[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6136-6140]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  OTAY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS ACT OF 1999

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 15) to designate a portion of the Otay Mountain region of 
California as wilderness.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 15

       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 ``Otay Mountain Wilderness Act 
     of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds and declares the following:
       (1) The public lands within the Otay Mountain region of 
     California are one of the last remaining pristine locations 
     in western San Diego County, California.
       (2) This rugged mountain adjacent to the United States-
     Mexico border is internationally known for its diversity of 
     unique and sensitive plants.
       (3) This area plays a critical role in San Diego's multi-
     species conservation plan, a national model made for 
     maintaining biodiversity.
       (4) Due to its proximity to the international border, this 
     area is the focus of important law enforcement and border 
     interdiction efforts necessary to curtail illegal immigration 
     and protect the area's wilderness values.
       (5) The illegal immigration traffic, combined with the 
     rugged topography, also presents unique fire management 
     challenges for protecting lives and resources.

     SEC. 3. DESIGNATION.

       In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain public lands in the California 
     Desert District of the Bureau of Land Management, California, 
     comprising approximately 18,500 acres as generally depicted 
     on a map entitled ``Otay Mountain Wilderness'' and dated May 
     7, 1998, are hereby designated as wilderness and therefore as 
     a component of the National

[[Page 6137]]

     Wilderness Preservation System, which shall be known as the 
     Otay Mountain Wilderness.

     SEC. 4. MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.

       (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, a map and a legal description for the 
     Wilderness Area shall be filed by the Secretary with the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives. 
     Such map and legal description shall have the same force and 
     effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary, 
     as appropriate, may correct clerical and typographical errors 
     in such legal description and map. Such map and legal 
     description for the Wilderness Area shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the offices of the 
     Director and California State Director, Bureau of Land 
     Management, Department of the Interior.
       (b) United States-Mexico Border.--In carrying out this 
     section, the Secretary shall ensure that the southern 
     boundary of the Wilderness Area is 100 feet north of the 
     trail depicted on the map referred to in subsection (a) and 
     is at least 100 feet from the United States-Mexico 
     international border.

     SEC. 5. WILDERNESS REVIEW.

       The Congress hereby finds and directs that all the public 
     lands not designated wilderness within the boundaries of the 
     Southern Otay Mountain Wilderness Study Area (CA-060-029) and 
     the Western Otay Mountain Wilderness Study Area (CA-060-028) 
     managed by the Bureau of Land Management and reported to the 
     Congress in 1991, have been adequately studied for wilderness 
     designation pursuant to section 603 of the Federal Land 
     Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), and are 
     no longer subject to the requirements contained in section 
     603(c) of that Act pertaining to the management of wilderness 
     study areas in a manner that does not impair the suitability 
     of such areas for preservation as wilderness.

     SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREA.

       (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights and to 
     subsection (b), the Wilderness Area shall be administered by 
     the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of the 
     Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that--
       (1) any reference in such provisions to the effective date 
     of the Wilderness Act is deemed to be a reference to the 
     effective date of this Act; and
       (2) any reference in such provisions to the Secretary of 
     Agriculture is deemed to be a reference to the Secretary of 
     the Interior.
       (b) Border Enforcement, Drug Interdiction, and Wildland 
     Fire Protection.--Because of the proximity of the Wilderness 
     Area to the United States-Mexico international border, drug 
     interdiction, border operations, and wildland fire management 
     operations are common management actions throughout the area 
     encompassing the Wilderness Area. This Act recognizes the 
     need to continue such management actions so long as such 
     management actions are conducted in accordance with the 
     Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and are subject to 
     such conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate.

     SEC. 7. FURTHER ACQUISITIONS.

       Any lands within the boundaries of the Wilderness Area that 
     are acquired by the United States after the date of enactment 
     of this Act shall become part of the Wilderness Area and 
     shall be managed in accordance with all the provisions of 
     this Act and other laws applicable to such a wilderness.

     SEC. 8. NO BUFFER ZONES.

       The Congress does not intend for the designation of the 
     Wilderness Area by this Act to lead to the creation of 
     protective perimeters or buffer zones around the Wilderness 
     Area. The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be 
     seen or heard from areas within the Wilderness Area shall 
     not, of itself, preclude such activities or uses up to the 
     boundary of the Wilderness Area.

     SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act:
       (1) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the same 
     meaning as that term has in section 103(e) of the Federal 
     Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (3) Wilderness area.--The term ``Wilderness Area'' means 
     the Otay Mountain Wilderness designated by section 3.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-
Barcelo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Otay Mountains, near the U.S.-Mexico border, are a 
unique region with diverse natural values. The area has good 
opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation and is particularly 
important to the people of San Diego County. The area contains several 
sensitive species, including the only known U.S. populations of the 
Mexican flannel bush and Tecate cypress.
  In the 1980s, the Bureau of Land Management recommended a large 
portion of these mountains as wilderness, and this recommendation has 
received strong public support. The Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 
1999, introduced by our distinguished colleague from California (Mr. 
Bilbray), would designate about 18,500 acres of the Otay Mountain 
region as wilderness to protect its sensitive resources and preserve it 
for future generations.
  During the negotiations and hearings on H.R. 15, several sources 
expressed concern that wilderness designation in the Otay Mountain 
region could adversely affect Border Patrol and drug interdiction 
activities.

                              {time}  1415

  The Border Patrol assured the committee that in light of the fact 
that the roads in the area were excluded from the wilderness area and 
given the language in section 6(b) of the bill, border operations would 
not be adversely affected by wilderness designation. Given these 
assurances, the committee decided not to amend section 6(b).
  I want to emphasize once again that H.R. 15 has widespread support 
from environmental groups, the BLM, the DEA, the Border Patrol and the 
people of San Diego County. I commend the gentleman from California for 
his hard work on this important piece of legislation. This is good 
legislation that will protect an important area. I urge my colleagues 
to support H.R. 15.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 15 would designate 18,500 acres of the Otay 
Mountain area in eastern San Diego County as wilderness. Lands within 
and around the Otay Mountains are currently managed as wilderness study 
areas and form part of the U.S.-Mexico border.
  Last Congress, in hearings on similar legislation, H.R. 3950, the 
administration testified in support of the wilderness designation but 
opposed language in the bill which would have allowed all law 
enforcement activities and fire management activities to occur without 
regard to the wilderness designation or without regard to the 
Wilderness Act of 1964.
  The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, in adopting the 
bill last Congress, agreed to an amendment to address the problems with 
the bill. This new language recognized ongoing drug interdiction, 
border enforcement and fire management and the need to allow these 
activities to continue as long as they are in accordance with the 
Wilderness Act and subject to appropriate conditions as determined by 
the Secretary of the Interior.
  H.R. 15 reflects the agreed upon language from the last Congress. 
While there are some individuals and organizations that would prefer no 
mention in the bill of border activities or fire activities, we believe 
the language of the bill is acceptable and will not undermine the 
administration of the area as wilderness. As such, we support passage 
of the bill and encourage our colleagues to vote for the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray), the sponsor of this piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 15 will designate as wilderness area 
18,500 acres of Otay Mountain, a rugged area along the U.S.-Mexico 
border in southern San Diego County. It is a stunning place, where 
people can still go and see how the neighborhood looked when Father 
Serra entered California over 200 years ago.
  H.R. 15 is a bipartisan consensus effort made possible by strong 
support from many different interest groups in an effort to work 
together. Both local, Federal and State agencies were involved, 
including the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the Endangered 
Habitats League, the California Department of Forestry, the Border 
Patrol, the Departments of Justice and Interior, and Secretary Babbitt, 
who toured the area himself and addressed it in December.

