[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14138-14139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT AMENDMENTS

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4283) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to maintain or replace certain 
facilities and structures for commercial recreation services at Smith 
Gulch in Idaho, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4283

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

     SECTION 1. MAINTENANCE OR REPLACEMENT OF FACILITIES AND 
                   STRUCTURES AT SMITH GULCH.

       Section 3(a)(24)(D) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1274(a)(24)(D)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``The Secretary shall also authorize or continue 
     to authorize maintenance or replacement of facilities and 
     structures listed in this subparagraph for commercial 
     recreation services at Smith Gulch whose location is defined 
     above. The facilities and structures referred to in this 
     subparagraph are--
       ``(i) motorized landscaping equipment, such as lawnmowers 
     and weed trimmers;
       ``(ii) chainsaws;
       ``(iii) gasoline-powered electrical generators and 
     associated electrical transmission facilities;
       ``(iv) hydroelectric generators and associated electrical 
     transmission facilities;
       ``(v) gasoline-powered water pumps for fire suppression;
       ``(vi) transition from propane to electrical lighting;
       ``(vii) solar energy systems; and
       ``(viii) 6-volt or 12-volt battery banks for power 
     storage.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.


                             General Leave

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, timely action on this bill will allow the Forest Service 
to implement an earlier congressional action intended to allow 
continued operation of certain commercial recreational services and 
facilities at Smith Gulch in the Frank Church-River of No Return 
Wilderness in Idaho.
  Although Congress amended the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2004 to 
direct the Forest Service to allow established uses and occupancy at 
Smith Gulch Lodge, the Forest Service believes it needs additional 
authority to allow the lodge to use power equipment, such as gas 
generators, mowers, and other equipment needed for routine maintenance 
and for improvements, such as an in-stream hydroelectric water wheel 
for renewable energy. H.R. 4283 would authorize limited use of such 
equipment for the general upkeep of the lodge.
  Congressman Simpson should be commended for his attention to this 
matter, and I urge adoption of this commonsense bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the lodge at Smith Gulch is located within the Frank 
Church-River of No Return Wilderness in the State of Idaho. It is a 
popular destination for visitors and offers recreational opportunities 
for people in a spectacular natural setting.
  H.R. 4283 will allow the lodge owners to carry out very specific 
maintenance activities necessary to keep the lodge operating. I support 
this legislation.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. At this time, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
  Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the gentleman from Alaska for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4283, which is intended 
to authorize the use of maintenance equipment and the replacement of 
some outdated and potentially hazardous energy facilities at the River 
of No Return Lodge in Smith Gulch on the Salmon River in Idaho.
  As it currently sits, the River of No Return Lodge is a small 
outfitter on the Salmon River that provides a unique recreational 
experience operating under a Forest Service permit.
  Unfortunately, the Forest Service does not believe it has clear 
authorization to permit the use of necessary maintenance or replacement 
of facilities. This proposed bill is an effort to clarify Congress' 
intent in legislation passed in 2004 to retain the basic 
characteristics of the lodge without substantially altering the 
existing use.
  This legislation makes it clear that the owners of the lodge are 
authorized to use weed trimmers, chainsaws, and other maintenance 
equipment needed for the general upkeep of the lodge.
  It also will allow the outfitter to reduce or eliminate his reliance 
on propane fuel and replace it with modest renewable energy sources. I 
believe H.R. 4283 keeps recreational opportunities available on our 
public lands, while maintaining the ability to keep our lands in even 
better shape for future generations of Americans. The Congressional 
Budget Office has also scored this bill at no cost to the taxpayer.
  It should be noted that a few small changes were made during the 
markup of H.R. 4283 to address both the technical corrections and 
concerns raised by interested parties. The bill, as amended, has been 
crafted with the sentiments of both the Idaho Conservation League and 
The Wilderness Society in mind.
  We trust that the Forest Service will faithfully grant authorization 
for the maintenance and replacement activities without the burden of 
unreasonable environmental review costs.
  I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that has 
been carefully crafted with the stakeholders' views in mind, so the 
operator

[[Page 14139]]

of the River of No Return Lodge can perform the fundamental maintenance 
and replace outdated energy sources needed to carry out this small 
business with respect to the existing law.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I can only compliment the gentleman 
from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) for his work on this legislation, and it is a 
practical solution to a problem. Again, I agree with him.
  I hope that there is an expedited process which we can fulfill our 
obligations to this lodge owner and, of course, the intent of the act 
itself and that the Congress had intended so this could continue.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4283, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, on that, I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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