[Senate Hearing 108-59]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 108-59
THEME STUDY TO IDENTIFY SITES OF COLD WAR; STUDY SITES IN BEAUFORT, SC;
McLOUGHLIN HOUSE IN OREGON CITY, OR; BOUNDARY OF GLEN CANYON RECREATION
AREA; AND SAN GABRIEL RIVER WATERSHED RESOURCE STUDY
=======================================================================
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. 452 S. 630
S. 500 H.R. 519
S. 601 H.R. 733
S. 612 H.R. 788
__________
MAY 13, 2003
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
______
88-040 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
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, Professional Staff Member
David Brooks, Democratic Senior Counsel
C O N T E N T S
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STATEMENTS
Page
Bennett, Hon. Robert F., U.S. Senator from Utah.................. 4
Boxer, Hon. Barbara, U.S. Senator from California................ 9
Hollings, Hon. Ernest F., U.S. Senator from South Carolina....... 2
Masica, Sue, Associate Director for Park Planning, Facilities and
Lands, National Park Service, Department of the Interior....... 11
Reid, Hon. Harry, U.S. Senator from Nevada....................... 3
Smith, Hon. Gordon, U.S. Senator from Oregon..................... 6
Solis, Hon. Hilda L., U.S. Representative from California........ 8
Thomas, Hon. Craig, U.S. Senator from Wyoming.................... 1
Wyden, Hon. Ron, U.S. Senator from Oregon........................ 4
APPENDIX
Additional material submitted for the record..................... 23
THEME STUDY TO IDENTIFY SITES OF COLD WAR; STUDY SITES IN BEAUFORT, SC;
McLOUGHLIN HOUSE IN OREGON CITY, OR; BOUNDARY OF GLEN CANYON RECREATION
AREA; AND SAN GABRIEL RIVER WATERSHED RESOURCE STUDY
----------
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2003
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee on National Parks,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:00 a.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. We will start. It is 10 o'clock and we have
a number of things to do. Senator Bennett has another
obligation, so I want to welcome you here.
We are talking eight different bills before the
subcommittee today and they are various kinds of bills that
have authorizations for studies, authorization for the
expansion of some territories, and so on. So I will not bother
to go through those right at the moment, but I do want to say
that as we look at all these new things we are talking about in
terms of heritage area studies, and so on, I think we have
always a responsibility to make sure that what we are doing
fits into the role of the Park Service and that we become aware
of the difficulty sometimes to manage the things we have now,
and we want to make sure that as we make additions they have an
additional--add to the value of our Park Service.
So why don't we go right ahead to--let us see here,
Senator. This is--what bill is this? S. 612, okay. Yes, I see.
It revises the boundary of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
in the States of Utah and Arizona.
Thank you for being here, Senator, and if you would like to
go ahead, please.
[The prepared statements of Senators Hollings, Reid, and
Wyden follow:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Ernest F. Hollings, U.S. Senator
From South Carolina
I would like to thank Chairman Thomas and Ranking Member Akaka for
holding this hearing today and reviewing S. 500, the Beaufort Study
Act. This legislation was considered by the Subcommittee in June of
last year and received unanimous support by the Subcommittee, Full
Committee and on the Senate floor. Unfortunately, due to time
restraints in the 107th Congressional Session, the House was unable to
act on the legislation.
The period of Reconstruction immediately following the Civil War is
one of the least understood periods in American History. Understanding
this pivotal era is essential to understanding America's history of
race relations. This is a largely unrecognized period of our history
that should be included in our National Park System. Many prominent
American historians recognize Beaufort County as the best location for
telling the story of Reconstruction and the beginning of a black
history in a free America. I would like to submit a copy of my
testimony from last year's hearing for the record. Again, I appreciate
your taking the time to consider this legislation.
I am here before you today to testify on behalf of black history
and the foundations of freedom that began on St. Helena Island in
Beaufort, South Carolina at the Penn Center.
The Reconstruction Era is recognized as a painful, divisive and
controversial period in our nation's history--particularly in the
South. Perhaps this is why the Congress and the National Park Service
have avoided focusing on the preservation or interpretation of historic
sites related to the Reconstruction Period and African American history
from that period. I see Reconstruction as the foundation of
unification--not only the unification of North and South, but the
unification of black and white--and the vision for equality, unity and
hope. The nationally significant events that turned the tide for the
Union and Confederate forces in the Civil War began in the capture of
the Beaufort Lowcountry. Likewise, the events of the Port Royal
experiment and establishment of the Penn Center turned the tide of
emancipation, freedom, and civil rights. Until we acknowledge our
history, our heritage, our mistakes and our successes, we will never
overcome the racial divide that has continued to plague the unity of
this nation.
As a young legislator, I had the good fortunate to work with a man
named Esau Jenkins, an African American from the Sea Islands. I can see
him right now in my office when I was a young lawyer. Esau never had a
formal education. He taught himself--and taught himself to speak Greek,
of all things. Not only was he an inspiration of self-help and
innovation to so many in his community, he was a leader with a vision
for equality.
He once said to me, ``You've got to understand, education is our
only chance.''
I said, ``What do you mean, Esau?''
He said, ``Ignorance Hollings. Ignorance is the greatest prison
there is. My people have been imprisoned.''
Plantation owners systematically deprived their slaves of literacy
and education. As my friend Esau so eloquently pleaded, not only were
slaves imprisoned by their owners, they were imprisoned by ignorance.
When tutors came to teach the little white children, the black children
were never able to participate because the way to make for a good slave
was to make sure their minds were never unsettled, their curiosity was
never inflamed.
The abolitionists knew that without education, emancipation would
be a false promise to black Americans. Likewise, newly freed slaves in
the 1860s saw a clear link between education and freedom. The Sea
Islands of Beaufort, South Carolina is where it all began. The first
reading of the Emancipation Proclamation was at Old Fort Plantation.
The Beaufort Arsenal was where freedmen voted for the first time.
Mitchellville on Hilton Head Island was the first Freedman's Village.
And, most notably, the Penn Center on St. Helena Island was the first
school for freedmen.
Quaker missionaries came to Beaufort in the wake of the Union
Army's capture of the Lowcountry in South Carolina in 1862. They came
to a strange land, to a downtrodden people, with a mission of education
and advancement. The Penn Center was at the heart of the Port Royal
Experiment--the famous ``proving ground for freedom.'' That experiment
succeeded. Penn Center's work with the 10,000 Freedmen of this area
became a model--a model for similar schools elsewhere, and a model that
Abraham Lincoln looked to in shaping his Reconstruction policies.
Penn Center has always been a jewel in the crown of South
Carolina's cultural life. But, heretofore, it has been one of South
Carolina's best-kept secrets. I can think of no better place to start
the exploration into our Reconstruction heritage than at the Penn
Center. From 1862 to this day, the Penn Center's great gift--its great
message--to African Americans is that education matters, education can
transform. By educating the nation on the foundations of freedom and
civil rights during Reconstruction, we will also help future
generations understand our cultural diversity, overcome the ignorance
of racism and make another significant stride toward national unity.
______
Prepared Statement of Hon. Harry Reid, U.S. Senator From Nevada
The Cold War, which lasted 50 years, was the longest war in United
States history, and the most expensive, costing trillions of dollars.
At its conclusion, America emerged as the only remaining superpower in
the world.
Because we faced an enemy with tremendous nuclear capabilities, it
was the most dangerous conflict our country ever faced. The threat of
mass destruction left a permanent mark on American life and politics.
Those that won this war did so in obscurity.
What is often overlooked is that hundreds if not thousands of
Americans died during the Cold War as America built its strategic
nuclear arsenal and flew thousands of reconnaissance missions over
enemy territory. Those who gave their lives in the Cold War have never
been properly honored.
In February, I introduced with Senator Ensign a bill that requires
the Department of the Interior to conduct a study to identify sites and
resources to commemorate heroes of the Cold War and to interpret the
Cold War for future generations. Identical legislation that I
introduced last year was favorably reported by the Energy and Natural
Resources Committee and the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent
in the waning moments of the 107th Congress. However, the House failed
to act on the bill prior to the adjournment of the Congress.
My legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, State historic preservation
offices, State and local officials, Cold War scholars, and other
interested parties to oversee the inventory of Cold War sites and
resources for potential inclusion in the National Park System; as
national historic landmarks; or other appropriate designations.
Obvious Cold War sites of significance include:
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles;
flight training centers;
communications and command centers (such as Cheyenne
Mountain, Colorado);
nuclear weapons test sites (such as the Nevada test site);
and
strategic and tactical resources.
Perhaps no other state in the Union has played a more significant
role than Nevada in winning the Cold War. The Nevada Test Site is a
high-technology engineering marvel where the United States developed,
tested, and perfected a nuclear deterrent which is the cornerstone of
America's security and leadership among nations.
The Naval Air Station at Fallon is the Navy's premiere tactical air
warfare training facility. The Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force
Base has the largest training range in the United States to ensure that
America's pilots will prevail in any armed conflict.
In testimony before this committee last year, Steve Ririe, Chairman
of the Silent Heroes of the Cold War National Memorial Committee,
recounted the story of 14 men who perished in a plane crash on Mount
Charleston in Nevada nearly half a century ago.
These men were involved in a top-secret project, developing the U-2
reconnaissance aircraft, the most advanced spy plane the world had ever
seen. Their success was critical to ensuring the United States would be
ready to face the challenges of a destabilized world. Experts have
credited the U-2 with avoiding World War III. The U-2 is still vital to
the American military today, and is being used to protect our interests
around the globe.
This story is just one of thousands of stories of men and women who
worked in secret to bring us safely through the Cold War conflict. Our
nation needs to recognize the veterans of the longest war in United
States history--a battle which also had the highest stakes.
I urge my colleagues to support this long overdue tribute to the
contribution and sacrifice of those Cold War heroes for the cause of
freedom.
______
Prepared Statement of Hon. Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator From Oregon
Mr. Chairman, I thank you for holding this hearing for the
McLoughlin House National Historic Site, S. 601, and I offer my support
for the passage of this legislation. Senator Smith and I are pleased to
see this bill up for consideration.
