[House Report 105-834]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 475
105th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Report 105-834
REPORT ON LEGISLATIVE AND OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES
of the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
during the
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
December 29, 1998.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
--------
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
69-006 WASHINGTON : 1999
COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES
DON YOUNG, Alaska, Chairman
W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana GEORGE MILLER, California
JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
JIM SAXTON, New Jersey NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia
ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota
JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan
JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut \2\
JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California BILL RICHARDSON, New Mexico \4\
WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland PETER A. DeFAZIO, Oregon
KEN CALVERT, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American
RICHARD W. POMBO, California Samoa
BARBARA CUBIN, Wyoming NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii
HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas
LINDA SMITH, Washington OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia
GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey
WALTER B. JONES, Jr., North CALVIN M. DOOLEY, California
Carolina CARLOS ROMERO-BARCELO, Puerto Rico
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York
JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam
JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada SAM FARR, California
ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island
CHRIS CANNON, Utah ADAM SMITH, Washington
KEVIN BRADY, Texas WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
JOHN E. PETERSON, Pennsylvania CHRIS JOHN, Louisiana
RICK HILL, Montana DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin
BOB SCHAFFER, Colorado Islands
JIM GIBBONS, Nevada NICK LAMPSON, Texas \3\
MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho \1\ RON KIND, Wisconsin \5\
LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas \6\
__________
\1\ Appointed to Committee on Resources pursuant to H.Res. 32 on
January 21, 1997.
\2\ Resigned from the Committee on Resources on February 5, 1997.
\3\ Appointed to Committee on Resources pursuant to H.Res. 36 on
February 5, 1997, and resigned from the Committee on Resources on April
17, 1997.
\4\ Resigned from the House of Representatives on February 13, 1997.
\5\ Appointed to Committee on Resources pursuant to H.Res. 58 on
February 13, 1997.
\6\ Appointed to Committee on Resources pursuant to H.Res. 120 on April
17, 1997.
STANDING SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES
National Parks and Public Lands
JAMES V. HANSEN, Chairman
ELTON GALLEGLY ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA*
JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr. EDWARD J. MARKEY
JOEL HEFLEY BRUCE F. VENTO
WAYNE T. GILCHREST DALE E. KILDEE
RICHARD W. POMBO CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO
HELEN CHENOWETH MAURICE D. HINCHEY
LINDA SMITH ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD
GEORGE P. RADANOVICH PATRICK J. KENNEDY
WALTER B. JONES, Jr. WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT
JOHN B. SHADEGG DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN
JOHN E. ENSIGN RON KIND
ROBERT F. SMITH LLOYD DOGGETT
RICK HILL ------ ------
JIM GIBBONS
______
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans
JIM SAXTON, Chairman
W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN FRANK PALLONE, Jr.*
WAYNE T. GILCHREST NEIL ABERCROMBIE
WALTER B. JONES, Jr. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ
JOHN E. PETERSON SAM FARR
MICHAEL D. CRAPO PATRICK J. KENNEDY
______
Energy and Mineral Resources
BARBARA CUBIN, Chairman
W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO*
JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr. NICK JOE RAHALL II
KEN CALVERT SOLOMON P. ORTIZ
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY CALVIN M. DOOLEY
CHRIS CANNON CHRIS JOHN
KEVIN BRADY DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN
JIM GIBBONS ------ ------
__________
*The first listed Minority Member is counterpart to the Subcommittee
Chairman.
Water and Power
JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, Chairman
KEN CALVERT- PETER A. DeFAZIO*
RICHARD W. POMBO GEORGE MILLER
HELEN CHENOWETH OWEN B. PICKETT
LINDA SMITH CALVIN M. DOOLEY
GEORGE P. RADANOVICH SAM FARR
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY ADAM SMITH
JOHN B. SHADEGG RON KIND
JOHN E. ENSIGN LLOYD DOGGETT
ROBERT F. SMITH ------ ------
CHRIS CANNON ------ ------
MICHAEL D. CRAPO
______
Forests and Forest Health
HELEN CHENOWETH, Chairman
JAMES V. HANSEN MAURICE D. HINCHEY*
JOHN T. DOOLITTLE BRUCE F. VENTO
GEORGE P. RADANOVICH DALE E. KILDEE
JOHN PETERSON ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA
RICK HILL ------ ------
BOB SCHAFFER ------ ------
__________
*The first listed Minority Member is counterpart to the Subcommittee
Chairman.
Full Committee Staff
Lloyd A. Jones, Chief of Staff
Elizabeth R. Megginson, Chief Counsel
Christine A. Kennedy, Chief Clerk/Administrator
Cynthia A. Ahwinona, Legislative Staff
Christina Delmont, Investigative Staff
Deborah A. Callis, Deputy Chief Clerk
Kurt Christensen, Investigative/Legislative Staff
Michael Correia, Staff Assistant
Zachary Falcon, Investigative Staff
Christopher Fluhr, Investigative/Legislative Staff
Doug Fuller, Investigative Staff
Duane R. Gibson, General Counsel for Investigations
Tim Glidden, Counsel
Jose M. Guillen, Systems Administrator
Steven M. Hansen, Communications Director
Aloysius Hogan, Counsel/Legislative Staff
Linda J. Livingston, Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff
T.E. Manase Mansur, Legislative Staff
Karen Needy, Receptionist
Lisa Pittman, Deputy Chief Counsel
John Ramage, Printing Clerk
John C. Rishel, Investigative/Legislative Staff
Marcia M. Stewart, Legislative Assistant to the Chief Counsel
Marion Tucker, Printing Clerk*
Ann C. Vogt, Legislative Calendar Clerk
Margherita T. Woods, Chief Financial Officer
minority staff
John Lawrence, Staff Director
Jeffrey P. Petrich, Chief Counsel
Marie J. Howard Fabrizio, Minority Legislative Staff
Joycelyn Johnson, Staff Assistant
Carrie Yourd Moore, Legislative Aide/Clerk
Joseph Novotny, Staff Assistant
Ann N. Owens, Executive Assistant to the Staff Director
Christopher Stearns, Minority Counsel/Legislative Staff*
Daniel Weiss, Communications Director
subcommittee staff
subcommittee on national parks and public lands
Room H1-814 O'Neill, Phone 202/226-7736
Allen D. Freemyer, Staff Director
Gary Griffith, Legislative Staff
Tod Hull, Legislative Staff
Nancy Laheeb, Subcommittee Clerk
Cherie Sexton, Subcommittee Clerk
Dan Smith, Legislative Staff*
Steve Hodapp, Legislative Staff*
Richard Healy, Minority Legislative Staff
__________
*This staff person is no longer with the Committee on Resources.
subcommittee on fisheries conservation, wildlife and oceans
Room H1-805 O'Neill, Phone 202/226-0200
Harry F. Burroughs, Staff Director
Bonnie B. Bruce, Legislative Staff
Maryanne Harper, Subcommittee Clerk
Sharon I. McKenna, Legislative Staff
Kathleen A. Miller, Subcommittee Clerk
John Clark Rayfield, Legislative Staff
David S. Whaley, Legislative Staff
Doug Hodum, Sea Grant Fellow
Mike Oetker, Sea Grant Fellow
Greg Balco, Sea Grant Fellow*
Joseph Love, Subcommittee Clerk*
Lisa Rulli, Subcommittee Clerk*
Michelle Sparck, Subcommittee Clerk*
Jean Flemma, Minority Legislative Staff
Christopher Mann, Minority Legislative Staff
John Clark Field, Minority Sea Grant Fellow
Karen Steuer, Minority Legislative Staff*
Dan Terrell, Minority Sea Grant Fellow*
______
subcommittee on energy and mineral resources
Room 1626 Longworth, Phone 202/225-9297
William S. Condit, Staff Director
Dawn Criste, Subcommittee Clerk
Michael K. Henry, Legislative Staff
David Wunsch, Congressional Science Fellow, U.S. Geological Service
Sharla F. Bickley, Legislative Staff*
Deborah Von Hoffmann Lanzone, Minority Legislative Staff
______
subcommittee on water and power
Room 1522 Longworth, Phone 202/225-8331
Robert C. Faber, Staff Director
Joshua Johnson, Legislative Staff
Ken Fisher, Detailee from Public Heath Service, Environmental
Protection Service*
Natalie Nelson, Subcommittee Clerk
Fred Ore, Detailee from Bureau of Reclamation*
Lara Chamberlain, Subcommittee Clerk*
Valerie S. West, Legislative Staff*
Elizabeth Birnbaum, Minority Counsel/Legislative Staff
J. Stevens Lanich, Minority Legislative Staff
______
subcommittee on forests and forest health
Room 1377 Longworth, Phone 202/225-0691
Doug Crandall, Staff Director
Anne Heissenbuttel, Legislative Staff
Kathy Crook Jarmiolowski, Subcommittee Clerk
William Simmons, Staff Director*
__________
*This staff person is no longer with the Committee on Resources.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Resources,
Washington, DC, December 29, 1998.
Hon. Robin H. Carle,
Clerk of the House of Representatives,
The Capitol, Washington, DC.
Dear Ms. Carle: Pursuant to clause 1(d) of Rule XI and Rule
X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, here is a
report of the legislative and oversight activities of the
Committee on Resources during the 105th Congress.
Sincerely,
Don Young,
Chairman.
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Letter of Transmittal............................................ VII
Overview......................................................... 1
Full Committee............................................... 3-
Legislative Activities................................... 8
Oversight Activities..................................... 21
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.............. 34
Legislative Activities................................... 36
Oversight Activities..................................... 49
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans-. 59
Legislative Activities................................... 60
Oversight Activities..................................... 67
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources................. 77
Legislative Activities................................... 79
Oversight Activities..................................... 80
Subcommittee on Water and Power.............................. 87
Legislative Activities................................... 88
Oversight Activities..................................... 91
Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.................... 97
Legislative Activities................................... 98
Oversight Activities..................................... 104
Appendices-...................................................... 111
Printed Hearings............................................. 111
List of Public Laws-......................................... 120
Committee Prints............................................. 122
105th Congress Report
2d Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 105-834
_______________________________________________________________________
LEGISLATIVE AND OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES,
105TH CONGRESS
_______
December 29, 1998.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
Overview
The Committee on Resources meet on February 5, 1997, for an
organizational meeting of the 105th Congress under the
direction of Chairman Don Young of Alaska. The Committee
Membership was 50 Members with 27 Republicans (Congressman
Michael D. Crapo of Idaho had been appointed to the Committee
on January 21, 1997) and 23 Democrats.
On February 5, 1997, Congressman Sam Gejdenson on
Connecticut resigned from the Committee and the Democratic
Conference appointed Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas to the
Committee. On February 13, 1997, Congressman Bill Richardson of
New Mexico resigned from the Committee to become Ambassador to
the United Nations and the Democratic Conference appointed
Congressman Ron Kind to the Committee.
On April 17, 1997, Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas
resigned from the Committee and the Democratic Conference
appointed Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas to the Committee.
The Committee set up five subcommittees: National Parks and
Public Lands (James V. Hansen, Chairman); Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans (Jim Saxton, Chairman);
Energy and Mineral Resources (Barbara Cubin, Chairman); Water
and Power (John T. Doolittle, Chairman); and Forests and Forest
Health (Helen Chenoweth, Chairman).
Jurisdiction
(1) Fisheries and wildlife, including research,
restoration, refuges, and conservation.
(2) Forest reserves and national parks created from the
public domain.
(3) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership,
including alien ownership of mineral lands.
(4) Geological Survey.
(5) International fishing agreements.
(6) Interstate compacts relating to apportionment of waters
for irrigation purposes.
(7) Irrigation and reclamation, including water supply for
reclamation projects, and easements of public lands for
irrigation projects, and acquisition of private lands when
necessary to complete irrigation projects.
(8) Measures relating to the care and management of
Indians, including the care and allotment of Indian lands and
general and special measures relating to claims which are paid
out of Indian funds.
(9) Measures relating generally to the insular possessions
of the United States, except those affecting the revenue and
appropriations.
(10) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks within the
District of Columbia, and the erection of monuments to the
memory of individuals.
(11) Mineral land laws and claims and entries thereunder.
(12) Mineral resources of the public lands.
(13) Mining interests generally.
(14) Mining schools and experimental stations.
(15) Marine affairs (including coastal zone management),
except for measures relating to oil and other pollution of
navigable waters.
(16) Oceanography.
(17) Petroleum conservation on the public lands and
conservation of the radium supply in the United States.
(18) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of
interest on the public domain.
(19) Public lands generally, including entry, easements,
and the grazing thereon.
(20) Relations of the United States with the Indians and
the Indian tribes.
(21) Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline (except ratemaking).
(22) Oversight functions provided for in clause 3(e) of the
House Rules with respect to all programs affecting Indians.
Source: Rule X(l) of the House of Representatives.
Activities Report
committee on resources statistics
Total number of bills and resolutions referred-................... 628
Total number of bills reported from committee-.................... 142
Total number of reports filed-.................................... 141
Legislative reports-.......................................... 139
Oversight reports-............................................ 2
Total number of bills passed by the House-........................ 157
Total number of resolutions approved by both Houses-.............. 1
Total number of bills enacted into law-........................... 170
Full Committee
I. Introduction
Alaska Legislation
Alaska Public Lands: The Committee held hearings and
favorably reported several bills addressing public lands issues
in the State of Alaska. Alaska has more federally owned land
than any other state, including the largest systems of national
parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and wilderness areas
in the country. There are also a great variety, uses and broad
dispersal of Federal lands, waters and resources in the state,
and a large number of Natives living in all regions. Bills
considered by the Committee were intended to resolve problems
or conflicts involving claims to, use or management of, and
access to these Federal lands and interests, and uphold the
United States' trust responsibilities to Alaska Natives. A
majority of the bills considered by the Committee provided for
land exchanges to achieve a certain goal in the public interest
or in the interest of Alaska Natives. In addition, two of the
bills provided for grants of access across Federal lands to
address particular problems, and one bill granted recognition
of aboriginal land claims of five Native communities in the
southeastern panhandle of the state. All hearings on these
bills were held in Washington, D.C. H.R. 1948, the Hood Bay
Land Exchange Act, and H.R. 3903, the Glacier Bay National Park
Boundary Adjustment Act, were signed into law. A compromise
version of H.R. 2259, the King Cove Health and Safety Act, was
included in the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY)
1999.
Native American Legislation
Numerous bills relating to Native Americans were considered
by the 105th Congress. Most of that legislation was related to
specific Native American Tribes. The following is a compilation
of those Tribes affected by legislation acted on by the
Committee on Resources.
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians: Legislation (H.R.
700) was enacted relating to the distribution of certain
revenues to members of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians.
Arikaara, Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes: Legislation (S. 2069)
was enacted to permit the mineral leasing of Indian land
located within the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in any case
in which there is consent from a majority interest in the
parcel of land under consideration for lease.
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation:
Legislation (S. 391) was enacted to provide for the disposition
of certain funds appropriated to pay a judgment in favor of the
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation.
Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians:
Legislation (H.R. 2742) was passed by the House which would
transfer 5.03 acres of surplus Bureau of Land Management land
to the Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians.
Bay Mills Indian Community: Legislation (H.R. 1604) was
enacted which provides for the distribution of certain judgment
funds to the Bay Mills Indian Community.
Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians: Legislation
(H.R. 948) to reaffirm and clarify the Federal relationship of
the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians was reported
out of the Resources Committee but did not receive enough votes
on the Floor of the House to be passed.
Cabazon Indian Tribe: Legislation (H.R. 4068) was enacted
which will extend the leasing authority of the Cabazon Indian
Tribe to 99 years.
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon:
Legislation (H.R. 4068) was enacted which will expand the
service area of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of
Oregon to include certain additional counties in Oregon.
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon:
Legislation (H.R. 4068) was enacted which will extend the
leasing authority of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon to 99 years.
Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Restoration Act:
Legislation (H.R. 4068) was enacted which will add certain
lands to the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Reservation.
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe: Legislation (H.R. 4068) was
enacted which directs the Secretary of the Interior to take
certain land within the State of Oregon into trust for the
benefit of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe.
