[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 43 (Monday, October 26, 1998)]
[Page 2082]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Gallatin Land Consolidation Act of 1998

October 20, 1998

    Yesterday I was pleased to sign into law H.R. 3381, the ``Gallatin 
Land Consolidation Act of 1998.'' This law will direct the Secretaries 
of Agriculture and the Interior to transfer certain lands and other 
assets in Montana to the Big Sky Lumber Company in exchange for a 
significantly larger amount of land to be included in the Gallatin and 
Deer Lodge National Forests.
    The Gallatin land exchange is consistent with my goal of restoring 
and protecting the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. It is complementary to 
my efforts to protect Yellowstone Park from the risks of mining, to 
secure to the public trust important tracts of land adjacent to 
Yellowstone, and to restore and ensure the well-being of Yellowstone 
wildlife.
    I want to particularly thank Senator Max Baucus for his hard work 
and leadership on this matter over many years. Senator Baucus has long 
been a leader on the issue of preserving our Nation's natural heritage 
while remaining a tenacious advocate for the working families of 
Montana.
    Although the Gallatin land exchange provides an opportunity to 
acquire environmentally sensitive lands that are essential to the 
conservation of wildlife habitat and improves public access to public 
lands, I do object to the language in this bill that declares that the 
studies undertaken over the last several years are ``sufficient'' for 
the purposes of compliance with environmental laws.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
October 20, 1998.

Note: H.R. 3381, approved October 19, was assigned Public Law No. 105-
267.