This bill would make the McLoughlin House and the nearby Barclay
House, located in Oregon City, part of the Fort Vancouver National Park
Service administrative site, highlighting the interwoven connection
between Fort Vancouver, the fur trade and the beginnings of the Oregon
Territory. Dr. John McLoughlin is known officially and fondly, as the
``Father of Oregon.'' His compassion and generosity played a critical
role in the settling of the Northwest by the Oregon Trail Pioneers.
I thank Clackamas County, particularly John Salisbury and the
McLoughlin Memorial Association, for all of their hard work to preserve
this Oregon treasure. Additionally, I thank Tracy Fortmann with the
National Park Service at Fort Vancouver for her advocacy on behalf of
the McLoughlin House. Mayor Alice Norris and the former mayors of
Oregon City who have worked together to bring this legislation to the
attention of the Oregon delegation deserve our thanks as well.
I would also like to submit for the record, letters of support from
the North Clackamas County Chamber of Commerce, the McLoughlin Memorial
Association, the City of Oregon City, the City of Gladstone, the Sons
and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers, the City of Vancouver, and the
Canadian Consulate General.
Finally, I thank Representative Hooley for having the foresight to
introduce this legislation in the House of Representatives in the 107th
Congress and again in the 108th.
Mr. Chairman, I, along with Senator Smith, thank you again for
today's hearing and look forward to working with the Committee to pass
this legislation.
STATEMENT OF HON. ROBERT F. BENNETT, U.S. SENATOR
FROM UTAH
Senator Bennett. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I
appreciate your courtesy and your promptness in scheduling this
hearing, and I will be so bold as to say this is probably the
least controversial piece of legislation you will deal with
this year.
Senator Thomas. That is good.
Senator Bennett. Because this is one where the Park Service
gets a piece of land that it covets and a private entity, the
landowner, Page One LLC in Utah, gets a piece of land that it
covets, and the taxpayers on an accounting basis get a two-and-
a-half times financial benefit. That is, the land that is being
transferred to the Park Service is worth two and a half times
as much money as the land that is being transferred to the
private individual or private corporation.
The reason the private corporation is willing to do that is
part public-spirited, because they recognize that the land they
are transferring in the land swap to the Park Service has a
tremendous tourist value. It is a viewscape of Lake Powell.
They do have the rights to develop this land in its current
boundary. They could put a 7-11 or a strip mall or anything
else on it. It is right on Highway 89 that runs from Utah to
Arizona, and they could get some benefit to it.
But, frankly, it would spoil the view that the tourists get
as they drive by and would seriously, seriously hamper the
total experience as you are driving through that area looking
towards Lake Powell.
Page One does have some other commercial properties,
development opportunities, in the area of the land they will be
getting. So even though the appraiser says the land that they
are giving is worth two-and-a-half times as much money on a
straight land appraisal value, in terms of the economic
potential the land that they are getting is more convenient to
land that they currently own.
So it is very much a win-win on both sides. It is supported
as far as I know by everybody who has looked at it--the local
community, the county officials. Not only the official elected
people in the State of Utah but the various groups involved
with the Park Service who are out to support Park Service
activities that we would think of as part of the environmental
community are also supportive because they want the viewscape
that would be made available.
I am told the Park Service is in favor of this. It to my
knowledge has no opponents and as a win-win opportunity--I go
back to my opening statement that it is probably the most
noncontroversial item that you will take up.
I want, as a matter of record, to pay tribute to
Congressman Chris Cannon, who has worked hard to get this done
on the House side, and I think if the Senate moves in an
expeditious manner that it will pass the House and go on to the
President without much difficulty.
The map is available to you that shows the location of the
land, and if you have any further questions about it I will be
happy to do my best to respond.
[The prepared statement of Senator Bennett follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Robert F. Bennett, U.S. Senator From Utah
I thank Chairman Thomas and Senator Akaka and the Subcommittee on
National Parks for holding today's hearing on S. 612, the Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area Boundary Revision Act. I appreciate the
Senate's consideration of this legislation, which will authorize a land
exchange and revise the total acreage within the National Recreation
Areas's (NRA) boundary while protecting the scenic view of Lake Powell
as seen by those traveling along U.S. Highway Route 89. Additionally, I
appreciate Representative Cannon's sponsoring of H.R. 788, the House
companion bill to S. 612.
As enacted into law, the enabling legislation for the Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area inaccurately reflected the acreage within the
NRA boundary. This legislation would correct the acreage ceiling by
estimating the acreage within the NRA to be 1,256,000 instead of
1,236,880.
Secondly, this bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior
to exchange 320 NRA acres for 152 acres of privately owned land in Kane
County, Utah. Currently, Page One L.L.C. owns 152 acres between U.S.
Highway 89 and the southwestern shore of Lake Powell. This private land
provides a breathtaking view of Lake Powell from Highway 89, which is
the main viewshed corridor between the highway and the lake. This land
also encompasses three highway access right-of-ways and a developed
culinary water well. In an effort to protect this viewshed and better
manage its boundaries along its most visited entrance, the National
Park Service (NPS) has been negotiating with Page One to exchange 370
acres of NRA lands for these 152 acres. The approximate value of the
NRA lands is $480,000 whereas the private land's appraised value is
$856,000. Page One has declared its intention to donate the balance of
the appraised value to the NPS.
I commend Page One for their willingness to donate the balance of
the appraised value to the NPS. This generosity is truly laudable and
serves to further highlight the high level of support for the goals of
this bill. While this land exchange would result in a significant
benefit to the federal government because of the donation, it should be
noted that this level of generosity is not a prerequisite for a land
exchange to be deemed in the public interest.
By authorizing this land exchange, this bill will allow the NPS to
preserve and better manage the corridor between the park and Highway
89, which affords such a scenic view of Lake Powell. This boundary
change would not add any facilities, increase operating costs, or
require additional staff and as such, it will not add to the NPS
maintenance backlog.
Because of the common interest in preserving this scenic corridor
from development, this legislation has garnered the support of the
administration, the Kane County Planning and Zoning Commission, the
National Parks Conservation Association, and the Southern Utah Planning
Advisory Council. In light of the benefits provided by and community
support for this proposal, I look forward to working with my Senate
colleagues and the administration to pass this legislation this year.
Senator Thomas. All right, sir. Well, we certainly thank
you. It does sound like it moves us forward and is something
most everyone who participates in benefits.
Was there also a correction of acreage within the NRA in
your bill?
Senator Bennett. The original assumption was that the
private landowner would receive 320 acres--it is actually 370--
and that the Park Service would receive I believe 120. It is
going to be 122 acres.
Senator Thomas. I see.
Senator Bennett. So there is some correction in that, but
it is not major and does not change the nature of the deal in
any way.
Senator Thomas. I guess I had the information that this
legislation in a separate kind of an issue, but in the same
bill, actually corrects the total acreage in the resource. It
is just a correction, I believe.
Senator Bennett. Yes, it is a correction. The map
demonstrates how the current national recreation boundary gets
changed.
Senator Thomas. Right.
Senator Bennett. It gets changed along Highway 89 so that
now the boundary of private land stops at Highway 89 and that
which is to the north and the east of Highway 89 then goes to
the Federal Government.
Senator Thomas. All right, sir. Thank you very much. We
will seek to move this along and I appreciate your efforts at
trying to strengthen and improve our Park Service.
Senator Bennett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We appreciate
your cooperation.
Senator Thomas. Let us see. We had thought that we would
have some other members and I suspect they may come in later.
And in fact, we have one right now. Senator Smith, did you have
a bill here, I believe. Would you care to go ahead and share
your statement with us?
STATEMENT OF HON. GORDON SMITH, U.S. SENATOR
FROM OREGON
Senator Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding today's
hearing on a range of bills, but specifically including S. 601,
the McLoughlin House National Historic Site Act.
Senator Wyden and I jointly agreed to introduce this
legislation where, when we were out on our own version of the
Oregon Trail, we have held joint town hall meetings throughout
Oregon, but in Oregon City specifically this bill or this issue
was raised to us. It would authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to acquire the McLoughlin House National Historic Site
in Oregon City, Oregon, for inclusion in the Fort Vancouver
National Historic Site.
I see no more fitting tribute for the man named the father
of Oregon. Dr. John McLoughlin is a revered figure in my home
State. He is one of the two Oregonians honored in Statuary
Hall. He was the superintendent of the British Hudson Bay
Company at Fort Vancouver in Washington State in the early
1800's. The Hudson Bay Company was the largest trading center
west of the Rockies prior to the California Gold Rush. In that
role, Dr. McLoughlin provided the first America pioneers
arriving on the Oregon Trail with supplies that helped them
survive their first winter.
When the provisional government was first established by
the settlers in the Willamette Valley, Dr. McLoughlin was the
undisputed governor of the vast area bounded by the Rocky
Mountains on the east, the Mexican territory, now California,
on the south, the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Russian
settlements on the north.
Dr. McLoughlin later moved to Oregon City, welcoming and
provisioning missionaries and settlers, encouraging school and
church instruction, and providing the only medical services in
the region. His early services as mayor of Oregon City, in
addition to his many other contributions, allowed him to define
the Oregon country. Our State today is a reflection of his
founding service.
To preserve Dr. McLoughlin's legacy, the McLoughlin
Memorial Association was created in 1909 to preserve his home.
In 1941, Congress designated the McLoughlin House as a national
historic site, the first in the West.
I am joined by all the members of the Oregon Congressional
delegation, as well as Senator Cantwell, in supporting the
McLoughlin House National Historic Site Act. We should protect
and promote Dr. McLoughlin's legacy of economic development and
local charity.
Linking the McLoughlin House to Fort Vancouver gives a more
complete picture of the life of the father of Oregon and will
provide more resources for people to learn from a man whose
benevolence should be emulated today.
Without objection, I would like to offer into the record
several letters provided by Oregonians supporting this
legislation, including the president of the McLoughlin Memorial
Association and the Mayor of Oregon City.
Mr. Chairman, along with Senator Wyden, we thank you for
holding today's hearing and hope to gain the committee's
support for this legislation.
Senator Thomas. Thank you very much, sir.
From information we have, I am not certain. The house now
has been operated as a historical site by a private
organization?
Senator Smith. Correct.
Senator Thomas. This proposal would direct the Park Service
to purchase the building, is that it?
