[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3602-3603]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          WHITE CLAY CREEK WILD AND SCENIC RIVER EXPANSION ACT

  Mr. COONS. Mr. President, today the Senate Energy and Natural 
Resources

[[Page 3603]]

Committee voted to endorse a bill I introduced that would add 
approximately 9 miles of White Clay Creek and its tributaries to the 
existing Wild and Scenic Rivers designation for the waterway. The White 
Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River Expansion Act of 2013 (S.393) now 
awaits consideration by the full Senate, which passed this legislation 
with bipartisan support during the 112th Congress.
  Growing up, I spent considerable time in the White Clay Creek 
watershed and know that it is an important resource for Delaware and 
the region. Years ago, my grandmother donated some of her land along 
the banks of White Clay Creek to help protect it. It is up to all of us 
to fight to protect our natural resources. I look forward to continuing 
to work with my colleagues to get this legislation passed by the full 
Senate.
  The legislation, which comes at no cost to taxpayers, would expand 
the original Wild and Scenic Rivers designation to include two small 
stream sections that were omitted from the original designation, 
including a 1.6-mile stretch of Lamborn Run in Delaware that was 
originally omitted due to its consideration as an option for a dam to 
supply drinking water for northern Delaware. It has since been removed 
from consideration and New Castle County is supportive of the 
designation.
  The bill also includes a 7.4-mile stretch of stream in Pennsylvania's 
New Garden Township that was originally omitted due to its 
consideration for a dam. That consideration has since been withdrawn 
and the township is now supportive of the designation.
  In February, Representative Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.) and I reintroduced 
the White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River Expansion Act in our 
respective chambers. Senator Tom Carper, as well as Rep. John Carney 
are cosponsors.
  In 2000, Congress designated a large majority of White Clay Creek and 
its tributaries as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
Then-Senator Joe Biden was the lead sponsor for the Senate bill and 
Representative Mike Castle was the lead sponsor for the House version. 
This marked the first time a whole watershed, rather than individual 
river segments, had been designated into the system. The proposal to 
expand the designation was led by former Senator Ted Kaufman in the 
Senate and Representative Pitts in the House.
  The 69,000-acre White Clay Creek watershed is home to 33 species of 
mammals, 21 species of fish, 27 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 
over 90 species of birds. White Clay Creek is also stocked with brown 
and rainbow trout, and is an important resource for fishermen. 
Protected land in the watershed also provides recreational 
opportunities for hikers, bikers, birders, hunters, and others. White 
Clay Creek and the Cockeysville aquifer that lies beneath portions of 
the watershed are important sources of drinking water for over 128,000 
citizens in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
  The bill is supported by the White Clay Creek Watershed Management 
Committee, which is comprised of 40 local, State, and Federal agency 
representatives, as well as organizations and businesses. Among its 
members are the National Park Service, Delaware Department of Natural 
Resources and Environmental Control, New Castle County Department of 
Land Use, London Britain Township, United Water Delaware, White Clay 
Outfitters, the Brandywine Conservancy, the Delaware Ornithological 
Society, Stroud Water Research Center, Chester County Planning 
Division, and SE Regional Office Pennsylvania Department of 
Conservation & Natural Resources.
  The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources also voted to 
pass the First State National Historical Park Act (S. 347), a bill 
authored by Senator Carper, of which I am an original cosponsor. I was 
proud to lead my colleagues on the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee in voting to bring Delaware one step closer to its first 
national park. For more than a decade, Senator Carper has worked 
tirelessly to bring a national park to our State. A national park will 
preserve and celebrate our State's vibrant history while boosting 
Delaware's economy and creating jobs. Senator Carper and I will 
continue to work together toward passage in the full Senate.

                          ____________________