[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8949-H8950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC ACCESS ACT OF 2011

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 2719) to ensure public access to the summit of 
Rattlesnake Mountain in the Hanford Reach National Monument for 
educational, recreational, historical, scientific, cultural, and other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2719

       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 ``Rattlesnake Mountain Public 
     Access Act of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Hanford Reach National Monument is public land that 
     belongs to the American people.
       (2) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service's 
     Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Monument 
     restricts public access to large portions of the Monument, 
     including the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain.
       (3) Public access to Rattlesnake Mountain is important for 
     educational, recreational, historical, scientific, and 
     cultural purposes.
       (4) Rattlesnake Mountain reaches an elevation of 3,660 feet 
     above sea level--the highest elevation of the Monument, and 
     provides unparalleled scenic views over the Monument, the 
     Hanford Site, and the Columbia River.
       (5) Public access to Rattlesnake Mountain will increase 
     tourism interest in the Monument and will provide economic 
     benefits to local governments.

     SEC. 3. ENSURING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE SUMMIT OF RATTLESNAKE 
                   MOUNTAIN IN THE HANFORD REACH NATIONAL 
                   MONUMENT.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     provide public access to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain 
     in the Hanford Reach National Monument for educational, 
     recreational, historical, scientific, cultural, and other 
     purposes, including--
       (1) motor vehicle access; and
       (2) pedestrian and other nonmotorized access.
       (b) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     may enter into cooperative agreements to facilitate access to 
     the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain--
       (1) with the Secretary of Energy, the State of Washington, 
     or any local government agency or other interested persons, 
     for guided tours, including guided motorized tours to the 
     summit of Rattlesnake Mountain; and
       (2) with the Secretary of Energy, and with the State of 
     Washington or any local government agency or other interested 
     persons, to maintain the access road to the summit of 
     Rattlesnake Mountain.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana 
Islands (Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative

[[Page H8950]]

days 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 Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  H.R. 2719 directs the Department of the Interior to ensure public 
access to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain, located within the 
Hanford Reach National Monument in my district.
  At 3,600 feet, Rattlesnake Mountain is the highest point in the 
region and provides unparalleled views for miles around the monument, 
the Hanford Site, the Columbia River, the Yakima River and the Snake 
River. Unfortunately, it took the Fish and Wildlife Service 8 years to 
write a management plan that effectively closed Rattlesnake Mountain to 
public access, despite the public comments favoring just the opposite.
  After I introduced this bill last Congress, the Fish and Wildlife 
Service, in October of 2010, offered two public tours for selected 
individuals, and then suddenly reneged on the offer just days before 
the tours were to occur without any explanation. During a recent 
committee hearing on the bill, the Interior Department's testimony 
suggested that the Fish and Wildlife Service supports tours of 
Rattlesnake Mountain, but very carefully didn't go the extra step of 
ensuring that the Service would allow public access to the actual 
summit. Access to the mountain and access to the summit are two 
entirely different matters.
  To put it bluntly, Mr. Speaker, the Service has had more than 10 
years, and they say it will take several more before they can determine 
if it will allow the American people to have access to this portion of 
the monument. That is why this bill is so necessary to guarantee public 
access by law and to do so in a very timely manner.
  Mr. Speaker, I might add the tallest mountain in Washington State is 
Mount Rainier at 14,410 feet. People have access up to that under 
certain conditions. This is a mountain that has no trees; it's 3,600 
feet. There's no reason why people shouldn't have access.
  And to that extent, the legislation is supported by the Tri-Cities 
Development Council, the Board of Benton County Commissioners in which 
Rattlesnake Mountain is located, the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber of 
Commerce, the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, and the Back 
Country Horsemen of Washington.
  The American people deserve to have access to public lands, including 
Rattlesnake Mountain. I ask that the House pass this reasonable 
legislation today to help make that possible.

                              {time}  1910

  I note that the bill was reported by the Committee on Natural 
Resources by unanimous consent, and I appreciate the support of my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle for this measure.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 2719, which would require the Fish and 
Wildlife Service to provide both motorized and non-motorized access to 
the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain. This bill would allow the Fish and 
Wildlife Service to enter into cooperative agreements with the 
Department of Energy, the State of Washington, local governments, and 
other interested persons to provide guided tours to the summit of the 
mountain and to maintain the access road to the summit.
  In 2008 the Fish and Wildlife Service completed a management plan for 
this area and determined that Service-sponsored or led tours and a 
hiking trail are appropriate and compatible uses of the area. In 
October, at the hearing on H.R. 2719, the Fish and Wildlife Service 
supported the bill's intent to provide appropriate public access on 
Rattlesnake Mountain that gives due consideration to all stakeholders, 
including the Yakima tribe.
  I commend Chairman Hastings from Washington for introducing this 
bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 
support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2719.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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