[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[October 24, 1992]
[Page 1971]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration 
Act
October 24, 1992

    Today I am signing into law H.R. 4844, the ``Elwha River Ecosystem 
and Fisheries Restoration Act.'' This Act authorizes the Secretary of 
the Interior to prepare a detailed report on alternatives for restoring 
the important Elwha River ecosystem and fisheries in the State of 
Washington. The ecosystem includes resources inside one of our Nation's 
premier assets, the Olympic National Park.
    I wish to express, however, two concerns that I have with the Act. 
First, the Secretary of the Interior is given only 15 months to prepare 
the required report. This report must include a study on the acquisition 
of the existing Elwha River dams, plans for full restoration of the 
Elwha River ecosystem, and alternatives to removal of the dams. 
Considering the amount and the complexity of the information required to 
be included in the report, this timeframe is very unrealistic.
    Second, the Secretary of the Interior is required in the report to 
identify nonfederal parties, besides Indian tribes, that would directly 
benefit from restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem, if the Secretary 
believes that these parties should assume some portion of the costs of 
restoration. However, the Act does not provide express authority to 
require restoration cost sharing among the benefitted parties. I am 
instructing the Secretary of the Interior to prepare alternatives for 
Elwha River restoration, including potential dam removal, that assume 
nonfederal cost sharing.
    I am also instructing the Department of the Interior to consult with 
the Department of Energy in the preparation of the report on 
alternatives to dam removal.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
October 24, 1992.

                    Note: H.R. 4844, approved October 24, was assigned 
                        Public Law No. 102-495. This statement was 
                        released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
                        October 25.