[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7149-S7151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KATAHDIN WOODS AND WATERS NATIONAL MONUMENT ACCESS ACT
The bill (S. 4209) to provide greater regional access to the Katahdin
Woods and Waters National Monument in the State of Maine, and for other
purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was
read the third time, and passed as follows:
S. 4209
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 ``Katahdin Woods and Waters
National Monument Access Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Authorized acquisition area.--The term ``authorized
acquisition area'' means the designated area outside the
boundary of the National Monument depicted as ``Authorized
Acquisition Area'' on the map entitled ``Katahdin Woods and
Waters National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment'',
numbered 686/193,181 and dated March 2024.
(2) National monument.--The term ``National Monument''
means the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the
State of Maine established by the Proclamation.
(3) Proclamation.--The term ``Proclamation'' means
Presidential Proclamation Number 9476, dated August 24, 2016
(54 U.S.C. 320301 note).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL LAND FOR NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Boundary.--The boundaries of the National Monument
shall be the boundaries established by the Proclamation.
(b) Acquisition.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, or
exchange, land or interests in land within the authorized
acquisition area.
(2) Prohibition on use of eminent domain.--Nothing in this
Act authorizes the use of eminent domain to acquire land or
an interest in land.
(c) Treatment of Acquired Land; Boundary Adjustment.--On
acquisition by the Secretary of any land pursuant to
subsection (b)--
(1) the land shall be included in the National Monument;
and
(2) the boundaries of the National Monument shall be
adjusted accordingly.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the
National Monument (including the land added to the National
Monument under this Act) in accordance with--
(1) this Act;
(2) the Proclamation; and
(3) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
Park System.
(b) Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation on Acquired
Land.--The Secretary shall allow hunting, fishing, or any
other outdoor recreation activity on land acquired pursuant
to section 3(b)--
(1) if that activity was in existence on the day before the
date of acquisition of the land; and
(2) consistent with the management of that activity under
the Proclamation.
(c) Collection of Fiddlehead Ferns.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall allow the gathering by hand of fiddlehead ferns
(Matteuccia struthiopteris) in the National Monument for
noncommercial personal use and consumption by the general
public.
(2) Limitation.--If the Secretary determines that the
gathering of fiddlehead ferns
[[Page S7150]]
(Matteuccia struthiopteris) under paragraph (1) may adversely
affect resources of the National Monument, the Secretary may
limit the gathering of fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia
struthiopteris) under that paragraph in accordance with
applicable regulations.
(d) Public Education.--In accordance with the mission of
the National Park Service, the Secretary shall collaborate
with local communities and Tribal governments to educate the
public regarding the natural environment and history of land
management in the National Monument, including the shaping of
that landscape by Native communities and practices,
successive generations of timber management, and other
activities.
(e) Forestry.--In accordance with the management plan for
the National Monument, the Secretary may conduct such
noncommercial timber harvests as the Secretary determines to
be necessary.
(f) Protection of Existing Access.--Nothing in this Act
affects valid existing rights, including existing rights of
access through the National Monument for the removal of
timber outside the boundaries of the National Monument.
(g) Public Safety.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to the public
appropriate safety education and notification materials to
ensure safe interactions between visitors and logging trucks,
equipment, and operations on roads in or adjacent to the
National Monument.
(2) Procedures.--The Secretary shall collaborate with
affected stakeholders to establish procedures to meet the
needs of visitors to the National Monument, logging and
trucking operations, and other users of roads in or adjacent
to the National Monument to ensure safe interactions between
active logging operations and visitors.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE SITES AND VISITOR FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--To facilitate the administration of the
National Monument, the Secretary may acquire, by purchase
from a willing seller, donation, or exchange, not more than
10 acres of land or interests in land, including
improvements, for the administration of the National Monument
and visitor services outside the boundaries, but within the
vicinity, of the National Monument.
(b) Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into agreements
with State of Maine, units of Tribal or local government, or
private entities--
(1) to carry out this section; and
(2) to develop a cooperative information center for the
National Monument.
Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 3415
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I rise today to pass important
legislation in the State of Wyoming. This bill has only to do with
Wyoming and no other State. It is H.R. 3415, the Pilot Butte Power
Plant Conveyance Act.
It allows the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to transfer the ownership of
the facility to stakeholders in my home State of Wyoming. The Pilot
Butte power plant is owned by the Federal Government, but it has not
been in service since 2008. It closed when it became too costly to
operate. So it has been sitting idle there in Wyoming in a small area
of 2\1/2\ acres for the past 15 years. It is owned by the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation, and they are planning to demolish it.
To be clear, we are talking about a mothballed hydroelectric
structure. We are talking about 2 acres of Bureau of Reclamation land.