Cuyapaipe Band of Mission Indians: Legislation (H.R. 2742)
was passed by the House which would transfer 1,360 acres of
surplus Bureau of Land Management land to the Cuyapaipe Band of
Mission Indians.
Fort Bidwell Community of Paiute Indians: Legislation (H.R.
2742) was passed by the House which would transfer 299.04 acres
of surplus Bureau of Land Management land to the Fort Bidwell
Community of Paiute Indians.
Fort Independence Community of Paiute Indians: Legislation
(H.R. 2742) was passed by the House which would transfer 200.06
acres of surplus Bureau of Land Management land to the Fort
Independence Community of Paiute Indians.
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians:
Legislation (H.R. 1604) was enacted which provides for the
distribution of certain judgment funds to the Grand Traverse
Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Hoopa Valley Tribe: The Hoopa Valley Reservation South
Boundary Adjustment Act (H.R. 70) was enacted to transfer land
to the Tribe and adjusts the boundary of the Reservation to
correct a survey mistake made decades ago.
Jicarilla Apache Tribe: Legislation (H.R. 4068) was enacted
in which Congress approves a settlement agreement which has
become a part of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe Water Rights
Settlement Act.
Ketchikan Indian Corporation: Legislation (H.R. 4068) was
enacted which removes a non-health use restriction imposed upon
a facility operated by the Ketchikan Indian Corporation next to
the Ketchikan General Hospital.
Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma: Legislation (H.R. 2314) was
passed by the House to restore Federal Indian services to
members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma residing in Maverick
County, Texas.
La Jolla, Rincon, San Pasqual, Pauma and Pala Bands of
Mission Indians: Legislation (H.R. 4068) was enacted which
authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to
disburse certain funds to the La Jolla, Rincon, San Pasqual,
Pauma and Pala Bands pursuant to the San Luis Rey Indian Water
Rights Settlement Act.
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan:
Legislation (H.R. 1604) was enacted which provides for the
distribution of certain judgment funds to the Little River Band
of Ottawa Indians of Michigan.
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan:
Legislation (H.R. 1604) was enacted which provides for the
distribution of certain judgment funds to the Little Traverse
Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan.
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe: The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
Infrastructure Development Trust Fund Act (S. 156) was enacted
to establish an infrastructure development trust fund for the
Tribe using certain receipts generated by the Pick-Sloan
Missouri River Basin power project.
Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota: Legislation
(H.R. 4068) was enacted which authorizes the Lower Sioux Indian
Community in Minnesota to sell certain land which it owns in
fee.
Manzanita Band of Mission Indians: Legislation (H.R. 2742)
was passed by the House which would transfer 1,000.78 acres of
surplus Bureau of Land Management land to the Manzanita Band of
Mission Indians.
Miccosukee Tribe of Florida: The Miccosukee Settlement Act
of 1997 (H.R. 1476) was enacted to transfer certain Florida
State land to the Tribe and transferred other land from the
Tribe to the State of Florida.
Legislation (H.R. 3055) was also enacted which modifies the
boundary of the Miccosukee reservation in Florida.
Morongo Band of Mission Indians: Legislation (H.R. 2742)
was passed by the House which would transfer 40 acres of
surplus Bureau of Land Management land to the Morongo Band of
Mission Indians.
Pala Band of Mission Indians: Legislation (H.R. 2742) was
passed by the House which would transfer 59.2 acres of surplus
Bureau of Land Management land to the Pala Band of Mission
Indians.
Pit River Tribe: Legislation (H.R. 2742) was passed by the
House which would transfer 561.69 acres of surplus Bureau of
Land Management land to the Pit River Tribe.
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Michigan: Legislation (H.R. 1604)
was enacted to provide for the distribution of certain judgment
funds to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Michigan.
Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota:
Legislation (S. 391) was enacted to provide for the disposition
of certain funds appropriated to pay a judgment in favor of the
Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota: Legislation (S. 391) was
enacted to provide for the disposition of certain funds
appropriated to pay a judgment in favor of the Spirit Lake
Tribe of North Dakota.
United Auburn Indian Community: Legislation (H.R. 1805) was
passed by the House to amend the Auburn Indian Restoration Act
to restrict gaming on and use of land held in trust for the
United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria of
California.
The following pieces of legislation affect numerous, if not
all, Native American tribes:
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments: Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act amendments (H.R. 2000) were passed
to resolve many of the technical problems which have arisen
since the passage of ANCSA and the Alaska National Interest
Lands Conveyance Act. These amendments, identified by the
Alaska Federation of Natives, relate to land trades, the
retention of certain mineral estates, the distribution of
certain bonds, the granting of certain subsurface rights, the
Calista Native Corporation land exchange, the administering of
certain mining claims, and certain Native allotment
applications.
Tribal Self-Governance Amendments: Legislation (H.R. 1833)
was passed by the House which would make the Self-Governance
demonstration program within the Department of Health and Human
Services a permanent program.
Indian Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act:
Legislation (H.R. 1154) intended to reform the Federal
recognition process for Indian tribes was reported out of the
Resources Committee but failed to receive enough votes to be
passed by the House.
Indian Health Care Improvement Act: Legislation (H.R. 4068)
was passed which amends portions of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act to extend certain funding through FY 2002.
Advisory Council on California Indian Policy: Legislation
(H.R. 3069) was enacted which will extend the life of the
Advisory Council on California Indian Policy to allow the
Council to advise Congress and other officials on the
implementation of its proposals and recommendations.
Insular Affairs
The Committee focused on increasing self-sufficiency and
self-governance in the United States flag islands and the
freely associated states in Micronesia during the 105th
Congress. These insular affairs objectives were accomplished
primarily through Congressional hearings and oversight in
Washington and the various islands in the Caribbean and
Pacific. Formal requests from the individual governments often
formed the basis for legislative action by Congress to improve
self-government and self-sufficiency.
The Committee: (1) acted to improve self-government in the
insular areas with the approval of the ``United States-Puerto
Rico Political Status Act'' (H.R. 856) by authorizing a long-
term self-determination process exceeding ten years to respond
to the request of the Puerto Rico Legislature to resolve the
political status problem for the nearly 4 million American
citizens of Puerto Rico; (2) passed the ``Guam Organic Act
Amendments'' (H.R. 2370) authorizing changes to the Federal law
authorizing the government structure in Guam by allowing the
people of Guam to determine if the Attorney General should be
an elected office, adjust the size of the legislative quorum to
a simple majority to correspond with the size of the
legislature, and to clarify the authority of the legislature
over local matters; and (3) passed ``Increased Territorial
Election Authority'' (H.R. 1460) providing the people of Guam
with a streamlined election process for the Guam Delegate by
eliminating a separate ballot requirement in the existing law,
which will result in savings to the territory. The Committee
also acted on legislation to increase self-reliance and self-
sufficiency among the island communities with: (1) the passage
of the ``Hawaiian Homes Commission Act Amendments'' (H.J. Res.
32) emphasizing the importance of the extended family and self-
reliance among Native Hawaiians by permitting people awarded
Hawaiian homesteads to be able to designate grandchildren as
successors and separately to permit the issuance of hurricane
insurance coverage for lessees of Hawaiian home lands; (2) the
passage of the ``Program Extension For Communities In The
Former United States Trust Territory'' (H.R. 1460) extending
specific support for the small Micronesian atolls that were
affected by U.S. nuclear testing and are part of a radiological
rehabilitation and resettlement process to restore their self-
sufficiency; and (3) the passage of the ``American Samoa
Development Act'' (H.R. 757) establishing an economic
development commission to analyze alternative to spur private
sector development in America's principal inhabited territory
south of the equator.
ii. jurisdiction
(1) Measures and matters concerning the transportation of
natural gas from or within Alaska and disposition of oil
transported by the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
(2) Measures and matters relating to Alaska public lands,
including forestry and forest management issues, and Federal
reserved water rights.
(3) Environmental and habitat measures and matters of
general applicability.
(4) Measures relating to the welfare of Native Americans,
including management of Indian lands in general and special
measures relating to claims which are paid out of Indian funds.
(5) All matters regarding the relations of the United
States with the Indians and the Indian tribes, including
special oversight functions under clause 3(e) of Rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives.
(6) All matters regarding Native Alaskans and Native
Hawaiians.
(7) All matters related to the Federal trust responsibility
to Native Americans and the sovereignty of Native Americans.
(8) All matters regarding insular areas of the United
States.
(9) All measures or matters regarding the Freely Associated
States and Antarctica.
(10) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve
international programs for the protection of the environment
and the conservation of natural resources within the
jurisdiction of the Committee.
(11) All measures and matters retained by the Full
Committee under Committee rule 6(e).
(12) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Committee under House Rule X.
iii. legislative Activities
A. Legislative hearings and markups
February 5, 1997--Organization meeting held for the 105th
Congress.
March 5, 1997--Markup held on H.J. Res. 32, to consent to
certain amendments enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Hawaii to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920; H.R. 63, to
designate the reservoir created by Trinity Dam in the Central
Valley Project, California, as Trinity Lake; H.R. 412, to
approve a settlement agreement between the Bureau of
Reclamation and the Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District; H.R.
437, to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College
Program Act; and H.R. 709, to reauthorize and amend the
National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992.
March 12, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 752, to amend the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 to ensure that persons that
suffer or are threatened with injury resulting from a violation
of the Act or a failure of the Secretary to act in accordance
with the Act have standing to commence a civil suit on their
own behalf; and H.R. 757, to develop the economy of American
Samoa.
March 19, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 856, to provide a
process leading to full self-government for Puerto Rico.
Printed Hearing 105-16
April 10, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 478, to amend the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 to improve the ability of
individuals and local, State and Federal agencies to comply
with that Act in building, operating, maintaining, or repairing
flood control projects, facilities, or structures and to
determine whether Federal wildlife policies have impeded proper
ongoing maintenance and repair of flood control structures.
Printed Hearing 105-12
April 16, 1997--Markup held on H. Con. Res. 8, expressing
the sense of Congress with respect to the significance of
maintaining the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems;
H.R. 39, to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act;
H.R. 408, to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to
support the International Dolphin Conservation Program in the
eastern tropical Pacific Ocean; H.R. 449, to provide for the
orderly disposal of certain Federal lands in Clark County,
Nevada, and to provide for the acquisition of environmentally
sensitive lands in the State of Nevada; and H.R. 478, to amend
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to improve the ability of
individuals and local, State, and Federal agencies to comply
with that Act in building, operating, and maintaining, or
repairing flood control projects, facilities, or structures.
April 19, 1997--Field hearing held in San Juan, Puerto
Rico, on H.R. 856, to provide a process leading to full self-
government for Puerto Rico. Printed Hearing 105-28
April 21, 1997--Field hearing held in Mayaguez, Puerto
Rico, on H.R. 856, to provide a process leading to full self-
government for Puerto Rico. Printed Hearing 105-27
April 30, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 1420, to amend the
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to
improve the management of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Hearing held on H.J. Res. 59, to disapprove a rule
affecting polar bear trophies from Canada under the 1994
amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act issued by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the
Interior. Printed Hearing 105-18
May 5, 1997--Field hearing held in Tannersville, New York,
on H.R. 901, to preserve the sovereignty of the United States
over public lands and acquired lands owned by the United
States, and to preserve State sovereignty and private property
rights in non-Federal lands surrounding those public lands and
acquired lands. Printed Hearing 105-26
May 21, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 79, to provide for the
conveyance of certain land in the Six Rivers National Forest in
the State of California for the benefit of the Hoopa Valley
Tribe; H.R. 985, to provide for the expansion of the Eagles
Nest Wilderness within Arapaho and White River National
Forests, Colorado, to include the lands known as the Slate
Creek Addition upon the acquisition of the lands by the United
States; H.R. 1019, to provide for a boundary adjustment and
land conveyance involving the Raggeds Wilderness, White River
National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects of earlier
erroneous land surveys; H.R. 1020, to adjust the boundary of
the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado to
include all National Forest System lands within Summit County,
Colorado, which are currently part of the Dillon Ranger
District of the Arapaho National Forest; H.R. 1439, to
facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe National Forest in
the State of California to Placer County, California; H.R. 856,
to provide a process leading to full self-government for Puerto
Rico; H.R. 858, Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery and
Economic Stability Act of 1997; and H.R. 1127, to amend the
Antiquities Act to require an Act of Congress and the
concurrence of the Governor and State legislature for the
establishment by the President of national monuments in excess
of 5,000 acres, but did not complete action.
June 10, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 901, to preserve the
sovereignty of the United States over public lands and acquired
lands owned by the United States, and to preserve State
sovereignty and private property rights in non-Federal lands
surrounding those public lands and acquired lands. Printed
Hearing 105-26
June 11, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 1278, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1997.
June 18, 1997--Joint hearing held with Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs on H.R. 1082/S.569, to amend the Indian Child
Welfare Act of 1978, and for other purposes. Printed Hearing
105-44.
June 24, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 700, to remove the
restriction on the distribution of certain revenues from the
Mineral Springs parcel to certain members of the Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians; H.R. 948, to reaffirm and clarify the
Federal relationship of the Burt Lake Band as a distinct
federally recognized Indian Tribe, and for other purposes; H.R.
976, to provide for the disposition of certain funds
appropriated to pay a judgment in favor of the Mississippi
Sioux Indians, and for other purposes; and H.R. 1604, to
provide for the division, use, and distribution of judgment
funds of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan pursuant
to dockets numbered 18-E, 58, 364, and 18-R before the Indian
Claims Commission.
June 25, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 1127, to amend the
Antiquities Act to require an Act of Congress and the
concurrence of the Governor and State legislature for the
establishment by the President of national monuments in excess
of 5,000 acres; H.R. 765, to ensure maintenance of a herd of
wild horses in Cape Lookout National Seashore; H.R. 822, to
facilitate a land exchange involving private land within the
exterior boundaries of Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan
County, Washington; H.R. 951, to require the Secretary of the
Interior to exchange certain lands located in Hinsdale,
Colorado; H.R. 960, to validate certain conveyances in the City
of Tulare, Tulare County, California, and for other purposes;
H.R. 1198, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey
certain land to the City of Grants Pass, Oregon; H.R. 1658, to
reauthorize and amend the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation
Act and related laws; S.J. Res. 29, to direct the Secretary of
the Interior to design and construct a permanent addition to
the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., and
for other purposes; and H.R. 901, to preserve the sovereignty
of the United States over public lands and acquired lands owned
by the United States, and to preserve State sovereignty and
private property rights in non-Federal lands surrounding those
public lands and acquired lands.
July 16, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 799, to require the
Secretary of Agriculture to make a minor adjustment in the
exterior boundary of the Hells Canyon Wilderness in the States
of Oregon and Idaho to exclude an established Forest Service
road inadvertently included in the wilderness; H.R. 838, to
require adoption of a management plan for the Hells Canyon
National Recreation Area that allows appropriate use of
motorized and nonmotorized river craft in the recreation area,
and for other purposes; H.R. 1460, to allow for election of the
Delegate from Guam by other than separate ballot, and for other
purposes; H.R. 976, to provide for the disposition of certain
funds appropriated to pay judgment in favor of the Mississippi
Sioux Indians, and for other purposes; H.R. 700, to remove the
restriction on the distribution of certain revenues from the
Mineral Springs parcel to certain members of the Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians; H.R. 948, to reaffirm and clarify the
Federal relationship of the Burt Lake Band as a distinct
federally recognized Indian Tribe, and for other purposes; H.R.
1604, to provide for the division, use, and distribution of
judgment funds of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan
pursuant to dockets numbered 18-E, 58, 364, and 18-R before the
Indian Claims Commission; H.R. 1663, to clarify the intent of
the Congress in Public Law 93-632 to require the Secretary of
Agriculture to continue to provide for the maintenance of 18
concrete dams and weirs that were located in the Emigrant
Wilderness at the time the wilderness area was designated as
wilderness in that Public Law; H.R. 1944, to provide for a land
exchange involvingthe Warner Canyon Ski Area and other land in
the State of Oregon; and H.R. 1855, to impose a moratorium on ``large
fishing vessels'' in the Atlantic herring and mackerel fisheries.