[[Page 6138]]

  I want to specifically thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), 
the chairman of the subcommittee, and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young), the chairman of the full committee, for their strong support of 
H.R. 15. I also wish to sincerely thank my colleague from California, 
Senator Feinstein, whose strong support of the Otay Mountain wilderness 
area and this legislation has been critical to its success. I look 
forward to working with her on the bill as it moves to the Senate.
  The unique thing, Mr. Speaker, about H.R. 15 is it serves as an 
example of how we can dovetail two apparently conflicting strategies of 
State and Federal agencies and make them work together in a cooperative 
purpose. H.R. 15 gives the Border Patrol the continuing ability to 
conduct its essential law enforcement mission along the border in this 
region. This increased enforcement has proven to be a positive if not 
essential part of preserving the wildlife habitat and the unique 
natural fauna in this area.
  The Border Patrol's increased level of interdictions in this area has 
resulted in a lessening of the impact on the Otay Mountain itself, 
fewer illegal trails, trash piles, human waste and campfires which have 
caused innumerable damage to the area. This includes wildfires that 
have been purposely set by smugglers as diversionary tactics while they 
smuggled drugs and illegal aliens into the area.
  I have spoken directly with Bill Veale, the regional director of the 
Border Patrol in this region, and he strongly supports this bill. He 
assures me that the important task that he has been vested with will 
continue to be effective, especially with H.R. 15 designation.
  Access to Otay Mountain by the Border Patrol, the California 
Department of Forestry and the public will not be diminished by H.R. 
15. It will be guaranteed. The two main truck trails on Otay Mountain 
are completely excluded, called cherrystemmed, from the wilderness 
area, and other jeep trails and spur roads are not included within the 
wilderness boundary of H.R. 15.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 15 preserves a unique and rugged area of San Diego 
as wilderness for future generations to enjoy, and specifically ensures 
that both critical law enforcement activities and public access will 
continue in the region. It is my hope that this bill will serve as a 
blueprint for future situations where resource management and law 
enforcement activities must coexist and hopefully do so in a way that 
benefits all involved.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill can be the blueprint for not only law 
enforcement and habitat preservation but for this Congress, that we can 
protect the public and protect the wildlife resources of this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 15.
  Mr. Speaker, it gives me great satisfaction to rise in strong support 
of H.R. 15, the Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999. H.R. 15 will 
designate as wilderness roughly 18,500 acres of the Otay Mountain 
region, in southern San Diego County along the U.S.-Mexico border. This 
is a rugged and stunning place, where people can still go to experience 
a sense of what this area looked like when Father Junipero Serra first 
explored it more than two hundred years ago.
  H.R. 15 is a common-sense and bipartisan consensus effort, which was 
built from the ground level up, involving elected officials, agencies, 
and public interest stakeholders at the local, state and federal level. 
As a result of working together to address the needs and concerns of 
all participants, I am happy to be able to tell my colleagues that the 
broad support for H.R. 15 runs the gamut--from the San Diego County 
Board of Supervisors and the Endangered Habitats League (a respected 
local conservation organization), to the California Department of 
Forestry (CDF) and the Border Patrol, to the Departments of Justice and 
the Interior, including Secretary Babbitt.
  I want to particularly thank Chairman Jim Hansen and Chairman Don 
Young, along with all my colleagues on the Resources Committee, for all 
their assistance to date on this legislation and their willingness to 
make it a priority. I am also grateful to my California colleague, 
Senator Feinstein, for her support of this legislation. In the last 
several years, Senator Feinstein has played a key role in facilitating 
access by the Border Patrol to Otay Mountain, which has resulted in 
dramatic reductions in illegal activity in this border region. She 
deserves a great deal of credit for the progress which has been 
achieved there to date, and I look forward to working with her as this 
legislation moves through the Senate.
  In addition to protecting as wilderness a particularly unique and 
rugged area of San Diego County, H.R. 15 is important for the 
constructive precedent I hope it can set for future resource 
conservation and land management policy. By working together at all 
levels, the broad coalition of support for H.R. 15 has demonstrated 
that wilderness designation is not inherently incompatible with 
essential law enforcement activities in the same region, and vice 
versa. Where it is appropriate, we should take these opportunities to 
demonstrate that different agency missions or operating strategies can 
be made to complement each other, rather than to exist completely 
independently from one another, or worse, in conflict.
  We have already seen the positive environmental and enforcement 
results of the Border Patrol's increased access to Otay Mountain and 
adjoining areas near the border. The reductions in illegal smuggling 
and immigration there have directly translated into a lessened impact 
on the resource itself, such as fewer illicit trails beaten through 
sensitive habitat, less discarded trash and human waste, and greatly 
lessened risk of damage from warming or diversionary fires set by 
smugglers, such as devastated much of the mountain several years ago. 
H.R. 15 will ensure that Border Patrol's access to this region will 
continue unhindered, with continued resulting benefit to both law 
enforcement and environmental protection concerns.
  In addition to facilitating increased and continued law enforcement 
and resource protection for Otay Mountain, the ability of the general 
public to enjoy this beautiful region is maintained. When I first 
introduced this legislation, several of my colleagues expressed to me 
their strong interest in maintaining public access, and as this has 
also been a high priority of mine, H.R. 15 does so.
  The two existing access roads on Otay Mountain (the Otay Truck trail 
and the Minnewawa Truck trail) have been ``cherrystemmed'' from the 
wilderness boundaries, to ensure that both the Border Patrol and the 
CDF will be able to continue their critical law enforcement and fire 
suppression activities in the region under H.R. 15, and that the 
history of access by the public to this tremendous resource will 
continue. Other roads in the vicinity, specifically the Otay Mountain 
Pack trail and the East and West Spur roads, are not included within 
the wilderness boundaries and so are not impacted by this legislation.
  There may be other regions of extraordinary natural beauty elsewhere 
in our country, perhaps even in other border regions, where the 
critical individual missions of various state or federal law 
enforcement agencies have in the past been (or have been perceived to 
be) operating at ``cross purposes'' with equally important missions of 
resource conservation or environmental protection. It is my hope that 
H.R. 15 can serve as a blueprint for how a mutually beneficial working 
relationship can be established among such agencies, in order to best 
address the needs of a given region. I thank my colleagues for their 
support of this bipartisan bill, and would issue an open tour 
invitation for any of you that might like to visit this beautiful and 
rugged jewel of San Diego.

