[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11875-11876]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WOOD-PAWCATUCK WATERSHED PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 3388) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
to designate a segment of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and 
Pawcatuck Rivers in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for 
study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3388

       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 ``Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed 
     Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. BEAVER, CHIPUXET, QUEEN, WOOD, AND PAWCATUCK 
                   RIVERSSTUDY.

       (a) Designation for Study.--Section 5(a) of the Wild and 
     Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(__) Beaver, chipuxet, queen, wood, and pawcatuck rivers, 
     rhode island and connecticut.--The approximately 10-mile 
     segment of the Beaver River from its headwaters in Exeter, 
     Rhode Island, to its confluence with the Pawcatuck River; the 
     approximately 5-mile segment of the Chipuxet River from 
     Hundred Acre Pond to its outlet into Worden Pond; the 
     approximately 10-mile segment of the upper Queen River from 
     its headwaters to the Usquepaugh Dam in South Kingstown, 
     Rhode Island, and including all its tributaries; the 
     approximately 5-mile segment of the lower Queen (Usquepaugh) 
     River from the Usquepaugh Dam to its confluence with the 
     Pawcatuck River; the approximately 11-mile segment of the 
     upper Wood River from its headwaters to Skunk Hill Road in 
     Richmond and Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and including all its 
     tributaries; the approximately 10-mile segment of the lower 
     Wood River from Skunk Hill Road to its confluence with the 
     Pawcatuck River; the approximately 28-mile segment of the 
     Pawcatuck River from Worden Pond to Nooseneck Hill Road (RI 
     Rte 3) in Hopkinton and Westerly, Rhode Island; and the 
     approximately 7-mile segment of the lower Pawcatuck River 
     from Nooseneck Hill Road to Pawcatuck Rock, Stonington, 
     Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island.''.
       (b) Study and Report.--Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(__) Beaver, chipuxet, queen, wood, and pawcatuck rivers, 
     rhode island and connecticut.--Not later than 3 years after 
     the date on which funds are made available to carry out this 
     paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall--
       ``(A) complete the study of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, 
     Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Rhode Island and Connecticut, 
     described in subsection (a)(__);
       ``(B) submit a report describing the results of that study 
     to the appropriate committees of Congress;
       ``(C) include in the report under subparagraph (B) the 
     effect of the designation under this Act on--
       ``(i) existing commercial and recreational activities, such 
     as hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational shooting, motor 
     boat use, or bridge construction;
       ``(ii) the authorization, construction, operation, 
     maintenance, or improvement of energy production and 
     transmission infrastructure; and
       ``(iii) the authority of State and local governments to 
     manage those activities encompassed in clauses (i) and (ii); 
     and
       ``(D) identify--
       ``(i) all authorities that will authorize or require the 
     Secretary to influence local land use decisions (such as 
     zoning) or place restrictions on non-Federal land if the area 
     studied is designated under this Act;
       ``(ii) all authorities that the Secretary may use to 
     condemn property if the area studied is designated under this 
     Act; and
       ``(iii) all private property located in the area studied 
     under this provision.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana 
Islands (Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to add extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  H.R. 3388, authored by our colleague from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Langevin), would authorize the study of 86 miles of rivers in the 
States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for a potential addition to the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
  The Natural Resources Committee amended the legislation to 
specifically require that the study consider any potential limitations 
on existing uses and any impacts to private property that could occur 
with an eventual designation. These are important protections and are 
necessary for this study bill to move forward. With that, it is a good 
piece of legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This legislation authorizes the National Park Service to study 
roughly 86 miles of rivers in Connecticut and Rhode Island for possible 
designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers.
  The Wild and Scenic Rivers program currently protects the free-
flowing condition of more than 12,000 miles of rivers in 38 States. 
Unfortunately, this is less than 1 quarter of 1 percent of the rivers 
in the United States. In contrast, more than 75,000 large dams restrict 
the flow of roughly 600,000 miles of river. This is about 17 percent of 
the river miles in this country.
  Mr. Langevin is to be commended for his hard work on behalf of his 
constituents and the natural resources within his State.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to 
the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Langevin).
  Mr. LANGEVIN. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I would like to thank Ranking Member Grijalva and Chairman Bishop and 
their staffs for working to bring this bill to the committee and to the 
floor today. I would like to thank my good friend, Congressman Courtney 
of Connecticut, who has been an outstanding partner in this effort. I 
would also like to thank all of those back in Rhode Island who have 
worked to bring this bill to fruition, including the Wood-Pawcatuck 
Watershed Association, Save the Bay, The Nature Conservancy, the Rhode 
Island Department of

