[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CASTLE NUGENT FARMS, ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS, NATIONAL PARK 
                           FEASIBILITY STUDY

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2663) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study 
the suitability and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent Farms, 
located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National Park 
System, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2663

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

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING CASTLE 
                   NUGENT FARMS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Castle Nugent Farms, located on the southeastern shore 
     of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, is the largest parcel of 
     privately-held land in the Virgin Islands and has been an 
     operating cattle ranch for 50 years.
       (2) This land has the largest and healthiest fringing coral 
     reef anywhere in the Virgin Islands.
       (3) It consists of Caribbean dry forest and pasturelands 
     with considerable cultural resources including both pre-
     Columbian and post-European settlement.
       (4) Castle Nugent Farms contains a large historic 17th 
     century Danish estate house that sits on over 4 miles of 
     pristine Caribbean oceanfront property.
       (5) In addition to being an area for turtle nesting and 
     night heron nesting, it is the home for the Senepol cattle 
     breed, a unique breed of cattle that was developed on St. 
     Croix in the early 1900's to adapt to the island's climate.
       (b) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall carry out a 
     study regarding the suitability and feasibility of 
     designating Castle Nugent Farms as a unit of the National 
     Park System.
       (c) Study Process and Completion.--Section 8(c) of Public 
     Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)) shall apply to the conduct and 
     completion of the study required by this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2663, the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2663, introduced by my colleague on the Committee 
on Resources, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study 
the suitability and feasibility of designating the Castle Nugent Farms, 
located on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National 
Park System.
  I understand that the owners of the Farm, the largest parcel of 
privately-held land in the U.S. Virgin Islands, are aware of this 
legislation and support the National Park Study.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2663 is supported by the majority and minority of 
the Committee on Resources and the administration. I urge adoption of 
the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased the House is considering my bill, H.R. 
2663, to provide for a study to determine the feasibility and 
suitability of designating Castle Nugent Farms on my home island of St. 
Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands as a unit of the National Park System.
  Castle Nugent Farms is a unique 1,350-acre property located on the 
southeastern shore of St. Croix. It contains natural and cultural 
resources which could provide an unparalleled insight into the 
plantation period of the Virgin Islands.
  Castle Nugent Farms is presently operated as a cattle ranch by owners 
who are very interested in preserving and interpreting the natural and 
cultural resources of the area. I want to take this opportunity to 
commend Caroline Gasperi and her family for the stewardship of this 
land for more than 50 years and for her enthusiasm and dedication to 
this cause.
  The owners are justifiably proud of their ranch which contains more 
than 4 miles of pristine oceanfront with a large and healthy fringing 
coral reef. The interior of the property consists of Caribbean dry 
forest and pasture lands with cultural resources from both pre-
Columbian and post-European settlement. A large Danish estate house, 
dating to the 1730s, sits on the property. That house is listed on the 
National Register of Historic Places.
  At various points in its history, Castle Nugent Farms has been 
operated as a cotton plantation and a sugarcane plantation. Its current 
use as a cattle ranch involves raising unique Senepol cattle, a breed 
which is well-suited to the climate and vegetation of the area.
  H.R. 2663 is a noncontroversial bill. The National Park Service has 
no objections to the legislation, and the property's owners not only 
support a park study of the site but are enthusiastic about the 
opportunity to preserve the natural and cultural resources of the farm.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the park study will provide the 
blueprint by which we can preserve and interpret this unique piece of 
island history and resources for the benefit of present and future 
generations.
  I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for taking 
the time to personally communicate with my constituent, Mrs. Gasperi, 
and for his strong support and for shepherding this bill through the 
committee. And I thank my colleagues on the Committee on Resources for 
their favorable consideration of H.R. 2663 and express my wholehearted 
support for the adoption of this bill by the House this afternoon.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2663.
  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.

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