                                            San Diego County Board


                                               of Supervisors,

                                 San Diego, CA, February 17, 1999.
     To: Board of Supervisors
     Subject: Resolution supporting wilderness area designation 
         for Otay Mountain
     Summary
       Congressman Brian Bilbray has submitted H.R. 15, the Otay 
     Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999, to the United States House 
     of Representatives Committee on Resources. Otay Mountain 
     possesses critically important natural resources that are 
     unique to the Nation. A wilderness designation would provide 
     long-term protection of this unique ecosystem while creating 
     a comprehensive management framework which will enable the 
     U.S. Border Patrol and the California Department of Forestry 
     and Fire Protection to improve public safety in the region.
     Recommendation: Supervisor Jacob
       Adopt the attached resolution supporting the Otay 
     Wilderness Act of 1999.
     Fiscal impact
       None.
     Background
       Otay Mountain has long been recognized as a unique 
     ecosystem. The mountain is composed of rock with unusual 
     properties that benefit plant growth. As a result, the 
     mountain supports a large number of endangered and sensitive 
     species. Otay Mountain is also home to the world's largest 
     strand of rare Tecate Cypress.

[[Page 6139]]

       Designation of 18,500 acres on Otay Mountain as part of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System will ensure long-term 
     protection of valuable natural resources and wildlife and 
     opportunities for public recreation will be established. 
     Furthermore, as this area has experienced extensive resource 
     damage as a result of illegal immigrant activity and 
     wildfires, designation as a Wilderness Area will help in 
     coordinating and improving public safety.
       Support of H.R. 15 authored by Congress Brian Bilbray would 
     be consistent with San Diego County's efforts to protect 
     threatened flora and fauna and continue its role as the 
     Nation's leader in habitat planning.
           Respectfully Submitted,
                                                     Dianne Jacob,
     Supervisor, Second District.
                                  ____



 resolution of the board of supervisors supporting the otay wilderness 
                              act of 1999