Senator Smith. Yes, and have it as part of several sites on
both sides of the Columbia River to be a part of the whole
story, Fort Vancouver being the other side.
Senator Thomas. So it would be managed then by the Park
Service?
Senator Smith. Right.
Senator Thomas. Do you know the cost of the purchase? There
seem to be two different numbers in our background material.
Senator Smith. Yes, it is about $400,000.
Senator Thomas. $400,000. And that would be to purchase it
from the group that has----
Senator Smith. The association.
Senator Thomas. The association. Okay.
Senator Smith. And it is today in a fairly dilapidated
state, I am afraid, because they simply lack the resources to
maintain it as, frankly, it ought to be maintained.
Senator Thomas. Someone gave me a picture of John
McLoughlin. I think by looking at that one would not say no to
John McLoughlin.
[Laughter.]
Senator Smith. A stern visage.
Senator Thomas. I should say.
All right, fine. Thank you, sir. We appreciate that.
Oh, Representative Solis, great. Thank you for joining us.
Ms. Solis. Thank you.
Senator Thomas. Did not see you come in.
Ms. Solis. Yes.
Senator Thomas. Are you prepared to go ahead with your
statement, please?
STATEMENT OF HON. HILDA L. SOLIS,
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA
Ms. Solis. Thank you, Chairman Thomas. It is great to be
here again this year to speak to you about the San Gabriel
River Watershed Study Act that has now been introduced by
Senator Barbara Boxer as S. 630. I am the House sponsor, as you
know, of the companion bill that we presented to this committee
I believe some time ago, and it did pass our House unanimously
in March.
The bill directs the Department of the Interior to study
ways for more than 2 million people that reside around the San
Gabriel Valley and the length of the upper portion of the river
to preserve, restore, and create recreational space. The open
and green space will not only improve the environmental
landscape, but it will improve the health and surrounding
communities for future generations. I say that because the San
Gabriel community there that I represent has different
challenges--a lot of blighted areas, low income. Many of our
residents there have higher incidence of asthma, diabetes,
infant mortality, birth defects, and even cancer. In Los
Angeles County, where this area is located, neighborhoods back
in the 1990s averaged around $20,000 a year, and it was known
that less than half an acre park land was available for every
1,000 residents.
So you could imagine how hard and difficult it is for
families and children to be able to have an open park space
available for them to convene on their Saturdays or Sunday
afternoons. Very little of it--most of the community there is
paved over with cement.
Of course, this is not the case with the higher income
communities that surround the area. Incomes above $40,000 and
higher have much more access to open space. So it is somewhat
of a lopsided situation there with respect to socioeconomic
background as well as ethnicity.
What I would like to say today is that the bill that we
passed in the House is identical to the Senate bill that is now
being presented to you today. We did go through some major
changes in terms of modifying the bill so that now we are
looking primarily at what kind of resource study could be done
on this particular area.
We also kind of bifurcated the program so that we do not go
into areas of the river that are cemented over, so to speak. So
we are looking at the soft-bottom part of the San Gabriel
River, which for many purposes is still natural, where you can
still see wildlife roam and there is still natural habitat to
be seen there. I would ask for your consideration of this
proposal and thank the gentlewoman, Senator Barbara Boxer, for
her leadership and commitment to support this piece of
legislation.
[The prepared statement of Representative Solis follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Hilda Solis, U.S. Representative
From California
Thank you Mr. Chairman, I am here today to testify in support of S.
630, the San Gabriel River Watersheds Study Act, introduced by Senator
Barbara Boxer. I am the House sponsor of the companion bill and am
pleased to inform you that it passed the House unanimously in March.
This bill directs the Department of Interior to study ways for the
more than 2 million people that reside in the San Gabriel Valley to
preserve, restore and create recreational space. Open and green space
will not only improve the environmental landscape, it will also improve
the health of the surrounding communities and future generations. For
example, urban centers, similar to the San Gabriel Valley, tend to have
greater incidences of cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, infant
morality, birth defects and cancer.
Even our open space tends to favor wealthier neighborhoods. In Los
Angeles neighborhoods where household income averaged less than $20,000
in the 90s, there was less than a half-acre of parkland for every 1,000
residents. The ratio was more than 40 times higher--21.2 acres for
every 1,000 people--in neighborhoods where household incomes were
$40,000 or higher.
Park access was similarly lopsided when broken down by race.
Majority white neighborhoods had 95.7 acres of parkland for every 1,000
children, compared with 5 acres in Latino areas, 2.9 acres in African-
American neighborhoods and 6.3 acres in Asian-American areas. It is
time for us to look at ways to make sure that everyone has access to
open and recreational space regardless of the their socioeconomic
background and ethnicity. An identical bill was passed out of this
committee and on the Senate floor during the 107th Congress as part of
a California Omnibus Parks package.
Unfortunately, because another unrelated section of the omnibus
bill did not mirror the House passed version, the bill was not sent to
the President. I am hopeful that this committee will again favorably
report this bill in the near future so that the study can begin and we
can start planning for the future of open and green space in the San
Gabriel Valley.
Finally, I want to thank my good friend, Senator Boxer, for her
leadership on this issue. Thank you, Chairman Thomas and Ranking Member
Akaka.
Senator Thomas. Thank you very much.
Speaking of the Senator, here she is.
Senator Boxer. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. Go right ahead.
STATEMENT OF HON. BARBARA BOXER, U.S. SENATOR
FROM CALIFORNIA
Senator Boxer. Sorry I am running just a tad late.
It is very nice to see Congresswoman Hilda Solis. I am
proud to work with her on this legislation. S. 630 is a
companion to H.R. 519. I have a very brief statement, knowing
your schedule. I will just take a breath.
Senator Thomas. You need the open space so you can breathe.
Senator Boxer. We need a lot of open space instead of the
stairs here.
Hilda has shown tremendous leadership in helping move this
important bill, which will greatly benefit our constituents. S.
630 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation
with other appropriate Federal, State, and local government
agencies, to conduct a 3-year study of the San Gabriel River
watershed, which includes the San Gabriel Mountains.
The study would make management recommendations on how best
to preserve and protect the river, conserve wildlife habitat,
and improve water quality. These recommendations would enhance
recreational opportunities and improve downstream water
quality. Although the Lower San Gabriel runs through a very
congested urban area, this river provides important habitat for
mammals and hundreds of resident and migratory species. It is
one of the few open spaces available to over 2 million people.
I do not know--I did not hear Congresswoman Solis's point.
I am sure she made it. This is in her heart. She grew up around
there and remembers it so well when she was a child. Mr.
Chairman, I think you know--I am sure you visit Los Angeles--it
is teeming with people and we have so little to really turn to
near an urban area, and that is why this is so important.
During consideration of the legislation last year, this
committee made several changes, largely for the purposes of
clarification. The bill before you reflects those changes that
you made last year.
Mr. Chairman, there has been strong bipartisan support for
the San Gabriel River Watershed Study Act. At the State and
local level, numerous officials have endorsed the legislation.
In March of this year, the House of Representatives unanimously
passed this legislation, and I know that you know that in the
House if everybody gets together it is a rare moment in
history, and they did it over this piece of legislation. So
therefore I strongly urge you to report this bill favorably
again and allow it to move forward as soon as possible. And I
do appreciate the time that you are taking to hear from us
today.
Senator Thomas. Thank you very much.
Senator Boxer. Thank you.
Senator Thomas. What would you think of a unanimous
agreement in the Senate?
Senator Boxer. A what?
Senator Thomas. That would really be rare, would it not?
Senator Boxer. Well, that would be remarkable and I would
look forward to it. Anyway, thank you so much for your concern.
Senator Thomas. You are very welcome.
Senator Boxer. Nice to see you, Senator.
Senator Thomas. Now, this does include a number of kinds of
lands, is that right--private, State, Corps of Engineers,
forest?
Senator Boxer. Yes.
Senator Thomas. All these things.
Senator Boxer. All the stakeholders, and that was outlined
in detail very thoroughly because we wanted to make sure that
everybody had a voice at the table.
Senator Thomas. I see. And this is a study?
Senator Boxer. Yes.
Senator Thomas. And they would come back with it?
Senator Boxer. Yes, it is, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. I see. Well, I have to say that certainly
your needs for open space and recreational space in California
are quite different than they are in some other States because
of the numbers of people that you have. So I appreciate your
interest in causing us to do that. We will certainly look at
it, and thank you for being here this morning.
Senator Boxer. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Solis. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. Why don't we go ahead and move forward. If
more members appear, why, we will be more than happy to involve
them. But waiting for that, we have the Associate Director of
Park Planning, Facilities and Lands with us this morning, Sue
Masica. How do you say it?
Ms. Masica. ``MASS-ick-uh.''
Senator Thomas. ``MASS-ick-uh.'' Welcome.
STATEMENT OF SUE MASICA, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR PARK PLANNING,
FACILITIES AND LANDS, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR
Ms. Masica. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Thomas. We are very glad to have you here and I
hope that you will comment and give us, to the extent that you
can, the agency's position on these bills.
Ms. Masica. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Since you have our
written testimony and it will be provided in the record, I will
briefly summarize our position on these eight pieces of
legislation.
Senator Thomas. Great.
Ms. Masica. S. 452 directs the Secretary to conduct a Cold
War theme study of sites and resources associated with this
period in our history, and we support the bill. The bill as
introduced does include changes that were recommended by the
administration in the last Congress. The Department of Justice
has raised some concerns regarding the recommendations clause
and language in section 1(b) directing the Secretary to
identify sites for which potential inclusion in the National
Park System should be authorized.
S. 500 directs a study of sites in Beaufort, South
Carolina, related to the Reconstruction era and it includes
both a special resource study for Beaufort and then a broader
theme study for the Reconstruction era, and we support that
legislation also, with two suggested amendments: one to clarify
that the special resource study should be for the county, not
just for the historic district, because some of the sites that
are identified are for the county as well, are broader than the
historic district; and then also to make the special resource
study provisions consistent with what we do for other special
resource studies, to add that we should look at national
significance as well as suitability and feasibility.
S. 601 authorizes acquisition of the McLoughlin House
National Historic Site in Oregon City to be included as part of
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, and we support that
legislation also, with two clarifying amendments: one, that we
do not have a national historic site within a national historic
site; and the second to reference a revised map.
