[Senate Hearing 108-14]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 108-14
CESAR ESTRADA CHAVEZ; CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK; RIM OF THE VALLEY
CORRIDOR; AND WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS
of the
COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
on
S. 164 S. 347
S. 328 S. 425
__________
MARCH 4, 2003
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
______
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WASHINGTON : 2003
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COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico, Chairman
DON NICKLES, Oklahoma JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming BOB GRAHAM, Florida
LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee RON WYDEN, Oregon
LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska TIM JOHNSON, South Dakota
JAMES M. TALENT, Missouri MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana
CONRAD BURNS, Montana EVAN BAYH, Indiana
GORDON SMITH, Oregon DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York
JON KYL, Arizona MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
Alex Flint, Staff Director
James P. Beirne, Chief Counsel
Robert M. Simon, Democratic Staff Director
Sam E. Fowler, Democratic Chief Counsel
------
Subcommittee on National Parks
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming, Chairman
DON NICKLES, Oklahoma, Vice Chairman
BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
LAMAR ALEXANDER. Tennessee BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota
CONRAD BURNS, Montana BOB GRAHAM, Florida
GORDON SMITH, Oregon MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana
JON KYL, Arizona EVAN BAYH, Indiana
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York
Pete V. Domenici and Jeff Bingaman are Ex Officio Members of the
Subcommittee
Thomas Lillie, Fellow
David Brooks, Democratic Senior Counsel
C O N T E N T S
----------
STATEMENTS
Page
Akaka, Hon. Daniel K., U.S. Senator from Hawaii.................. 10
Daschle, Hon. Tom, U.S. Senator from South Dakota................ 1
Edmiston, Joseph T., Executive Director, Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy.................................................... 8
Feinstein, Hon. Dianne, U.S. Senator from California............. 2
Johnson, Hon. Tim, U.S. Senator from South Dakota................ 3
McCain, Hon. John, U.S. Senator from Arizona..................... 3
Sarbanes, Hon. Paul S., U.S. Senator from Maryland............... 10
Schiff, Hon. Adam, U.S. Representative from California........... 5
Solis, Hon. Hilda L., U.S. Representative from California........ 19
Thomas, Hon. Craig, U.S. Senator from Wyoming.................... 1
Tiller, deTeel Patterson, Acting Associate Director for Cultural
Resources, National Park Service, Department of the Interior... 13
APPENDIX
Additional material submitted for the record..................... 29
CESAR ESTRADA CHAVEZ; CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK; RIM OF THE VALLEY
CORRIDOR; AND WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK
----------
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2003
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee on National Parks,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met pursuant to notice, at 2:33 p.m., in
room SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Craig Thomas
presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. CRAIG THOMAS,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WYOMING
Senator Thomas. Welcome to all of you. This is the--and
Senator McCain, the administration's representatives, and
witnesses for today's Parks Subcommittee. We will receive
testimony on four bills. These bills are fairly
straightforward. And we should be able to move for their
consideration on our next business meeting, I would think.
S. 164 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the
life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement.
S. 328 renames the Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland to
Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area.
S. 347 directs the Secretaries of the Interior and
Agriculture to conduct a joint study to evaluate the
suitability and the feasibility of establishing the Rim of the
Valley Corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountain National
Recreation Area.
S. 425 would revise the boundary of the Wind Cave National
Park to include approximately 5,675 acres of land.
So these are the bills we will be talking about. And we are
very pleased today to have Senator McCain with us, and also
Congressman Adam Schiff.
So, Senator, if you would like to begin.
Prepared Statement of Hon. Tom Daschle, U.S. Senator
From South Dakota
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you and Senator Akaka for convening
today's hearing on the Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act
(S. 425). I am proud to sponsor this bill, which will benefit not only
my home state of South Dakota, but the entire nation by expanding the
protection of natural resources near the park. I first introduced this
legislation during the 107th Congress, and it received a favorable
hearing from this Committee last September. The Senate passed the bill
unanimously in November, but the House of Representatives was unable to
consider the bill before Congress adjourned for the year.
Wind Cave National Park, located in southwestern South Dakota, is
one of the Park System's precious natural treasures and one of the
nation's first national parks. The cave itself, after which the park is
named, is one of the world's oldest, longest and most complex cave
systems, with more than 103 miles of mapped tunnels. The cave is well
known for its exceptional display of boxwork, a rare, honeycomb-shaped
formation that protrudes from the cave's ceilings and walls. While the
cave is the focal point of the park, the land above the cave is equally
impressive, with 28,000 acres of rolling meadows, majestic forests,
creeks, and streams. As one of the few remaining mixed-grass prairie
ecosystems in the country, the park is home to abundant wildlife, such
as bison, deer, elk and birds, and is a National Game Preserve.
The Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act would authorize
the National Park Service to take advantage of an opportunity to
acquire property from willing sellers neighboring the park. The land in
question lies within the southern ``keyhole'' region, and is a natural
extension of the park. It contains the same mixed-grass prairie and
ponderosa pine forests found in the rest of the park, including a
dramatic river canyon. The addition of this land will enhance
recreation for hikers who come for the solitude of the park's back
country. It will also improve fire management in the area and protect
archaeological sites, such as a buffalo jump over which early Native
Americans once drove the bison they hunted. I understand this would be
the first site of its kind in the National Park System.
This plan to expand the park has strong support in the surrounding
community, whose views were expressed during a 60-day public comment
period on the proposal last summer. Most South Dakotans recognize the
value in expanding the park, not only to encourage additional tourism
in the Black Hills, but to permanently protect these extraordinary
lands for future generations of Americans to enjoy. Understandably,
however, some are legitimately concerned about the potential loss of
hunting opportunities and local tax revenue.
Congressman Bill Janklow, during his term as Governor of South
Dakota, expressed his support for the park expansion, as long as it (1)
does not reduce the amount of land with public access that currently
can be hunted, (2) there is no loss of tax revenue to the county from
the expansion, and (3) chronic wasting disease issues are dealt with
effectively. These are reasonable conditions that should be met as this
process moves forward.
In response to these concerns, the National Park Service modified
its original proposal to exclude 880 acres of School and Public Lands
property from the expansion. This will help maintain public hunting
access to these areas, and protect local county tax revenues. In
addition, the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department has reached
an agreement with Wind Cave officials to monitor the occurrence of
chronic wasting disease in elk and deer herds in the park, which will
help officials better understand the disease. I am satisfied that the
proposal put forth by the Park Service effectively addresses these
concerns. The question of tax revenue for the counties is one that
Congress must address through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program,
which provides direct payments to counties with federal land. I look
forward to working with my colleagues to fully fund this important
program.
Wind Cave National Park has been a valued American treasure for
more than 100 years. This legislation provides us an opportunity to
expand the park and enhance its value to the public, so that visitors
will enjoy it even more during the next 100 years. It is my hope that
my colleagues will support this expansion of the park and pass this
legislation expeditiously.
Again, thank you for holding this hearing. I look forward to
working with the Chairman and the rest of the committee as it considers
this legislation.
______
Prepared Statement of Hon. Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator
From California
Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by thanking you and the members
of this Committee for your early consideration of this bill, the ``Rim
of the Valley Corridor Study Act'', S. 347, which is so important to me
and the people of California.
I am delighted to introduce my colleague and friend, Congressman
Adam Schiff, the distinguished Representative from the 29th district of
California, who will be testifying today in support of this bill that
we both feel strongly about.
I would also like to welcome Joseph Edmiston, the Executive
Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, who flew from
California to Washington with very short notice to lend his strong
support for this bill. I appreciate your hard work and dedication for
getting this job done.
Congressman Schiff and I have been working in tandem on companion
versions of this bill to authorize the Secretaries of Agriculture and
Interior to conduct a joint resource study on the feasibility of
including the Rim of the Valley Corridor in the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area. We have worked diligently to address the
concerns that the National Park Service posed to us last year during
their testimony before this body and believe that this bill represents
a well-balanced approach to land conservation.
Last year, this bill was passed out of the full Committee
favorably, but the 107"' Congress ended before it passed the Senate. I
am hopeful that it will be successfully passed out of Committee and the
Senate this year and I look forward to working with my colleagues on
this Committee to do just that.
______
Prepared Statement of Hon. Tim Johnson, U.S. Senator
From South Dakota
Thank you, Chairman Thomas and Ranking Member Akaka, for holding
today's hearing to receive testimony on the Wind Cave National Park
Boundary Revision Act (S. 425). I support the legislation and am proud
to join Senator Daschle as a cosponsor. As a member of the Energy and
Natural Resources Committee, I look forward to working with Chairman
Thomas to move this bill through the committee process. With an
established legislative history from the 107th Congress, it is my hope
that this committee will pursue the same course of action so that the
full Senate may consider the bill.
Wind Cave National Park is one the nation's first national parks,
containing in its boundaries one of the greatest expanses of
underground cave complexes in North America. Established in 1903, Wind
Cave National Park protects one of the world's oldest known cave
formations with hundreds of miles of underground compartments.
Amazingly, scientific measurements indicate that only five percent of
the total cave has been discovered.
With the option to acquire approximately 5,500 acres of land from
willing sellers, Wind Cave National Park has a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to significantly enhance one of the last remaining mixed-
grass prairie ecosystems in the world. The acquisition of this land
adjacent to the southern boundary of the park will preserve a key
archeological site described as one of the only existing buffalo jumps
used by Native Americans as they hunted the giant animal.
