[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 82 (Tuesday, June 11, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H3268-H3269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOOD-PAWCATUCK WATERSHED PROTECTION ACT
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 723) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
designate a segment of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck
Rivers in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for study for
potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 723
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 ``Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed
Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. BEAVER, CHIPUXET, QUEEN, WOOD, AND PAWCATUCK RIVERS
STUDY.
(a) Designation for Study.--Section 5(a) of the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(__) Beaver, chipuxet, queen, wood, and pawcatuck rivers,
rhode island and connecticut.--The approximately 10-mile
segment of the Beaver River from its headwaters in Exeter,
Rhode Island, to its confluence with the Pawcatuck River; the
approximately 5-mile segment of the Chipuxet River from
Hundred Acre Pond to its outlet into Worden Pond; the
approximately 10-mile segment of the upper Queen River from
its headwaters to the Usquepaugh Dam in South Kingstown,
Rhode Island, and including all its tributaries; the
approximately 5-mile segment of the lower Queen (Usquepaugh)
River from the Usquepaugh Dam to its confluence with the
Pawcatuck River; the approximately 11-mile segment of the
upper Wood River from its headwaters to Skunk Hill Road in
Richmond and Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and including all its
tributaries; the approximately 10-mile segment of the lower
Wood River from Skunk Hill Road to its confluence with the
Pawcatuck River; the approximately 28-mile segment of the
Pawcatuck River from Worden Pond to Nooseneck Hill Road (RI
Rte 3) in Hopkinton and Westerly, Rhode Island; and the
approximately 7-mile segment of the lower Pawcatuck River
from Nooseneck Hill Road to Pawcatuck Rock, Stonington,
Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island.''.
(b) Study and Report.--Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(__) Beaver, chipuxet, queen, wood, and pawcatuck rivers,
rhode island and connecticut.--Not later than 3 years after
the date on which funds are made available to carry out this
paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall--
``(A) complete the study of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen,
Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Rhode Island and Connecticut,
described in subsection (a)(__);
``(B) submit a report describing the results of that study
to the appropriate committees of Congress;
``(C) include in the report under subparagraph (B) the
effect of the designation under this Act on--
``(i) existing commercial and recreational activities, such
as hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational shooting, motor
boat use, or bridge construction;
``(ii) the authorization, construction, operation,
maintenance, or improvement of energy production and
transmission infrastructure; and
``(iii) the authority of State and local governments to
manage those activities encompassed in clauses (i) and (ii);
and
``(D) identify--
``(i) all authorities that will authorize or require the
Secretary to influence local land use decisions (such as
zoning) or place restrictions on non-Federal land if the area
studied is designated under this paragraph;
``(ii) all authorities that the Secretary may use to
condemn property if the area studied is designated under this
paragraph; and
``(iii) all private property located in the area studied
under this provision.''.
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 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. 723 would authorize the study of 86 miles of rivers in the
States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for potential addition to the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
The Natural Resources Committee amended the legislation to
specifically require that the study consider any potential limitations
on existing uses and any impacts to private property that could occur
in an eventual designation. These are important protections and are
necessary for this study bill to move forward.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
We support the legislation, and I would like to yield as much time as
he may consume to the author and sponsor of the legislation, the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, let me thank Congressman Grijalva, the
[[Page H3269]]
ranking member of the subcommittee, for yielding and for his
outstanding work in support of this legislation. Let me also thank
Chairman Hastings, as well as the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr.
Bishop, and your hardworking staff for working to bring this bill
through the committee and to the floor today.
I would also like to thank my good friend from Connecticut,
Congressman Courtney, who has been an outstanding partner in this
effort as well. And, of course, our State partners, including the Wood-
Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Save the Bay, the Nature Conservancy,
the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Their
collaboration really has been instrumental in bringing this legislation
to fruition.
As a Nation, we are, of course, privileged to have access to a
diverse system of wilderness areas--from remote expanses of our country
to backyard wildernesses closer to home. The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed
is such a place. Its rivers are within a 45-minute drive of every Rhode
Islander, easily accessible for family outings and school field trips.
Passage of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act will allow for a
study of segments of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck
Rivers in Rhode Island and Connecticut for potential addition to the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Rhode Island and Connecticut have long been outstanding stewards of
these rivers, and I hope passage and completion of this study will
affirm what we Rhode Islanders already know--that the Pawcatuck and its
tributaries possess outstanding recreational, natural, and historical
qualities that make them worthy of the designation of Wild and Scenic
Rivers. The people of Rhode Island and Connecticut have long enjoyed
the recreational and scenic wealth of the Wood-Pawcatuck, and we are
eager to share this natural treasure with the rest of New England and
the Nation.
The Wood-Pawcatuck watershed offers exceptional trout fishing,
canoeing, photography, and bird watching, with adjacent hiking and
camping for our sportsmen. These rivers are not only an important part
of our national heritage, they are also a critical part of our tourism
industry and the economy. Accordingly, the study will fully engage with
local government, landowners, and businesses to recognize the existing
commercial and recreational activities on or adjacent to the watershed.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act offers the best guarantee that the
Wood-Pawcatuck will be here for future generations to enjoy, and
passage of this study is an important first step along that path. The
rivers of the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed contain outstanding
recreational, scenic, and natural heritage qualities that would be an
excellent addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and I
urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill.
Again, I want to thank all those involved in helping to bring this
bill to the floor.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill,
and 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. 723, 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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