The proposal on the McLoughlin House is consistent with the
general management plan revision that is currently under way at
Fort Vancouver and anticipated to be completed later this year.
S. 612 authorizes a boundary adjustment for Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area and corrects the authorized acreage of
the park, as discussed by Senator Bennett, and we support that
legislation also and believe that it is a good benefit to all
the parties involved.
The last piece of legislation is S. 630, the special
resource study for the San Gabriel Watershed in California. We
also support that legislation, but believe the bill should be
amended to authorize a joint study with the Department of
Agriculture since a significant portion of the study area
encompasses the National Forest System lands in the Angeles
National Forest.
With that, I will be happy to respond to any questions that
you might have.
[The prepared statements of Ms. Masica follow:]
Prepared Statements of Sue Masica, Associate Director for Park
Planning, Facilities and Lands, National Park Service, Department of
the Interior
S. 452
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 452. This bill would require
that the Secretary of the Interior conduct a theme study to identify
sites and resources associated with the Cold War and to recommend ways
to commemorate and interpret that period of our nation's history.
The Department supports this legislation as we believe that it is
wholly appropriate for the National Park Service to undertake a study
that will help ensure that the history of the Cold War era is preserved
for future generations of Americans.
S. 452 would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
National Historic Landmark theme study to identify sites and resources
in the United States that are significant to the Cold War. The bill
specifically provides that the study consider the inventory of Cold War
resources that has been compiled by the Department of Defense and other
historical studies and research on various types of military resources.
It also requires the study to include recommendations for commemorating
these resources and for establishing cooperative arrangements with
other entities.
We want to note that the study would not cover every resource that
may be significant to the history of the Cold War as it affected our
nation, since it would not include sites outside the United States such
as U.S. installations in Germany or South Korea. It is necessary to
limit the scope of the study to sites and resources within the United
States, as S. 452 does, because we do not have the authority to
identify resources that are beyond our borders for potential National
Historic Landmark status.
In addition to authorizing the theme study, S. 452 would require
the Secretary to prepare and publish an interpretive handbook on the
Cold War and to disseminate information gathered through the study in
other ways. S. 452 would authorize appropriations of $300,000 to carry
out the legislation.
National Historic Landmark theme studies are funded from a variety
of sources including, in some cases, the special resource study budget,
which is about $1 million in FY 2003. There are 29 studies previously
authorized by Congress that are being funded from the special resource
study budget, nearly half of which will have at least some funding
needs beyond Fiscal Year 2003. We transmitted 6 special resource
studies to Congress in Fiscal Year 2002, and we expect to transmit
about 15 this fiscal year or early next fiscal year. Our highest
priority is to complete pending studies, though we expect to start
newly authorized studies as soon as funds are made available.
The National Historic Landmarks program was established by the Act
of August 21, 1935, commonly known as the Historic Sites Act (16 U.S.C.
461 et. seq.) and is implemented according to 36 CFR Part 65. The
program's mission is to identify those places that best illustrate the
themes, events, or persons that are nationally significant to the
history of the United States and that retain a high degree of
integrity. Potential national historic landmarks are often identified
through theme studies such as the one that would be authorized by this
legislation.
Theme studies are not the same as special resource studies, which
assess the suitability and feasibility of adding a site to the National
Park System. Theme studies may identify sites that may be appropriate
candidates for special resource studies, but these studies themselves
do not evaluate sites for possible addition to the National Park
System. Therefore, theme studies do not have the potential to lead
directly to new operation, maintenance or other costs for the National
Park Service.
For example, in 2000, the National Park Service completed and
transmitted to Congress a National Historic Landmark theme study on the
history of racial desegregation of public schools, which was authorized
by Public Law 105-356, the Act that established the Little Rock Central
High School National Historic Site. Federal, state, and local officials
across the country are now using this study to identify and evaluate
the significance of numerous properties. So far, properties in nine
states and the District of Columbia have been recommended for
consideration as national historic landmarks. Currently the National
Park Service is conducting several other theme studies, including one
related to the history of the labor movement, another on the earliest
inhabitants of Eastern North America, and another on sites associated
with Japanese Americans during World War II.
At the moment, the history of the Cold War has some presence in the
National Park System and on the two lists of historic sites maintained
by the National Park Service. The National Park System includes one
unit related to the Cold War, the Minuteman Missile National Historic
Site in South Dakota, which Congress established in 1999 to preserve
and interpret the role of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in our
nation's defense system.
Out of 2,342 designated national historic landmarks, five recognize
civilian or military aspects of Cold War history, and out of
approximately 76,000 listings on the National Register of Historic
Places, 17 (including the five landmarks) are related to the Cold War.
The relatively small number of recognized sites is due in large part to
the fact that the Cold War has only recently been viewed as
historically important. With or without a theme study, these numbers
would likely increase over time, and the Department of Defense could
take steps on its own to identify these sites under their jurisdiction.
National Historic Landmark program regulations require consultation
with Federal, state, and local governments; national and statewide
associations; and a variety of other interested parties. Through
partnering with a national historical organization, using a peer-review
process, and consulting with appropriate subject experts as well as the
general public, the National Park Service would ensure that the
broadest historical perspectives are represented in any study it
undertakes.
In addition, we have been informed by the Department of Justice
that the provisions of the bill that would require the Secretary of the
Interior to make recommendations to Congress concerning federal
protection for Cold War sites appear to violate the Recommendations
Clause of the Constitution, which reserves to the President the power
to decide whether it is necessary or expedient for the Executive Branch
to make legislative policy recommendations to the Congress. The
Administration would be pleased to provide language to remedy the
bill's constitutional defects.
S. 500
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 500. This bill directs the
Secretary of the Interior to study certain sites in the historic
district of Beaufort, South Carolina, relating to the Reconstruction
Era of United States history.
The Department supports S. 500, with the amendments described in
this testimony. On June 20, 2002, the Department testified in support
of S. 2388, a similar bill, with suggested amendments. Several of the
amendments were adopted and S. 500 is almost identical to S. 2388 as
passed by the Senate in the 107th Congress.
The cost of the studies should be $350,000 for the theme study and
$250,000 for the special resource study, although the final cost of the
special resource study may be less due to some degree of examination
that the Beaufort area sites would receive as a part of the larger
theme study. National Historic Landmark theme studies are funded from a
variety of sources including, in some cases, the special resource study
budget, which is about $1 million in FY 2003. There are 29 studies
previously authorized by Congress that are being funded from the
special resource study budget, nearly half of which will have at least
some funding needs beyond Fiscal Year 2003. We transmitted 6 special
resource studies to Congress in Fiscal Year 2002, and we expect to
transmit about 15 this fiscal year or early next fiscal year. Our
highest priority is to complete pending studies, though we expect to
start newly authorized studies as soon as funds are made available.
S. 500 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
special resource study of historical sites in the historic district of
Beaufort, South Carolina, relating to the Reconstruction Era. The study
would evaluate the sites' national significance and the suitability and
feasibility of designating them as a unit of the National Park System.
The bill specifies that the study be conducted in accordance with P.L.
91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-1 et seq.), which contains the criteria for
studying areas for potential inclusion in the National Park System,
with the study to be completed within three years after funds are made
available.
In addition, the Secretary is authorized to conduct a national
historic landmark theme study to identify sites and resources in the
United States that are significant to the Reconstruction Era. The study
will include recommendations for commemorating and interpreting sites
and resources that should be nominated as national historic landmarks
and sites for which further study for potential inclusion in the
National Park System should be authorized. This study is also to be
concluded within three years after funds are made available. Although
historians generally view the Beaufort sites that would be studied
under S. 500 as historically significant, the National Park Service has
not determined how significant these sites are in comparison to other
sites associated with Reconstruction. The theme study would help
provide that information.
The Reconstruction Era is generally considered to be the period
between 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, and the
withdrawal of Federal troops from the South following the Compromise of
1877 that resolved the contested presidential election of 1876. The
term ``Reconstruction'' reflects both the literal rebuilding of the
war-ravaged South and the more metaphorical rebuilding of the Union
following the divisive and destructive conflict. It was a
controversial, difficult, and violent period in American history
characterized by the adoption of new constitutional amendments and
laws, the establishment of new institutions, and the occurrence of
significant political events all surrounding the efforts to
reincorporate the South into the Union and to provide newly freed
slaves with political rights and opportunities to improve their lives.
The Beaufort, South Carolina area contains a number of sites that
are associated with events and individuals significant to the
Reconstruction Era. Among these are the Penn School on St. Helena
Island, the location of an important educational experiment in that
era; the Freedmen's Bureau, located at Beaufort College, where the
Federal Government conducted official business regarding emancipated
slaves; the Freedman's Village of Mitchellville on Hilton Head Island;
and sites associated with Robert Smalls, an African-American who served
in the U.S. House of Representatives during the Reconstruction Era.
The Department recommends some clarifying amendments to S. 500. We
recommend that the title, Section 1, and the definition for Study Area
in Section 2 be changed to reflect that the study would center on sites
in Beaufort County, South Carolina, rather then the historic district
of Beaufort. As drafted, the bill defines the study area as sites in
the historic district of Beaufort, but then it identifies several sites
to be studied that are outside of the city of Beaufort.
We also recommend that the special resource study be required to
determine the ``national significance'' of the area as well as its
suitability and feasibility for inclusion in the National Park System.
This change would be consistent with P.L. 91-383, as amended by the
National Park Service Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-391).
The text for these recommended amendments follow.
Proposed Amendments, S. 500
Page 1, Line 4, insert ``County'' after ``Beaufort''.
Page 2, Line 3, strike ``the historic district of''.
Page 2, Line 3, insert ``County'' after Beaufort''.
Page 2, Line 22, strike ``assess the suitability'' and insert
``assess the national significance, suitability,''.
Amend the title to read, ``To direct the Secretary of the Interior
to study certain sites in Beaufort County, South Carolina, relating to
the Reconstruction Era.''
S. 601 & H.R. 733
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 601 and H.R. 733, similar
bills that would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the
McLoughlin House National Historic Site in Oregon City, Oregon, for
inclusion in the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in the state of
Washington. H.R. 733 passed the House on April 8, 2003.