I believe that the local park officials have done a good job
reaching out to the community and working to modify their original
proposal to conform with the interests of landowners and the State of
South Dakota. As with any land acquisition initiative the question of
compensating local government's for the lost tax revenue is extremely
important. The matter is particularly acute in western South Dakota,
where large tracts of federal land result in particular challenges. To
that end, I call on Congress to fully fund the Payment in Lieu of Taxes
program and provide a dedicated revenue source to compensate local
communities that have significant amounts of federal lands in the
counties. Last year, I joined Senator Bingaman as a cosponsor of
legislation that provides for the full authorized amount of PILT funds
to be made available to the Interior Department. I understand that
Senator Bingaman will be reintroducing this bill again in the 108th
Congress, and I look forward to correcting the unfair system that
shortchanges several South Dakota counties.
The Wind Cave National Park is a South Dakota treasure shared with
the entire world through the stewardship of the National Park Service.
It is my hope that the Committee will take the appropriate steps and
demonstrate positive action in the consideration of this bill.
STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN McCAIN, U.S. SENATOR
FROM ARIZONA
Senator McCain. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And I,
one, appreciate you starting on time; second of all, I know
your request is for us to be brief, and I will do so. And I
thank you for allowing me to say a few words today on behalf
legislation which would be called the Cesar Chavez Study Act.
It would begin the process where we could preserve landmarks
and sites associated with the life of this great American.
The bill, as you know Mr. Chairman, authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior to determine whether any of these
sites meet the criteria for being listed on the National
Register of Historic Landmarks.
Mr. Chairman, you are aware of the place that Cesar Chavez
has in history, as I do. He was a man whose career was not
without controversy. But he had, always uppermost in his mind,
the betterment of the lives of his fellow citizens. Bobby
Kennedy called him ``one of the heroic figures of our time.'' I
believe that he earned a place in American history, not only
because of his advocacy for farm workers but for all Americans.
His achievements are well known. His legacy lives on all
over my part of the country, where people continue to struggle
for better working conditions, and equal opportunities, and
better education. I think he is a man who deserves to have a
continuing preservation of his achievements, so we can have him
as an example for all of our citizens, especially young
Hispanics.
And I want to thank you for considering this legislation.
And I thank you for the opportunity. And I would ask that my
complete statement be made part of the record.
Senator Thomas. It will be made part of the record,
Senator.
Senator McCain. Thank you, Senator Thomas.
Senator Thomas. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Senator McCain follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. John McCain, U.S. Senator From Arizona
I would like begin by thanking the distinguished Chairman Thomas
along with Ranking Member Akaka for allowing me to testify today on the
matter of great importance to me and the state of Arizona.
Cesar Estrada Chavez embodied American ideals and should be
considered among the greatest leaders of American history. A fellow
Arizonan, born in Yuma, he was the son of migrant farm workers. Though
he no doubt loved qualities of life associated with his family's
Hispanic heritage, he will be remembered for the sincerity of his
American patriotism. He fought to help Americans transcend distinctions
of experience and share equally in the rights and responsibilities of
freedom. He made America a bigger and better nation. Bobby Kennedy
called Chavez ``one of the heroic figures of our time.'' For all of
these reasons, I come before you today to express my support for the
Cesar Chavez Study Act.
Although his formal education ended in the eighth grade, Chavez
possessed an insatiable intellectual curiosity, was self-taught in many
fields and well read throughout his life. After serving in the U.S.
Navy during World War II, Chavez returned to the southwest and began
his life as a community organizer and leader.
While Chavez and his family migrated across the southwest looking
for farm work, he evolved into a defender of worker's rights. His motto
in life ``si se puede'' (it can be done) epitomizes the his life and
work. Chavez's dream was to establish an organization whose main
purpose was to serve the immigrant farm workers, who he had worked
beside and whose hardships he could understand. In 1962, he founded the
National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm
Workers of America.
Through the United Farm Workers of America, Chavez attained fair
wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living
conditions, along with countless other rights and protections for farm
workers. He organized successful strikes and boycotts that led to the
first industry-wide labor contracts in agriculture. His union brought
about the passage of the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations
Act to protect farm workers. Today, it is the only law that protects
the farm workers' rights to unionize.
Chavez used peaceful tactics such as fasts, boycotts, strikes, and
pilgrimages. In 1968, he fasted for 25 days to affirm his commitment
and that of the farm labor movement to non-violence. He fasted again
for 25 days in 1972, and in 1988, at the age of 61, he endured a 36-day
``Fast for Life'' to highlight the harmful impact of pesticides on farm
workers and their children. In 1994, Cesar Chavez was awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.
Cesar Chavez gave a voice to those that had no voice. In his words:
``We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress
and prosperity for our community . . . our ambitions must be broad
enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes
and for our own.''
In this time when our nation is recognizing its heros, it is
important to remember and preserving those from our past. The Cesar
Chavez Study Act would begin this process by which we could preserve
the landmarks and sites associated with the life of Cesar Estrada
Chavez. This bill specifically authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
to determine whether any of the sites meet the criteria for being
listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. The study would
be conducted within three years. The goal of this legislation is to
establish a foundation for a future bill that will designate land for
these sites to become historic landmarks.
Landmarks all across the Southwest would be considered as potential
historic landmarks.
Many community organizations, including the Cesar E. Chavez
Foundation have supported and helped to pull together this important
piece of legislation.
Thank you again for the opportunity to speak here today and I look
forward to working with the Subcommittee and the Committee on this
important piece legislation.
Senator Thomas. I do not mean to question you but what
kinds of sites do you envision might be involved here?
Senator McCain. Well, I guess where his headquarters were,
although obviously his work took him all over the Southwest.
The place of birth, which happens to be Yuma, Arizona; places
where he conducted some of his most historic protests for
better living and working conditions.
I think all of those could be considered. And I do not
think many of them would be designated. But I think it would be
a way of preserving the memory of his achievements, something
like that.
Senator Thomas. Sure. Well, thank you very much, Senator.
Appreciate you taking the time to be here.
Senator McCain. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. Congressman, would you care to go ahead?
STATEMENT OF HON. ADAM SCHIFF,
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA
Representative Schiff. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a
pleasure to join you today. And I appreciate the opportunity to
testify in support of S. 347, the Rim of the Valley Corridor
Study Act. As the author of the House version of the bill, I
want to express my gratitude to Senator Feinstein for her
leadership, on behalf of all Californians, in introducing the
legislation.
S. 347 would call for a study by the National Park Service
and the U.S. Forestry Service of the feasibility and
suitability of expanding the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation
Area. The Rim of the Valley is home to some very rare
environmental treasures, including one of the most endangered
habitat areas in the world, the Mediterranean Chaparral
ecosystem, found only here and in South Africa.
This environmentally sensitive area is located in one of
the most densely populated areas in the United States. The
greater southern California region has the Nation's second
largest urban concentration. Remarkably, about one in every 10
Americans lives in this region. At the same time, the area has
one of the lowest ratios of park and recreation lands per
thousand population of any area in the country.
So, this rapidly growing urban region is under-served in
terms of open space; and this is likely only to get worse. In
1978, Congress established the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area. They worked together, then and now, in a
remarkable way to manage this, the world's largest urban park.
Now, a quarter of a century later, facing great population
demands and pressures, we have the opportunity again to be
forward-thinking and help preserve this wilderness area for
future generations.
We amended this bill, or Senator Feinstein has amended the
Senate version. We have done the same in the House, in response
to comments that the chair made last year and that the National
Park Service made as well. The bill now authorizes a joint
study between the Department of the Interior and the Department
of Agriculture, since the Rim of the Valley incorporates lands
that are now managed by the Park Service and others by the
Forest Service. Together the Park Service and Forest Service
can decide on the most appropriate way to protect this
environmental treasure for future generations.
Second, we eliminated the bill's provisions for a 17-member
advisory commission. This was felt unnecessary in this
provision, as this type of special resource study automatically
entails extensive public outreach to communities and local
governments.
The bill also will references the criteria for the Park
Service explicitly contained in 16 U.S.C. sections 1 through 5,
I know a key area of interest of the chair, to make sure that
the criteria for the National Park Service was explicitly
referenced and considered.
In addition to public lands that are already in these areas
are private lands. The Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area, part of the Park Service is permitted to
acquire private property from voluntary sellers or donors only
and is prohibited from using the powers of eminent domain. And
as Joe Edmiston, who is here to testify, also, the executive
director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy can
articulate, we have had some tremendous public/private
partnerships in this region. And those opportunities would only
increase under this study.
So it is my hope, Mr. Chairman, that the Rim of the Valley
Study Corridor Act can embody a similar vision of a California
enhanced by not only what was built but what is preserved. And
the bill in the House enjoys a very strong bipartisan support,
including Representatives Howard Berman, David Dreier, Buck
McKeon, George Miller, Brad Sherman, and Hilda Solis.
And I want to thank you again for the opportunity to come
in and testify. And I know Mr. Edmiston will be able to give
greater content to the nature of the bill.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Schiff follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Adam Schiff, U.S. Representative
From California
Good afternoon, Chairman Thomas and members of the Subcommittee. I
appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today in support of S.
347, the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act. As the author of the
House version of the bill, I would like to express my gratitude to
Senator Feinstein for her leadership on behalf of all Californians in
introducing this legislation in the Senate.
S. 347 would call for a study by the National Park Service and the
U.S. Forest Service of the feasibility and suitability of more than
doubling the size of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation
Area. The Rim of the Valley consists of parts of the Santa Monica
Mountains, the Santa Susanna Mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains, the
Verdugo Mountains, the San Rafael Hills, and adjacent connector areas
to the Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests. The Rim of the
Valley is home to very rare environmental treasures, including one of
the most endangered habitat areas in the world, the Mediterranean
Chaparral ecosystem, found only here and in South Africa.
