[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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