[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3704-3705]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              NORTH FORK WATERSHED PROTECTION ACT OF 2014

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 2259) to withdraw certain Federal land and 
interests in that land from location, entry, and patent under the 
mining laws and disposition under the mineral and geothermal leasing 
laws and to preserve existing uses, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2259

       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 ``North Fork Watershed 
     Protection Act of 2014''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Eligible federal land.--The term ``eligible Federal 
     land'' means--
       (A) any federally owned land or interest in land depicted 
     on the Map as within the North Fork Federal Lands Withdrawal 
     Area; or
       (B) any land or interest in land located within the North 
     Fork Federal Lands Withdrawal Area that is acquired by the 
     Federal Government after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the Bureau of Land 
     Management map entitled ``North Fork Federal Lands Withdrawal 
     Area'' and dated June 9, 2010.

     SEC. 3. WITHDRAWAL.

       (a) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
     eligible Federal land is withdrawn from--
       (1) all forms of location, entry, and patent under the 
     mining laws; and
       (2) disposition under all laws relating to mineral leasing 
     and geothermal leasing.
       (b) Availability of Map.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Map shall be made 
     available to the public at each appropriate office of the 
     Bureau of Land Management.
       (c) Effect of Section.--Nothing in this section violates 
     the rights of existing leaseholders or prohibits the 
     Secretary of the Interior from taking any action necessary to 
     complete any requirement under the National Environmental 
     Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or the Endangered 
     Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) required for 
     permitting surface-disturbing activity to occur on any lease 
     issued before the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4. EXISTING USES NOT AFFECTED.

       Except with respect to the withdrawal under section 3, 
     nothing in this Act restricts recreational uses, livestock 
     management activities, or forest management activities 
     allowed on the date of the enactment of this Act on the 
     eligible Federal land in accordance with applicable law.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford) 
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 include extraneous material on the legislation 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.
  The legislation before the House today enjoys bipartisan and 
bicameral support in Congress and the strong endorsement of the 
affected local communities.
  Our colleague, Mr. Daines of Montana, is the lead sponsor of this 
bill, and he has championed its action here in the House. I can assure 
everyone that it is because of his leadership, his commitment and 
energy that this legislation will pass the House today. Mr. Daines has 
put the interests of Montana first and has been willing to work in a 
bipartisan way, with Republicans and Democrats, to get this bill 
passed.
  Mr. Speaker, the North Fork Watershed Protection Act would codify 
protections of Federal forest lands in the North Fork watershed from 
development in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed 
in 2010 between the Province of British Columbia and the State of 
Montana. Very significantly, the bill makes certain in law that 
existing uses, including public recreation, livestock management, and 
forest management are protected and not restricted. This bill will 
ensure that this region stays accessible for most of the traditional 
activities in this beautiful part of Montana.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1988, the Ninth Circuit Court enjoined the Department 
of the Interior from allowing any activity on issued oil and gas leases 
in this area. Since then, no oil and gas development has taken place in 
this area, and several leaseholders have voluntarily relinquished their 
oil and gas leases within this area. The State of Montana has made 
clear its desire to partner with British Columbia, as I have mentioned, 
to protect this watershed. H.R. 2259 would similarly protect the 
Federal land located within this region.
  Again, I would like to recognize the author of this legislation, Mr. 
Daines, for his hard work and leadership, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2259 will protect an important watershed and recreational 
resource west of Glacier National Park, and we are glad to see it on 
the suspension calendar. It is a widely supported initiative in Montana 
that will conserve a treasured landscape that belongs to every 
American. Some places are just too special to allow short-term 
commercial considerations to potentially harm their long-term 
viability.
  Stakeholders in Montana identified the importance of the North Fork 
watershed, an area that supports the recreation-based economy, provides 
clean drinking water, and allows wildlife to thrive. H.R. 2259 
guarantees that this area will not be threatened by unfettered energy 
development. I support this bill, and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 6 
minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Daines), the author of this 
legislation.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I want to give my thanks to the chairman of 
the Natural Resources Committee for his support and leadership in 
moving this bill through the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to proudly offer H.R. 2259, the North Fork 
Watershed Protection Act, for consideration in the full House.
  This bill is special to Montana for many reasons.
  The Flathead River is one of the most cherished waterways in our 
great State, and our country, for trout fishing. In fact, it is 
considered a ``red ribbon'' stream. That is Montana's version of a blue 
ribbon trout stream.

[[Page 3705]]

  The Flathead is an area beloved by the local community for recreation 
and supporting the region's forest-based economy.
  Last but not least, this watershed is a gateway to one of the crown 
jewels of the National Park system, Glacier National Park.
  Protecting the watershed and ensuring its value extends for future 
generations has been a task shared by Governors and legislatures of 
both parties, our neighboring Canadian Province of British Columbia, as 
well as our local Chambers of Commerce. It is also supported by Montana 
Senators Max Baucus and John Tester, and myself. We all support 
protecting this area for future generations. It makes this bill the 
first lands legislation supported by the entire Montana delegation in 
nearly 30 years.
  The North Fork Watershed Protection Act protects 430,000 acres along 
the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River from mineral 
development. Eighty percent of leases in this area have already been 
voluntarily relinquished. The bill explicitly protects the rights of 
existing leaseholders, and there is no loss in production.
  The North Fork Watershed Protection Act represents commonsense 
resource management. It is the kind of common sense Montanans 
understand and Washington, D.C., needs more of.
  The North Fork Watershed Protection Act ensures the region's current 
uses--forest management, hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, quality 
water supply for local communities, access to gravel for infrastructure 
maintenance, and livestock grazing--will continue for many generations 
to come because that is our way of life in Montana.
  The North Fork Watershed Protection Act is a key to international 
agreement between the State of Montana and British Columbia. In fact, 
in February of 2010, the Province of British Columbia and the State of 
Montana signed a Memorandum of Understanding to preclude mineral 
development along the Flathead. British Columbia completed prohibition 
of mineral development along the Flathead River in 2011.
  The North Fork Watershed Protection Act is necessary to hold up the 
U.S. end of the bargain and to be a good neighbor. The Canadian 
province has expended significant resources for the sake of upholding 
this agreement and strongly supports passage of this legislation so 
their efforts will be solidified.
  The bill also has an unprecedented mix of supporters, from 
ConocoPhillips, Anadarko, and Chevron, to Ducks Unlimited, Theodore 
Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and local chambers of commerce. 
This unity across diverse stakeholders is reflective of the bill's 
strong support among Montanans. It is time we get this done.
  Montanans have been working toward protecting the Flathead for 
decades. Senator Max Baucus began work to protect this watershed in his 
very first year in Congress. That was back in 1974, when he was 
Montana's Congressman in the House. I am proud to be part of the effort 
to get it done and across the finish line.
  Passage of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act is a major stop 
towards a commonsense goal that Montanans have worked toward together 
for decades.
  Though Senator Bachus has now retired and is serving in China, the 
passage of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act will send a strong 
message to the Senate to get it done.
  I urge passage of H.R. 2259, the North Fork Watershed Protection Act.
  Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to reiterate our support for 
H.R. 2259, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  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. 2259, 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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