This environmentally sensitive area is located in one of the most
densely populated areas in the United States. The greater Southern
California metropolitan region has the nation's second-largest urban
concentration; about one in every ten Americans lives in this region.
At the same time, this area has one of the lowest ratios of park-and-
recreation-lands per thousand-population of any area in the country. So
this rapidly growing urban region is very underserved in terms of open
space needs. Unless action is taken soon, this situation will only
worsen as the region continues to be subjected to intense growth.
Since Congress set aside the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Areas in 1978, federal, state and local authorities have
worked in remarkable cooperation to manage what is the world's largest
urban park. Now, nearly a quarter-century later and in the face of
tremendous projected population growth and development pressures,
Congress, by passing this bill, again will have the opportunity to help
safeguard and supplement the existing state and local parks, open space
and recreational opportunities in Southern California.
We have amended this bill in response to comments from the National
Park Service. First, the bill now authorizes a joint study between the
Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture, since the Rim
of the Valley incorporates some lands that are now managed by the Park
Service and others managed by the Forest Service. Together, the
National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service can decide on the
most appropriate way to protect this environmental treasure for future
generations. Secondly, we eliminated from the bill explicit provisions
for a 17-member advisory commission. This provision was felt to be
unnecessary, as this type of special resource study conducted by the
National Park Service automatically entails extensive public outreach
to communities and local governments.
In addition to protected land, the Rim of the Valley Corridor
encompasses private property. However, within the Santa Monica
Mountains National Recreation Area, the Park Service is permitted to
acquire private property from voluntary sellers or donors only and is
prohibited from exercising the powers of eminent domain. Indeed,
private ownership need not be incompatible with open space preservation
efforts, and there are many good examples of private-public
partnerships in the Santa Monica Mountains which have served to
maintain the beauty of open space and preserve the rights of property
owners.
It is my hope that the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act will
embody a similar dream and vision--of a Southern California enhanced
not only by what was built, but also by what was preserved. This
legislation enjoys strong bipartisan support, and the House version is
supported by Republican and Democratic Members of Congress whose
district includes portions of the Rim of the Valley Corridor, including
Representatives Howard Berman, David Dreier, Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
George Miller, Brad Sherman and Hilda Solis. I thank you for your
attention, and ask for your support for the Rim of the Valley Corridor
Study Act.
Senator Thomas. Okay. Fine. I have a few questions, but I
will hold them and ask the other witnesses then to do that.
Representative Schiff. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. Thank you for taking time to be here. We
appreciate it.
Well, if the other members, congressional members come,
why, we will make time for them when they arrive.
In the meantime, secondly, let us go ahead then with our
panel, Mr. Tiller and Mr. Edmiston.
Okay. Thank you, gentlemen. Why do we not start with Mr.
Edmiston. You wanted to talk on the one bill.
STATEMENT OF JOSEPH T. EDMISTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SANTA
MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY
Mr. Edmiston. Yes, Mr. Chairman; thank you. My name is
Joseph Edmiston; I am executive director of the State of
California, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. We were
established by legislation in 1980. And the current boundary of
the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy's jurisdiction includes
the Rim of the Valley Corridor Area encompassed in Senator
Feinstein's bill. And you will see here a map. The colored area
shows the Rim of the Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains
together.
Mr. Chairman, I think this is a very significant bill,
because for the first time we are looking at protection of
entire habitat areas, as opposed to many political
jurisdictions. There was time when the Santa Monica Mountains
was established when we were thinking of parks as we have a
jewel here and then a jewel over here. And we were not really
thinking about the connectivity.
And this bill takes a look at natural resource connectivity
and says, here is what the resource is, let us let the two
premier land management agencies of this country, the Forest
Service and the Park Service, get together and figure out how
best to protect those resources. Mr. Chairman, that is why we
think that this is a very significant bill or significant
approach.
Second of all, why now? These areas, right now, consist of
a--we can save these areas. Surprisingly enough, we can
actually save real nature surrounding the Los Angeles
metropolitan area. But we are not going to be able to do that
forever. Within the next 5 or 10 years, development pressure
will likely eat away holes in this system and make this
preservation impractical in the future. So that is why we need
to address this issue now, Mr. Chairman.
Finally, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy will make
available up to $100,000, probably on the higher end of that,
up to, to work with our colleagues in the Forest Service and
the Park Service to develop this study. We commit this resource
from the State of California, if Congress goes ahead and
appropriates its own money or if the Forest Service and the
Park Service can come up with funds to do this study.
So, we think this would be very forthcoming. There is a lot
of research that has been done, Mr. Chairman, on these areas,
including a general management plan for the national recreation
area. And the Forest Service is already doing their management
plan. So, we are talking about adding additional State
resources to those resources which are already being applied to
this issue.
Thank you very much. I would be happy to answer your
questions.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Edmiston follows:]
Prepared Statement of Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Officer,
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Mr. Chairman, we appreciate the opportunity you have afforded the
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to express its support for S. 347,
the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act.
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is the principal agency of
the State of California charged with protection of open space and the
natural resources of almost three quarters of a million acres
surrounding the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. Since 1983 the Mountains
Conservancy has had the responsibility acquiring park and open space
land, building trails, and providing for other public access
improvements within the Rim of the Valley Corridor.
Successive state legislative amendments have expanded the territory
of the Rim of the Valley Corridor so that it now encompasses a major
portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Santa Susana Mountains, Simi
Hills, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and the portion of the San
Gabriel Mountains within the upper Los Angeles River watershed. This
was done in recognition of the essential ecological unity of the
mountains system in southern California and the artificiality of
limiting protection to only a portion of it.
The importance of the Rim of the Valley Corridor is twofold: The
striking natural scenery and open space that still encircles the
greater Los Angeles area, and the proximity of those natural resources
to the ten million residents of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
In 1978, Congress established the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area acknowledging that it was a special area, almost unique
in the park system, in that the National Recreation Area would be
administered cooperatively with the state, regional, and local
governments. That model has worked splendidly. There is now a seamless
web of parkland extending from the beaches of Malibu to the height of
Simi Peak, from the heart of downtown Los Angeles fifty miles west to
Mugu Lagoon which is one of the last of California's unspoiled coastal
wetlands. Although the Santa Monica Mountains NRA is far from complete,
the outlines of its success are apparent. The Federal government has
provided both material and intellectual resources that have coalesced
and stimulated a much wider movement for the protection of the area and
making it accessible for public recreation opportunities. The original
authorization for the SMMNRA was $155,000,000, but to date the Santa
Monica Mountains Conservancy of the State of California has doubled
that, and the California State Parks Department has spent another
$60,000,000 or so, and intends to spend more.
There is every indication that including the Rim of the Valley
Corridor within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
will have the same positive effect upon the protection of ecological
communities and the well-being of human communities in northern Los
Angeles and eastern Ventura counties. However, this bill does not
presuppose an outcome, it merely directs a study. And a cooperative one
at that. The National Park Service model has worked well for the Santa
Monica Mountains proper, and can be readily adapted for most of the Rim
of the Valley Corridor. In the eastern Rim of the Valley there may be
institutional arrangements that recognize the vital role played by the
Angeles National Forest--America's most visited National Forest--in
protecting the San Gabriel Mountains and making them accessible for
recreation purposes. By requiring a joint study by both the Secretary
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, this bill makes it
probable that what will emerge from the study is a method of protecting
and enhancing this special area that will use the best resources of the
National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
Last year, the Administration expressed concern about the number of
park studies being undertaken, although it did not oppose the identical
bill that was reported out of this committee last year.
Let me emphasize why S. 347 is so urgent. While the satellite
photos of southern California still show the wreath of green
represented by the Rim of the Valley Corridor, land use decisions
pending within the next few years can change all of that forever.
Decisions will be made in that time frame by major landowners whether
or not to engage in park partnerships--and many times sale for park and
recreation purposes is a preferred choice for local property owners--or
whether to commit the land to residential and commercial development.
Local government planning and zoning decisions need to be informed by
whether there will be a Federal initiative to protect this area. The
introduction of similar measures in both houses of Congress last year
stimulated a rush of local interest and support. There is a lot of good
will resting on the swift completion of the study.
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy stands ready to help in any
way we can. Our data bases, planning studies, and personnel will all be
made available. Even more significantly, I am prepared to recommend
that we assist our colleagues in the Interior and Agriculture
Departments with financial support for this study as well.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement and I would be happy to
address any questions the committee may have.
Senator Thomas. Okay. Thank you so much. We will get back
to you for questions.
Senator, do you have any opening comments?
STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. AKAKA, U.S. SENATOR
FROM HAWAII
Senator Akaka. Thank you, Mr. Chairman; thank you very
much. I want to welcome our panelists to this hearing. Mr.
Chairman, I want to thank you for scheduling this hearing.
Since this is our first meeting of the National Park Committee
this year, let me congratulate you on resuming----
Senator Thomas. Thank you.
Senator Akaka [continuing]. The chairmanship of the
subcommittee. And I believe we have established a solid record
of working together on a vast majority of park-related bills in
a bipartisan manner. And I hope we will be able to continue
this tradition this year.
Senator Thomas. Thank you, sir. Thank you for being here.
Gentlemen, if you will, we will move to the Senator to have
him make his comments. Welcome, sir.
STATEMENT OF HON. PAUL S. SARBANES, U.S. SENATOR
FROM MARYLAND
Senator Sarbanes. Well, Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
And Senator Akaka and I are pleased to be here. And I am sorry
I was precluded from arriving right at the beginning by my
inability to get out of the previous meeting, to be very honest
about it.
I want to thank you for this opportunity to testify on S.
328, legislation which Senator Mikulski and I have introduced
to re-designate what is now known as the Catoctin Mountain Park
as Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area. We need
legislation in order to this. And the purpose of this
legislation is to address a long-standing confusion about the
ownership and management of Catoctin Mountain Park and to
clearly identify it as a unit of the National Park System.