The Chairman of the Committee was also authorized to issue
subpoenas concerning the matter of the Committee oversight
review of hardrock bonding mining regulations.
July 30, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1948, to provide for
the exchange of lands within Admiralty Island National
Monument, and for other purposes.
September 10, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 2259, to provide
for a transfer of land interests in order to facilitate surface
transportation between the cities of Cold Bay, Alaska, and King
Cove, Alaska.
Markup held on H.R. 136, to amend the National Parks and
Recreation Act of 1978 to designate the Marjory Stoneman
Douglas Wilderness and to amend the Everglades National Park
Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 to designate the Ernest F.
Coe Visitor Center; H.R. 708, to require the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study concerning grazing use of certain
land within and adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming,
and to extend temporarily certain grazing privileges; H.R.
1787, to assist in the conservation of Asian elephants by
supporting and providing financial resources for the
conservation programs of nations within the range of Asian
elephants and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise
in the conservation of Asian elephants; and H.R. 1948, to
provide for the exchange of lands within Admiralty Island
National Monument, and for other purposes.
September 17, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 512, to prohibit
the expenditure of funds from the Land and Water Conservation
Fund for the creation of new National Wildlife Refuges without
specific authorization from Congress pursuant to a
recommendation from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
to create the refuge; H.R. 1849, to establish the Oklahoma City
National Memorial as a unit of the National Park System, to
designate the Oklahoma City Memorial Trust, and for other
purposes; H. Con. Res. 131, expressing the sense of Congress
regarding the ocean; H.R. 2233, to assist in the conservation
of coral reefs; H.R. 1805, to amend the Auburn Indian
Restoration Act to establish restrictions related to gaming on
and use of land held in trust for the United Auburn Indian
Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California; H.R. 2007, to
amend the Act that authorized the Canadian River reclamation
project, Texas, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
allow use of the project distribution system to transport water
from sources other than the project; H.R. 134, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to provide a loan guarantee to the
Olivenhain Water Storage Project, and for other purposes; H.R.
2314, Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma Federal Indian Services
Restoration Act of 1997; and H.R. 1476, to settle certain
Miccosukee Indian land takings claims within the State of
Florida.
September 24, 1997--The Chairman of the Committee was
authorized to issue subpoenas for the production of records
related to the Committee's review of the designation of the
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Hearing held on H.R. 1842, to terminate further development
and implementation of the American Heritage Rivers Initiative.
Printed Hearing 105-70.
October 1, 1997--Markup held on H. Con. Res. 151, to
express the sense of the Congress that the United States should
manage its public domain National Forest to maximize the
reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere among many other
objectives and that the United States should serve as an
example and as a world leader in actively managing its public
domain National Forests in a manner that substantially reduces
the amount of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere; H.R.
1856, Volunteers for Wildlife Act of 1997; H.R. 2000, to amend
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to make certain
clarifications to the land bank protection provisions; H.R.
2259, to provide for a transfer of land interests in order to
facilitate surface transportation between the cities of Cold
Bay, Alaska, and King Cove, Alaska; and H.R. 2402, the
Reclamation Technical Corrections Act of 1997.
October 8, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 1270, to amend the
Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982; and H.R. 2493, to establish a
mechanism by which the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior can provide for uniform management of
livestock grazing on Federal lands.
October 22, 1997--Markup held on S. 731, to extend the
legislative authority for construction of the National Peace
Garden Memorial; S. 423, to extend the legislative authority
for the Board of Regents of Gunston Hall to establish a
memorial to honor George Mason; H.R. 2283, to expand the
boundaries of the Arches National Park in the State of Utah to
include portions of the following drainages, Salt Wash, Lost
Spring Canyon, Fish Sheep Draw, Clover Canyon, Cordova Canyon,
Mine Draw, and Cottonwood Wash, which are currently under the
jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and to include a
portion of Fish Sheep Draw, which is currently owned by the
State of Utah; H.R. 1739, to amend the Act designating the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to clarify certain
provisions of law regarding activities authorized within the
wilderness areas; H.R. 434, to provide for the conveyance of
small parcels of land in the Carson National Forest and the
Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, to the village of El Rito
and the town of Jemez Springs, New Mexico; S. 459, Native
American Programs Act Amendments of 1997; and H.R. 1842, to
terminate further development and implementation of the
American Heritage Rivers Initiative.
A motion to reconsider previous vote to report on H.R.
2493, Forage Improvement Act of 1997 was adopted and the bill
was reported again.
October 29, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 100, to establish
the Commonwealth of Guam, and for other purposes; H.R. 2370, to
amend the Organic Act of Guam for the purposes of clarifying
the local judicial structure and the office of Attorney
General; and S. 210, to amend the Organic Act of Guam, the
Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, and the Compact of
Free Association, and for other purposes. Printed Hearing 105-
78.
November 5, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 755, to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals to designate
any portion of their income tax overpayments, and to make other
contributions, for the benefit of units of the National Park
System; H.R. 1309, to provide for an exchange of lands within
the city of Greeley, Colorado, and the Water Supply and Storage
Company to eliminate private inholdings in wilderness areas,
and for other purposes; and H.R. 1567, to provide for the
designation of additional wilderness lands in the eastern
United States.
A motion to reconsider previous vote to report H.R. 1842,
to terminate further development and implementation of the
American Heritage Rivers Initiative, was adopted and the bill
was ordered reported again.
February 25, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2756, Kake Tribal
Corporation Land Exchange Act; H.R. 2812, Unrecognized
Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition Act; H.R. 2924,
to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide for
selection of lands by certain veterans of the Vietnam era and
by the Elim Native Corporation; H.R. 3087, to require the
Secretary of Agriculture to grant an easement to Chugach Alaska
Corporation; and H.R. 3008, to amend the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act; regarding Huna Totem Corporation public
interest land exchange.
March 11, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 2186, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to the National
Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming; H.R.
2376, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act
Amendments of 1997; H.R. 2416, to provide for the transfer of
certain rights and property to the United States Forest Service
in exchange for a payment to the occupant of such property;
H.R. 2574, to consolidate certain mineral interests in the
National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through
the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to
enhance land management capabilities and environmental and
wildlife protection; H.R. 2807, Rhino and Tiger Labeling Act;
H.R. 3087, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to grant an
easement to Chugach Alaska Corporation; H.R. 3113, Rhinoceros
and Tiger Conservation Reauthorization Act of 1998; and H.R.
3164, to describe the hydrographic services functions of the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
March 17, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1833, Tribal Self-
Governance Amendments of 1997; and H.R. 2742, California Indian
Land Transfer Act.
March 25, 1998--Markup held on S. 231, National Cave and
Karst Research Institute Act of 1997; H.R. 1522, to extend the
authorization for the National Historic Preservation Fund; H.R.
1833, Tribal Self-Governance Amendments of 1997; H.R. 3069,
Advisory Council on California Indian Policy Extension Act of
1977; and H.R. 3297, to suspend the continued development of a
roadless area policy on public domain units and other units of
the National Forest System pending adequate public
participation and determinations that a roadless area policy
will not adversely affect forest health.
April 29, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1021, Miles Land
Exchange Act of 1997; H.R. 2556, to reauthorize the North
American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Partnerships for
Wildlife Act; H.R. 2886, Granite Watershed Enhancement and
Protection Act of 1997; and H.R. 2863, Migratory Bird Treaty
Reform Act.
May 20, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1154, Indian Federal
Recognition Administrative Procedures Act of 1997; H.R. 1635,
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997;
H.R. 1865, Spanish Peaks Wilderness Act of 1997; H.R. 2411, to
provide for a land exchange involving the Cape Cod National
Seashore and to extend authority for the Cape Cod National
Seashore Advisory Commission; H.R. 2538, Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty Land Claims Act of 1997; H.R. 2742, California Indian
Land Transfer Act; H.R. 2795, Irrigation Project Contract
Extension Act of 1997; H.R. 2812, Unrecognized Southeast Alaska
Native Communities Recognition Act; H.R. 3267, Sonny Bono
Memorial Salton Sea Reclamation Act; H.R. 3520, to adjust the
boundaries of the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and the
adjacent Wenatchee National Forest in the State of Washington;
H.R. 3796, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey
the administrative site for the Rogue River National Forest and
use the proceeds for the construction of improvement of offices
and support buildings for the Rogue River National Forest and
the Bureau of Land Management; H.R. 3797, to compensate the
Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma for the taking of certain rights by
the Federal Government; and approval of a Committee report on
mining regulations promulgated by the Bureau of Land
Management.
June 10, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2893, to amend the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to
provide for appropriate study and repatriation of remains for
which a cultural affiliation is not readily ascertainable; and
H.R. 3903, to provide for an exchange of lands located near
Gustavus, Alaska, and for other purposes.
June 17, 1998--Markup held on H.J. Res. 113, a joint
resolution approving the location of a Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Memorial in the Nation's Capitol; H.R. 1659, Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic Monument Completion Act; H.R. 1728, National
Park Service Administrative Amendment of 1997; H.R. 1983,
Narragansett Justice Act; H.R. 2993, to provide for the
collection of fees for the making of motion pictures,
television productions, and sound tracks in National Park
System and National Wildlife Refuge Systems units; H.R. 3460,
to approve a Governing International Fishery Agreement between
the United States and the Republic of Latvia; H.R. 3830, Utah
Schools and Lands Exchange Act of 1998; and began consideration
of a motion authorizing the Chairman of the Committee to issue
subpoenas regarding matters under review associated with the
Warner Creek timber sale and protest.
June 24, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1168, to encourage
competition and tax fairness and to protect the tax base of
State and local governments.
July 15, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 4111, to provide for
outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, a study for reconstruction
of the Northfork American River cofferdam, and the transfer to
the State of California all right, title, and interest in and
to the Auburn Dam.
July 22, 1998--Joint hearing held with Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs on S. 1770, to elevate the position of Director
of the Indian Health Service to Assistant Secretary of Health
and Human Services, to provide for the organizational
independence of the Indian Health Service within the Department
of Health and Human Services; and H.R. 3782, to compensate
certain Indian tribes for known errors in their tribal trust
fund accounts, and to establish a process for settling other
disputes regarding tribal trust fund accounts.
Markup held on H.R. 1042, to amend the Illinois and
Michigan Canal Heritage Corridor Act of 1984 to extend the
Illinois and Michigan Canal Heritage Corridor Commission; H.R.
2223, Education Land Grant Act; H.R. 3047, to authorize
expansion of Fort Davis National Historic Site in Fort Davis,
Texas, by 16 acres; H.R. 3055, to deem the activities of the
Miccosukee Tribe on the Tamiami Indian Reservation to be
consistent with the purposes of the Everglades National Park;
H.R. 3109, Thomas Cole National Historic Site; H.R. 3498,
Dungeness Crab Conservation and Management Act; H.R. 3625, San
Rafael Swell National Heritage and Conservation Act; H.R. 3903,
to provide for an exchange of lands located near Gustavus,
Alaska, and for other purposes; and H.R. 4284, to authorize the
Government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma
Gandhi in the District of Columbia.
July 28, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3987, to protect and
conserve deer and elk and to provide for consistent and
equitable hunting laws in the State of Washington.
July 29, 1998--Markup held on H. Res. 494, expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives that the United States
has enjoyed the loyalty of the United States citizens of Guam,
and that the United States recognizes the centennial
anniversary of the Spanish-American War as an opportune time
for Congress to reaffirm its commitment to increase self-
government consistent with self-determination for the people of
Guam; H.R. 1110, Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act; H.R. 2370, Guam Judicial Empowerment Act of 1997;
H.R. 2776, to amend the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for
the establishment of the Morristown National Historical Park in
the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes'' to authorize
the acquisition of property known as the Warren property; H.R.
3445, Oceans Act of 1998; H.R. 4068, to make certain technical
corrections in laws relating to Native Americans; H.R. 4079, to
authorize the construction of temperature control devices at
Folsom Dam in California; and H.R. 4326, Oregon Public Lands
Transfer and Protection Act of 1998.
Hearing held on H.R. 2743, Indian Land Consolidation
Amendment Act of 1997; and H.R. 4325, Indian Trust Estate
Planning and Land Title Management Improvement Act.
August 5, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1467, to provide for
the continuance of oil and gas operations pursuant to certain
existing leases in the Wayne National Forest; H.R. 1481, Great
Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1997; S. 1693,
Vision 2000 National Parks System Restoration Act; S. 1695,
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Preservation Act;
H.R. 2108, Dutch John Federal Property Disposition and
Assistance Act; H.R. 2756, Kake Tribal Corporation Land
Exchange Act; H.R. 3056, to provide for the preservation and
sustainability of the family farm through the transfer of
responsibility for operation and maintenance of the Flathead
Indian Irrigation Project, Montana; H.R. 3381, Gallatin Land
Consolidation Act of 1998; H.R. 3878, to subject certain
reserved mineral interests of the operation of the Mineral
Leasing Act; H.R. 3972, to amend the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from
charging State and local government agencies for certain uses
of the sand, gravel, and shell resources of the Outer
Continental Shelf; H.R. 4023, to provide for the conveyance of
the Forest Service property in Kern County, California, in
exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion in Sequoia
National Forest; H.R. 4166, to amend the Idaho Admission Act
regarding the sale or lease of school land; H.R. 4313, to amend
the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to provide that
the number of members on the legislature of the Virgin Islands
and the number of such members constituting a quorum shall be
determined by the laws of the Virgin Islands; and H.R. 4389, to
provide for the conveyance of various reclamation project
facilities to local water authorities.
September 2, 1998--Field hearing held in Pasco, Washington,
on H.R. 4335, to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior the
functions of the Secretary of Commerce and the National Marine
Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Printed Hearing 105-111.
September 3, 1998--Field hearing held in Boise, Idaho, on
H.R. 4335, to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior the
functions of the Secretary of Commerce and the National Marine
Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Printed Hearing 105-111.
September 16, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1608, to authorize
the Pyramid of Remembrance Foundation to establish a memorial
in the District of Columbia or its environs to soldiers who
have died in foreign conflicts other than declared wars; H.R.
3088, to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act,
regarding Huna Totem Corporation public interest land exchange;
and H.R. 4223, Colusa Basin Watershed Integrated Resources
Management Act.
October 7, 1998--Approval of a Committee report concerning
the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Report 105-
824.
Hearing held on H.R. 2822, Swan Creek Black River
Confederated Ojibwa Tribes of Michigan Act. Printed Hearing
105-116.
B. Bills within the committee on resources' jurisdiction that were held
at the Speaker's desk and not referred to the Committee on
Resources
Enacted into law
S. 391, provides for the disposition of certain funds
appropriated to pay judgment in favor of the Mississippi Sioux
Indians, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-387).
S. 538, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey
certain facilities of the Minidoka project to the Burley
Irrigation District, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-
351).
S. 587, requires the Secretary of the Interior to exchange
certain lands located in Hinsdale County, Colorado (Public Law
105-74).
S. 588, provides for the expansion of the Eagles Nest
Wilderness within the Arapaho National Forest and the White
River National Forest, Colorado, to include land known as the
Slate Creek Addition (Public Law 105-75).
S. 589, provides for a boundary adjustment and land
conveyance involving the Raggeds Wilderness, White River
National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects of earlier
erroneous land surveys (Public Law 105-76).
S. 591, transfers the Dillon Ranger District in the Arapaho
National Forest to the White River National Forest in the State
of Colorado (Public Law 105-77).
S. 871, establishes the Oklahoma City National Memorial as
a unit of the National Park System, to designate the Oklahoma
City Memorial Trust, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-
58).
S. 890, disposes of certain Federal properties located in
Dutch John, Utah, to assist the local government in the interim
delivery of basic services to the Dutch John community, and for
other purposes (Public Law 105-326).
S. 910, authorizes appropriations for carrying out the
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal years 1998
and 1999, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-47).
S. 927, reauthorizes the Sea Grant Program (Public Law 105-
160).
S. 931, designates the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness
and the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (Public Law 105-82).
