[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25146]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            ARABIA MOUNTAIN

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, a mere 20 minutes from the steel and 
concrete economic dynamo that is modern Atlanta, you can find a quiet 
refuge where history and natural beauty still exist side by side.
  I speak of the area around Arabia Mountain which contains ecosystems 
home to endangered species, historic structures and archaeological 
sites. Its proximity to Atlanta makes it accessible to millions of 
Americans, but also puts it in danger of urban sprawl.
  No strip mall should obliterate the ancient soapstone quarry which 
attracted Native Americans over 5,000 years ago. Nor should 
overdevelopment mar Arabia Mountain, the granite outcropping at the 
center of the area. This region contains much pristine land, farmland, 
and the charming town of Lithonia. Lithonia, home to many fine 
buildings made of locally quarried granite, has a name which means 
``stone city.'' The Arabia Mountain area still has a few farms from the 
days when it was the heart of Georgia's dairy industry, and has 
remnants of the 1820s Georgia Gold Rush which predated the more famous 
California Gold Rush by two decades.
  If we are serious about preserving this irreplaceable history and 
environment, we must act to designate Arabia Mountain in DeKalb County 
as a National Heritage Area. This designation will help preserve the 
endangered and rare species which live nearby and save historic 
buildings from the wrecking ball. It will also allow the kind of smart 
development which preserves our heritage while allowing the kind of 
development which will provide jobs and growth for this beautiful 
region.
  Arabia Mountain and its surrounding area are the result of over 400 
million slow years of geological changes. Men have made an impact for 
the last 7,000 years. All this could be changed forever in another 
decade or so of uncontrolled growth.
  The need for this action has generated support from both sides of the 
aisle, in Georgia, and both houses of Congress. I thank Kelly Jordan, 
chair of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Mayor Marcia 
Glenn, of Lithonia, Vernon Jones, CEO of DeKalb County, Mark Towe and 
Glen Culpepper who all have provided strong support to this effort. I 
also extend my thanks to Congresswomen Denise Majette, for working so 
hard for this designation, as well as my friend and senior Senator from 
Georgia, Zell Miller, for supporting this designation.
  Vernon Jones, CEO of DeKalb County says:

       Nowhere in this great nation is a project more deserving of 
     a National Heritage Area designation than this one. This 
     began as a concept between conservationists, neighborhood 
     activists, landowners and concerned citizens, and over the 
     years has grown in scope to encompass some of the richest 
     landscape Georgia has to offer. DeKalb County citizens voted 
     to tax themselves to support this project. This local funding 
     mechanism was absolutely critical to move this project 
     forward. One visit to Arabia Mountain is all the proof anyone 
     needs to demonstrate the great impact that may be achieved by 
     diverse groups working together to preserve a truly 
     significant natural heritage for future generations.

  He is right. Let us act now to preserve this spot for succeeded 
generations and designate Arabia Mountain as a National Heritage Area.

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