It is approximately a 6,000-acre park located on the front
range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Frederick County,
Maryland, about a little more than an hour's drive from the
Capital. It is home to Camp David. One travel writer has aptly
described it as America's most famous unknown park.
There is an interesting history about how Catoctin Mountain
Park was created and developed. It was established in 1933
under the Roosevelt administration's National Industrial
Recovery Act as one of 46 recreational demonstration areas. The
Federal Government acquired more than 10,000 acres of heavily
logged land in Frederick County, Maryland, to demonstrate how
sub-marginal land could be turned into a productive
recreational area and help put people back to work.
In 1936, the administrative authority for this recreational
demonstration area was transferred to the National Park Service
by Executive Order. In 1942, Camp High Catoctin, now known as
Camp David, was selected as the location for the President's
new retreat.
Subsequently, they transferred approximately 5,000 acres to
the State of Maryland. And that became what is known as
Cunningham Falls State Park, which was just below the Catoctin
Park. The remaining 5,700 acres was renamed Catoctin Mountain
Park by the Director of the National Park Service in 1954.
Unfortunately, the Director failed to include the term national
in the title. And the park remains today one of only 17 units
in the entire 388-unit National Park System that does not have
this designation.
Now, what has happened over the years is the proximity of
the Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp David, and Cunningham Falls
State Park. And the difference between National and State park
management has been the source of confusion for visitors to the
area. Catoctin Mountain Park has continually been misidentified
by the public as the Cunningham Falls State Park, which has a
lake and a beach area and so forth. It has also been confused
with the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, a privately owned
enterprise.
The superintendent of the park says they spend a lot of
time trying to redirect visitors. We think this legislation
will help to clear up some of this confusion by renaming this
the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area.
There are some 18 such units designated as such in the Park
Service. We have strong letters of endorsement here from the
Board of Commissioners of Frederick County and the Tourism
Council of Frederick County, in which they say, amongst other
things, that their visitor center staff spends a good deal of
time sorting out for visitors the difference between Catoctin
Mountain Park and the adjacent State park. They think that
putting national into the name, national recreation area, will
help to clarify this distinction.
It would not change any of the activities taking place but
I think it would be very helpful in enhancing tourism and
making people more aware of the National Park Service's
involvement and eliminating this confusion that now exists. And
I commend the legislation to the committee and hope you will be
able to move it forward.
I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Senator Thomas. Thank you very much. Basically, then, it
does not impact the management of it either, is that correct?
Senator Sarbanes. No. The management is in favor of this
name change, both at the park level and up through the Park
Service. And I will submit for the record the two letters I
have from the local county commissioners and the Tourism
Council of Frederick County.
Senator Thomas. We will include those in the record.
Senator Sarbanes. Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Senator Sarbanes follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Paul S. Sarbanes, U.S. Senator From Maryland
Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee for this
opportunity to testify on S. 328, legislation I introduced, together
with Senator Mikulski, to re-designate Catoctin Mountain Park as
``Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area.'' The purpose of this
legislation is to help address longstanding confusion about the
ownership and management of Catoctin Mountain Park and to clearly
identify this park as a unit of the National Park System.
Mr. Chairman, Catoctin Mountain Park is an approximately 6,000-acre
park located on the front range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in
Frederick County, Maryland, about an hour's drive from the Capitol.
Home to Camp David, it has been aptly described by a travel writer as
``America's most famous unknown park.'' There is a remarkable history
about how Catoctin Mountain Park was created and developed and I just
want to highlight some of the major milestones so that the Committee
perhaps better understand and appreciate what we are trying to
accomplish with this legislation.
Catoctin Mountain Park was established in 1933 under the Roosevelt
Administration's National Industrial Recovery Act as one of 46
Recreational Demonstration Areas (RDA). The federal government acquired
more than 10,000 acres of heavily logged land in Frederick County,
Maryland to demonstrate how sub-marginal land could be turned into a
productive recreational area and help put people back to work. In
November 1936, administrative authority for the Catoctin RDA was
transferred to the National Park Service by Executive Order. From 1936
through 1941, hundreds of people were employed in reforestation
activities and in the construction of a number of camps, roads and
other facilities in the Catoctin RDA.
In 1942, Camp Hi-Catoctin, now known as Camp David, was selected as
the location for the President's new retreat. Subsequently
approximately 5,000 acres of the area was transferred to the State of
Maryland, becoming Cunningham Falls State Park in 1954. The remaining
5,770 acres of the Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area was renamed
Catoctin Mountain Park by the Director of the National Park Service in
1954. Unfortunately, at that time, the Director failed to include the
term ``National'' in the title. The park today remains one of 17 units
in the entire 388 unit National Park System and one of 9 units in the
National Capital Region that does not have this designation. Those
units include four parkways, four wild and scenic rivers, the White
House and Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.
Over the years, the proximity of Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp
David, and Cunningham Falls State Park and the differences between
national and state park management, has been the source of longstanding
confusion for visitors to the area. Catoctin Mountain Park has been
continually misidentified by the public as containing lake and beach
areas associated with Cunningham Falls State Park, being operated by
the State of Maryland, or being closed to the public because of the
presence of Camp David. Likewise, a privately owned Catoctin Wildlife
Preserve and Zoo is often confused with the park. The Superintendent of
the Park has advised me that National Park employees spend countless
hours explaining, assisting and redirecting visitors to their desired
destinations.
My legislation would help to address this situation by renaming it
the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area. The mission and
characteristics of this park--which include the preservation of
significant historic resources and important natural areas in locations
that provide outdoor recreation for large numbers of people--make this
designation appropriate. The National Park System includes 18 units
designated as ``National Recreation Areas'' several of which are
comparable to Catoctin.
Mr. Chairman, this legislation is not controversial. It is strongly
supported by the Board of County Commissioners and Tourism Council of
Frederick County. I ask that letters from the Frederick County
Commissioners and the Tourism Council be included in the hearing
record, following my statement. The legislation would not change
recreation, conservation or education activities currently occurring
within the park. But it would assist the visiting public in
distinguishing between the many units of the state and federal systems.
It will also, in my judgment, help promote tourism by enhancing public
awareness of the National Park unit, and perhaps have future travel
writers change the moniker of Catoctin from ``America's most famous
unknown park'' to one of America's most famous parks.
I hope that the Committee can move swiftly to report this measure
favorably to the full Senate for consideration.
Senator Thomas. Any questions, Senator?
Senator Akaka. I want to thank Senator Sarbanes for this
change of name; and I know that the Park Service supports what
you are doing, and I certainly do, too. Thank you.
Senator Thomas. Okay. We are thinking of moving the Vice
President's camp out to Teton Park in Wyoming.
[Laughter.]
Senator Akaka. I have seen that park. That is a beautiful
park; I have to tell you, probably one of the most beautiful in
America.
Senator Thomas. We all know he is there when the airplane
comes in to Jackson.
Senator Akaka. Yes; I can imagine.
Senator Thomas. Thank you, Senator. We appreciate your----
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much. And I thank the
witnesses for the indulgence of allowing me to intrude into the
discussion. Thank you very much.
Senator Thomas. Thank you.
Okay. Mr. Tiller, would you like to go ahead, please?
STATEMENT OF deTEEL PATTERSON TILLER, ACTING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR
Mr. Tiller. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to
present the view of the Department of the Interior on these
four bills. For brevity's sake, I will condense my remarks in
support of the full written testimony already submitted to the
subcommittee.
In the matter of S. 164, a bill authorizing the Secretary
of the Interior to conduct a special resources study of sites
associated with the life of Cesar Chavez and the American farm
labor movement, the Department supports S. 164 with one
proposed minor amendment. We believe the study is a good
opportunity to identify, protect, and interpret sites and
places associated with Mr. Chavez's nationally important life
and enormous social change resulting from his leadership.
We would suggest changing bill language to require the
study to be completed 3 years after funding is made available,
rather than 3 years after enactment, as is currently provided
for in the bill. The National Park Service is now at various
stages of completing over 40 congressionally authorized
studies. Our highest priority now is on finishing these
previously authorized by Congress. But we look forward to
beginning this important study as soon as S. 164 becomes law
and funding is made available.
In regards to S. 328, the bill to rename the Catoctin
Mountain Park in the State of Maryland as the Catoctin Mountain
National Recreation Area, the Department of the Interior
supports the bill. In addition to changing the name, S. 328
provides much needed standard authorities, typical of national
park units but missing at Catoctin Mountain, given its unique
history going back to the 1930's.
The Department of the Interior also supports S. 347, a bill
that directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to
conduct a joint resources study to establish the Rim of the
Valley Corridor in Los Angeles, California. S. 347 further
requires that the study evaluate the suitability and
feasibility of establishing the area as a unit of the Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, consulting with
citizens of the appropriate State, county, and local
governments.
We recognize the limitation nowadays of Federal resources
to add to the Federal estate. And with a study area
encompassing 491,000 acres, our approach will, of necessity,
emphasize minimum Federal acquisition and management costs. And
we would encourage large-scale public/private partnerships.
Also, given the size and diversity of stakeholders in this
important area, the study must involve extensive outreach with
members of the public, private landowners, and local
governments; entailing multiple comment periods, public
meetings, and analysis. We offer one minor technical correction
to the bill, which is attached in my testimony.
And lastly in the matter of S. 425, a bill to revise the
boundary of Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. The
Department of the Interior cannot support this at this time,
because of the associated high cost. The Department strongly
backs the President's commitment to eliminate the deferred
maintenance backlog in our national parks. We need to continue
to focus resources on taking care of existing units of the
National Park System.