This is essentially 1\1/2\ football fields in size. That is how small
of a footprint this is.
Well, the Midvale Irrigation District in Pavillion, WY, reached out
to the Wyoming congressional delegation--all three members of the
delegation--saying that they were willing to take ownership of this
power plant that has been sitting idle for 15 years and ready to be
demolished. Midvale Irrigation proposed this transfer as a solution to
provide energy to local users. The local people right there came to us.
They said that they will make the needed repairs to bring this power
station back into operation.
If enacted, the bill will enable the facility to be revived after
years and years of neglect and sitting idle. Communities in my home
State of Wyoming will once again be able to get electricity from this
local source of hydropower. This transfer is the only option to save
the facility for future use. Without this bill, the Bureau of
Reclamation plans to demolish the facility. As a result, it is going to
cost the American taxpayers over $7 million to destroy this property.
This bill that I have introduced, sponsored by the entire Wyoming
delegation, is a win-win. The American people will no longer own a
mothballed facility that is going to cost $7 million to demolish, and
the people of Wyoming will be able to put the hydropower plant back
into use.
Now, there has been a lot of conversation about the consultations and
discussions that I have had with community members and stakeholders. I
have met directly with both the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern
Arapahoe Tribes regarding this specific bill and the hydropower plant.
Since February--February of this year--my office has been actively
engaged in discussions with all parties involved. This summer, my staff
visited the facility and met with all of the stakeholders.
Everyone wants to see the facility operating again, and I am
confident that the people of Wyoming will properly manage this facility
in a way that benefits everyone in the local community.
The House of Representatives passed this legislation unanimously back
in February. It has the support of the entire Wyoming delegation.
So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed
to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3415, which was received from
the House; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and
passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid
upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
The junior Senator from Minnesota.
Ms. SMITH. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I want to
say that I understand that Senator Heinrich from New Mexico has
concerns about the Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act, and I share
his concerns.
The Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapahoe Tribes are rightfully
concerned about the lack of official Federal Government to Tribal
consultation on this proposal which would directly impact their
reservation. I know that one of our most fundamental responsibilities
as a body is to honor our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal
nations and to uphold that government-to-government relationship.
I want to say that I appreciate Senator Barrasso's work with my
colleagues on these land bills, and I am not objecting to any others of
them. However, I urge that we have the Tribal consultation that should
be appropriately conducted on this bill; therefore, I object to the
passage of H.R. 3415.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
The Senator from Wyoming.
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, this 2\1/2\ acre piece of land is
owned by the Bureau of Reclamation--not owned by the Tribe, not owned
by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This is owned by the Bureau of
Reclamation. It is a title transfer to create an energy source for
local stakeholders. This is all about my home State of Wyoming. We are
talking 2\1/2\ acres.
I understand the Senator from Minnesota is making this objection on
her behalf as well as the behalf of the Senator from New Mexico. Let me
assure the Senators from Minnesota and New Mexico that I will be
vigilant and watching out for bills that impact at least 2\1/2\ acres
in their home States. For example, the Senator from New Mexico, right
now, has a bill, Cerro de la Olla, and it was reported favorably out of
the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Madam President, that bill established 12,000 acres--not 2\1/2\
acres--12,000 acres of wilderness in New Mexico. This bill in my home
State--not New Mexico, not Minnesota--Bureau of Reclamation land is
2\1/2\ acres.
As I said, I will be vigilant and watching out for bills that impact
at least 2\1/2\ acres in their home States. And I consider their bills
now dead until the Pilot Butte issue is resolved.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, could I clarify for the Chair,
Calendar No. 304 was misread as 301. It is 304, which is S. 961.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Duly noted.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Nevada.
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I rise today to thank Senator
Barrasso and my colleagues on Energy and Natural Resources.
Today, we were able to pass H.R. 5443, which is the Accelerating
Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act. I am so appreciative of my
colleagues for that support today. This is going to make a real
difference for working families in this country.
[[Page S7151]]
We know that every parcel of land the Federal Government transfers or
sells has to be appraised. Right now, we have a backlog of transfers
waiting on approval because of a shortage of appraisals. That is
delaying affordable housing construction, conservation efforts, and
critical infrastructure projects that we really need in Nevada.
I thank my colleagues in joining me in cutting through this
government redtape.
This act was authored by me here in the Senate but also my colleague
Congresswoman Susie Lee in the House. It will speed up land transfers
at no additional cost to the American taxpayer by giving private
appraisers the same flexibility as the government to be part of this
process. In my home State of Nevada, where over 80 percent of the land
is owned by the Federal Government, that is a big deal.
This is a commonsense bipartisan solution. I am so grateful we were
able to pass it today.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
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