S. 1559, provides for the design, construction, furnishing,
and equipping of a Center for Historically Black Heritage
within Florida A&M University (Public Law 105-138).
S. 1683, transfers administrative jurisdiction over part of
the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area from the Secretary of
the Interior to the Secretary of Agriculture for inclusion in
the Wenatchee National Forest (Public Law 105-239).
S. 2069, permits the mineral leasing of Indian land located
within the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in any case in
which there is consent from a majority interest in the parcel
of land under consideration for lease (Public Law 105-188).
S. 2106, expands the boundaries of Arches National Park,
Utah, to include portions of certain drainages that are under
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and to
include a portion of Fish Seep Draw owned by the State of Utah,
and for other purposes (Public Law 105-329).
S. 2413, prohibits the conveyance of Woodland Lake Park
tract in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in the State of
Arizona unless the conveyance is made to the town of Pinetop-
Lakeside or authorized by Act of Congress (Public Law 105-344).
Passed House of Representatives
S. 469, designate a portion of the Sudbury, Assabet, and
Concord Rivers as a component of the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System. (Passed House amended).
S. 1677, reauthorizes the North American Wetlands
Conservation Act and the Partnerships for Wildlife Act. (Passed
House amended).
C. Legislation enacted
H.J. Res. 32, consents to certain amendments enacted by the
Legislature of the State of Hawaii to the Hawaiian Homes
Commission Act, 1920 (Public Law 105-21).
H.R. 79, provides for the conveyance of certain land in the
Six Rivers National Forest in the State of California for the
benefit of the Hoopa Valley Tribe (Public Law 105-79).
H.R. 700, removes the restriction on the distribution of
certain revenues from the Mineral Springs parcel to certain
members of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Public
Law 105-308).
H.R. 1003, clarifies Federal law with respect to
restricting the use of Federal funds in support of assisted
suicide (Public Law 105-12).
H.R. 1420, amends the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 to improve the management of the
National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes (Public
Law 105-57).
H.R. 1460, allows for election of the Delegate from Guam by
other than separate ballot, and for other purposes (Public Law
105-209).
H.R. 1476, settles certain Miccosukee Indian land takings
claims within the State of Florida (enacted as part of Public
Law 105-83).
H.R. 1604, provides for the division, use, and distribution
of judgment funds of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of
Michigan pursuant to dockets numbered 18-E, 58, 364, and 18-R
before the Indian Claims Commission (Public Law 105-143).
H.R. 1948, provides for the exchange of lands within
Admiralty Island National Monument (Public Law 105-60).
H.R. 2000, amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
to make certain clarifications to the land bank protection
provisions, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-333).
H.R. 2259, provides for a transfer of land interests in
order to facilitate surface transportation between the cities
of Cold Bay, Alaska, and King Cove, Alaska, and for other
purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 2370, amends the Organic Act of Guam for the purposes
of clarifying the local judicial structure and the office of
Attorney General (Public Law 105-291).
H.R. 2863, amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to clarify
restrictions under that Act on baiting, to facilitate
acquisition of migratory bird habitat, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-312).
H.R. 3042, amends the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and
Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public
Policy Act of 1992 to establish the United States Institute for
Environmental Conflict Resolution to conduct environmental
conflict resolution and training, and for other purposes
(Public Law 105-156).
H.R. 3069, extends the Advisory Council on California
Indian Policy to allow the Advisory Council to advise Congress
on the implementation of the proposals and recommendations of
the Advisory Council (Public Law 105-294).
H.R. 3903, provides for an exchange of lands located near
Gustavus, Alaska, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-317).
H.R. 4068, makes certain technical corrections in laws
relating to Native Americans, and for other purposes (Public
Law 105-256).
H.R. 4284, authorizes the Government of India to establish
a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi in the District of Columbia
(Public Law 105-284).
H.R. 4326, transfers administrative jurisdiction over
certain Federal lands located within or adjacent to the Rogue
River National Forest and to clarify the authority of the
Bureau of Land Management to sell and exchange other Federal
lands in Oregon (Public Law 105-321).
H.R. 4501, requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to improve the
access for persons with disabilities to outdoor recreational
opportunities made available to the public (Public Law 105-
359).
S. 156, provides certain benefits of the Pick-Sloan
Missouri River Basin program to the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
(Public Law 105-132).
S. 1092, provides for a transfer of land interests in order
to facilitate surface transportation between the cities of Cold
Bay, Alaska, and King Cove, Alaska, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
D. Legislation passed House
H. Con. Res. 151 (H. Rept. 105-330), expressing the sense
of the Congress that the United States should manage its public
domain National Forests to maximize the reduction of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere among many other objectives and that
the United States should serve as an example and as a world
leader in actively managing its public domain national forests
in a manner that substantially reduces the amount of carbon
dioxide added to the atmosphere.
H. Res. 494 (H. Rept. 105-751), expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives that the United States has enjoyed the
loyalty of the United States citizens of Guam, and that the
United States recognizes the centennial anniversary of the
Spanish-American War as an opportune time for Congress to
reaffirm its commitment to increase self-government consistent
with self-determination for the people of Guam. -
H.R. 856 (H. Rept. 105-131, Part I), to provide a process
leading to full self-government for Puerto Rico.
H.R. 901 (H. Rept. 105-245), to preserve the sovereignty of
the United States over public lands and acquired lands owned by
the United States, and to preserve State sovereignty and
private property rights in non-Federal lands surrounding those
public lands and acquired lands.
H.R. 976 (H. Rept. 105-242), to provide for the disposition
of certain funds appropriated to pay judgment in favor of the
Mississippi Sioux Indians, and for other purposes. [See S. 391
(P.L. 105-387) for further action]
H.R. 1805 (H. Rept. 105-301), to amend the Auburn Indian
Restoration Act to establish restrictions related to gaming on
and use of land held in trust for the United Auburn Indian
Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California.
H.R. 1833 (H. Rept. 105-765), to amend the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide for
further Self-Governance by Indian Tribes, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 2493 (H. Rept. 105-346, Part II), to establish a
mechanism by which the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior can provide for uniform management of
livestock grazing on Federal lands.
H.R. 2742 (H. Rept. 105-575), to provide for the transfer
of public lands to certain California Indian Tribes.
S. 1079, to permit the mineral leasing of Indian land
located within the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in any case
in which there is consent from a majority interest in the
parcel of land under consideration for lease. [See S. 2069
(P.L. 105-188) for further action]
E. Legislation ordered reported by committee
H.R. 478 (H. Rept. 105-75), to amend the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 to improve the ability of individuals and local,
State, and Federal agencies to comply with that Act in
building, operating, maintaining, or repairing flood control
projects, facilities, or structures.
H.R. 752 (H. Rept. 105-42), to amend the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 to ensure that persons that suffer or are
threatened with injury resulting from a violation of the Act or
a failure of the Secretary to act in accordance with the Act
have standing to commence a civil suit on their own behalf.
H.R. 757 (H. Rept. 105-38), to develop the economy of
American Samoa.
H.R. 948 (H. Rept. 105-351), to reaffirm and clarify the
Federal relationship of the Burt Lake Band as a distinct
federally recognized Indian Tribe, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1154 (H. Rept. 105-737), to provide for administrative
procedures to extend Federal recognition to certain Indian
groups, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1842 (H. Rept. 105-781), to terminate further
development and implementation of the American Heritage Rivers
Initiative.
H.R. 1983 (H. Rept. 105-692), to amend the Rhode Island
Indian Claims Settlement Act to conform that Act with the
judgments of the United States Federal Courts regarding the
rights and sovereign status of certain Indian Tribes, including
the Narragansett Tribe, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2314 (H. Rept. 105-707, Part I), to restore Federal
Indian services to members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
residing in Maverick County, Texas, to clarify United States
citizenship status of such members, to provide trust land for
the benefit of the Tribe, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2756 (H. Rept. 105-783), to authorize an exchange of
property between the Kake Tribal Corporation and the Sealaska
Corporation and the United States.
H.R. 2812 (H. Rept. 105-716), to provide for the
recognition of certain Native communities under the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3087 (H. Rept. 105-782), to require the Secretary of
Agriculture to grant an easement to Chugach Alaska Corporation.
H.R. 3088 (H. Rept. 105-784), to amend the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act regarding Huna Totem Corporation public
interest land exchange, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3797 (H. Rept. 105-696), to compensate the Wyandotte
Tribe of Oklahoma for the taking of certain rights by the
Federal Government, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4313, to amend the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin
Islands to provide that the number of members of the
legislature of the Virgin Islands and the number of such
members constituting a quorum shall be determined by the laws
of the Virgin Islands.
H.R. 4389 (H. Rept. 105-785), to provide for the conveyance
of various reclamation project facilities to local water
authorities, and for other purposes.
S. 459, to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974
to extend certain authorizations, and for other purposes. [Re-
referred to Committee on Education and the Workplace on October
30, 1997.]
F. Reports approved by the Committee on Resources
House Report 105-569, Abuse of Power: Hardrock Bonding
Rule.
House Report 105-824, Monumental Abuse: the Clinton
Administration's Campaign of Misinformation In the
Establishment of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument.
IV. oversight activities of the full committee on resources
A. Introduction
Trans-Alaska Pipeline: As of the 104th Congress, the
Committee on Resources expanded its jurisdiction over the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). The Committee will
continue its thorough oversight of the operation and safety of
the pipeline. The Committee is particularly concerned that the
repairs and maintenance upgrades agreed to by the operator of
the pipeline (Alyeska Pipeline Service Company) as a result of
Federal and internal audits, be sufficiently completed. The
Committee will closely follow implementation of Alyeska's
Quality Plan and the Native Utilization Agreement. Regular
briefings and consultation will be required from Alyeska and
the regulating agencies through the Joint Pipeline Office. In
addition, Committee staff will perform field inspections of
Alyeska equipment and facilities at least once a year to assess
compliance and Alyeska's efforts and planning to manage
declining crude oil throughout. A Member field inspection of
the pipeline may occur as part of an Alaska issues field trip.
The Committee continued to monitor the implementation of
Alyeska's Quality Plan and Native Utilization Agreement.
Committee staff performed field inspections and a Member field
inspection occurred in August of 1997.
Alaska Public Lands: In addition to the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline, the full Committee retains jurisdiction over public
lands in Alaska. The enormous mineral reserves, including
petroleum, are of interest to the Committee. As the situation
warrants, the Committee may hold one or more hearings on issues
related to potential petroleum production in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge. The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
is the subject of renewed interest by the State of Alaska and
the oil and gas industry. During this Congress, the Committee
may hold an oversight hearing on the Department of the
Interior's planning study of this area and any further
development restrictions the Administration may pursue and to
ensure that lease decisions are not overly process-oriented.
Briefings by the Bureau of Land Management and by the
Secretary of the Interior's Special Assistant for Alaska were
held regarding plans for leasing a portion of the National
Petroleum Reserve-Alaska for oil and gas development. The
Chairman additionally submitted comments on the Bureau of Land
Management planning document for such leasing. The Committee
also held hearings on legislation to resolve a number of local
land-use conflicts and problems in Alaska. The Committee's
oversight of oil and gas leasing in this region continues.
Matters Related to the Tongass National Forest: The Forest
Service is expected to release its revision of the Tongass Land
Management Plan in early 1997. Extensive oversight on the land
management planning process used to compose the plan is needed.
Criticisms of the draft plan and the planning process include
the very expensive nature of the plan, the length of time taken
to compose the plan, the questionable procedures used to gather
information on the plan,the shallow scientific basis for the
plan, and the lack of study on the community economic effects
associated with options under the draft plan alternatives. Each of
these may be reviewed in oversight proceedings.
The Committee held two days of hearings with the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the Final Draft of
the Tongass Land Management Plan as the first step in the
Congressional review process provided by the 1996 amendments to
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Lease sales for oil
exploration in the portion of the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge (ANWR) that is known as the ``1002 Area'' or the
``Coastal Plain'' (an area reserved for oil exploration) was
authorized in the Balanced Budget Act of 1995, but the Act was
vetoed by the President. The Committee intends to conduct
further oversight hearings on the strong justifications for
authorizing such oil lease sales and appropriate environmental
safeguards when exploration and production of oil begin in
ANWR. Hearings expected to be held.
Several Members of the Committee traveled to Alaska in 1997
and flew over the 1002 area of ANWR, and also landed in the
only Native village located there, where a meeting was held
with the local village leaders. The Committee also monitored
the U.S. Geological Survey's revised assessment of the oil and
gas potential in the 1002 area. H.R. 4755 was introduced by the
Chairman Don Young, to provide for the collection and
interpretation of non-intrusive 3-dimensional seismic data on
the 1002 area.
Endangered Species Act Reauthorization: The Endangered
Species Act (ESA) was last reauthorized in 1988 for four years.
During the 104th Congress, the Committee on Resources focused a
great deal of oversight on the implementation and
administration of the ESA resulting in the introduction of H.R.
2275, the Endangered Species Conservation and Management Act of
1995. Although H.R. 2275 was reported by the Committee on
Resources, it was not brought up by the House of
Representatives. No further legislative action was taken on the
ESA in the House of Representatives. However, the Committee on
Resources held an additional five oversight hearings on the
implementation and administration of the ESA.
During the 105th Congress, the Committee plans to continue
to hold oversight hearings on the Endangered Species Act. It is
expected that legislation will be introduced during the 105th
Congress to address many of the concerns raised in H.R. 2275
and as a result of oversight hearings.
Major issues that continue to be of concern include the
credibility of the science used to list species, greater
inclusion of States and local governments in ESA decision
making, reducing frivolous litigation, protecting the rights of
private property owners, ensuring that the goals of the ESA are
reached through greater landowner incentives, determining
whether the recovery goals of the ESA are being achieved,
ensuring that the ESA does not impede important Federal laws
and missions, particularly those designed to protect public
health and safety, ensuring greater public involvement, greater
consideration of socio-economic impacts, and others.
During the 105th Congress, the Committee continued its
oversight of the ESA. However, there was no comprehensive
legislation introduced in the House of Representatives to
rewrite the ESA. However, the Senate Committee on Environment
and Public Works reported S. 1180 which was a broad rewrite of
the ESA. S. 1180 was not passed by the Senate.
On March 12, 1997, a markup was held on H.R. 752, ``The
Citizen's Fair Hearing Act of 1997'', to ensure that persons
who suffer or are threatened with injury resulting from a
violation of the ESA or a failure of the Secretaries of the
Interior or Commerce to act in accordance with the ESA have
standing to commence a civil suit on their own behalf. This
legislation was the result of an oversight hearing held on
September 17, 1996, on the issue of standing to sue under the
ESA. The issue was resolved in a unanimous decision by the
Supreme Court on March 19, 1997, in Bennett v. Spear, 117 S.
Ct. 1154, in which the court held that persons who were
asserting an economic injury as a result of action under the
ESA had standing to challenge the action in court. This made
further action on the bill unnecessary since the Supreme Court
decision was consistent with H.R. 752.
On April 10, 1997, the Committee held a hearing in
Washington, D.C. and via teleconference in Sacramento,
California, on H.R. 478, to improve the ability of individuals
and local, State, and Federal agencies to comply with the ESA
in building, operating, maintaining, or repairing existing
flood control projects, facilities, or structures and to
determine whether Federal wildlife policies have impeded proper
ongoing maintenance and repair of flood control structures.
The bill was favorably reported as amended on April 16,
1997, and considered by the House of Representatives on May 7,
1997. After an amendment in the nature of a substitute was
adopted, the bill was withdrawn prior to a vote on final
passage.
On March 5, 1998 an oversight hearing was held in
Washington, D.C. on regional differences in the manner in which
the ESA is implemented.
On July 15, 1998, an oversight hearing was held on the
implementation of the ESA in the Southwestern region of the
United States.
On September 2 and 3, 1998, oversight field hearings were
held in Pasco, Washington, and Boise, Idaho, on the National
Marine Fisheries Service role in implementing the ESA and on
H.R. 4335 to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior the
functions of the Secretary of Commerce and the National Marine
Fisheries Services under the ESA.