The acquisition cost for the proposal, estimated between $5
million and $6 million, plus recurring annual increases to park
operating costs, if the expansion becomes law, prevents our
support.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I will be
pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the
subcommittee may have. Thank you.
Senator Thomas. Okay. Thank you.
[The prepared statements of Mr. Tiller on S. 164, S. 328,
S. 347 and S. 425 follow:]
Prepared Statements of deTeel Patterson Tiller, Acting Associate
Director for Cultural Resources, National Park Service, Department of
the Interior, on S. 164, S. 328, S. 347, and S. 425
S. 164
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of
the Department of the Interior on S. 164, a bill to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites
associated with the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm labor
movement.
The Department supports S. 164, with a minor amendment described
later in the testimony. We believe that this study will provide a good
opportunity to work with the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation and others to
identify valuable resources associated with the story of Chavez's life
and the movement he led and ways to protect those resources.
The National Park Service is in various stages of progress with 40
studies previously authorized by Congress. At least 17 of those studies
are scheduled to be completed in Fiscal Year 2003. Seven additional
studies are expected to be completed early in Fiscal 2004. Our highest
priority is to complete the studies previously authorized by Congress,
but we expect to begin work on newly authorized studies as soon as
funds are available.
Ask historians to name one person who had the greatest impact on
farm labor, and the name of Cesar Estrada Chavez leaps to mind. Between
the 1950's and the 1980's Chavez cultivated a life-long commitment to
bringing respect, dignity, and democracy to the nation's farmworkers,
many of whom were Hispanic. After an initial career as a community
organizer, Chavez focused his organizing skills on the farmworkers,
inspiring them to look their employers in the eyes, stand up for their
rights and take active roles in creating their union and wielding its
power. As a result of his efforts, he continues to serve as a symbol
not only for Hispanic-Americans, but for all Americans, of what can be
accomplished in this country through unified, courageous, and
nonviolent action.
Chavez's death on April 22, 1993, brought a resurgence of interest
in his life and work and a new wave of assessments recognizing his
national and, indeed, international significance. He has taken his
place among other national labor leaders in the Department of Labor's
Hall of Fame and been recognized by an ever-increasing number of states
and communities with special holidays, events, and place names. Because
of the tremendous impact he had, we believe it is appropriate to study
sites associated with Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement he led
in order to consider ways to preserve and interpret this story of
enormous social change.
The National Park Service and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation first
discussed the possibility of conducting a national historic landmark
study of sites related to the work of Chavez and the farmworkers'
movement several years ago, as a way of identifying sites important to
the history of the man as well as the migrant worker. The Foundation
represents and fosters the ongoing legacy of Chavez and has a strong
interest in seeing that heritage preserved. In 2002, the National Park
Service collaborated with the Foundation and scholars at universities
in Washington State and California in preparing a preliminary
assessment and scope for future research on sites associated with
Chavez and the farmworkers' movement. The information gathered through
that assessment would give the National Park Service a head start on
the study authorized by S. 164.
S. 164 would authorize a study of sites in Arizona, California, and
other States that are significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the
farm labor movement in the western United States to determine
appropriate methods for preserving and interpreting sites. Through this
study, the National Park Service could examine whether certain sites
are suitable and feasible for addition to the National Park System. The
study would be conducted in accordance with the criteria for new area
studies contained in Title III of the National Parks Omnibus Management
Act of 1998.
The study also would consider whether any sites meet the criteria
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or for
designation as a National Historic Landmark. This would enable the
National Park Service to complete the work that was begun with the
preliminary assessment described earlier. The legislation specifically
requires that the National Park Service consult with the Cesar E.
Chavez Foundation, the United Farm Workers Union, and other entities
involved in historic preservation on this study. The study is estimated
to cost approximately $250,000.
The Department recommends one minor amendment to S. 164, which is
on the page attached to this testimony. This amendment would provide
for the study to be completed within three years after funding is made
available for that purpose, rather than three years after enactment of
this legislation.
Amendment to S. 164 Proposed by the National Park Service
Page 3, line 23: Strike ``of enactment of this Act'' and insert
``funds are made available for this purpose''.
S. 328
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of
the Department of the Interior on S. 328, a bill to designate Catoctin
Mountain Park in the State of Maryland as the ``Catoctin Mountain
National Recreation Area.''
The Department supports S. 328. This legislation would provide a
name for Catoctin Mountain Park that is appropriate for the purpose and
use of this unit of the National Park System, and it also would update
the authorities for administering this park.
Catoctin Mountain Park had its origins as one of 46 Great
Depression-era Recreational Demonstration Areas established by the
Resettlement Administration, which was authorized under the National
Industrial Recovery Act (1933) and Executive Orders of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Resettlement Administration acquired and
developed Recreational Demonstration Areas across the nation to provide
accessible, low-cost, quality outdoor recreation opportunities. They
were used for day trips, picnicking, and overnight camping by families,
social groups, and public organizations.
Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area, which comprised
approximately 20,000 acres, was acquired after the area had sustained
years of charcoal production, mountain farming, and harvesting of trees
for timber. The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian
Conservation Corps administered projects at Catoctin both to put people
back to work and to establish an outdoor recreation area for the urban
dwellers of nearby Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.
Jurisdiction over the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area was
transferred to the National Park Service in 1935 by Executive Order.
In 1942, one of the cabin camps built at Catoctin, Camp Hi-
Catoctin, was selected by President Roosevelt as the Presidential
Retreat we know today as Camp David. Catoctin's distinctive history
also includes serving as an O.S.S. training camp during World War II,
and having the first Job Corps camp in the United States and the
nation's oldest camp for the disabled.
In 1954, approximately 4,400 acres of the area was transferred to
the State of Maryland and became Cunningham Falls State Park. That same
year, the Director of the National Park Service approved the renaming
of Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area as ``Catoctin Mountain
Park'' and Congress provided authority to exchange lands to consolidate
holdings in the park. Catoctin Mountain Park is currently 5,810 acres
in size and has an average annual visitation of 700,000. The park,
consisting largely of eastern hardwood forest, has many attractions for
visitors: camping, picnicking, fishing, 25 miles of hiking trails and
scenic mountain vistas.
The proximity of Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp David, and Cunningham
Falls State Park has caused longstanding confusion for visitors to the
area. Catoctin Mountain Park is continually misunderstood as being
closed to the public because of the presence of Camp David. Renaming
the park as a ``national recreation area'' would offer an opportunity
to reintroduce the park as an area that is open to public recreation.
The public also has difficulty understanding why there is a difference
between the activities permitted at Catoctin Mountain Park and those
permitted at Cunningham Falls State Park. Including the word
``national'' in the name of Catoctin Mountain Park would facilitate
efforts to educate the public about these differences and to emphasize
the value the National Park Service places on protecting cultural and
natural resources for future generations.
In addition, the name ``national recreation area'' would also help
distinguish Catoctin Mountain Park from other local attractions, such
as the privately-owned Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, which are
often confused with the park. And, the name change would enhance the
efforts of the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and local tourism
officials to promote the presence of the five National Park System
units located in Frederick County, one of which is Catoctin Mountain
Park.
In addition to changing the name of the Catoctin Mountain Park, S.
328 would provide the usual authorities that are included when a new
unit of the National Park System is established. These provisions will
make it easier for the National Park Service to administer the unit
than continuing to rely on the piecemeal authorities that were granted
since the 1930's. The authorities provided by S. 328 include formally
establishing a boundary, permitting land acquisition within the
boundary, providing for administration of the unit in accordance with
laws governing the National Park System, and authorizing appropriations
for the park. These provisions will ensure that the park is able to
continue to appropriately administer the park's significant historic
resources and important natural areas. The costs associated with this
legislation would be negligible.
We are currently reviewing previous authorities for Catoctin
Mountain Park to determine whether any of them should be repealed in
conjunction with providing the new authority for the park under S. 328.
We will advise the subcommittee of our findings as soon as possible.
S. 347
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department's views on S. 347, a bill to direct the Secretaries of
Interior and Agriculture to conduct a joint special resources study to
evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Rim of the
Valley Corridor, in the Los Angeles region, as a unit of Santa Monica
Mountains National Recreation Area.
The Department supports this bill with the minor clarification
provided in this testimony. We believe that this study will provide a
good opportunity to explore partnerships with a wide range of state,
local, private, and other federal entities for the purpose of
protecting and interpreting important natural and cultural resources.
On July 18, 2002, the Department testified on S. 2571, a similar
bill that would have directed the Secretary of the Interior to study
the Rim of the Valley for addition to Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area. In our testimony, we recommended that the bill be
amended to make the study a joint study between the Secretaries of
Interior and Agriculture and we suggested that the provision that
established a 17-member advisory commission was unnecessary. At the
committee markup, S. 2571 was amended incorporating the department's
suggestions. S. 347 is identical to S. 2571 as it was amended in the
107th Congress.
S. 347 directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to
conduct a joint Special Resource Study of the Rim of the Valley
Corridor in Southern California. S. 347 further requires that the study
evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the area as a
unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The
Secretaries are directed to use the criteria for study of areas for
inclusion in the National Park System and to consult with appropriate
State, county, and local governments. The study is estimated to cost
approximately $500,000.
The National Park Service generally conducts special resource
studies to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of an area to
become a new unit of the National Park System. We understand that the
intent of this bill is not to establish a new park, but rather to study
the Rim of the Valley as a potential addition for Santa Monica
Mountains National Recreation Area. As such, we suggest that ``Special
Resource Study'' be replaced with ``resource study'' in all places
where it appears in the bill. We would be happy to work with the
subcommittee staff to develop any additional clarifying language that
may be required.
