[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22944]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       DESIGNATING CERTAIN LANDS IN VIRGINIA AS WILDERNESS AREAS

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4646) to designate certain National Forest System lands 
within the boundaries of the State of Virginia as wilderness areas, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4646

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.

       Section 1 of the Act entitled ``An Act to designate certain 
     National Forest System lands in the States of Virginia and 
     West Virginia as wilderness areas'', approved June 7, 1988 
     (102 Stat. 584) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(7) certain lands in the George Washington National 
     Forest, which comprise approximately 5,963 acres, as 
     generally depicted on a map entitled `The Priest Wilderness 
     Study Area', dated June 6, 2000, and which shall be known as 
     the Priest Wilderness Area; and
       ``(8) certain lands in the George Washington National 
     Forest, which comprise approximately 4,608 acres, as 
     generally depicted on a map entitled `The Three Ridges 
     Wilderness Study Area', dated June 6, 2000, and which shall 
     be known as the Three Ridges Wilderness Area.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 4646 was introduced by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goode) 
to designate two areas in the George Washington National Forest in 
Virginia as wilderness. Both areas were recommended for wilderness 
studies in the George Washington National Forest plan completed in 
1993.
  I understand these are steep rugged areas, and that there is some 
concern that the Forest Service will continue to allow the use of 
motorized equipment, such as chainsaws or access by vehicles if it is 
necessary to fight fire or otherwise respond to emergencies. To address 
this concern, my colleague wisely included language stating the 
wilderness designation would not prevent firefighting companies or 
rescue squads from doing what is needed in emergency situations.
  While I would prefer to retain this language, at the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goode), I am offering a substitute 
amendment which removes this clause. He has received assurance from the 
Forest Service that such access is approved quickly when needed.
  With this assurance, I ask support for the Virginia Wilderness Act 
under suspension of the rules.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 4646 adds approximately 10,570 acres to the 
National Wilderness Preservation System in George Washington National 
Forest in the State of Virginia. The two additions, the Priest and 
Three Ridges areas, were recommended for wilderness study in the forest 
management plan in 1993.
  The areas, within easy access of the Appalachian Trail, contain 
rugged terrain and spectacular mountain scenery. We are pleased to see 
this addition to the wilderness system.
  We are also pleased to see the removal of a provision allowing tree 
cutting and motorized use by county firefighters and rescue squads in 
and around wilderness areas. The Wilderness Act allows motorized use in 
wilderness areas only in the event of emergencies and to control fire, 
insects and disease. Forest Service policies allow forest supervisors 
to approve motorized equipment and vegetation cutting in emergencies.
  The removal of the provision makes H.R. 4646 consistent with the 
Wilderness Act. It also makes the bill identical in substance to 
Senator Robb's companion measure, S. 2865, which passed the Senate on 
October 6, 2000. If the House had chosen to take up Senator Robb's 
bill, it would have been on its way to the President. By choosing to 
take up the House version, the House is unnecessarily protracting the 
process and risking not getting a bill.
  While I regret this choice, the bill enjoys administration and 
widespread public support, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4646, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
designate certain National Forest System lands within the boundaries of 
the State of Virginia as wilderness areas.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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