The Department supports both S. 601 and H.R. 733, if amended in
accordance with this statement. We believe that the McLoughlin House
National Historic Site, which is currently an affiliated area of the
National Park System, would be an appropriate addition to Fort
Vancouver National Historic Site, but we think that the legislation
should be clarified with respect to the name change that would need to
be made to the McLoughlin House if it is acquired by the National Park
Service.
The McLoughlin House is located in Oregon City, Oregon, southeast
of Portland, along the dramatic Willamette River Falls. It was the home
Dr. John McLoughlin built and lived in from 1847, after his retirement
from the Hudson's Bay Company's operations at Fort Vancouver, until his
death in 1857.
John McLoughlin is one of Oregon's most revered historical figures.
Known as the ``Father of Oregon,'' he played a major role in the
transformation of Oregon Country from British-controlled fur-trapping
territory to United States-controlled agricultural settlement lands in
the early to mid 19th Century. Born in Quebec, McLoughlin moved west,
became involved in the fur trade, and came to preside over the vast
territory claimed by Hudson's Bay Company and its operations
headquartered at Fort Vancouver, in what would become the state of
Washington. McLoughlin served as Chief Factor of Fort Vancouver from
1825 until 1845, and under his leadership the fort became the center of
political, cultural, and commercial activities in the Pacific
Northwest. He was instrumental in maintaining peace between Great
Britain, which claimed the territory, and the settlers who came to
Oregon Country from the United States, and the Native American tribes
in the region.
As the fur trade declined and American settlers began arriving to
settle in Oregon Country in large numbers, McLoughlin turned his
attention to providing aid and supplies to them. These migrants had
reached the end of their arduous journeys along the Oregon Trail, and
many were sick, starving and ill-equipped to begin a new life. He aided
them despite the Hudson's Bay Company's policy of discouraging
agricultural settlement in the region.
When McLoughlin retired from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1845, he
bought land he had claimed for the company across the Columbia River,
in Oregon City, which was beginning to emerge as a center of industry
and commerce. He built an elegant home where he and his wife Marguerite
continued to help new settlers in need. Because of McLoughlin's
generosity, his house became known as the ``house of many beds.'' After
becoming a U.S. citizen in 1851, McLoughlin became Mayor of Oregon City
and increased his acts of philanthropy throughout the region.
The McLoughlin House has retained its historic integrity as one of
the earliest examples of its architectural style in the Pacific
Northwest. It was moved from its original location elsewhere in Oregon
City nearly a century ago because of industrial encroachment and now
sits on land McLoughlin donated to Oregon City. The McLoughlin House
National Historic Site, which also includes the home of Dr. Forbes
Barclay, an associate of McLoughlin's, serves as a focal point for
education and tourism in the Portland area and is used to teach
students about the early European settlement of the Pacific Northwest.
The site continues the story that begins at Fort Vancouver of the
settling of Oregon Country facilitated by John McLoughlin.
The McLoughlin House was designated a national historic site in
1941 by the Department of the Interior, making it the first such site
in the western United States. That same year, the Department entered
into a cooperative agreement with the McLoughlin Memorial Association,
which had owned and managed the site since 1909, for operation of the
home. In 1966, the responsibility for providing assistance to the site
was delegated to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The house and
grounds maintenance, as well as curatorial assistance, at the
McLoughlin House is currently provided by staff at Fort Vancouver.
Although we are unaware of any formal action that designated the
McLoughlin House an affiliated area of the National Park System, the
National Park Service has considered this site one of its affiliated
areas for many years because of the 1941 designation and cooperative
agreement. Affiliated areas are significant properties that are neither
federally owned nor directly administered by the National Park Service
but which receive technical or financial aid from the National Park
Service. Some have been designated as affiliated areas by Congress;
others, like the McLoughlin House, have been designated national
historic sites by the Secretary of the Interior under the authority of
the Historic Sites Act of 1935.
As part of the General Management Plan revision for Fort Vancouver
National Historic Site, the National Park Service studied the
possibility of adding the McLoughlin House National Historic Site to
Fort Vancouver and found that because of the strong thematic connection
to the fort and the feasibility of managing this unit, it would be an
appropriate addition. There is broad support for this action. The
proposal to add the McLoughlin House to Fort Vancouver National
Historic Site was generated during public scoping meetings on the
General Management Plan held in Oregon City. Support is also evident
from the comments the National Park Service received earlier this year
during the public comment period on the Draft General Management Plan
and Environmental Impact Statement. We expect to finalize the revised
General Management Plan by the end of this year.
If S. 601 or H.R. 733 is enacted and funds are made available for
acquisition of the McLoughlin House, the National Park Service would
acquire the site and the contents of the McLoughlin House and Barclay
House. The estimated acquisition cost of the historic site real
property is $445,000. The furnishings and artifacts from the two
houses, estimated to be worth more than $200,000, would be donated to
the National Park Service by the McLoughlin Historical Association.
Oregon City, which owns the land used for the McLoughlin House site,
would donate a permanent easement to the National Park Service in order
to provide the Service with the access needed for the management,
protection, and public use of the site. A proposal for this donation,
incidentally, was approved through a 2001 referendum supported by more
than 80 percent of the Oregon City voters. We estimate that operation
and maintenance of the site would add $285,000 to Fort Vancouver's
approximately $1 million annual operation and maintenance costs, an
increase of about 28 percent.
The McLoughlin Memorial Association would continue to play an
important role at the McLoughlin House site. The Association plans to
use most of the proceeds from the sale of the house, not including a
small portion needed to pay off debt, to establish an endowment fund to
assist in the long-term preservation of the site and development of
educational programs throughout the Portland/Vancouver region. The
Association also plans to pursue private-sector support for educational
programming, site preservation, and other activities to support the
site.
While we support the intent of both bills, we recommend amending
the legislation to ensure that once the McLoughlin House National
Historic Site is added to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, the
McLoughlin House no longer has ``national historic site'' in its title.
We are concerned that without a clarification in the language, we would
be creating a national historic site within a national historic site.
Along with the clarifying language, we would like the legislation to
reference a revised map for the McLoughlin House. We would be pleased
to work with the committee to amend the bill's language.
S. 630 & H.R. 519
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department's views on S. 630 and H.R. 519. These bills, which are
virtually identical, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of the San Gabriel River Watershed in
Southern California. H.R. 519 passed the House on March 19, 2003.
Special resource studies assess resources in the study area,
determine whether they meet the criteria for addition to the National
Park System, and offer alternative recommendations for their
protection. S. 630 and H.R. 519 would authorize the study of the San
Gabriel River Watershed, which runs south from the San Gabriel
Mountains through a heavily urbanized part of Los Angeles County. The
Department supports studying this area. However, because the study area
includes a significant amount of United States Forest Service lands, we
believe that the bill should be amended to authorize a joint study with
the Department of Agriculture.
At first glance, many may view this river as simply a concrete-
lined ditch, however, it provides an important opportunity for low-
impact recreation for many urban residents. Several successful efforts
have already been undertaken to provide bikeways and hiking areas along
the banks of the San Gabriel. Additionally, small tracts of green space
have been acquired to provide playgrounds, picnic areas, bicycling and
walking trails. Native vegetation has been restored, repairing habitats
and beautifying the landscape in many areas.
The study area specified by S. 630 and H.R. 519 includes the San
Gabriel River and its tributaries north of and including Santa Fe
Springs, and the portion of the San Gabriel Mountains that lies within
the jurisdiction of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and
Mountains Conservancy (RMC). The study would assess low-impact
recreation and educational uses, access to urban open space, habitat
quality, wildlife and habitat restoration and protection, and watershed
improvements within that area.
The watershed of the San Gabriel River contains important natural
resources, which are disappearing throughout Los Angeles County.
Continuous greenbelt corridors provided by the river serve as habitat
for breeding, feeding, resting or migrating birds and mammals, which
allows migration to take place through developed areas. The rugged
terrain of the higher reaches of the watershed contains different
habitats including rock outcroppings and vegetation native to the
Pacific coast foothills.
This area also has a rich cultural heritage, which is evident by
the large number of historically significant properties within the
proposed study area. Among them is the Mission San Gabriel Archangel,
founded in 1771 by the Spanish missionaries who were moving up the
coast of California.
The San Gabriel River Watershed contains part of the Angeles
National Forest and several state, county and local parks. The proposed
study would look at opportunities for establishing recreational trails
between these natural areas and the communities in the region. The
estimated cost of the study is $375,000. In FY 2003, about $1 million
was provided for special resource studies. There are 29 studies
previously authorized by Congress that are being funded from the
special resource study budget, nearly half of which will have at least
some funding needs beyond FY 2003. We transmitted 6 special resource
studies to Congress in FY 2002, and we expect to transmit about 15 this
fiscal year or early next fiscal year. Our highest priority is to
complete pending studies, though we expect to start newly authorized
studies as soon as funds are made available.
Recognizing the limitation of federal resources for acquiring and
managing land, the study would have to examine a number of alternatives
for protecting resources in the area. Alternatives to federal
management of resources that are often considered in a special resource
study for this type of area include national trail designations,
national heritage area designations, and the provision of technical
assistance to state and local governments for conservation of rivers,
trails, natural areas, and cultural resources. A study of an area where
land ownership and jurisdictional boundaries are as complex as they are
in the San Gabriel River Watershed would likely emphasize public-
private partnerships.
In conducting the study, the National Park Service would work
closely with the RMC, which was established in 1999 as an independent
agency within the Resources Agency of the State of California. The RMC
has brought diverse groups together to work in partnership to protect
the valuable resources within the area under their jurisdiction.
Consideration of the issues and options available for protecting
resources in a large, heavily populated area with stakeholders at all
levels of government calls for extensive public meetings, comment
periods, and analysis. On April 8, 2003, the Senate passed S. 347,
which would authorize a study of the Rim of the Valley Corridor, also
in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. That proposed study and the
proposed San Gabriel River Watershed study, both of which would affect
large, diverse constituencies, would be similar studies conducted in
relative close proximity. If both bills are enacted in a close
timeframe, the National Park Service would want to coordinate the two
studies to achieve efficiencies in costs and staff resources, and to
minimize public confusion.
S. 612 & H.R. 788
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 612 and H.R. 788. These bills
would revise the boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
in the States of Utah and Arizona.