The study would assess habitat quality, access to urban open space,
low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife and habitat
restoration and protection and watershed improvements along the Rim of
the Valley corridor surrounding the San Fernando and La Crescenta
Valleys. This corridor consists of portions of the Santa Monica
Mountains, Santa Susanna Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo
Mountains, San Rafael Hills and the connector to Los Padres, Angeles,
and San Bernardino National Forests, which provide notable recreation
opportunities close to the Los Angeles basin.
In addition to natural and recreational opportunities, the area
also includes properties found on the National Register of Historic
Places. Old stagecoach stops and images of the Wild West still exist.
Amtrak's Coast Starlight line travels past many of these rich cultural
and natural motifs. The area supports a diverse system of plants and
animals, including 26 distinct plant communities and more than 400
vertebrate species.
As the largest urban park area in the National Park System, the
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area includes 153,750 acres
and provides recreational opportunities for approximately 530,000
visitors annually. During the 25 years since the national recreation
area was authorized by Congress, this unit has become a model of
collaboration of many local, state, and federal public land managers,
as well as many private property owners--all working together as
stewards of the scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources.
Recognizing the limitation of federal resources for acquiring and
managing additional lands, the study would have to examine a number of
alternatives for protecting significant areas of open space in the Rim
of the Valley Corridor, including those that involve minimal cost to
the federal government. With the study area encompassing 491,518 acres,
the study would emphasize public-private partnerships. Given the large
size and the diversity of stakeholders in the area, the study
undertaken by the National Park Service would involve extensive
outreach with members of the public, private landowners, and local
governments. It would likely entail extended comment periods, and
extensive analysis.
S. 425
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of
the Department on S. 425, a bill to revise the boundary of Wind Cave
National Park in the State of South Dakota.
The Department does not support S. 425 at this time because of the
high costs of this boundary expansion. The Department strongly supports
the President's commitment to eliminate the deferred maintenance
backlog in our national parks. We need to continue to focus our
resources on taking care of existing areas in the National Park System.
Wind Cave National Park, established in 1903, is one of the
Nation's first national parks and the first cave set aside for
protection. The cave itself, after which the park is named, is one of
the world's oldest, longest, and most complex cave systems with more
than 104 miles of mapped passages. The cave is well-known for its
exceptional display of boxwork, a rare honeycomb-shaped formation
protruding from the cave's ceilings and walls. While the cave is the
focal point of the park, the land above the cave is equally impressive
with 28,295 acres of rolling prairie, majestic forests, and pristine
creeks. Legislation passed in 1912 established the Wind Cave National
Game Preserve creating a permanent national range for buffalo and other
Native American game animals as may be placed therein. In 1935, the
Wind Cave National Game Preserve was transferred into Wind Cave
National Park.
This legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire 5,675 acres adjacent to Wind Cave National Park. A ranching
family currently owns 5,555 acres of the land and has indicated they
would be willing to sell the property to the United States as a lasting
legacy to their father. Another 40 acres of land from a willing seller
would preserve a viewshed for the park. The last 80 acres would be an
administrative jurisdiction transfer from the Director of the Bureau of
Land Management to the Director of the National Park Service. The
acquisition cost for the proposal is estimated at $5 to $6 million
although actual costs will not be known until the land appraisals are
completed. In many cases, non-profit groups are willing to purchase the
properties and hold them for a short period of time until the National
Park Service is able to designate land acquisition funding.
The current annual base funding for Wind Cave National Park is
$1.892 million. If enacted, additional funding would be required due to
anticipated increases in the number of FTEs needed for increased
wildlife and interpretive responsibilities. In addition, construction
funding of $1.817 million would be necessary for the removal and
installation of fencing. This concludes my prepared statement. I will
be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the
committee may have.
This concludes my prepared statements. I will be pleased to answer
any questions you or other members of the committee may have.
Senator Thomas. What kind of designation, what kind of
sites do you think would be appropriate for this in 164?
Mr. Tiller. Cesar Chavez?
Senator Thomas. Yes.
Mr. Tiller. Without preempting the efforts of the study,
already the National Park Service, working with the Cesar
Chavez Foundation, has conducted a number of meetings to try to
establish a time-line and what sites still remain through the
part of his life. And it encompasses--as Senator McCain
outlined, they cover everything from his birth home to the
general store that his family ran for years, to sites
associated with his national leadership movement.
That is as far as we have gotten in that before running out
of time and money to do that. So, I think there is going to be
probably a full range of historic properties we have all
throughout the Southwest associated with him.
Senator Thomas. But would you see 10 different sites being
a component of all this?
Mr. Tiller. It is hard to know. This is not certainly my
area of scholarship. My understanding is they have already
identified, working with Chavez scholars, and with the United
Farm Workers, and with the foundation, I think upwards of 20-
some sites they have already identified as still remaining from
his life. Now my guess is, based on past experience, those that
will be considered nationally significant are probably a very
small number of those. But as far as they were able to get,
they have been able to find 20-some sites.
Senator Thomas. And what do you imagine they would be
designated as, historic sites or----
Mr. Tiller. The bill gives us the direction to look for
those that might be eligible for listing on the National
Register of Historic Places, designated as national historic
landmarks. And my guess all or most of them would have to be
given that honor. Those that might be considered for inclusion
on the National Park System, I guess, would be a very tiny
number. And I would not want to out-guess the study, if we go
forward with it. But my guess is that most of them will be
National Register listings or landmark designations.
Senator Thomas. Are you prepared to move forward with this
study, if the bill passes?
Mr. Tiller. Well, given--except given the caveat, as I
said, we have 40 studies already in the mill. And so these
would have--all with congressional direction. So these would
have to get in the rest of the batch, and we will have to move
them along as best we can.
Senator Thomas. I think I asked you before, not you, but
some--if you have 40 that you have not done, why do you
continue to support additional studies until you catch up with
what you are doing?
Mr. Tiller. Well, the best I can understand from talking to
the folks in charge of this today, we have 15 to 17 that will
probably be presented to this Congress this session. So we are
making good progress on that. And many of these studies come,
as the Chavez study has, from a real strong ground swell
movement of locals and people desperately interested in having
some help from their government to identify and to honor and to
preserve these places. So we beat, as best we can, against the
wind and do the best job we can.
Senator Thomas. Well, I understand that. But putting them
on your list, if your list is not being done, why, they still
do not get finished.
Mr. Tiller. Well, Senator, we are picking away at it. As I
said, we are hoping to get 15 to 17 to you all this session.
So, we are making progress.
Senator Thomas. Well, that is good.
Senator, do you have questions?
Senator Akaka. Yes. I want to thank you for supporting the
three bills, S. 164, S. 328, and S. 347. I see where you are
not supporting S. 425 the Wind Cave National Park boundary
expansion. And yet this bill, as I recall, was passed by
unanimous consent already, but it did not pass all the way.
At one time it was supported by the Park Service, and I see
where, because of estimated costs of $5 million to $6 million
and the addition of 5,675 acres, I assume that is the reason
why it has opposition. Is there any question that these lands
constitute an important addition to the Wind Cave National
Park?
Mr. Tiller. No; they are important lands and they are
worthy lands.
Senator Akaka. I also read where, if it were not expanded,
it would have adverse effect and destroy some of the important
and natural cultural resources that are in this area. Is that
correct?
Mr. Tiller. Senator, I do not have that information. But I
know these are high quality lands.
Senator Akaka. The Department continues to recommend that
the committee defer action on park bills to address the
deferred maintenance backlog. Can you tell me what the
estimated dollar figure is for the backlog and how much
progress has been made in reducing that amount over the last
two years?
Mr. Tiller. The President, Senator, committed $4.9 billion,
based on a 1997 GAO report; $2.7 billion of that is road
infrastructure. And we are in the process right now of reducing
that amount. I was trying to get some figures before coming up
here today where we are on that, and we are still in the
process of trying to pull that information together.
We are dealing with that through budget increases and
realignment of expenditures with the Park Service budget
annually and also trying to implement some effective management
reforms so we do not get in that position again. But the
highest marching order that the President has given the
National Park Service is to buy down on the $4.9 billion
backlog.
Senator Akaka. Thank you. Thank you for your responses.
Senator Thomas. Ms. Solis, glad to have you here.
Ms. Solis. Yes.
Senator Thomas. Would you like to read your comments,
please?
STATEMENT OF HON. HILDA L. SOLIS,
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA
Ms. Solis. Yes. Thank you very much, Chairman Thomas, and
ranking member, Mr. Akaka. Thank you for allowing me the
opportunity to come to speak to you on behalf of the Cesar
Chavez study act that has been introduced by Senator McCain. I
am the sponsor of the bill in the House side, H.R. 1034. And I
am very happy that this hearing has been set today.
The bill will look for ways to honor Cesar Estrada Chavez,
founder of the United Farm Workers, who was a passionate
champion for human and civil rights, as some of you may know.
Specifically, this bill directs the National Park Service to
recognize Chavez's contributions to our society by looking for
ways to memorialize his life and work through the national
historical sites and national parks. It is the first step in
honoring his tremendous accomplishments and the local
communities where he spent his life as a child and as an adult.
Cesar Chavez, as many of you know, historically was well
known in the Hispanic community throughout this country for his
pioneering work on behalf of farm workers, many of whom resided
in the area, Delano, where he had many Filipino farm workers
working, alongside with him, to help provide fairness and
justice for those who worked and toiled in the field.
It is fitting that we recognize him and that we ask the
National Park Service to look at areas where he grew up,
particularly in Yuma, Arizona. And I believe that is why
Senator McCain is very interested in seeing this put forward. I
think it is a tribute. Hispanic-Americans look to role models.