On October 26, 1998, the Full Committee conducted a field
hearing in Clovis, New Mexico, on how the ESA has been
implemented in New Mexico.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves: On
September 12, 1996, the Committee held an oversight hearing on
designation of United Nations' World Heritage Sites and
Biosphere Reserves in the United States. The Committee found
that these designations can result in further centralization of
policy-making authority at the Federal level, particularly in
the Executive Branch. They also result in less chance for input
into land use decisions by individuals and affect the use and
market value of private lands adjacent to or intermixed with
Federal lands. The Committee plans a field hearing in New York
and another in Wyoming to further examine problems associated
with these land use designations. It is anticipated that
legislation will be sent to the House to correct the problems
identified with these programs after these hearings are
concluded. The hearings will be held.
The Committee held an oversight field hearing on
designation of United Nations World Heritage Sites and
Biosphere Reserves in the United States at Tannersville, New
York, on May 5, 1997. Without involving Congress, these
designations give the Executive Branch a role in governing
Federal lands that is in direct conflict with Article IV,
section 3 of the Constitution which vests the power to make all
needful rules and regulations governing lands belonging to the
United States in the Congress. The Committee has found that
these designations are made with little or no input from the
affected local government, and that they result in further
centralization of policy-making authority at the Federal level,
particularly in the Executive Branch. They also affect the use
and market value of private lands adjacent to or intermixed
with Federal lands. Chairman Don Young introduced H.R. 901, The
American Land Sovereignty Protection Act, to correct the
problems identified with these international land use programs.
The Committee held a legislative hearing on H.R. 901 on June
10, 1997, and favorably reported the bill on June 25, 1997. The
House passed H.R. 901 on October 8, 1997 by a vote of 236 to
191.
Environmental Matters in General: The Full Committee
retains jurisdiction over environmental measures and matters
generally as they affect fish, wildlife, public domain lands
and other resources within the Committee's jurisdiction. Many
such measures are costly and may not produce tangible
environmental benefits. The Committee may conduct oversight on
the National Environmental Policy Act, particularly as it
relates to project level Environmental Impact Statements for
timber sale activities conducted in National Forests and Bureau
of Land Management lands.
The Committee conducted oversight, including a hearing, on
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The
Administration admitted that it has ``not well implemented''
NEPA and testified to the shortcomings of NEPA: the huge
proliferation of a purely paperwork bureaucracy; the
unwarranted and unwise level of minutia into which NEPA delves;
the sham of public participation when decisions have really
been made already; the lack of collaboration among the Federal
agencies; the Federal confrontations with state, local, and
tribal governments; the intolerable delays in the disjointed
process; the overly technical nature of the paperwork; the
excruciating large amount of paperwork; the needless
duplication of work; the endless litigation of NEPA; and thus
the waste of taxpayers' money which can be better spent.
Alaska native issues
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments: Chairman
Don Young expects to reintroduce H.R. 2505, Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) technical amendments. The bill
passed the House in the 104th Congress; however, the Senate
took no action on the bill. Hearings may be needed to assist in
formulating any modifications. No objections from
Administration should occur with the last version of H.R. 2505.
Chairman Don Young reintroduced an Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (ANCSA) technical amendments bill (H.R. 2000)
which was enacted into law.
Alaska Native Veterans Allotment Bill (H.R. 2924): Alaska
Native Veterans who served in the military during the Korean
and Vietnam eras missed their deadline to apply for native
allotment lands. The Department of the Interior (DOI) first
supported opening an allotment application process for veterans
only, then did an about face. In Public Law 104-42, Congress
directed the DOI and the Department of Veterans Affairs to
determine how many Alaska Native veterans missed out in this
application process, which lands are available for possible
selections, etc. DOI had until August of 1996 to submit this
report. However, they were late with the report to Congress.
Oversight hearings will be held with input from the State of
Alaska, Alaska Native veterans and DOI.
An oversight hearing was held in late 1997. Language was
attached to the 1998 Interior Appropriations bill which
authorized an ``opening'' of the application process for
certain Alaska Native veterans. Additionally, the language
called for a study with respect to the number of Alaska Native
veterans who are affected by the limited dates of 1968-1975 for
eligibility for an allotment. All other Vietnam agency programs
use August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975, the full extent of the
Vietnam war. The Department of the Interior opposed using the
full extent of the war years for eligibility for Alaska Natives
to apply for their native allotment, thereby discriminating
against a group of people who are eligible for other veteran
benefits.
Hazardous Waste Contaminants on Alaska Native Regional
Corporation Lands: Public Law 104-42 directed DOI to conduct a
study on hazardous wastes on lands transferred to Alaska Native
Regional Corporations under ANCSA. DOI should have submitted
its report to Congress by May 2, 1997. Based on the DOI
exported report, legislation would have been introduced to help
Native Corporations clean up any contaminated lands previously
owned/used by the Federal government, then transferred to
corporations under ANCSA. Oversight hearings on this issue will
occur to examine liability issues, which are a major concern
with cleanup efforts.
As of December 1998, the DOI has failed to submit its
report to Congress (which was due May 2, 1997) with regard to
hazardous wastes on lands transferred to Alaska Native Regional
Corporations under ANCSA. Again, the DOI is over a year late on
important land issues with respect to Alaska Native Regional
Corporation lands transferred pursuant to ANCSA.
Alaska ``Indian Country'' Ruling: The Committee will
closely monitor the effects of recent court rulings concerning
the applicability of ``Indian County'' status within Alaska and
the Committee may hold oversight hearings as needed.
The Committee continued to monitor this situation and may
hold oversight hearings next Congress if needed.
Indian Child Welfare Act Amendments: An oversight hearing
on the issues raised in H.R. 3828, the Indian Child Welfare Act
Amendments, (which was introduced in the 104th Congress) and
other aspects of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) may occur
as needed before reintroduction of legislation.
An oversight hearing was held on June 18, 1997, on H.R.
3828/S. 1082, the Indian Child Welfare Act Amendments.
Alaska Native Commission Report Follow-up: Based on the
study that the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) is expected
to complete by the end of this fiscal year, Chairman Don Young
may conduct oversight on social problems of alcoholism, drug
abuse, unemployment and domestic issues concerning Alaska
Natives.
The report is still being finalized. Oversight on this
report should occur next Congress.
Interior Appropriations Requests for Alaska: Chairman Young
receives annual Interior Appropriations requests from different
Native entities in Alaska for the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Indian Health Service and other native programs funded within
this appropriations bill. As needed, oversight hearings may be
scheduled on matters related to authorizing language that forms
the basis for the appropriations requests.
The Committee continued to monitor these requests and will
hold oversight hearings next Congress on measures related to
authorizing language.
National Park System Management in Alaska Near Native
Lands: The Committee plans to hold hearings to understand the
way the National Park System is managed in Alaska and elsewhere
in the U.S. and the role of Native Alaskans in the National
Park System. An oversight hearing on the issues raised in H.R.
3828, the Indian Child Welfare Act Amendments, (which was
introduced in the 104th Congress) and other aspects of the
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) may occur as needed before
reintroduction of that bill.
The Committee was unable to schedule hearings on this issue
due to time constraints and expects to follow up on this issue
next Congress.
Native American Affairs
Budget Overview: Hearings will be held on that portion of
the President's budget proposal which relates to Native
Americans.
No specific hearings were held on the President's budget
for Native American issues; however, the Committee continued to
review the President's budget requests.
Indian Gaming: The Committee will oversee the many problems
which plague the implementation of the 1988 Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act, as well as the operation of the Indian Gaming
Commission created pursuant to that Act.
Efforts to amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988
have focused upon a series of ongoing negotiations between
representatives of the Tribes, representatives of the State's
governors, representatives of the States' Attorneys General,
and Congressional staff. Although the conduct of Indian gaming
has resulted in extensive litigation throughout the Nation, the
105th Congress, like those Congresses preceding it, was unable
to craft and pass any meaningful legislation which would
resolve the many gaming-related issues in dispute between
Tribes and the States.
Reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs: The
Committee will review ongoing efforts to reorganize the Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA). It is alleged that the BIA has
suffered from a bureau-wide loss of experienced personnel. The
Committee continues to hear from Tribes which contend that most
of the funds appropriated to the BIA are spent on Washington
bureaucrats instead of the needs of Tribes.
The Committee staff continued its efforts to review various
proposals to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Mismanagement of Indian Trust Accounts: In the Summer of
1997 and again in the Spring of 1998, the Committee will review
remedial steps taken by the Department of the Interior to
terminate once and for all the mismanagement of Indian Trust
Accounts. Funds which tribes and individual tribal members
recover from land or water settlements, treaty provisions, oil
or gas leases, hard rock mineral leases, timber sales, and so
forth, are deposited in trust fund accounts managed by the
Office of Trust Fund Management. As of January 1997, hundreds
of thousands of these accounts could not be reconciled.
A strategic plan, formulated by the Special Trustee for
Native Americans and to be implemented by the Secretary, will
be reviewed in late 1997 and early 1998. Oversight hearings may
occur subsequent to submittal of the plan.
Committee staff reviewed actions taken by the Department of
the Interior to audit and account for the documented
mismanagement of Indian trust accounts. These accounts, which
consist of much of the money which tribes have received in
years past from land or water settlements or treaty provisions,
and which individual tribal members receive from the same
sources or from oil or gas leases on reservation, are now
managed by the Office of Trust Fund Management, an entity which
has been removed from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and
placed within the Office of the Secretary of the Department of
the Interior. In addition, the ongoing policy disagreements
between the Secretary of the Interior and the Office of the
Special Trustee for American Indians continues to be reviewed
by Committee staff.
Regulation Reform: The Committee will review, in the Summer
of 1997 and again in the Summer of 1998, the need for and
advisability of reducing and eliminating those Federal rules
and regulations falling within its jurisdiction which relate to
Native Americans.
As in years past the Committee continued in its efforts to
review the need for and advisability of reducing and
eliminating those Federal rules and regulations falling within
its jurisdiction. Hearings were not held but may become
necessary during the 106th Congress.
Insular Affairs
Resolving Puerto Rico's Political Status: The Puerto Rico
Legislature, representing 3.8 million U.S. citizens in this
American territory in the Caribbean, has requested that the
105th Congress authorize a process to resolve their political
status problem. Puerto Rico has successfully demonstrated the
ability to operate under a local constitutional government
first authorized and then conditionally approved by the
Congress in 1950 and 1952, respectively. However, in spite of
the decades of democratic changes of a republican form of local
constitutional government under the U.S. Constitution, Puerto
Rico has yet to achieve a permanent form of full self-
government. Puerto Rico held a referendum in 1993 with locally
defined status options in which an enhanced ``commonwealth''
received a plurality of 48 percent, statehood 46 percent, and
independence 4 percent. The Committee on Resources considered
and overwhelmingly rejected on a bipartisan basis the enhanced
``commonwealth'' ballot definition as unconstitutional and
fiscally and politically inviable. The Puerto Rico
Legislature's request makes it clear that permanent
disenfranchisement is unacceptable, and that the U.S. must
define the political status options of a final relationship of
dignity to both parties.
The United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act,
reported by the Committee on Resources as H.R. 3024 and
subsequently updated as H.R. 4281 in the 104th Congress,
provides a bipartisan and balanced framework ``to provide a
process leading to full self-government for Puerto Rico.'' The
legislation would have authorized a referendum in Puerto Rico
before the end of 1998, in which the people would choose
between separate sovereignty, statehood, or continuing the
current Commonwealth of Puerto Rico structure of local self-
government as a territory. The vote would be repeated every
four years until a majority of the people are ready to proceed
toward complete enfranchisement under separate sovereignty or
statehood. A transition plan of 10 years is required with a
majority vote for separate sovereignty or statehood. Both
Congress and the people of Puerto Rico would have been required
to approve the transition plan. Similarly, the bill would have
required a final implementation act to be approved by both
Congress and the people of Puerto Rico. The legislation would
have been a self-determination process, as the people of Puerto
Rico have the final say in each of the three stages after
Congress acts. The proposed legislation would have required
English to be the official language of Federal courts and
Federal agencies in Puerto Rico under statehood, required
English language incentives in any statehood transition plan,
and encouraged enhancement of the existing century old law in
Puerto Rico establishing English as an official language while
respecting the Tenth Amendment rights of the people and the
state.
Hearings on the legislation are expected to be held in
Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to obtain views of the
Administration, leaders of Puerto Rico, and individuals and
organizations in Puerto Rico. A similar bill was introduced in
the Senate in the 104th Congress and a bicameral effort is
anticipated in the 105th Congress to enable the people of
Puerto Rico to voice their preference in 1998 towards a final
political status.
Legislation was introduced to authorize a long-term process
to resolve the United States' political status problem with the
nearly four million U.S. citizens in the American territory of
Puerto Rico, the United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act
(H.R. 856). Hearings were conducted in Washington and Puerto
Rico prior to the passage of the bill by the Committee and
subsequently the full House. The Senate then held five
oversight and legislative hearings related Puerto Rico status
legislation and H.R.856 and ultimately passed Senate Resolution
279 endorsing a referendum in Puerto Rico, consistent with the
intent of the House approved bill. The Government of Puerto
Rico scheduled a referendum for December 1998 to petition
Congress about their relationship with the U.S., using
definitions consistent with H.R.856 and recognizing that only
Congress can change Puerto Rico's status.
Enforcement of Federal Criminal Laws in American Samoa: The
Department of Justice forwarded a proposal to Congress in
October 1996 to establish for the first time Federal court
jurisdiction in American Samoa. A December 1994 report on
white-collar crime in American Samoa from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation indicated action was required by the Federal
government to prosecute alleged violations of Federal law.
However, without Federal district court jurisdiction, the
Department of Justice claimed there could be no enforcement.
There exists strong concern from leaders in all three branches
of the American Samoa Government that the Department of Justice
and the Department of the Interior have not adequately sought
local input for a solution. Given the unique land tenure system
and extended family structures, which areprimary factors in
Samoan culture and are referenced in the original Deeds of Cession
recognized by Congress, the Committee will obtain views from the
leaders of American Samoa to develop appropriate measures to prosecute
white-collar crime. A field hearing before the end of 1997 is important
to gain the widest participation from the people of American Samoa as
the Committee determines the best approach to enforce violations. The
Committee expects to develop legislative recommendations with the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Oversight field meetings were conducted in American Samoa
with the three branches of the Government of American Samoa
regarding the Federal Department of Justice proposal to
establish Federal court jurisdiction. Additional meetings were
held in Washington with Federal and American Samoa officials
about enforcement of Federal laws and alternatives to prosecute
criminal violations in Federal and local Samoan courts.
Compliance with Inspector General Audit Recommendations:
The Inspector General of the Department of the Interior has
conducted audits in the insular areas, citing numerous
problems, some with estimated costs in the hundreds of millions
of dollars. The recommendations contained in the audits are
often ignored by the insular governments, even after repeated
written and oral contacts. As the insular areas receive Federal
programs and funds, the misuse of funds or mismanagement of
resources, whether local or federal, creates liabilities which
are ultimately born by the U.S. taxpayers. The 104th Congress
set conditions for the receipt of certain Federal funds by an
insular area. The Committee will examine alternative measures
to condition the receipt of certain funding with compliance by
insular areas with major Inspector General Audit
recommendations. Discussions will be conducted with the
Administration and the insular areas and hearings held on
specific legislative approaches.
Meetings were held with Federal officials regarding
Inspector General audit reports and the lack of adequate
response by the insular governments. Alternative legislative
and executive approaches to ensuring compliance with audit
recommendations and conditional receipt of Federal funds were
discussed.
Self-Sufficiency Initiatives for the Virgin Islands and
American Samoa: The Committee will consider the request of
leaders of the Virgin Islands and American Samoa for the
establishment of limited duration, non-paid, public-private
commissions to identify specific economic development
strategies and recommendations. Any such legislatively created
commissions to develop credible and effective fiscal and
economic recommendations for private sector led development in
these territories will require private sector input,
consideration of the unique cultural and historical
characteristics and geographic resources of the islands, and
timely conclusion of the commissions. This will be accomplished
through oversight hearings.
