on Rota as a unit of the 
     National Park System.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Paul A. Manglona,
     Senate President.

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