[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  SPANISH PEAKS WILDERNESS ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 23, 2000

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of the 
companion House legislation, I rise in support of this important bill 
to designate the Spanish Peaks as wilderness. Enactment of this 
legislation has been delayed far too long.
  The mountains we call the Spanish Peaks are two volcanic peaks in Las 
Animas and Huerfano Counties. Their Native American name is Wayatoya. 
The eastern peak rises to 12,893 feet above sea level, and the summit 
of the western peak is at 13,626 feet.
  These two peaks were landmarks for Native Americans and for some of 
Colorado's other early settlers and for travelers along the trail 
between Bent's Old Fort on the Arkansas River and Taos, New Mexico.
  This part of the San Isabel National Forest has outstanding scenic, 
geologic, and wilderness values, including a spectacular system of more 
than 250 free-standing dikes and ramps of volcanic materials radiating 
from the peaks. These lands are striking for their beauty and are also 
very valuable for wildlife habitat.
  Since 1977, the Spanish Peaks have been included in the National 
Registry of Natural Landmarks, and the State of Colorado has designated 
them as a natural area. The Forest Service first reviewed them for 
possible wilderness designation as part of its second roadless area 
review and evaluation and first recommended them for wilderness in 
1979. However, the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980 instead provided for 
their continued management as a wilderness study area--a status that 
was continued on an interim basis by the Colorado Wilderness Act of 
1993.
  In short, Mr. Speaker, the Spanish Peaks are a very special part of 
Colorado. As I said, their inclusion in the National Wilderness 
Preservation System has been too long delayed. In fact, I had hoped 
that designation of this area as wilderness would be completed two 
years ago after the House passed a Spanish Peaks wilderness bill 
sponsored by my predecessor, Representative David Skaggs, and 
Representative McInnis.
  Unfortunately, the Senate did not act on that measure, so it was 
necessary to start again in this Congress. And again it has taken 
longer than I would have liked--the House passed a bill more than a 
year ago, and the bill now before us was passed by the Senate back in 
April of this year. But, better late than never.
  This bill does differ from the prior Skaggs-McInnis bill in a few 
respects, and in particular by the exclusion from wilderness of an old 
road, known as the Bulls Eye Mine Road, and the inclusion of language 
related to that road. There have been some questions about the scope 
and effect of that language. However, in a floor colloquy when the 
House debated the companion legislation last year the gentleman from 
American Samoa, Mr. Faleomavaega, and Mr. McInnis clarified matters--
and the committee report on the Senate bill echoes that colloquy. That 
report says:

       ``Section 3(a) addresses the management of the Bulls Eye 
     Mine road. The subsection directs the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to allow for the continuation of historic uses of 
     the road established before the date of enactment of the Act, 
     subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may 
     prescribe. The Committee notes that the Bulls Eye Mine road--
     which has been excluded from the Spanish Peaks is not 
     intended to restrict or otherwise limit the Secretary's 
     management authority with respect to the road, including any 
     decision to open or close the road, nor does it require the 
     Secretary to improve or maintain the road. However, the 
     Committee expects that the Secretary will consult with local 
     citizens and other interested parties regarding the 
     implementation of this Act with respect to the road.

  Like the House colloquy, this report language is an important part of 
the legislative history of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the third wilderness bill involving lands in 
Colorado that has passed during this Congress. I have supported all of 
them, because I think we need to make it a priority to protect our 
state's open spaces and wilderness areas, and I think we should be 
proud of their enactment.
  But much more remains to be done. Still pending in the Resources 
Committee are two wilderness bills I have introduced, dealing with the 
James Peak area and with lands within Rocky Mountain National Park, as 
well as a very important bill by our colleague Ms. DeGette that breaks 
important new ground in terms of protecting wilderness areas on public 
lands in Colorado managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
  I had hoped that before now all these measures would have been given 
consideration in our Committee and here on the floor of the House. But 
that hasn't happened. So, if I have the opportunity to serve in the 
next Congress, I will do all I can to have them considered next year.
  Meanwhile, I urge enactment of the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Act.

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