    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 13, 1995]
    [Pages 1887-1888]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting the Farmington River Report
    December 13, 1995

    To the Congress of the United States:
        I take pleasure in transmitting the enclosed report for the
    Farmington River in the States of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The
    report and my recommendations are in response to the provisions of the
    Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Public Law 90-542, as amended. The
    Farmington River Study was authorized by Public Law 99-590.
        The study was conducted by the National Park Service, with
    invaluable assistance from a congressionally mandated study committee.
    The National Park Service determined that the 11-mile study segment in
    Massachusetts and the 14-mile study segment in Connecticut were eligible
    for designation based upon their free-flowing character and
    recreational, fish, wildlife and historic values.
        The 14-mile Connecticut segment of the river has already been
    designated as a Wild and Scenic River pursuant to Public Law 103-313,
    August 26, 1994. The purpose of this transmittal is to inform the
    Congress that, although eligible for designation, I do not recommend
    that the Massachusetts segment be designated at this time due to lack of
    support by the towns adjoining it. If at some future date the towns
    should change their position and the river has retained its present
    characteristics, the Congress could reconsider the issue. Also, for 3
    years from the date of this transmittal, the Massachusetts segment will
    remain subject to section 7(b) of the

    [[Page 1888]]

    Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Section 7(b) prohibits licensing of projects
    by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Federal or federally
    assisted water resource development projects that would have a direct
    and adverse effect on the values for which the river might be
    designated. Finally, the report includes the Upper Farmington River
    Management Plan that is referenced in Public Law 103-313 as the plan by
    which the designated river will be managed.
        The plan demonstrated a true partnership effort of the type that we
    believe will be increasingly necessary if we are to have affordable
    protection of our environment in the future.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    December 13, 1995.