The Department supports S. 612 and the companion House legislation
H.R. 788. The legislation would amend Public Law 92-593 and give the
Secretary of the Interior the authority, through an exchange, to change
the boundary of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (``Park'') by
adding approximately 152 acres and deleting 370 acres in Kane County,
Utah. The current owner of the private property to be exchanged, Page
One, LLC. (``Page One''), initiated this proposal and although the
National Park Service (``Service'') has not yet appraised the parcels
involved, the owner's appraisal indicates that the Service will receive
lands with a higher value than those the Service would exchange, which
should remove the need for any land acquisition funds.
The bills would also revise the authorized acreage of the park from
1,236,880 acres to 1,256,000 acres. This change would correct the total
acreage within the park boundary that was incorrectly identified in the
park's enabling legislation. Correction of the authorized acreage
ceiling would not add any new facilities, increase operating costs, or
require additional staffing.
Since House passage of the H.R. 788 last March, we have learned
through additional surveys, conducted by Page One, that the Page One
exchange parcel identified as the Shoppman Land Exchange Parcel on the
map entitled 'Page One Land Exchange Proposal' number 608/60573a-2002
dated May 16, 2002 is closer to 122 acres than 152 acres. The acres
that the Service would acquire are located east of Highway 89,
approximately 5 miles south of Big Water, Utah and are contiguous to
the existing park boundary. Both the Page One and Park exchange parcels
are accurately reflected on the map. The lands that the Service would
be authorized to exchange are located west of Highway 89 and are
adjacent to privately owned lands. Although within the boundary of the
recreation area, the 370 acres are physically and visually isolated
from the rest of the recreation area by topographic features.
Page One, the owner of the private land has had an appraisal
completed on the lands that are proposed for exchange. If this
legislation is enacted, the Service would conduct its own appraisal on
the two parcels. However, the owner's appraisal determined that their
parcel ($5,500 per acre for a total appraised value of $671,000), which
the Service would receive, was worth approximately two and one half
times more then the appraised value of the land within the NRA Land
Exchange Parcel identified on the map ($750 per acre for a total
appraised value of $277,500).
S. 612 and H.R. 788 would also correct the acreage ceiling error
stated in Public Law 92-593, the 1972 enabling legislation for Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area. Public Law 92-593 incorrectly
estimated Glen Canyon National Recreation Area's acreage within the
boundary to be 1,236,880 acres. Using the same boundary identified on
the map referenced in the 1972 enabling legislation, application of
modern map reading and geographic information system technologies have
determined that 1,256,000 acres more accurately reflects the amount of
land within the 1972 boundary.
S. 612 and H.R. 788 enjoy a broad cross section of support. The
nearest communities to the lands proposed for exchange, Big Water, Utah
and Page, Arizona, recognize the importance of protecting the National
Recreation Area. Also, this exchange would provide an opportunity for
private development at one of the main access points to lands held by
the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
(``SITLA''). Such private development could enhance the 40,000 acres
held by SITLA and is supported by the State of Utah and Kane County,
Utah.
As the House has passed H.R. 788 and the legislation is identical
to S. 612 we would recommend passage of H.R. 788, in order to move this
legislation expediently.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared remarks. I would be
pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the
subcommittee may have.
Senator Thomas. All right. Well, thank you. You are very
supportive today. That is good.
Just a couple of questions on some of them here, like the
Cold War study. Do you have any idea of how many sites? It
seems like that is an awfully broad subject.
Ms. Masica. We do not have a good idea on the number of
sites specifically. One of the things that the study would do
would establish sort of the registration requirements to help
the researchers identify which sites tell them significant
stories associated with the Cold War, and how many sites would
potentially be eligible for a national historic landmark is one
of the things that the study would enable us to do.
Senator Thomas. I see. Have you had an opportunity to
comment, receive comments, or ask for comments from Department
of Defense or other agencies that would be involved?
Ms. Masica. That is done within the administration in the
process of the clearing of the testimony and so the Department
of Defense did see the testimony and raised no objections to
our position.
Senator Thomas. I see. In broad terms--and I understand
they have to be broad--as we expand the role of the Park
Service in historic landmarks or historic sites or historic
places and so on, have we been able to come up with some sort
of a criteria, some sort of a standard? Is there any limit to
how many of these things could be the responsibility of the
Park Service? Is there any concern about that, and how do we
know what might be eligible for that kind of a listing?
Ms. Masica. Certainly I think the requirement that Congress
enacted a couple of years ago now on special resource studies
for potential units to be included in the system, the
requirement that the study has to be authorized before we can
proceed with the study, I think is an important threshold that
requires us to then look at the three major criteria that we
look at in that study process are national significance, the
suitability of the resources that are there for inclusion, and
then the feasibility for inclusion as a unit of the system.
So that has certainly contributed to a pretty consistent
scrutiny of proposed units to the Park System.
Senator Thomas. Well, those are very broad descriptions,
though. Suitability, what is the criteria for suitability? And
I understand it is difficult, but frankly I am concerned that
we need to define those things that have national significance
in some manner, as opposed to rather localized things that
perhaps ought to be done on a different level.
I guess I do not expect you to know the answer, but I think
we ought to give a little more thought to that, especially when
we grapple every day with, well, from the Park Service we do
not have enough resources to keep up the things that we have.
Yet I do not know of any studies that have not been supportive,
do you? Any studies that have said no, this does not qualify.
Ms. Masica. Actually, I think the information I have in
front of me says that during the past 2 years we have
transmitted 12 studies to Congress and only 4 of those 12 made
a positive finding about eligibility for some type of national
designation. So it is not definitely a ``make it a unit of the
system'' every time we study.
Senator Thomas. I would like--would you give us a little
more information on those numbers, just what they were and so
on?
Ms. Masica. Sure. Can we provide that for the record, Mr.
Chairman?
Senator Thomas. Fine, thank you.
I have got some more questions, but, Senator Smith, do you
have any?
Senator Smith. No, thank you.
Senator Thomas. This Beaufort study, South Carolina, this
is S. 500. What is the Park Service role in the historic
district currently?
Ms. Masica. Right now we do not have any sort of a
management role or operational role in that historic district.
There are some properties that are in that district that are on
the National Register, so with our authorities for managing the
National Register program we might monitor them, but it is not
an ongoing operational kind of role.
The other activity that is under way in that area is that
we were authorized and are conducting a special resource study
of the low country Gullah culture, and some of that is in that
Beaufort area. But again, that is not an operational or a
management role.
Senator Thomas. So this, the current role then, is simply
basically to have listed these areas as sites?
Ms. Masica. Correct.
Senator Thomas. But no responsibility for financing them or
managing them?
Ms. Masica. That is correct.
Senator Thomas. Do you anticipate that further sites would
be handled in the same way? What do you anticipate to be the
end product here?
Ms. Masica. Again, I think that is part of what the study
would enable us to investigate further, as to what the order of
magnitude would be. I think the legislation, I think it is six
or seven specific sites that we are supposed to look at for the
special resource study. But the theme study is a much broader,
encompassing.
Senator Thomas. What would the cost be for this study, do
you know?
Ms. Masica. The estimate for the special resource study is
about $250,000 and the estimate for the theme study is
$350,000.
Senator Thomas. When do you think that would take place?
Ms. Masica. The fiscal 2004 budget request for our study
activity is $500,000 in total nationwide, and we have others
that we have not started yet that have been authorized.
Senator Thomas. So if you were limited to the studies that
would come under the $500,000, you would have probably less
than two studies?
Ms. Masica. I do not have the specifics right in front of
me, but the total cost estimates for the number of studies that
we have outstanding exceed the money that we will devote to
studies in fiscal 2004.
Senator Thomas. Do you know what that is, your estimate?
Ms. Masica. I do not know if I have a specific. Estimates
to complete currently authorized studies are about $910,000, so
that is before any new ones are authorized.
Senator Thomas. And there are several right here.
Ms. Masica. That is right.
Senator Thomas. What is the role of the Park Service in the
McLoughlin House National Historic Site now?
Ms. Masica. Presently it is a designated national historic
site and it is managed as an affiliated area. So our role is
some maintenance and curatorial assistance.
Senator Thomas. Is there some management advantage to
having the management of the house be done by the Fort
Vancouver Historic Site group or is that the potential?
Ms. Masica. That is I think the potential and what the
proposal is. My recollection is that last year it was proposed
that this would be--McLoughlin House would be a totally
separate unit of the Park System, and we said from an
operational efficiency and a management perspective it would be
far smarter to combine it with Fort Vancouver on the other side
of the river, and that is what the legislation proposes to do.
Senator Thomas. So this is sort of an efficiency move?
Ms. Masica. Yes, sir.
Senator Thomas. In terms of management.
Ms. Masica. Yes, sir.
Senator Thomas. Okay. Glen Canyon; is there any opposition
to this exchange? It seems like it is a benefit pretty much
around.
Ms. Masica. That is my understanding also. I am not aware
of any opposition.
Senator Thomas. How did they miss the acreage in the unit
by 50,000 acres?
Ms. Masica. Some people have said the Park Service does not
know how to count and that might be yet another example of it.
I do not know.
My understanding is it has to do with the topography and
the filling of the lake, and beyond that I will exhaust my
technical capacity to answer that question.
Senator Thomas. So that addition is simply an adjustment of
a number that is inaccurate?
Ms. Masica. Right, it is not adding any acreage. It is
fixing the number from what was legislated in the early 1970's.
Senator Thomas. Okay. Then the San Gabriel Watershed study.
Is this sort of a different kind of a study for you to
undertake? It seems like normally you sort of study something
that is a little bit defined before you begin. Here it appears
to be a rather broad concept.
Ms. Masica. It certainly is an area that has multiple
resources, but that is not unique for what we sometimes are
asked to do. I think the Rim of the Valley one, which you have
seen not that long ago this year, is in a similar situation. I
think the important thing from our perspective is that one of
the important values from special resource studies can be to
help local communities identify what the resources are and what
alternatives exist for protecting them and saving the resources
and managing them in a way that fits the needs of the local
community, and not just automatically assuming that the
National Park Service is the answer to everything.
Senator Thomas. You had I believe an estimate on one of
your other studies. Do you have a cost estimate on this one?