He is one of those individuals, Cesar Chavez, who clearly in
the eyes of many in our community look to him as a leader, much
like Mahatma Gandhi and the works of Martin Luther King. It is
fitting now in this time, in this century, that we take a look
at his contributions.
I would ask that the committee look favorably on this
recommendation and look forward to working with Senator McCain.
This should be a bipartisan effort because it is something that
should be documented in our history books, as well as our
public lands. So I would ask for your support.
Senator Thomas. Thank you very much for coming over. We
appreciate that.
Representative Solis. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Solis follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Hilda L. Solis, U.S. Representative
From California
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in favor of the Cesar
Estrada Chavez Study Act, introduced in the Senate by Senator McCain. I
am the sponsor of this bill in the House, H.R. 1034, and am very happy
that you are considering this important legislation.
This bill will look for ways to honor Cesar Estrada Chavez, founder
of the United Farm Workers and passionate champion of human and civil
rights. Specifically, the bill directs the National Park Service
recognize Chavez's contributions to our society by looking for ways to
memorialize his life and work through National Historical sites or
National Parks. It is the first step in honoring his tremendous
accomplishments and the local communities where his footprints were
made.
Cesar Chavez was a humble man. Little did anyone know the greatness
that he would bestow on future generations. In his early childhood,
Cesar Chavez was raised as a farm worker in Yuma, Arizona. Raised
during the Great Depression, his family lost everything and was forced
to join the thousands of farm workers that wandered the Southwest to
find work. During his youth, the Chavez family migrated throughout the
Southwest, working in various farms that fed our country. The young
Cesar Chavez experienced first-hand the hardships and injustices of the
thousand of farm workers at that time. His home was barely livable and
his school hardly fit to be called a schoolhouse. Unfair labor
practices--harassment, abuse, long hours, low pay, hazardous working
conditions and limited educational opportunities kept farm workers from
being self-sufficient and empowered citizens.
Witnessing and experiencing this lifestyle, Cesar Chavez sought to
make changes in the way farm workers were treated. He united many
others who also suffered similar atrocities, along with those who
empathized with the struggle, to become part of the union movement.
In 1952, he left the fields and joined the Community Service
Organization. There he conducted voter registration drives and
campaigns against racial and economic discrimination.
In 1962, he took his vast experience, his compassion, and his
brothers and sisters in this multi-ethnic struggle and started the
National Farmworkers Association--today's United Farmworkers of
America. The UFW succeeded in organizing the oppressed. They overcame
this oppression through boycotts and pickets--and when all else failed,
hunger strikes.
Chavez was a student of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent philosophies.
He knew that you cannot unite people through violent means, but you can
connect them by joining hands in peaceful demonstration. Since its
inception, the UFW has achieved incredible results through its
organization. Fair wages, health care coverage, pension benefits,
housing, pesticide regulations, and countless other rights and
protections are more a reality because of the UFW and in turn because
of its founder--Cesar E. Chavez.
On a personal note, as a young Latina growing up in California,
Cesar Chavez was an inspiration to me. His life of service was part of
what inspired me to work in government.
In the past, we have honored other heroes, like Martin Luther King,
Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, through national parks and land. The
life of Cesar Chavez and his family provides an outstanding opportunity
to demonstrate and interpret the history of agricultural labor in the
west through the National Parks Service.
I thank the Committee for your time and encourage you to support
the Cesar Chavez Study Act.
Senator Thomas. Let us go back to questions then, Mr.
Tiller.
You may be excused, if you want, or you are welcome to
stay, of course.
Representative Solis. Thank you.
Senator Thomas. S. 328, Catoctin Mountain Recreation Area,
I notice that it has, in the bill, the authority to acquire
private lands, or interest in private lands, within the
boundary. How many acres of land could potentially be acquired
for acquisition over the next 5 years or so?
Mr. Tiller. The boundary that this bill finally establishes
draws a line very neatly around all the property that we
concurrently own. My understanding is there is one small parcel
of land, I think it is about 20 acres, that we are already in
the process of acquiring from a willing seller right now. And
that should be completed momentarily, as I understand it.
Therefore, everything within the boundary of this park unit
are lands that we currently own. And conversely, there is no
land that we do not own. So, condemnation or taking lands
within this boundary is not an issue. It is all our own
property now.
Senator Thomas. Why do you have authority to acquire then?
Mr. Tiller. Standard authorities that we are sort of
backfilling with this bill much needed gives us the opportunity
to make small, marginal changes to the boundary incrementally--
--
Senator Thomas. This says land within the boundary of the
recreation area.
Mr. Tiller. I understand. It is not correct, sir. All the
land within the boundary we do own, except for this one parcel
that we have a willing seller for; and we are in the process of
buying that right now.
Senator Thomas. So, what do you propose to do with this
language?
Mr. Tiller. Well, I will have to get back to you. I did not
study that for a re-write.
Senator Thomas. It says within the boundary.
Mr. Tiller. I understand.
Senator Thomas. Okay. I do not have anything further on
that bill. Did you, Senator?
Senator Akaka. No.
Senator Thomas. No more questions? Okay.
Senator Akaka. Mr. Chairman, I would ask that Senator
Daschle's and Senator Johnson's statements in support of S. 425
on the Wind Cave National Park expansion be included in the
record.
Senator Thomas. All right, sir. We will do that. Thank you.
On the Rim of the Valley study, how many acres of land does
this addition or--totally represent, should this bill's
proposal be completed?
Mr. Edmiston. Mr. Chairman, our GIS information shows that
410,496 acres would be added.
Senator Thomas. What does that portion that is now forest,
managed by the Forest Service--would that still remain managed
by the Forest Service?
Mr. Edmiston. Yes.
Senator Thomas. What difference does it make, then, if it
is in this category?
Mr. Edmiston. Well, I think, first of all, there is
significant lands that are between the Forest Service and the
National Park Service. As you can see on this map, the map
which used to be there----
Senator Thomas. I have a map.
Mr. Edmiston [continuing]. There is a connection there,
including a portion of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Santa
Susana Mountains, in connection into the Simi Hills and then
into the Santa Monica Mountains proper, that is not under any
kind of Federal protection. And that is a significant
connectivity from a biological standpoint.
And as I said, I think we have two of the Nation's premier
natural resource entities, the Forest Service and the Park
Service. And we think the genius of this bill is that it
directs both of them to get together and figure out what the
best way of managing is. And I do not think we can presuppose
and predetermine the outcome of that study.
Senator Thomas. Even including now, in the present outline
there, how much of that is private land that is within the
corridor of your current recreation area?
Mr. Edmiston. I do not have that breakdown. But you can see
in the darker green, the light green area is national forest
property. And the darker green area is publicly owned property.
And some of that is National Park Service. And the great
majority of that actually is the State of California.
Senator Thomas. Well, that green is mostly State parks, is
it not?
Mr. Edmiston. Yes, although there is approximately, I
guess, right now about 30,000 acres that is part of the
National Park System. And then the remainder is a combination
of State parks and lands owned by the Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy.
Senator Thomas. And privately owned lands interspersed, as
well?
Mr. Edmiston. Yes.
Senator Thomas. Then in this section that runs on up
towards the top there----
Mr. Edmiston. Actually, I have been presented with the
information about this: 47 percent is publicly owned and 53
percent is privately owned.
Senator Thomas. What conditions are there over the private
land, any? There are not conservation easements or whatever?
Mr. Edmiston. No. There are virtually no conservation
easements that have been acquired. Almost--because of the
nature of this property, you are talking about 90 percent of
the values, the development value, anyway. There is precious
little agriculture at all in this area.
Senator Thomas. Who manages this current Santa Monica
Mountain Recreation Area?
Mr. Edmiston. The recreation area itself is a combination
of National Park Service, State park system, and Santa Monica
Mountains Conservancy properties.
Senator Thomas. Who pays for the management of it?
Mr. Edmiston. The National Park Service, everyone in the
country, the State park system, everyone within the State of
California.
Senator Thomas. How is that divided, roughly? Is it, do you
know, half and half?
Mr. Edmiston. Each of the three management entities have
roughly 150 employees. And so we are talking about roughly 350
employees, 150 from the National Park Service, 150 from State
parks. And that is the State government contribution, Santa
Monica Mountain Conservancy. All of our sources are local
sources. We do not have actually State money. So you have
roughly one-third State, one-third local, and one-third
national.
Senator Thomas. Well, this is a huge project. There is no
question about that. And now this is a study, of course, is it
not, to determine----
Mr. Edmiston. Right.
Senator Thomas. And the Park Service is in favor of this
bill?
Mr. Tiller. Yes, sir; we are.
Senator Thomas. What about the study? Are you prepared to
do that, then?
Mr. Tiller. We are prepared to do that. We have estimated
the cost. Given the very extensive public comment it is going
to require and time to do that, given all the varied interests
and stakeholders, there are around $500,000.
Senator Thomas. And you have that money in your pocket?
Mr. Tiller. I do not have it in my pocket but it will be in
the budget, we hope.
[Laughter.]
Senator Thomas. Okay. Well, certainly as a study, it is a
reasonable thing. It is unusual. I suppose, at some time, we
have to give some thought to what is appropriate for the
National Park Service to be involved in and what is appropriate
for the State to do or the local people. Since it is right in
your State and so many private things involved, why would this
not make a good State activity?
Mr. Edmiston. Well, we have been working pretty darn hard,
Mr. Chairman, since 1983, to do what we can. The significance
of this area really is the Mediterranean ecosystem, which is a
unique ecosystem. Some people simply call it brush. And we now
recognize, for the last 30 years, it is one of the most
threatened ecosystems in the world. And studies, the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which is
part of the United Nations, has identified the Mediterranean
ecosystem as one of the most threatened ecosystems in the
world. And the reason is that it is in southern California. The
Mediterranean part of is has already been developed. You know,
you cannot find a Mediterranean ecosystem left anymore in
Italy. It has all been developed.