Hearings were conducted to consider legislation to provide
for executive branch commissions to identify specific economic
development strategies and recommendations for American Samoa
and the United States Virgin Islands, the American Samoa
Development Act (H.R. 757) and the Omnibus Territories Act (S.
210). The Committee approved H.R. 757 and it was placed on the
Union Calendar for consideration by the House. The
Administration subsequently established an economic development
commission for the same purpose through existing authority,
after formally supporting the objectives of H.R. 757 to analyze
and plan for the economic future of American Samoa. There are
indications that the Administration will also support directed
efforts for economic development in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Changes to the Organic Acts of Guam and the Virgin Islands:
The Committee will review proposals from the elected leaders of
the U.S. territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands to amend
certain provisions of their respective organic acts which
provide the legal basis for the governance of these areas.
Congressional action is required in absence of the adoption of
local constitutions which Congress has already authorized to
advance the territories toward self-government but without
limiting the territories' further progress towards full self-
government. The Committee will consider legislative measures to
effectuate the requested changes to the organic acts of Guam
and the Virgin Islands.
Hearings were held on changes to the organic acts and
certain Federal laws pertaining to Guam and the Virgin Islands:
the Guam Ballot Requirement (H.R. 1460), the Guam Organic Act
(H.R. 2370), the Omnibus Territories Act (S. 210), and the
Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (H.R. 4313). Meetings
were also conducted in both Guam and the Virgin Islands with
leaders regarding various proposals to increase the powers of
local self-government by changing Federal laws which provide
the legal basis for the governance of these areas, as neither
territory has yet to adopt constitutions. The House approved
and the Congress enacted into law H.R. 1460 and H.R. 2370.
Changes to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act: The Committee
will consider legislative action early in 1997 consenting to
changes to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920 proposed by
the State of Hawaii. The Hawaii State Legislature enacted
measures to provide certain changes to the Hawaiian Homes
Commission Act, which although they do not result in any
increased cost to the Federal government, are helpful to Native
Hawaiians. One provision would permit grandchildren of a Native
Hawaiian leaseholder to assume the remainder of the home lease
should that individual die. Another provision would facilitate
certain disaster relief bonds. Congress must act on any
proposed change to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act by the
State of Hawaii pursuant to the 1959 Hawaii State Admissions
Act.
The Committee approved legislation emphasizing the
importance of the extended family and self-reliance among
Native Hawaiians by permitting people awarded Hawaiian
homesteads to be able to designate grandchildren as successors
and separately to permit the issuance of hurricane insurance
coverage for lessees of Hawaiian home lands, the Hawaiian Homes
Commission Act Amendments (H.J. Res. 32). This measure
subsequently was approved by the House and Senate and became
public law (P.L. 105-21).
Oversight of the Compacts of Free Association: The U.S.
special free association relationship with the separate
sovereign nations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and
the Federated States of Micronesia embodied in compacts of free
association requires the Executive Branch to enter into
negotiations during the next Congress. The Committee will
conduct discussions and oversight hearings in the freely
associated states by the end of 1997 and in early 1998 to
establish a record and gain input on the effectiveness of
Federal programs and funding to date and possible changes which
will enhance the United States-Freely Associated States
relationships. A joint hearing with the Committee on
International Relations' Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
is intended to build on the cooperative efforts of the 104th
Congress of the two committees of jurisdiction for the Compacts
of Free Association.
Oversight meetings were held in the freely associated
states with leaders of the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau,
and U.S. officials regarding the current and prospective
special free association relationship between the U.S. and
islands of the former U.S. administered trust territory. On-
site inspections were conducted with Federal and Palauan
officials of the proposed Compact road around the big island in
Palau to insure appropriate compliance with Federal auditing,
safety, and environmental standards in this major U.S. funded
project. Additional discussions were conducted in Washington
with officials of the freely associated states and the U.S.
State, Defense, Interior, and Energy Departments. A hearing was
held on introduced legislation calling for Program Extension
For Communities In The Former United States Trust Territory
(H.R. 1460), and also the Omnibus Territories Act (S. 210). The
provision in H.R. 1460 was approved by the House and Senate and
became law. A joint oversight hearing on the Compacts of Free
Association was held with the Committee and the Committee on
International Relations' Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Consideration of Plan for Guam Excess Lands: The Committee
will examine plans to dispose of Federal land in Guam which the
Federal government has or will declare as excess to the needs
of the military, who owns nearly one-third of the territory. An
oversight hearing will be held by mid-1997 regarding the
Government of Guam's plan for local public benefit use of
certain Federal excess land on Guam and the Administration's
progress in completing appraisals of those parcels as required
in Public Law 103-339. Also during the first half of 1997, the
Committee will also consider enacting legislation to establish
a U.S. policy providing Guam with the initial opportunity to
claim Federal land declared as excess.
The Committee held a hearing to examine legislative
proposals for a streamlined policy process for the disposition
of Federal land in Guam declared excess by the Federal
government, the Omnibus Territories Act (S. 210). Oversight
discussions were conducted in Guam on plans to dispose of
Federal land in Guam which the Federal government has or will
declare as excess to the needs of the military. Meetings were
conducted in Washington with Guam within U.S. officials
regarding the completion of the transfer to Guam of Federal
land authorized in Public Law 103-339.
Advancing Hazardous Waste Clean-up Plans in the Northern
Mariana Islands: The dynamic economy of the territory of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) requires
timely implementation of hazardous waste clean-up and
construction of a new landfill. Although an administrative
compliance order is in effect regarding a phased hazardous
waste clean-up schedule in Saipan, certain Federal agencies
have not committed to pay their respective part of the
hazardous waste clean-up plan. The Committee will conduct
discussions and oversight field hearings with Federal agencies
and the NMI government in the Marianas and in Washington, D.C.,
to advance the implementation of hazardous waste clean-up plans
to ensure continuity in the increasingly self-sufficient
economy.
Oversight discussions were held with Federal officials
regarding the Federal responsibilities in the court-ordered
compliance with Federal environmental standards for the
outdated waste disposal site in the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands. Inspections were conducted with NMI
officials of the hazardous waste disposal site and the proposed
new disposal locations. Meetings were held in Washington with
NMI leaders regarding funding allocated for the establishment
of an alternative waste disposal site and completion of
hazardous waste clean-up plans meeting the court-ordered
compliance.
Additional oversight hearings held
Government Performance and Results Act/Year 2000 Computer
Problem: The Committee held a hearing on the Government
Performance and Results Act as well as the Year 2000 computer
problem. The Acting Inspector General for the Department of the
Interior and the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) said
Interior is not setting appropriate goals or measuring progress
as required by law. Barry T. Hill with the GAO testified that
Interior's plans ``do not provide a clear picture of intended
performance.'' And he said Interior failed to come up with
concrete plans to address many of the specific problem areas
his agency and Congress have identified in recent years. They
include:
(1) Improving management of Indian trust funds, where
accountability over its $3 billion in assets is shaky.
(2) Prioritizing maintenance needs in parks.
(3) Consolidating similar activities across its agencies
such as the park service, wildlife service and the Bureau of
Land Management to save money.
The Acting Interior Inspector General said his review of
the Interior land management agencies concluded they ``had
inadequate management controls and/or insufficient funding to
effectively manage their operations and maintenance activities
and consequently, the inventory of needed facility repairs and
rehabilitations has increased significantly in recent years.
GAO also warned that Interior agencies may not be moving fast
enough, something that Interior officials dispute, to solve its
Year 2000 computer problems. He said many of Interior's key
systems still have the problem where older programming contains
only the last two digits of a year--so they will assume the
year 2000 is actually 1900, which can cause a malfunction when
2000 comes.
B. Oversight hearings
April 9, 1997--Joint oversight hearing held with the
Committee on Agriculture on the report on forest health by the
Forest Health Science Panel requested by Representative Charles
Taylor. Printed Hearing 105-1
May 1, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the provision in the
1997 Omnibus Appropriations Act which removed the Narragansett
Indian Tribe of Rhode Island from the coverage of the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act. Printed Hearing 105-25 (See H.R. 1983)
July 9, 1997--Joint oversight hearing with Senate Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources on the Final Draft of the
Tongass Land Management Plan as the first step in the
Congressional review process provided by the 1996 amendments to
the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Printed Hearing 105-48
July 10, 1997--Joint oversight hearing with Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the Final Draft of
the Tongass Land Management Plan as the first step in the
Congressional review process provided by the 1996 amendments to
the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Printed Hearing 105-48
July 15, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the Clinton
Administration's Proposal regarding the American Heritage
Rivers Initiative. Printed Hearing 105-36 (See H.R. 1842)
September 30, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the issues
surrounding use of fire as a management tool and its risks and
benefits as they relate to the health of the National Forests
and the Environmental Protection Agency's National Ambient Air
Quality Standards. Printed Hearing 105-45
March 5, 1998--Oversight hearing held on the Endangered
Species Act. Printed Hearing 105-80
March 18, 1998--Oversight hearing held on problems and
issues with the National Environmental Policy Act. Printed
Hearing 105-102
March 26, 1998--Joint oversight hearing held with the
Budget Committee, and Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on
Interior on management of the U.S. Forest Service. Printed
Hearing 105-82
April 22, 1998--Oversight hearing on Government Performance
and Results Act.
May 13, 1998--Oversight hearing held on the National Forest
Foundation.
June 9, 1998--Oversight hearing held on the impact of
Federal land use policies on rural communities. Printed Hearing
105-90.
July 15, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Endangered Species
Act. Printed Hearing 105-96
September 2, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in Pasco,
Washington, on National Marine Fisheries Service role in
implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Printed
Hearing 105-111
September 3, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in Boise,
Idaho, on National Marine Fisheries Service role in
implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Printed
Hearing 105-111
October 1, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Compacts of Free
Association with the Marshall Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, and Palau. Printed Hearing 105-117
October 26, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in Clovis,
New Mexico, on the Endangered Species Act.
v. full committee statistics
Total number of bills and resolutions held at full committee...... 121
Total number of bills held at Full Committee that were reported
from Committee................................................ 42
Total number of bills held at Full Committee that were passed by
the House-.................................................... 30
Total number of bills held at Full Committee that were enacted
into law.................................................. 22
Public Hearings and Markups:
Legislative Hearings.......................................... 23
Oversight Hearings............................................ 17
Markup Sessions............................................... 24
Total number of meetings (days)................................... 58
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands
I. introduction
During the 105th Congress the Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands was very active in holding hearings on
and passing numerous bills as part of the Subcommittee's
legislative agenda. As part of the agenda, the Subcommittee,
under the direction of Chairman James V. Hansen (R-UT), was
heavily involved in the negotiation of and making amendments to
S. 1693, ``The National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998''.
This landmark legislation, crafted with bi-partisanship, made
significant changes to National Park Service policy, especially
in terms of concessions, the method that new units are added to
the National Park System, and how science is evaluated and
integrated into National Park management decisions. Overall,
the Subcommittee was referred 266 bills, held hearings on 65
bills, and enacted 74 bills.
The Subcommittee deserves credit for passing an
extraordinary amount of legislation in the 105th Congress
either individually or as part of larger packages. For example,
the Subcommittee is responsible for H.R. 3910, the Automobile
National Heritage Corridor Act, which was amended with sixteen
other pieces of legislation that substantially improves the
National Park System. Passage of this bill created new National
Park units and memorials, expanded other park units, authorized
the study of possible additions to the Park Service, and re-
authorized many park unit commissions. Similarly, the
Subcommittee can take credit for other legislation which
provides opportunities for the public to enjoy units of the
National Park System across the country. New wild and scenic
rivers have been designated in Connecticut, national recreation
areas expanded in Georgia, and new innovative park affiliations
have been added in New York and in Arizona.
The Subcommittee and Chairman Hansen can also claim credit
for a major land exchange in Utah between the Federal
government and the Utah State School Trust. This legislation,
H.R. 3830, represented a landmark breakthrough in disposal of
the School Trust Lands surrounded by Federal land. This
legislation authorized the trade of these lands out of National
Parks, Monuments and Reservations for economically developable
lands elsewhere in the State, greatly benefitting the school
children of Utah.
Clearly, the 105th Congress and the Subcommittee on
National Parks and Public Lands can be proud of the
accomplishments to create, expand, and re-authorize National
Park units and affiliated areas along with addressing many
other important issues in regard to the management of public
lands.
ii. jurisdiction
(1) Measures and matters related to the National Park
System and its units, including Federal reserve water rights.
(2) The National Wilderness Preservation System, except for
wilderness created from forest reserves from the public domain,
and wilderness in Alaska.
(3) Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System,
national heritage areas and other national units established
for protection, conservation, preservation or recreational
development administered by the Secretary of the Interior,
other than coastal barriers.
(4) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks in and
within the vicinity of the District of Columbia and the
erection of monuments to the memory of individuals.
(5) Federal outdoor recreation plans, programs and
administration including the Land and Water Conservation Fund,
except those in public forests.
(6) Plans and programs concerning non-Federal outdoor
recreation and land use, including related plans and programs
authorized by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965
and the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963, except those in public
forests.
(7) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of
interest on the public domain and other historic preservation
programs and activities, including national monuments, historic
sites and programs for international cooperation in the field
of historic preservation.
(8) Matters concerning the following agencies and programs:
Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, Historic American
Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and
U.S. Holocaust Memorial.
(9) Except for public lands in Alaska, public lands
generally, including measures or matters relating to entry,
easements, withdrawals, grazing and Federal reserved water
rights.
(10) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership,
including alien ownership of mineral lands.
(11) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
iii. legislative activities
A. Legislative hearings and markups
March 13, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 449, to provide for
the orderly disposal of certain Federal lands in Clark County,
Nevada, and to provide for the acquisition of environmentally
sensitive lands in the State of Nevada. Printed Hearing 105-5
April 10, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 449, to provide for the
orderly disposal of certain Federal lands in Clark County,
Nevada, and to provide for the acquisition of environmentally
sensitive lands in the State of Nevada.
Hearing held on H.R. 136, to amend the National Parks and
Recreation Act of 1978 to designate the Marjory Stoneman
Douglas Wilderness and to amend the Everglades National Park
Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 to designate the Ernest F.
Coe Visitor Center; and H.R. 765, to ensure maintenance of a
herd of wild horses in Cape Lookout National Seashore.
May 8, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 1127, to amend the
Antiquities Act to require an Act of Congress and the
concurrence of the Governor and State legislature for the
establishment by the President of national monuments in excess
of 5,000 acres; and H.R. 765, to ensure maintenance of a herd
of wild horses in Cape Lookout National Seashore.
May 20, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 60, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to the Casa
Malpais National Historic Landmark in Springerville, Arizona;
H.R. 951, to require the Secretary of the Interior to exchange
certain lands located in Hinsdale, Colorado; H.R. 822, to
facilitate a land exchange involving private land within the
exterior boundaries of Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan
County, Washington; H.R. 1198, to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to convey certain land to the City of Grants Pass,
Oregon; and H.R. 960, to validate certain conveyances in the
City of Tulare, Tulare County, California, and for other
purposes.
June 10, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 588, to amend the
National Trails System Act to create a new category of long-
distance trails to be known as national discovery trails, to
authorize the American Discovery Trail as the first trail in
that category, and for other purposes; and H.R. 1513, to amend
the National Trails System Act to designate the Lincoln
National Historic Trail as a component of the National Trails
System. Printed Hearing 105-22
June 17, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1051, New Mexico
Statehood and Enabling Act Amendments of 1997. Printed Hearing
105-30. Hearing held on H.R. 1567, to provide for the
designation of additional wilderness lands in the eastern
United States. Printed Hearing 105-35
June 19, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 822, to facilitate a
land exchange involving private land within the exterior
boundaries of Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan County,
Washington; H.R. 951, to require the Secretary of the Interior
to exchange certain lands located in Hinsdale, Colorado; H.R.
960, to validate certain conveyances in the City of Tulare,
Tulare County, California, and for other purposes; H.R. 1110,
to designate a portion of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord
Rivers as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System; and H.R. 1198, to direct the Secretary of the Interior
to convey certain land to the City of Grants Pass, Oregon.