Ms. Masica. This one, the estimate I have been given is
$375,000.
Senator Thomas. Did I misunderstand? This is a longer
study? Or one of them was. Wasn't it a 3-year study or
something?
Ms. Masica. Three years tends to be what most of them are,
about what they take by the time we do the deploying the
resources on the ground and getting the study under way and
then allowing for all the appropriate consultation and
communication with folks.
Senator Thomas. And you have contacted the Department of
Agriculture with regard to the Forest Service aspect of it?
Ms. Masica. That is my understanding is part of the
testimony clearance process, that that was the recommendation
that was made, that they be involved also. I personally have
not talked to them, but that is my understanding.
Senator Thomas. And apparently the Corps of Engineers is
involved as well?
Ms. Masica. They would not be a co-lead on the study, but
they would certainly be one of the affected parties that we
would make sure we touch base with.
Senator Thomas. Well, these probably are not the most
controversial set of proposals that we have ever faced, but
there is certainly merit in them. I appreciate that very much.
Senator Smith, anything you would like to add?
[No response.]
Senator Thomas. Well, thank you very much. I think we have
broken a record here this morning, I think, on time. But that
is probably good. Thank you so much and we will look forward to
working with you.
Ms. Masica. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Thomas. The hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:35 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
APPENDIX
Additional Material Submitted for the Record
----------
Statement of Hon. Chris Cannon, U.S. Representative From Utah
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for considering S. 612 and its House
companion, H.R. 788. I am grateful for the opportunity to come before
the subcommittee today to express my strong support for this bill.
Before I commence with my testimony, I want to take a quick moment
to thank Senator Bennett for his leadership and hard work on this
issue. As I'm sure the Members of this panel are aware, it would be
hard to find a Senator more highly esteemed than Senator Bennett. The
Senator's vast knowledge, deliberative demeanor, and quick wit are
greatly appreciated by each Member of the Utah delegation. I want to
publicly thank Senator Bennett for his dedication and tireless efforts
on behalf of the State of Utah and for helping to move this legislation
forward.
S. 612 has two purposes. First, it revises the boundary of the Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area by exchanging 152 acres of land owned
by Page One LLC for approximately 370 acres of land within the National
Recreation Area. This exchange will enable both entities to consolidate
their properties and will make it possible for the Park Service to
protect the scenic viewshed of Lake Powell from Highway 89.
The second purpose of the bill is to increase the acreage ceiling
for the National Recreation Area. The park's enabling legislation
incorrectly identified the total acreage within the park boundary. This
bill will correct that error.
S. 612 is the result of years of discussion and negotiation between
Page One and the National Park Service. The Park Service has been
involved from day one. The local communities have also voiced their
support for this bill. In addition, the Kane County Planning and Zoning
Commission, the Southern Utah Planning Advisory Council and the
National Parks Conservation Association all endorse this land exchange.
It is in the common interest of the Glen Canyon community, the
landowners, the National Park Service and the general public to
preserve the view between Lake Powell and U.S. Highway 89 along this
entrance corridor.
I want to thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to
testify in favor of this bill today. With that, I yield back the
balance of my time.
______
Statement of Hon. Darlene Hooley, U.S. Representative From Oregon
Mr. Chairman, I would like to offer my support for the McLoughlin
House Preservation Act, S. 601 or H.R. 733, which I introduced in the
House. This historic house stands today as a reminder of the great
contribution Dr. John McLoughlin made to the settlement of the Oregon
Country.
At six feet four inches, Dr. John McLoughlin cast a giant of a
shadow on the early development of the Oregon frontier. For twenty-one
years his powerful voice was the only influence of law and order over
an empire two and a half times the size of Texas. He had absolute
control, and he maintained it peacefully and profitably with a balanced
sense of justice.
With an overwhelming sense of compassion and generosity beyond
reproach, it is little wonder that Native Americans regarded him as,
``The Great White Eagle.'' John McLoughlin did indeed, walk taller and
cast the greatest shadow that ever fell so humbly on the changing face
of Oregon.
Born in 1784 near Quebec, Canada, McLoughlin began his medical
apprenticeship at age 14. In 1803, by the age of 19, he was granted his
license to practice surgery and pharmacy. Soon after, Dr. McLoughlin
was appointed medical officer for the North West Company, fierce
competitor of the Hudson's Bay Company in the fur trade. He continued
there until 1821, until its acquisition by Hudson's, for whom he
continued working.
In 1824, Dr. McLoughlin was sent to Fort George, now Astoria,
Oregon, near the mouth of the Columbia River. Charged with establishing
an administrative headquarters and supply depot for the expanding fur
trading company, he also was tasked with creating a mercantile arm of
the British government, with the goal of monopolizing the fur trade and
maintaining peace among the numerous Indian tribes.
Upon arrival, he found the existing facility to be run down, the
farmland to be poor, and a location that was, in general, unsuitable
for his responsibilities. To remedy these deficiencies, he moved the
site northwest, and build a new settlement at Belle Vue Point, in what
is now Washington State, and named it Fort Vancouver.
The new fort was an imposing presence, at 750 feet by 450 feet and
a 20-foot stockade. It contained all of the necessities for the
settlement, with a school, library, pharmacy, chapel warehouses,
smithy, and the largest manufacturing facility west of the Rockies. To
the rear of the fort were fields of grain, vegetables, and an orchard
for fresh fruits.
Dr. McLoughlin maintained friendly relations with the local
Indians, and, in 1829, when a visiting ship brought a terrible fever
that spread like wildfire, he spent countless hours tending to the ill,
trying to ease their suffering as much as he could. Despite his best
efforts, the fever devastated the tribes, and killed more than 30,000
over the next 4 years.
Meanwhile, though, Fort Vancouver flourished under the guidance of
Dr. McLoughlin. Even though he had no military forces, he was able to
maintain peace and order through his personality and hard work. His
good relations with the local Indians kept the peace on that front, and
it was not until his departure that any unrest developed from that
quarter. As a reward for his enlightened stewardship, Queen Victoria
knighted him at Buckingham Palace in 1841.
During the 1840s, the British came to the realization that
preventing American settlers from homesteading in Oregon was all but
impossible, but they tried their best to discourage settlers from
beginning the trip. Tall tales of fierce Indians, unproductive land,
and terrible weather conditions were spread far and wide.
Though it violated Hudson's Bay Company policy, McLoughlin
sympathized with the overwhelmed and often unprepared settlers. He
extended credit so that they could purchase supplies, clothing and seed
for planting; offered food to those who were hungry; and cared for
those who took ill. This personal decision by Dr. McLoughlin, and the
compassion that he showed to these settlers, proved critical to
establishing American settlers and solidified U.S. claims to the
territory.
By 1845, Dr. McLoughlin's disgust for Hudson's policy towards
American settlers was so great that he was unable to stay with the
company. After his resignation, he purchased the company's land claim
at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, and built an elegant white
clapboard home for his family (The McLoughlin House), and took up
residence there in 1846.
McLoughlin remained a public figure during his retirement, and
became a U.S. citizen in 1849. He donated land for a jail and female
seminary, and in 1851 he was elected mayor of Oregon City. He died in
his home only six short years later.
In 1941, the McLoughlin House was designated a National Historic
Site, the first one in the west, and in 1957, Dr. John McLoughlin was
named ``Father of Oregon'' by the Oregon State Legislature.
Clearly, Fort Vancouver and the McLoughlin House have a long and
storied history together. The intent of my legislation is to see that
history continued by expanding the boundaries of the Fort Vancouver
National Historic Site to include the McLoughlin House National
Historic Site.
Currently, the McLoughlin House National Historic Site is
maintained and managed by the non-profit McLoughlin Memorial
Association. When this historic residence faced demolition in 1909, the
Memorial Association was formed and money was raised to move the house
to a public park atop the bluff, where it opened as a museum one year
later.
For nearly 100 years, the association has done admirable work to
preserve and maintain this historic treasure that thousands of people
visit annually. However, over the past several years, the association
has been unable to raise the funds required to provide the needed
maintenance and upkeep of the property that is now in jeopardy of
falling into disrepair.
The McLoughlin House National Historic Act would do what should
have been done 60 years ago: include these properties as part of the
National Park System (NPS). Rather than creating a new unit of the NPS,
this legislation simply adds this historic treasure to the existing
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, which is already administered as
part of the National Park System. I believe this addition will preserve
in perpetuity the cultural, educational, and historical benefits of
this historic site for future generations.
I am proud of the wide-ranging support that this legislation has
garnered: numerous city and county officials, the McLoughlin Memorial
Association, and the entire Oregon Congressional delegation. The
importance of this historic house to the community was demonstrated
when the citizens of Oregon City approved, by more than 80 per cent, a
ballot measure that grants the National Park Service an interest in the
city property on which the McLoughlin House now sits to allow the NPS
to administer the house.
In closing, I would again like to thank everyone who has
contributed to making this legislation possible, and I feel certain
that this legislation will move swiftly through both Houses of Congress
and to President Bush's desk. I look forward to the day when he signs
this bill and the house of Oregon's Founding Father is preserved for
our children and beyond.
______
Statement on S. 500, Reconstruction History Partnership
The Reconstruction History Partnership in South Carolina writes to
support passage of S. 500, legislation that directs the Secretary of
the Interior to study certain sites in the area of Beaufort, South
Carolina, relating to the Reconstruction Era to assess the suitability
and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National
Park System.
In January 2001, the Reconstruction History Partnership, composed
of the Penn Center, University of South Carolina Beaufort, City of
Beaufort, Town of Hilton Head Island, and Beaufort County, officially
adopted a ``Mission Statement'' affirming the partnership's intent to
provide a cooperative framework to assist its citizens, institutions,
and visitors in retaining, enhancing and interpreting the significant
history and places of the Reconstruction era. The eminent
Reconstruction scholar Eric Foner has encouraged us and has stated on a
number of occasions that the best place in the United States to
interpret the Reconstruction era is in the Beaufort area.