And in southern California, it is also good to put houses
on. And so this is the fast-disappearing ecosystem. And this is
the reason we need to recognize it as part of the national park
system.
And, Mr. Chairman, last year I read your testimony and was
impressed by it, by the comments that you made that the Park
Service should really focus in and identify. And one of the
criteria in the general authorization act of the Park Service
are those properties that are not represented, those ecosystems
not currently represented adequately, in the National Park
System. And the Mediterranean ecosystem is not adequately
represented.
In 1978, when the Santa Monica bill passed, we did not
really know the extent of the connectivity of these other
mountain ranges. And when that boundary was drawn by
Congressman Phil Burton, I was physically present when he drew
it. And that was a politically determined boundary. It did not
take into account the habitat. This boundary takes into account
the habitat.
Senator Thomas. I guess I do not know what--what did you
call it, what kind of a system?
Mr. Edmiston. Mediterranean ecosystem.
Senator Thomas. Mediterranean. I thought that was somewhere
over in Italy.
Mr. Edmiston. Well, it was. And you know what? The Romans
basically destroyed it. So the Mediterranean ecosystem, as it
exists today, exists in southern California and South Africa.
And around the Mediterranean, they pretty much--short shrift of
it. So, we still have some opportunity left.
And the interesting thing is that the biologists tell us
they do have almost as much species diversity in this habitat
system as you do, for example, in the rain forest. It just
looks a lot different. But it is very significant.
Senator Thomas. Along with 17 million people.
Mr. Edmiston. You know, 17 million people and a lot of
habitat have managed to coexist. It is an amazing thing.
Senator Thomas. It is amazing. Well, it is unique. There is
no question. I guess I am a little accustomed to national parks
that, you know, were set aside before anyone was there except
the explorers. And I understand we have different kinds of
parks. I also understand that we need to, sort of, identify
what the role of the Park Service is over time, and so on.
Well, in any event, this is a study; and we appreciate it.
And it will be interesting to see how that works out. The
department, then, is opposed to the Wind Cave national boundary
exchange?
Mr. Tiller. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. Is that specifically because of the cost?
Mr. Tiller. Yes, Mr. Chairman; yes.
Senator Thomas. So if Senator Daschle is available to stir
up some money, I suppose that would be a different idea, then?
Mr. Tiller. I would not presume to say.
Senator Thomas. Other than that, has the park looked at
this? Is this something that, aside from the cost, is a
reasonable thing to do, in terms of the resource?
Mr. Tiller. Yes, sir. These parcels of land were identified
in our approved GMP for the park as valuable additions to the
park unit. It is the cost and the President's commitment to
reducing the backlog that prevents us from supporting it at
this time.
Senator Thomas. I see. I see it would provide for continued
grazing for cattle.
Mr. Tiller. Right now, my understanding is, sir, that there
is no cattle grazing on either of the parcels. There are bison
herds. The Casey family, who owns the largest piece of the land
in question, are grazing bison at the moment. There are no
cattle.
Senator Thomas. It says continued grazing of livestock. I
do not know what that means. I have been through a little
problem with cattle grazing in the park, as you know.
Mr. Tiller. I understand.
Senator Thomas. And I do not think it is a bad idea. But
some people do. All right. Well, did you have anything further
to add?
Mr. Tiller. Thank you very much.
Senator Thomas. Mr. Edmiston?
Mr. Edmiston. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. Thank you for being here. We appreciate it
very much.
Senator, anything further?
Senator Akaka. Nothing further, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. Very well. If we have any further
questions, we will submit them. And thank you for being here.
And we adjourn the committee.
[Whereupon, at 3:17 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
APPENDIX
Additional Material Submitted for the Record
----------
Tourism Council of Frederick County, Inc.
Frederick, MD, January 24, 2003.
Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
U.S. Senator, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Sarbanes: On behalf of the more than two hundred
members of the Tourism Council of Frederick County (MD), Inc., I am
writing in enthusiastic support of your efforts to re-designate
Catoctin Mountain Park as the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation
Area.
Frederick County is blessed with the wonderful Federal and State
parks in the northern end of our county and these draw hundreds of
thousands of visitors each year. Our organization operates the
Frederick Visitor Center. The Visitor Center staff can attest to the
popularity of the parks, but also spends a good deal of time sorting
them out for visitors. Catoctin Mountain Park is frequently confused
with the adjacent Cunningham Falls State Park. This has been the case
for decades.
We believe that adding the designation ``National'' to the name of
Catoctin Mountain Park will help make the distinction between the
neighboring parks, as well as providing recognition that Catoctin
Mountain is a unit of the National Park Service. Designating Catoctin
Mountain as a National Recreation Area further clarifies the offerings
of this wonderful facility. As you know, the rich history of the park
is complemented by varied outdoor recreation opportunities including
hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking and cross-country skiing.
Frederick County is proud to be home to the bulk of Catoctin
Mountain Park and we believe that designation as Catoctin Mountain
National Recreation Area will further our efforts to promote tourism in
our area of Maryland. We appreciate your initiative in submitting
legislation to effect this change, and we appreciate your continued
support of the heritage and natural resources of our State.
Sincerely,
John J. Fieseler,
Executive Director.
______
Board of County Commissioners,
Frederick County, MD, February 6, 2003.
Hon. Paul S. Sarbanes,
U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Re: Renaming Catoctin Mountain Park
Dear Senator Sarbanes: On behalf of the Board of County
Commissioners of Frederick County, Maryland, I am writing regarding
your proposed bill regarding the renaming of the Catoctin Mountain
Park.
During their meeting on Thursday, February 6, 2003, the Board of
County Commissioners unanimously voted to support the proposed bill
that would rename the Catoctin Mountain Park to the ``Catoctin Mountain
National Recreation Area.''
We thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important
legislation. If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to
contact me at (301) 694-1028.
Sincerely,
John L. Thompson, Jr.,
President.
______
Statement of John L. Cooper, Cabinet Secretary, Department of Game,
Fish and Parks, State of South Dakota
Mr. Chairman, my name is John L. Cooper. I am the Cabinet Secretary
for the State of South Dakota, Department of Game, Fish and Parks. I
want to thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony on
behalf of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GF&P)
concerning S. 425, to expand the boundary of Wind Cave National Park in
South Dakota.
GF&P supports S. 425. State concerns and conditions that were put
forth to the National Park Service in anticipation of this boundary
expansion have been answered to our satisfaction. The working
relationship between Wind Cave National Park (Wind Cave) and the State
of South Dakota has been excellent and with continued cooperation we
can continue to address the complex needs of land and wildlife
management in the Wind Cave area.
There are two primary issues that have been addressed:
Cooperative Elk Management Plan
In June 2002, GF&P entered into a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)
with the National Park Service to establish standards in the project
planning and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for
development of an elk management plan for Wind Cave. While management
jurisdiction is clearly defined by park boundaries, animals freely
cross back and forth between these boundaries. Concerns were put forth,
and are now being addressed, on a potentially over-population of elk in
the Wind Cave and its affect on surrounding areas. Of particular
concern have been complaints from private landowners of property
depredation by elk and deer, Thus requires a regional approach to
address elk management from the standpoint of Wind Cave, the State of
South Dakota, and private landowners. Scientific data on elk
populations, movements. habitat and carrying capacity are now being
implemented. GF&P is continuing efforts with Wind Cave to develop a
regional long-term elk management plan.
Chronic Wasting Disease
As part of that same MOU, a plan has been formulated and put in
place to address the potential for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a
disease that is lethal to elk and deer. A positive test was returned on
an ells from within the Wind Cave boundaries in 2002, and CWD has been
documented on the property proposed for acquisition to complete the
boundary expansion. It will be vital to carry on long-term monitoring
and research of CWD in the expanded Wind Cave boundary area. This will
include installing and maintaining quality fences to keep lands
potentially affected with CWD segregated from other areas. The
potential for spread of CWD must be kept at zero. Work recently began
to live-trap deer within Wind Cave for CWD testing to determine the
occurrence rate of the disease. There is no live test for elk, but Wind
Cave has an elk CWD monitoring plan for any animals which exhibit
visual symptoms.
These are the initial steps in this cooperative effort. We
understand that the National Park Service will serve as lead agency for
the preparation of elk and CWD management plans and associated
Environmental Impact Statements in Wind Cave, and will have approval
authority and responsibility for any proposed actions within Wind Cave.
GF&P will act as a consultant in these management plans, and serve as
lead agency in regional management plans. Thus will allow our agencies
to effectively coordinate our planning efforts and share expertise on
these issues.
Another concern which arose and has subsequently been addressed was
the loss of public hunting opportunities should an 880 acre parcel of
School and Public Land have been included in the expansion. Alternative
``B'', which excludes those acres from the Wind Cave boundary
expansion, is the chosen alternative and will negate that issue.
Other issues that have been reviewed and will need continued
monitoring are weed control (in particular Canada thistle), prairie dog
management, and reintroduction of the black-footed ferret. These appear
to be headed in a very positive direction and we look forward to
working with Wind Cave on these efforts.
The Black Hills of South Dakota is a world-class tourist
destination that has tremendous economic benefit for our state. The
land has incredible beauty and has been a prime target of private
developers. Large tracts of valuable grassland and forest habitat are
being lost each year. We support efforts to maintain this vital
wildlife habitat.
GF&P has a strong working relationship with Wind Cave. Based on the
excellent records our agencies have in cooperation, and on the
agreements that have been put forth, we support this action to expand
the park boundary in western South Dakota.
This concludes my written testimony. Thank you again for this
opportunity.