June 24, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1500, to designate
certain Federal lands in the State of Utah as wilderness, and
for other purposes; and H.R. 1952, to designate certain Bureau
of Land Management lands in the State of Utah as wilderness.
Printed Hearing 105-33
July 22, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 708, to require the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study concerning grazing
use of certain land within and adjacent to Grand Teton National
Park, Wyoming, and to extend temporarily certain grazing
privileges; H.R. 755, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to allow individuals to designate any portion of their
income tax overpayments, and to make other contributions, for
the benefit of units of the National Park System; H.R. 1635, to
establish within the United States National Park Service the
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, and
for other purposes; andH.R. 1718, to provide for the conveyance
of certain lands in Wyoming to the County of Park, Wyoming. Printed
Hearing 105-37
July 31, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 136, to amend the
National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to designate the
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness and to amend the Everglades
National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 to designate
the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center; H.R. 708, to require the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study concerning grazing
use of certain land within and adjacent to Grand Teton National
Park, Wyoming, and to extend temporarily certain grazing
privileges; and H.R. 1567, to provide for the designation of
additional wilderness lands in the eastern United States.
September 9, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1849, to establish
the Oklahoma City National Memorial as a unit of the National
Park System, to designate the Oklahoma City Memorial Trust, and
for other purposes. Printed Hearing 105-55
September 16, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 351, to authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to make appropriate improvements
to a county road located in the Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore, and to prohibit construction of a scenic shoreline
drive in that national lakeshore; H.R. 1714, to provide for the
acquisition of the Plains Railroad Depot at the Jimmy Carter
National Historic Site; H.R. 2136, to direct the Secretary of
the Interior to convey, at fair market value, certain
properties in Clark County, Nevada, to persons who purchased
adjacent properties in good faith reliance on land surveys that
were subsequently determined to be inaccurate; and H.R. 2283,
to expand the boundaries of the Arches National Park in the
State of Utah to include portions of the following drainages,
Salt Wash, Lost Spring Canyon, Fish Sheep Draw, Clover Canyon,
Cordova Canyon, Mine Draw, and Cottonwood Wash, which are
currently under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land
Management, and to include a portion of Fish Sheep Draw, which
is currently owned by the State of Utah. Printed Hearing 105-51
October 7, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 2313, to prohibit the
construction of any monument memorial, or other structure at
the site of the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia; S.
731, to extend the legislative authority for construction of
the National Peace Garden Memorial; and S. 423, to extend the
legislative authority for the Board of Regents of Gunston Hall
to establish a memorial to honor George Mason. Committee on
Resources--105th Congress
Markup held on H.R. 1714, to provide for the acquisition of
the Plains Railroad Depot at the Jimmy Carter National Historic
Site; H.R. 2283, to expand the boundaries of the Arches
National Park in the State of Utah to include portions of the
following drainages, Salt Wash, Lost Spring Canyon, Fish Sheep
Draw, Clover Canyon, Cordova Canyon, Mine Draw, and Cottonwood
Wash, which are currently under the jurisdiction of the Bureau
of Land Management, and to include a portion of Fish Sheep
Draw, which is currently owned by the State of Utah; H.R. 755,
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals
to designate any portion of their income tax overpayments, and
to make other contributions, for the benefit of units of the
National Park System; H.R. 1635, to establish within the United
States National Park Service the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom program, and for other purposes; S. 731, to
extend the legislative authority for construction of the
National Peace Garden Memorial; and S. 423, to extend the
legislative authority for the Board of Regents of Gunston Hall
to establish a memorial to honor George Mason.
October 9, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 2186, to authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to the
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper,
Wyoming; H.R. 1811, to ensure the long-term protection of the
resources of the portion of the Columbia River known as the
Hanford Reach; and H.R. 1477, to amend the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act to designate a portion of the Columbia River as a
recreational river, and for other purposes.
October 21, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1522, to extend the
authorization for the National Historic Preservation Fund.
Printed Hearing 105-66
October 30, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 2186, to authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to the
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper,
Wyoming.
Hearing held on H.R. 2438, to encourage establishment of
appropriate trails on abandoned railroad rights-of-way, while
ensuring protection of certain reversionary property rights;
and H.R. 1995, to provide for the protection of farmland at the
Point Reyes National Seashore, and for other purposes. Printed
Hearing 105-76
November 6, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 588, to amend the
National Trails System Act to create a new category of long-
distance trails to be known as national discovery trails, to
authorize the American Discovery Trail as the first trail in
the category, and for other purposes; and H.R. 2438, to
encourage establishment of appropriate trails on abandoned
railroad rights-of-way, while ensuring protection of certain
reversionary property rights.
February 5, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2098, National Cave
and Karst Research Institute Act of 1997; and H.R. 2989, to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the St.
Jude's Ranch for Children, Nevada, approximately 40 acres of
land in Las Vegas, Nevada, to be used for the development of
facilities for the residential care and treatment of
adjudicated girls. Printed Hearing 105-59
February 24, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2223, Education
Land Grant Act; H.R. 1728, National Park Service Administrative
Amendment of 1997; and H.R. 2993, to provide for the collection
of fees for the making of motion pictures, television
productions, and sound tracks in National Park System and
National Wildlife Refuge Systems units. Printed Hearing 105-71
March 12, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1522, to extend the
authorization for the National Historic Preservation Fund; and
H.R. 2098, National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of
1997.
March 26, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2538, Guadalupe-
Hidalgo Treaty Land Claims Act of 1997; H.R. 2776, to amend the
Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the establishment of the
Morristown National Historical Park in the State of New
Jersey''; and H.R. 3047, to authorize expansion of Fort Davis
National Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas, by 16 acres.
April 23, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3625, San Rafael Swell
National Heritage and Conservation Act. Printed Hearing 105-85
April 28, 1998--Joint hearing held with Subcommittee on
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, on H.R. 2800,
Battle of Midway National Memorial Study Act.
Hearing held on H.R. 3220, to authorize the use of certain
land in Merced County, California, for an elementary school.
May 7, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 2538, Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty Land Claims Act of 1997; and H.R. 2625, San Rafael Swell
National Heritage and Conservation Act.
May 12, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3109, Thomas Cole
National Historic Site; and H.R. 1390, to authorize the
Government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma
Gandhi in the District of Columbia.
May 19, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3830, Utah Schools and
Lands Exchange Act of 1998. Printed Hearing 105-89
May 21, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1042, to amend the
Illinois and Michigan Canal Heritage Corridor Act of 1984 to
extend the Illinois and Michigan Canal Heritage Corridor
Commission; H.R. 1894, to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission for ten
additional years; H.R. 2233, Education Land Grant Act; H.R.
2776, to amend the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the
establishment of the Morristown National Historical Park in the
State of New Jersey''; H.R. 2993, to provide for the collection
of fees for the making of motion pictures, television
productions, and sound tracks in National Park System and
National Wildlife Refuge System units; H.R. 3047, to authorize
expansion of Fort Davis National Historic Site in Fort Davis,
Texas, by 16 acres; and H.J. Res. 113, a joint resolution
approving the location of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in
the Nation's Capitol.
June 9, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3542, O&C Lands
Protection Act.
June 11, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1390, to authorize the
Government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma
Gandhi in the District of Columbia; H.R. 1728, National Park
Service Administrative Amendment of 1997; H.R. 3055, to deem
the activities of the Miccosukee Tribe on the Tamiami Indian
Reservation to be consistent with the purposes of the
Everglades National Park; H.R. 3109, Thomas Cole National
Historic Site; and H.R. 3830, Utah Schools and Lands Exchange
Act of 1998.
June 18, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2970, National Historic
Lighthouse Preservation Act of 1997; H.R. 3746, to authorize
the addition of the Paoli Battlefield site in Malvern,
Pennsylvania, to the Valley Forge National Historic Park; H.R.
3883, to revise the boundary of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace
National Historic Site to include Knob Creek Farm; and H.R.
3910, Automobile National Heritage Area Act of 1998.
June 23, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3705, to provide for
the sale of certain public lands in the Ivanpah Valley, Nevada,
to the Clark County Department of Aviation. Printed Hearing
105-91.
June 23, 1998--Markup held on S. 1693, to provide for
improved management and increased accountability for certain
National Park Service programs; H.R. 4004, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to the Casa
Malpais National Historic Landmark in Springerville, Arizona,
and to establish the Lower East Side Tenement National Historic
Site.
July 16, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3981, to modify the
boundaries of the George Washington Birthplace National
Monument; and -H.R. 4109, to authorize the Gateway Visitor
Center at Independence National Historical Park; H.R. 4141, to
amend the Act authorizing the establishment of the
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to modify the
boundaries of the Area, and to provide for the protection of
lands, waters, and natural, cultural, and scenic resources
within the national recreation area; and H.R. 4158, to
authorize the private ownership and use of certain secondary
structures and surplus lands administered as part of any
national historical park that are not consistent with the
purposes for which the park was established, if adequate
protection of natural, aesthetic, recreational, cultural, and
historical values is assured by appropriate terms, covenants,
conditions, or reservations. -Printed Hearing 105-95
July 28, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2125, to authorize
appropriations for the coastal Heritage Trail Route in New
Jersey; H.R. 3950, Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1998; H.R.
3963, to establish terms and conditions under which the
Secretary of the Interior shall convey leaseholds in certain
properties around Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana; H.R. 4144,
Cumberland Island Preservation Act; H.R. 4211, to establish the
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in association with the
Tuskegee University, in the State of Alabama; H.R. 4230, to
provide for a land exchange involving the El Portal
Administrative Site of the Department of the Interior in the
State of California; and H.R. 4287, Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act. Printed Hearing 105-
104
August 6, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 576, to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to undertake the necessary
feasibility studies regarding the establishment of certain new
units of the National Park System in the State of Hawaii; H.R.
2125, to authorize appropriations for the Coastal Heritage
Trail Route in New Jersey; H.R. 2800, Battle of Midway National
Memorial Study Act; H.R. 2970, National Historic Lighthouse
Preservation Act; H.R. 3705, Ivanpah Valley Airport Public
Lands Transfer Act; H.R. 3746, to authorize the addition of the
Paoli Battlefield site in Malvern, Pennsylvania, to the Valley
Forge National Historical Park; H.R. 3883, to revise the
boundary of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic
Site to include Knob Creek Farm; H.R. 3910, Automobile National
Heritage Area Act of 1998; H.R. 3950, Otay Mountain Wilderness
Act of 1998; H.R. 3963, to establish terms and conditions under
which the Secretary of the Interior shall convey leaseholds in
certain properties around Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana; H.R.
3981, to modify the boundaries of the George Washington
Birthplace National Monument; H.R. 4109, Gateway Visitor Center
Authorization Act of 1998; H.R. 4141, to amend the Act
authorizing the establishment of the Chattahoochee River
National Recreation Area to modify the boundaries of the area,
and to provide for the protection of lands, waters, and
natural, cultural, and scenic resources within the national
recreation area; H.R. 4144, Cumberland Island Preservation Act;
H.R. 4158, National Park Enhancement and Protection Act; H.R.
4182, to establish the Little Rock Central High School National
Historic Site in the State of Arkansas; H.R. 4211, to establish
the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in association with
the Tuskegee University, in the State of Alabama; H.R. 4230, to
provide for land exchange involving the El Portal
Administrative Site of the Department of the Interior in the
State of California; H.R. 4287, Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument Boundary Adjustments Act; and H.R. 4289,
Wilcox Ranch Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Act.
October 6, 1998--Hearing on H.R. 4119, to provide for the
restoration of certain Federal land of religious and cultural
significance to the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona, and for
other purposes.
B. -Legislation enacted
H.J. Res. 113, a joint resolution approving the location of
a Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in the Nation's Capitol
(Public Law 105-201).
H.R. 60, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
provide assistance to the Casa Malpais National Historic
Landmark in Springerville, Arizona (enacted as part of Public
Law 105-378).
H.R. 351, authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make
appropriate improvements to a county road located in the
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and to prohibit construction
of a scenic shoreline drive in that national lakeshore (enacted
as part of Public Law 105-378).
H.R. 449, provides for the orderly disposal of certain
Federal lands in Clark County, Nevada, and to provide for the
acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands in the State of
Nevada (Public Law 105-263).
H.R. 576, directs the Secretary of the Interior to
undertake the necessary feasibility studies regarding the
establishment of certain new units of the National Park System
in the State of Hawaii (enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 708, to require the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study concerning grazing use of certain land within
and adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, and to
extend temporarily certain grazing privileges (Public Law 105-
81).
H.R. 765, to ensure maintenance of a herd of wild horses in
Cape Lookout National Seashore (Public Law 105-229).
H.R. 822, to facilitate a land exchange involving private
land within the exterior boundaries of Wenatchee National
Forest in Chelan County, Washington (enacted as part of Public
Law 105-83).
H.R. 960, to validate certain conveyances in the City of
Tulare, Tulare County, California (Public Law 105-195).
H.R. 1042, amends the Illinois and Michigan Canal Heritage
Corridor Act of 1984 to extend the Illinois and Michigan Canal
Heritage Corridor Commission (enacted as part of Public Law
105-355).
H.R. 1163, amends title 10, United States Code, to transfer
jurisdiction over Naval Oil Shale Reserves Numbered 1 and 3 to
the Secretary of the Interior and to authorize the leasing of
such reserves for oil and gas exploration and production
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-85).
H.R. 1198, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
convey certain land to the City of Grants Pass, Oregon (Public
Law 105-39).
H.R. 1424, to amend the Petroglyph National Monument
Establishment Act of 1990 to adjust the boundary of the
monument (enacted as part of Public Law 105-174).
H.R. 1635, to establish within the United States National
Park Service the National Underground Railroad Network to
Freedom program (Public Law 105-203).
H.R. 1894, to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission for ten additional
years (enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 1994, amend the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for
the establishment of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and
for other purposes'' to ensure an opportunity for persons who
convey property for inclusion in that national lakeshore to
retain a right of use and occupancy for a fixed term, and for
other purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 2136, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
convey, at fair market value, certain properties in Clark
County, Nevada, to persons who purchased adjacent properties in
good faith reliance on land surveys that were subsequently
determined to be inaccurate (enacted as part of Public Law 105-
83).
H.R. 2186, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
provide assistance to the National Historic Trails Interpretive
Center in Casper, Wyoming (Public Law 105-290).
H.R. 2201, establishes the Lower East Side Tenement
National Historic Site, and for other purposes (enacted as part
of Public Law 105-378).
H.R. 2411, provides for a land exchange involving the Cape
Cod National Seashore and to extend the authority for the Cape
Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission (Public Law 105-280).
H.R. 2776, amends the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for
the establishment of the Morristown National Historical Park in
the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes'' to authorize
the acquisition of property known as the Warren property
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 2958, reauthorizes the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation
Canal National Heritage Corridor Act, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 3047, authorizes expansion of Fort Davis National
Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas, by 16 acres (enacted as
part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 3055, deems the activities of the Miccosukee Tribe on
the Tamiami Indian Reservation to be consistent with the
purposes of the Everglades National Park, and for other
purposes (Public Law 105-313).
H.R. 3220, authorizes the use of certain land in Merced
County, California, for an elementary school (enacted as part
of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 3499, to authorize the Washington Interdependence
Council to establish a memorial to Mr. Benjamin Banneker in the
District of Columbia (enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 3522, amends the Act entitled ``An Act to establish
the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island'' to reauthorize assistance for
historic, recreational, and environmental education projects
related to the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage
Corridor (enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 3542, clarifies the Bureau of Land Management's
authority to make sales and exchanges of certain Federal lands
in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes (enacted as part
of Public Law 105-321).
H.R. 3569, transfers administrative jurisdiction over
certain parcels of public domain land in Lake County, Oregon,
to facilitate management of the land, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321).
H.R. 3689, transfers administrative jurisdiction over the
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area to the
Secretary of Agriculture (enacted as part of Public Law 105-
277).
H.R. 3830, provides for the exchange of certain lands
within the State of Utah (Public Law 105-335).
