[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3441-H3442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SEGMENTS

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 1740) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
to designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, 
as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1740

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SEGMENTS.

       Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(__) Illabot creek, washington.--
       ``(A) The 14.3-mile segment from the headwaters of Illabot 
     Creek to the northern terminus as generally depicted on the 
     map titled `Illabot Creek Proposed WSR Northern Terminus', 
     dated September 15, 2009, to be administered by the Secretary 
     of Agriculture as follows:
       ``(i) The 4.3-mile segment from the headwaters of Illabot 
     Creek to the boundary of Glacier Peak Wilderness Area as a 
     wild river.
       ``(ii) The 10-mile segment from the boundary of Glacier 
     Peak Wilderness to the northern terminus as generally 
     depicted on the map titled `Illabot Creek Proposed WSR 
     Northern Terminus', dated September 15, 2009, as a 
     recreational river.
       ``(B) Action required to be taken under subsection (d)(1) 
     for the river segments designated under this paragraph shall 
     be completed through revision of the Skagit Wild and Scenic 
     River comprehensive management plan.
       ``(C) The Secretary of Agriculture may not acquire by 
     condemnation any land or interest in land within the 
     boundaries of the Illabot Creek Wild and Scenic River 
     described in subparagraph (A).
       ``(D) Nothing in this paragraph creates or authorizes the 
     creation of a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the 
     boundaries of the Illabot Creek Wild and Scenic River 
     described in subparagraph (A). The fact that an activity or 
     use can be seen or heard from within such boundaries shall 
     not preclude the conduct of that activity or use outside such 
     boundaries.
       ``(E) No private property or non-Federal public property 
     shall be included within the boundaries of the Illabot Creek 
     Wild and Scenic River described in subparagraph (A) without 
     the written consent of the owner of such property.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) 
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 days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials 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. 1740 will designate segments of the Illabot Creek in Skagit, 
Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System. The designated area is located within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie 
National Forest, and it totals 14.3 miles in two separate segments. The 
U.S. Forest Service studied this creek and found that it possesses the 
requisite characteristics consistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act.
  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, this bill was amended with some 
provisions that the subcommittee and the full committee thought were 
very important on these designations, but I urge its passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1740. This legislation seeks to add these 
river segments to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The legislation 
passed the House by voice vote last year. Congressman Larsen has been a 
consistent advocate for this legislation. On behalf of the river and 
his constituents, we applaud his hard work.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I would like to yield such time as he may consume to 
the sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Larsen).
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the passage 
of my bill, H.R. 1740, and to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of 
this measure.
  I want to thank Chairman Hastings and Chairman Bishop of the 
subcommittee, as well as Ranking Members Markey and Grijalva, for their 
help in getting this bill to the floor.
  I have the honor of representing one of the most scenic parts of the 
country, Washington's Second District. The Second District is home to 
the North Cascades and to the beautiful San Juan Islands. It's also 
home to some of the best fishing in the country, both commercially and 
recreationally. Salmon and groundfish stocks are beginning to recover 
all over the Northwest. Part of the reason is that we've begun to 
protect places that are important for fish habitat. When we protect 
these places, we protect the jobs that come from the fishing industry. 
This preservation is a catalyst to introducing the legislation before 
us.
  Illabot Creek travels from the Glacier Park Wilderness Area to the 
upper Skagit River, falling about 7,000 feet during its journey. The 
water of Illabot provides the optimal conditions for wild Chinook 
salmon, steelhead, and bull trout--all species listed as threatened. 
This legislation will designate 14.3 miles of the Illabot Creek as wild

[[Page H3442]]

and scenic, protecting these species while ensuring that hunting and 
fishing and other recreational activities continue. Protecting this 
area has the support of local hunters, farmers, environmentalists, 
anglers, the local government, and the State government, which are all 
in my district.
  I want to thank Senator Murray for introducing the bill's companion 
over in the Senate. I hope that that body will take up the bill as 
well.
  I appreciate the support of Minority Whip Hoyer, of the chairmen, and 
of the ranking members for bringing this legislation to the floor, and 
I urge my colleagues to support its passage and to protect this 
important body of water.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend from 
Arizona that I have no further requests for time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I urge the passage of this legislation, 
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. 1740, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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