       On the motion of Supervisor Horn, seconded by Supervisor 
     Cox, the following resolution is adopted:
       WHEREAS, Otay Mountain is a valuable ecosystem, consisting 
     of 18,500 acres of rare, endangered and sensitive flora and 
     fauna that is unique to this region; and
       WHEREAS, the important biology existing on Otay Mountain 
     includes the world's largest strand of rare Tecate Cypress; 
     and
       WHEREAS, preservation of this land will be consistent with 
     the goals of the County of San Diego to protect its 
     threatened natural resources and wildlife; and
       WHEREAS, establishment of a Wilderness Area would create 
     opportunities for public recreation at Otay Mountain; and
       WHEREAS, designation of Otay Mountain as a Wilderness Area 
     is supported by the U.S. Border Patrol, the California 
     Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the U.S. 
     Attorney's Office;
       THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Board 
     of Supervisors hereby recommends to the United States 
     Congress that H.R. 15, the Otay Mountain Act of 1999, 
     sponsored by Congressman Brian Bilbray, be adopted 
     designating Otay Mountain as part of the National Wilderness 
     Preservation System.
       On motion of Supervisor Horn, seconded by Supervisor Cox, 
     the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Board 
     of Supervisors, County of San Diego, State of California, on 
     this 17th day of February, 1999, by the following vote:
       AYES: Cox, Jacob, Slater, Horn.
       ABSENT: Roberts.
       State of California, County of San Diego.
       I hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and 
     correct copy of the Original entered in the Minutes of the 
     Board of Supervisors.
                                              Thomas J. Pastuszka,
                                Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
       By Frank Galang, Deputy.
                                  ____



                                    Secretary of the Interior,

                                 Washington, DC, February 3, 1999.
     Hon. Brian P. Bilbray,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Bilbray: Thank you for your letter of December 14, 
     1998, regarding the proposal to designate Otay Mountain in 
     San Diego County as wilderness.
       I regret that you were unable to join me on the Otay 
     Mountain tour. I was pleased to meet the many individuals and 
     local officials committed to preserving the special resources 
     on Otay Mountain.
       The conclusion of the group present was that the time was 
     appropriate to designate Otay Mountain as part of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System. Bureau of Land 
     Management Acting Director Tom Fry will be testifying on 
     February 4, 1999, before the House Resources Subcommittee on 
     National Parks and Public Lands on behalf of the 
     Administration in strong support of H.R. 15.
       I look forward to working with you to preserve the unique 
     resources of this area as the legislation makes its way 
     through Congress.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Babbitt.
                                  ____



                                   Endangered Habitats League,

                                Los Angeles, CA, February 1, 1999.
     Re: Otay Mountain Wilderness Bill HR-15 (Bilbray).

     Hon. Bruce Babbitt,
     Secretary,
     Department of the Interior, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Secretary: In 1993, you came to San Diego and 
     announced a dramatic change of policy for the Department of 
     the Interior. Your announcement that Bureau of Land 
     Management holdings within the San Diego region would be 
     managed for conservation consistent with the management 
     directives of the Multiple Species Conservation Program 
     (MSCP) was of fundamental importance. It underscored the fact 
     that management of the biological systems that we are 
     attempting to preserve and restore required regional 
     consistency among agencies and jurisdictions responsible for 
     land use and land management. At that time, however, we did 
     not realize how difficult that would turn out to be on Otay 
     Mountain, the heart of the largest biological core area in 
     the MSCP.
       When the combination of illegal immigration and 
     interdiction began to destroy the resources on the mountain 
     we met with you, Ed Hasty and others to consider possible 
     solutions. After much discussion it was agreed that in 
     exchange for our support in moving the interdiction skirmish 
     line down to the border via the development of the spur 
     roads, you would work for and support wilderness designation 
     for the mountain. As we saw last month when we met with you 
     on this site, the interdiction part of the strategy has 
     worked better than any of us expected. The land is 
     recovering, and the loss of human life on the mountain has 
     been reduced dramatically. It is rare that a plan works out 
     as well as this one has.
       In our view, wilderness designation was the strongest 
     assurance that the invaluable biological resources of Otay 
     Mountain would be protected in perpetuity, Your handshake 
     agreement with us has been good, and despite concern with 
     section 6(b) of HR-15, we have an acceptable wilderness bill 
     in front of us. We are very appreciative of your leadership 
     on this issue.
       The point of contention in section 6(b) has been the 
     special language regarding border interdiction. As you know, 
     the Endangered Habitats League and the Sierra Club have been 
     working with the Wilderness Society and the Natural Resources 
     Defense Council on this important issue. While the special 
     circumstances of this particular border area are 
     acknowledged, there remain concerns about the possibility of 
     weakening The Wilderness Act by establishing a precedent that 
     could be misused elsewhere in the future.
       In our judgment, the language in section 6(b) is acceptable 
     for our circumstance in San Diego. While we feel that the 
     appropriate place for this language is in the report 
     accompanying the bill, we are willing to accept its placement 
     in the body of the bill based on our understanding of the 
     last sentence of the section which reads: ``This Act 
     recognizes the need to continue such management actions so 
     long as such management actions are conducted in accordance 
     with The Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and are 
     subject to such conditions as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.'' We read this to mean that consistency with The 
     Wilderness Act, as written, is mandatory.
       We look forward to working with the wildlife agencies, BLM, 
     and border and fire protection agencies on the development of 
     the critically important biological management plan for Otay 
     Mountain. Both the County and City of San Diego have species 
     covered under their subarea plans that are dependent upon 
     that management plan. It is my hope that we can begin the 
     process this year.
       The progress that has been made in the last six years for 
     conservation in the South-County has been truly remarkable. 
     The Otay Mountain Wilderness will be the heart of this 
     conservation area and the bedrock of the MSCP. Speaking for 
     myself and the endangered Habitats League, and, if I can 
     presume to speak for the resources, you have our deep 
     appreciation.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Michael Beck,
                                               San Diego Director.