[[Page 11876]]

Environmental Management, and the Connecticut Department of 
Environmental Protection.
  Mr. Speaker, the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act proposes a 
study of segments of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck 
Rivers in Rhode Island and Connecticut for potential addition to the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Rhode Island and Connecticut 
have long been outstanding stewards of these rivers, so I hope the 
passage and completion of this study will affirm what we who live near 
these rivers already know, which is that they possess outstanding 
recreational, natural, and historical qualities that make them worthy 
of the designation of ``Wild and Scenic Rivers.''
  As a nation, we are privileged to have access to a diverse system of 
wilderness areas, not only in the remote expanses of our country but 
also close to home--in our backyard wilderness. The rivers of the Wood-
Pawcatuck watershed are within a 45-minute drive for every Rhode 
Islander, easily accessible for family outings and school field trips. 
The people of Rhode Island and Connecticut have long enjoyed the 
recreational and scenic wealth of the Wood-Pawcatuck, and we are eager 
to share this natural treasure with the rest of New England and the 
Nation.
  These rivers are not only an important part of our national heritage; 
they are a critical part of our economy, which relies on the health of 
our waters. The Wood-Pawcatuck watershed offers diverse destinations 
for tourism, which is a vital industry to Rhode Island and Connecticut, 
and these rivers offer exceptional trout fishing, canoeing, 
photography, and bird watching opportunities, with adjacent hiking and 
camping our for sportsmen. Accordingly, the study will not only review 
the special character of the river, but it will fully engage with local 
government, landowners, and businesses to recognize the existing 
commercial and recreational activities on or adjacent to the watershed.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act offers the 
best guarantee that the Wood-Pawcatuck will be here for future 
generations to enjoy. The passage of this study is an important first 
step along that path. The rivers of the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed 
contain outstanding recreational, scenic, and natural heritage 
qualities that would be an excellent addition to the National Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of 
this bill.
  Again, I want to thank the members of the committee, especially the 
chair and the ranking member, for bringing the bill to the floor, and I 
thank Mr. Hastings and also Mr. Sablan for their assistance with this 
as well.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend from the 
Northern Marianas that I have no more requests for time, and I'm 
prepared to close if he is.
  Mr. SABLAN. I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, this is good 
legislation, and I urge its adoption.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Wood-Pawcatuck 
Watershed Protection Act. I also want to thank my colleague, 
Congressman Jim Langevin, for his unyielding efforts to introduce, 
promote and advance this important legislation.
  As you know, the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act would 
initiate an important first step to potential National Wild and Scenic 
River designation for portions of the Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and 
Pawcatuck Rivers in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Launching a study by 
the National Parks Service, this legislation could help to verify the 
outstanding beauty, abundant fisheries, and historic character that 
these free-flowing rivers currently provide our local communities and 
put this designated area on a path towards greater preservation.
  Connecticut and Rhode Island are home to some of the most diverse 
habitats and natural resources, including the lands and waters of the 
Wood-Pawcatuck watershed. As stewards of this pristine 300 square mile 
area, it is our responsibility to ensure that these natural habitats 
are preserved and protected for generations to come. Our communities in 
Connecticut and Rhode Island have joined together to help protect this 
outstanding resource and preserve the area's biological diversity as 
well as its seemingly unlimited recreational opportunities. The 
relationship between the continued health of our local communities and 
the continued health of these waters is one that cannot and should not 
be overlooked.
  The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association and the Nature Conservancy 
have done an outstanding job advocating for the need and passage of 
this legislation, garnering the support of every town in the 
surrounding areas. It is evident that this locally-driven priority 
would benefit greatly from the public-private partnership that the Wild 
and Scenic designation entails, and I encourage this body to look 
favorably on this legislation so that a study for potential designation 
can begin.
  I urge my colleagues to cast a vote in favor of H.R. 3388, the Wood-
Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3388, as amended
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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