The Reconstruction History Partnership has met regularly for over
two and a half years and has received a grant from the South Carolina
State Humanities Council to assist in developing an inventory of
historic resources, to develop educational materials, and to hold a
series of public forums. The Partnership has worked to gain the support
of the board community and has received letters of support from: County
Council of Beaufort County, City of Beaufort, Town of Hilton Head
Island, University of South Carolina Beaufort, Penn Center, Institute
for Southern Studies of the University of South Carolina, Historic
Beaufort Foundation, Chamber of Commerce of Hilton Head Island, Coastal
Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island, Greater Beaufort Chamber of
Commerce, Greater Beaufort-Hilton Head Economic Development
Partnership, Inc., Lowcountry and Resort Islands Tourism Commission,
Main Street Beaufort, USA, South Carolina Department of Parks,
Recreation and Tourism. There is a broad consensus locally and
nationally that Beaufort County retains significant historical and
archeological sites associated with Reconstruction. These include: the
Penn School for former slaves founded in 1862 and located on St. Helena
Island: the Old Fort Plantation, on the Beaufort River on the grounds
of the United States Naval Hospital, where the first African-Americans
assembled on January 1, 1863 to hear the reading of Abraham Lincoln's
Emancipation Proclamation which set them free; the Freedmen's Bureau
housed in the recently restored Beaufort College; the first Freedmen's
Village of Mitchelville on Hilton Head Island; and many noteworthy
historic buildings and archeological sites associated with the Civil
War hero and Reconstruction leader, Robert Smalls.
There are certainly other places in the United States where events
central to Reconstruction took place. However, there is no other place
in the United States that offers the potential for interpreting so many
varied components of the Reconstruction experience. The Reconstruction
History Partnership has identified four themes that can ably be
developed with the historic resources in the Beaufort area. These
reconstruction themes are: the beginning of reconstruction in America;
the political revolution and accompanying conflict; the social ,
economic, and demographic transformation; and education for all. Since
the National Park Service has no current unit that is specifically
focused on interpreting all of the varied facets of this important
period that shaped modern American, we are most hopeful that S. 500
will receive your support.
______
Statement of Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor of History,
Columbia University
I write to support S. 500, the Beaufort, South Carolina Study Act,
a bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to prepare a special
resource study on the feasibility and suitability of establishing a new
unit of the National Park Service in the Beaufort, South Carolina area
to interpret the Reconstruction Era. I have spent much of my scholarly
career researching and writing about Reconstruction.
My book, ``Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution''
(1988), was awarded the Bancroft Prize, Los Angles Times Book Prize,
and several other awards. I am convinced that the best location for
telling the story of this pivotal era in American history is the area
of Beaufort, South Carolina.
Reconstruction, the era that followed the American Civil War, is
one of the least understood periods in American history. An accurate
understanding of Reconstruction, based on the best recent scholarship,
is essential to America's understanding of the history of race
relations in the United States as well as of the enduring impact of the
Civil War. Reconstruction was the period when for the first time, the
principle of equality before the law for all citizens, regardless of
race, was written into our law and Constitution.
It was the first time that African Americans in significant numbers
were allowed to participate in American democracy. The period also laid
the foundation for the modern black community, with schools, churches,
and families no longer subject to disruption as under slavery. For
white Americans, too, it was a time of dramatic change. The Beaufort
area is the most appropriate site for a Reconstruction unit. Because it
saw little fighting during the Civil War, many buildings of historical
importance remain intact.
The area contains the homes of several prominent Reconstruction-era
leaders, plantations where the transition from slave to free labor took
place, and the Penn School, established by northern aid societies to
teach and assist the former slaves. The Beaufort area was the home
before the war of one of the most prominent parts of the planter class.
It witnessed some of the pivotal events of the Reconstruction period--
the early arming of black solders; an experiment in emancipation during
the Civil War; the election of one of the era's black Congressmen
(Robert Smalls): All Americans would benefit form the establishment of
a National Park unit that would preserve historic sites in this
important place, and make available an up-to-date understanding of the
role of Reconstruction in American history.
______
Statement on Behalf of the American Historical Association,
Organization of American Historians, and the National Coalition for
History
The Organization of American Historians, the American Historical
Association, and the National Coalition for History join today in
urging passage of S. 500, the Beaufort, South Carolina Study Bill of
2003, a bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to prepare a
special resource study on the feasibility and suitability of
establishing a new unit of the National Park Service in the Beaufort,
South Carolina area to interpret the Reconstruction Era. This period
marks one of the most significant turning points in American history
for it was the time when the country made adjustments for the
transition from slavery to freedom of a large percentage of the
American population.
The National Park Service has approximately thirty sites that
interpret the Civil War; however, there are none in the National Park
System that are devoted primarily to Reconstruction. The Andrew Johnson
National Historical Site in Greeneville, Tennessee tells part of the
political story and the Nicodemus, Kansas National Historical Site
focuses on the establishment of a freedmen's town. However, there are
no units of the National Park Service that try to deal with all of the
political, social, cultural, and economic aspects of the Reconstruction
Era.
We strongly support the area of Beaufort, South Carolina for
interpreting the Reconstruction Era because that is where the initial
experiment with Reconstruction occurred, as the Union troops began
occupation of this area at the end of 1861. In 1862, several
humanitarian and missionary organizations began to send teachers from
the North to Beaufort and the Sea Islands to undertake a massive
education program. At the same time, the federal government initiated
programs in the Beaufort area to assist in preparing the ex-slaves for
inclusion as free citizens in American public life. These combined
efforts have been called the Port Royal Experiment.
Beaufort County retains significant historical and archeological
sites associated with Reconstruction. Two National Historic Landmark
Districts are in this area the campus of the Penn School for former
slaves founded in 1862 and located on St. Helena Island, and the
historic portion of the town of Beaufort where many of Reconstruction
policies evolved and were implemented, including the recently restored
Beaufort College where the Freedmen's Bureau was housed. Additionally
there is a very significant National Register of Historic Places Camp
Saxton Site at the Old Fort Plantation on the Beaufort River. This is
where the first African-Americans in the country assembled on January
1, 1863 to hear the reading of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation which set them free. An estimated 5,000 people gathered
for the three-hour ceremony and full day celebration. Colonel Thomas
Wentworth Higginson of the newly-organized infantry of African American
soldiers wrote in his diary of the January 1 events ``So ended one of
the most enthusiastic and happy gatherings I ever knew.'' Other
historic resources of note are the first Freedmen's village of
Mitchelville on Hilton Head Island. There are also many buildings
associated with the African American Reconstruction leader, Robert
Smalls, who represented the Beaufort area in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
The program that emerged out of the Beaufort experience surfaced
elsewhere as America's Reconstruction policies developed and evolved.
But Beaufort (location of the Port Royal experiment) was unique because
it was the first and most highly publicized of these ``rehearsals for
Reconstruction.'' It was also unique because it took place in a much
more compact setting than occupied Louisiana or the Mississippi Valley,
and because it was a unique grassroots effort by former-slaves and
their northern allies to develop a vision of American freedom. While
northern schoolteachers, missionaries, and philanthropic entrepreneurs
streamed into Beaufort, military officials were the dominant decision-
makers in occupied Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley and implemented
more centrally designed policies, which were constrained by larger
resisting populations. As a result, these other locations established
important precedents for postwar labor relations and political
alignments, but they did not match the range of ideas that kept
Beaufort at the forefront of national attention. For example, the
Beaufort area's educational initiatives and the programs of job
training and land distribution make it a compelling part of the
Reconstruction story.
For many years our professional historical organizations have
worked closely with the National Park Service in providing input and
advice on the planning and management of historic sites including many
potential new national park areas. Since the National Park Service has
no unit that focuses primarily on interpreting the Reconstruction Era,
we believe that S. 500 addresses a glaring gap in the National Park
System and merits your support.
______
Statement of Bernt W. Kuhlmann, President of Page One, LLC,
a Utah Limited Liability Company
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to provide this written
statement presenting the views of Page One LLC (``Page One'') on S. 612
and H.R. 788.
Page One is the developer of the Page One Project (``Project'')
which it anticipates will be located on approximately 1,800 acres of
land in Kane County, Utah situated to the southwest of U.S. Highway 89.
It currently has under ownership or option the portions of Sections 6,
31 and 32 which it anticipates will be included in the Project.
Page One is also desirous of including a portion of Section 5 in
the Project (the ``GCNRA Parcel'') which is currently included within
the Glen Canyon National Recre4Tiurn Area (the ``Area''). In order to
obtain the GCNRA Parcel, Page One is willing to exchange it (the
``Exchange'') for the portion of Section 32 which it owns situated to
the northeast of U.S. Highway 89 (the ``Page One Parcel'').
S. 612 and H.R. 788 authorize the Exchange. The approximate
locations of the GCNRA Parcel and the Page One Parcel are identified on
the map entitled ``Page One Land Exchange Proposal'' number 608/60573a-
2002 dated May 16, 2002.
Independent appraisals obtained by Page One conclude the value of
the Page One Parcel is in excess of two and one-half times the value of
the GCNRA Parcel. Page One is willing to forfeit the excess appraised
value as a donation to the National Park Service (``Service'').
The Project is owned by the developers of Dunton Hot Springs, a
boutique-style, luxury resort near Telluride, Co
(www.duntonhotsprings.com). The Project is a master planned, low
density resort and residential development. The resort will be managed
by an acclaimed luxury hotel operator who has established a track
record with the creation of unique, life-style hotels located in Asia,
Africa, Europe, North America and Mexico.
The Project, which is located in a somewhat economically
disadvantaged area, will add value and provide commerce through job
creation and the attraction of additional development. It is endorsed
by the Kane County Planning and Zoning; Commission and the Southern
Utah Planning; Advisory Council.
The Exchange is in the common interest of the Service, the entire
Glen Canyon community, and the general public. The Page One Parcel
being added to the Area represents a scenic view corridor between Lake
Powell and U.S. Highway 89 which will result in a more manageable
boundary for the Service at its most visited entrance. In addition, the
Page One Parcel contains three established highway access rights of
way.
While important to the development of the Project, the GCNRA parcel
as presently configured consists of topographically isolated land with
no vehicular access, no right-of-way, no water rights, and no site
improvements,
As the House has passed H.R. 788 and the legislation is identical
to S. 612 we would recommend passage of H.R. 788 in order to move this
legislation expeditiously.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared remarks, and I request
they be submitted for the record. I will be pleased to make myself
available to answer the Committee's questions should the need arise.