  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 15, the Otay 
Mountain Wilderness Act. This area should be designated as a wilderness 
area so that we can preserve its natural wonders and safeguard the many 
treasures it has to offer for future generations.
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray) and I are part of the San 
Diego congressional delegation that has been working hard with the U.S. 
Border Patrol, the California Department of Forestry, the California 
Department of Fish and Game, the City of San Diego, the County of San 
Diego and the U.S. Attorney's office, all together, to try to make H.R. 
15 a reality. All of us have come together despite our differences to 
make sure that we preserve the pristine beauty of this natural 
wilderness for our children and our grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it 
would be truly a shame if future generations could not enjoy this 
natural gem.
  What does it mean to designate the Otay Mountain region as a 
wilderness area? It means that the land will be protected by the 
Federal Government from any activities that could harm the plant and 
animal life or the landscape in general. This will ensure the 
protection of this land for all of us, both today and tomorrow.
  The Otay Mountain region, which is located in southwestern California 
near the U.S.-Mexico border, is an extraordinary landscape with many 
diverse natural, scientific and scenic values. The amazing diversity of 
this land includes both desert and coastal areas and boasts a number of 
plant species which can grow only in this area.
  In fact, the directory of Federal Natural Areas lists at least 15 
plant species

[[Page 6140]]

that are candidates for Federal listing as Threatened or Endangered 
Species. The Tecate Cypress, coastal sage shrub, oak woodlands and a 
number of other vegetative associations are only a few of the plant 
species which grow only in small isolated populations in California and 
Mexico. These species play a critical role in San Diego's multi-species 
conservation plan, a national model for maintaining biodiversity. Not 
protecting these species would be a travesty.
  The Otay Mountain region was designated as the Otay National 
Cooperative Land and Wildlife Management Area back in 1962, and later, 
in 1980, two wilderness study areas were designated by the San Diego 
County Board of Supervisors and the Bureau of Land Management. Many 
people in our community know and have known for years that the Otay 
Mountain region is a valuable asset that we cannot lose. My colleagues 
and I would like to take this a step further by designating it as a 
wilderness area.
  There are other reasons why it is absolutely critical that we 
preserve this beautiful place in America. Because the area is located 
near the busy city of San Diego and on the U.S.-Mexico border, the 
danger of pollution not only from smog and other toxins but also from 
binational travelers is very real. Moreover, the border location of 
this region is the focus of important law enforcement and border 
efforts to curtail illegal immigration. These additional strains can 
cause very real degradation to our environment. Finally, the area 
presents unique fire management challenges. The designation as a 
wilderness area will actually help us to manage all of these issues.
  The lands within the Otay Mountain region represent some of the last 
pristine wilderness areas in western San Diego County, California. 
There are many benefits to designating this area as a wilderness area. 
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 15, the Otay Mountain Wilderness 
Act.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 
15.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 15.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________