H.R. 3883, revises the boundary of the Abraham Lincoln
Birthplace National Historic Site to include Knob Creek Farm,
and for other purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 3910, authorizes the Automobile National Heritage Area
(Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 3957, renames Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing
Arts as ``Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts''
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 3963, establishes terms and conditions under which the
Secretary of the Interior shall convey leaseholds in certain
properties around Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana (enacted as
part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 4004, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
provide assistance to the Casa Malpais National Historic
Landmark in Springerville, Arizona, and to establish the Lower
East Side Tenement National Historic Site, and for other
purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-378).
H.R. 4166, amends the Idaho Admission Act regarding the
sale or lease of school land (Public Law 105-296).
H.R. 4211, establishes the Tuskegee Airmen National
Historic Site, in association with the Tuskegee University, in
the State of Alabama, and for other purposes (enacted as part
of Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 4230, provides for a land exchange involving the El
Portal Administrative Site of the Department of the Interior in
the State of California (enacted as part of Public Law 105-
363).
H.R. 4287, makes technical corrections and minor
adjustments to the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument in the State of Utah (enacted as part of
Public Law 105-355).
H.R. 4289, provides for the purchase by the Secretary of
the Interior of the Wilcox ranch in Eastern Utah for management
as wildlife habitat (enacted as part of Public Law 105-363).
H.R. 4548, makes a technical correction to the Columbia
River Gorge National Scenic Area Act of 1986 (enacted as part
of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 4575, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire interests in real property for addition to the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (enacted as
part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 4671, redesignates the Marsh-Billings National
Historical Park in the State of Vermont as the ``Marsh
Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park'' (enacted as
part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 4816, authorizes the acquisition of the Valles Caldera
currently managed by the Baca Land and Cattle Company, to
provide for an effective land and wildlife management program
for this resource within the Department of Agriculture through
the private sector, and for other purposes (enacted as part of
Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 4867, directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey
certain public lands to the Town of Pahrump, Nevada, for use
for a recreation complex (enacted as part of Public Law 105-
277).
S.J. Res. 29, joint resolution to direct the Secretary of
the Interior to design and construct a permanent addition to
the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.
(Public Law 105-29).
S. 231, establishes the National Cave and Karst Research
Institute in the State of New Mexico (Public Law 105-325).
S. 423, extends the legislative authority for the Board of
Regents of Gunston Hall to establish a memorial to honor George
Mason (Public Law 105-182).
S. 430, amends the Act of June 20, 1910, to protect the
permanent trust funds of the State of New Mexico from erosion
due to inflation and modify the basis on which distributions
are made from those funds (Public Law 105-37).
S. 669, provides for the acquisition of the Plains Railroad
Depot at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site (Public Law
105-106).
S. 731, extends the legislative authority for construction
of the National Peace Garden Memorial (Public Law 105-202).
S. 1175, to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission for ten additional
years (enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
S. 1333, amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of
1965 to allow national park units that cannot charge an
entrance or admission fee to retain other fees and charges
(Public Law 105-327).
S. 1132, modifies the boundaries of the Bandelier National
Monument to include the lands within the headwaters of the
Upper Alamo Watershed which drain into the Monument and which
are not currently within the jurisdiction of a Federal land
management agency, to authorize purchase or donation of those
lands, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-376).
S. 1408, establishes the Lower East Side Tenement National
Historic Site (Public Law 105-378).
S. 1665, reauthorizes the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation
Canal National Heritage Corridor Act, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-355).
S. 1693, provides for improved management and increased
accountability for certain National Park Service programs
(Public Law 105-391).
S. 1695, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to study
the suitability and feasibility of designating the Sand Creek
Massacre National Historic Site in the State of Colorado as a
unit of the National Park System (Public Law 105-243).
S. 1718, amends the Weir Farm National Historic Site
Establishment Act of 1990 to authorize the acquisition of
additional acreage for the historic site to permit the
development of visitor and administrative facilities and to
authorize the appropriation of additional amounts for the
acquisition of real and personal property (Public Law 105-363).
S. 1807, transfers administrative jurisdiction over certain
parcels of public domain land in Lake County, Oregon, to
facilitate management of the land, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321).
S. 1990, authorizes expansion of Fort Davis National
Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas, by 16 acres (enacted as
part of Public Law 105-355).
S. 2068, revises the boundaries of the George Washington
Birthplace National Monument (enacted as Public Law 105-355).
S. 2129, eliminates restrictions on the acquisition of
certain land contiguous to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
(Public Law 105-380).
S. 2232, establishes the Little Rock Central High School
National Historic Site in the State of Arkansas (Public Law
105-356).
S. 2240, establishes the Adams National Historical Park in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes
(Public Law 105-342).
S. 2241, provides for the acquisition of lands formerly
occupied by the Franklin D. Roosevelt family at Hyde Park, New
York, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-364).
S. 2246, amends the Act which established the Frederick Law
Olmsted National Historic Site, in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, by modifying the boundary and for other purposes
(Public Law 105-343).
S. 2272, amends the boundaries of Grant-Kohrs Ranch
National Historic Site in the State of Montana (Public Law 105-
365).
S. 2285, establish a commission, in honor of the 150th
Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention, to further protect
sites of importance in the historic efforts to secure equal
rights for women (Public Law 105-341).
S. 2427, amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands
Management Act of 1996 to extend the legislative authority for
the Black Patriots Foundation to establish a commemorative work
(Public Law 105-345).
S. 2468, designates the Biscayne National Park Visitor
Center as the Dante Fascell Visitor Center (Public Law 105-
307).
S. 2513, transfers administrative jurisdiction over certain
Federal land located within or adjacent to Rogue River National
Forest and to clarify the authority of the Bureau of Land
Management to sell and exchange other Federal land in Oregon
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321).
C. -Legislation passed House
H. Res. 144, a resolution to express support for the
bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
H.R. 951 (H. Rept. 105-170), to require the Secretary of
the Interior to exchange certain lands located in Hinsdale,
Colorado. [See S. 587 for further action]
H.R. 1127 (H. Rept. 105-191), to amend the Antiquities Act
to require an Act of Congress and the concurrence of the
Governor and State legislature for the establishment by the
President of national monuments in excess of 5,000 acres.
H.R. 1270 (H. Rept. 105-290, Part II), to amend the Nuclear
Waste Policy Act of 1982.
H.R. 1522 (H. Rept. 105-484), to extend the authorization
for the National Historic Preservation Fund.
H.R. 1728 (H. Rept. 105-612), to provide for the
development of a plan and a management review of the National
Park System and to reform the process by which areas are
considered for addition to the National Park System.
H.R. 2283 (H. Rept. 105-386), to expand the boundaries of
Arches National Park in the State of Utah to include portions
of the following drainages, Salt Wash, Lost Spring Canyon, Fish
Sheep Draw, Clover Canyon, Cordova Canyon, Mine Draw, and
Cottonwood Wash, which are currently under the jurisdiction of
the Bureau of Land Management, and to include a portion of Fish
Sheep Draw, which is currently owned by the State of Utah. [See
S. 2106 for further action]
H.R. 2538 (H. Rept. 105-594), to establish a Presidential
commission to determine the validity of certain land claims
arising out of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo of 1848
involving the descendants of persons who were Mexican citizens
at the time of the Treaty.
H.R. 2993 (H. Rept. 105-678), to provide for the collection
of fees for the making of motion pictures, television
productions, and sound tracks in National Park System and
National Wildlife Refuge System units, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3109 (H. Rept. 105-695), to establish the Thomas Cole
National Historic Site in the State of New York.
H.R. 3520, adjusts the boundaries of the Lake Chelan
National Recreation Area and the adjacent Wenatchee National
Forest in the State of Washington. [See S. 1683 for further
action]
H.R. 4735, to make technical corrections to the Omnibus
Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996.
H.R. 4829, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
transfer administrative jurisdiction over land within the
boundaries of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National
Historic Site to the Archivist of the United States for the
construction of a visitor center.
D. Legislation ordered reported by the full committee
H.R. 136 (H. Rept. 105-328) to amend the National Parks and
Recreation Act of 1978 to designate the Marjory Stoneman
Douglas Wilderness and to amend the Everglades National Park
Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 to designate the Ernest F.
Coe Visitor Center. [See S. 931 for further action]
H.R. 755 (H. Rept. 105-482, Part I) to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals to designate any
portion of their income tax overpayments, and to make other
contributions, for the benefit of units of the National Park
System.
H.R. 1110 (H. Rept. 105-691) to designate a portion of the
Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers as a component of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. [See S. 469 for further
action]
H.R. 1567 (H. Rept. 105-814) to provide for the designation
of additional wilderness lands in the eastern United States.
H.R. 1608 (H. Rept. 105-753) to authorize the Pyramid of
Remembrance Foundation to establish a memorial in the District
of Columbia or its environs to soldiers who have died in
foreign conflicts other than declared wars.
H.R. 1849 (H. Rept. 105-316) to establish the Oklahoma City
National Memorial as a unit of the National Park System, to
designate the Oklahoma City Memorial Trust. [See S. 871 for
further action]
H.R. 2223 (H. Rept. 105-693) to amend the Act popularly
known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act to authorize
transfers of certain public lands or national forest lands to
local education agencies for use for elementary or secondary
schools, including public charter schools, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 3625 (H. Rept. 105-685) to establish the San Rafael
Swell National Heritage Area and the San Rafael Swell National
Conservation Area in the State of Utah.
E. Legislation marked up at subcommittee
H.R. 588, to amend the National Historic Trials System Act
to create a new category of long-distance trails to be known as
national discovery trails, to authorize the American Discovery
Trail as the first trail in that category.
H.R. 1390, to authorize the Government of India to
establish a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi in the District of
Columbia. [See H.R. 4284 for further action]
H.R. 1714, to provide for the acquisition of the Plains
Railroad Depot at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. [See
S. 669 for further action]
H.R. 2098, to establish the National Cave and Karst
Research Institute in the State of New Mexico, and for other
purposes. [See S. 231 for further action]
H.R. 2125, to authorize appropriations for the Coastal
Heritage Trail Route in New Jersey, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2800, to provide for a study of the establishment of
Midway Atoll as a national memorial to the Battle of Midway,
and for other purposes.
H.R. 2970, to amend the National Historic Preservation Act
for purposes of establishing a national historic lighthouse
preservation program.
H.R. 3705, to provide for the sale of certain public lands
in the Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, to the Clark County Department
of Aviation.
H.R. 3746, to authorize the addition of the Paoli
Battlefield site in Malvern, Pennsylvania, to the Valley Forge
National Historical Park, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3950, to designate a portion of the Otay Mountain
region of California as wilderness.
H.R. 3981, to modify the boundaries of the George
Washington Birthplace National Monument, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 4109, to authorize the Gateway Visitor Center at
Independence National Historical Park, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4141, to amend the Act authorizing the establishment
of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to modify
the boundaries of the Area, and to provide for the protection
of lands, waters, and natural, cultural, and scenic resources
within the national recreation area, and for other purposes.
[See S. 469 for further action]
H.R. 4144, Cumberland Island Preservation Act.
H.R. 4158, to authorize the private ownership and use of
certain secondary structures and surplus lands administered as
part of any national historical park that are not consistent
with the purposes for which the park was established, if
adequate protection of natural, aesthetic, recreational,
cultural, and historical values is assured by appropriate
terms, covenants, conditions, or reservations.
H.R. 4182, to establish the Little Rock Central High School
National Historic Site in the State of Arkansas, and for other
purposes. [See S. 2232 for further action]
IV. Oversight Activities of the Subcommittee on National Parks and
Public Lands
Another major function of the Subcommittee deals with
oversight activities of the issues and agencies under its
jurisdiction. The Subcommittee takes its oversight
responsibility seriously and aggressively pursues oversight
hearings on a wide variety of important issues. During the
105th Congress the Subcommittee focused oversight activities on
the two main Federal agencies within its jurisdiction--the
National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management and
held 17 oversight hearings. Although steadfast in its pursuit
of identifying and highlighting important problems and possible
abuses by these agencies, the Subcommittee, nonetheless, is
also committed to finding solutions to any of the identified
problems. The goal, of course, is to provide for better
management of the Nation's Federal lands and national treasures
so that the American public can benefit from and enjoy these
resources. In its continuing efforts to reach this goal, the
Subcommittee investigated, through oversight activities,
mismanagement of public lands and national parks, wasted
expenditures, over-burdensome and outdated Federal regulations,
public access issues, health of the natural resources, and
alternative or modified management policies.
National Park Service
Financial Management in the National Park Service: This
issue is a high priority oversight issue for the Subcommittee
during the 105th Congress. It is clear that the National Park
Service's (NPS) budget has increased far in excess of inflation
in recent years (52 percent above inflation from 1980-1995),
the number of park personnel has increased (22 percent in the
last decade), and visitation has remained flat. At the same
time, it is also clear that visitor services are being
curtailed, and that key park resources are at risk or
deteriorating. What is not clear is why the increased funding
and personnel provided have not successfully addressed these
critical park problems.
There are repeated stories in the media about shortfalls in
park funding. Recently, the Superintendent of Yellowstone
National Park reported that despite a budget increase in excess
of the amount requested by the President, the park was
considering curtailing visitor services.
Congress has attempted to address this concern by
authorizing NPS to keep increased fees and has examined other
programs to raise funds for the agency. However, it is clear
that these additional sources of funds will only provide
limited funding increases. Therefore, it is critical that the
agency direct its current funding to the highest priority
needs. The General Accounting Office (GAO) and Department of
the Interior Inspector General have both testified that the NPS
has no process in place to ensure that its funds are allocated
to the highest priority needs.
Similarly, the NPS has no accurate idea of how large its
shortfall is, and therefore has no plan in place to address the
shortfall. For example, in 1993 when GAO visited 16 park areas
toreview their reported shortfalls in funding for housing, not
a single park could justify the numbers submitted to the Washington
office.
In fact, NPS did not even have an accurate financial
control system in place and had failed to balance its books for
three years, until this fact was exposed through Subcommittee
oversight hearings two years ago. The agency has worked hard to
address this problem over the last year.
The Subcommittee intends to again hold joint hearings early
in the year to examine the results of ongoing work by the GAO
about the NPS budget and priority-setting process. The
Subcommittee will also hold oversight hearings this Summer on
another GAO report analyzing and comparing the effectiveness of
State management of parks versus Federal management of parks.
The Subcommittee is also considering holding oversight
hearings on the implementation of the Government Performance
and Review System by NPS later this year. It is possible that
this new budget allocation system could assist the agency in
developing a priority setting system which could address some
of these concerns.
The Subcommittee held a hearing on the Recreational Fee
Demonstration Program. The Program was initially authorized in
the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions Act of 1996 and amended to
keep the program going in subsequent legislation. Several
Federal agencies are authorized to collect a variety of
entrance and user fees to be used for recovery of operation and
maintenance costs and to address the backlog of repair and
maintenance of infrastructure. This oversight provided the
Subcommittee with the necessary information to consider
legislation that would provide permanent authorization for the
Fee Demonstration Program.
The Subcommittee also participated in the Full Committee
hearing on the implementation of the Government Performance and
Review System.
National Park Service Natural Resource Management Policy
and Science Program: The NPS has never had a very strong
research program. No less than 12 major reports since 1963 have
called for the development of a stronger research program
within the agency. The most recent major report, completed at
the request of Congress in 1992 by the National Research
Council, found the science program in need of substantial
revision. Yet, two years after the release of that report, the
NPS science program was abolished and relocated to the U.S.
Geological Survey to ``catalogue everything which flies,
crawls, walks or swims.'' There are no biological scientists
doing research for the agency today.
The effects of the elimination of the research program may
place park resources at risk. In successive reports in recent
years, the GAO has reported that the NPS has inadequate data on
the condition of resources entrusted to its management. More
than one-third of threats to park resources have yet to be
scientifically evaluated. The lack of sound science within the
agency may lead directly to policies which threaten the
resources which the agency is charged to protect. Last
September, U.S. News and World Report published an article
which outlined how the NPS ``natural regulation'' policy is
threatening to destroy Yellowstone National Park resources.
This lack of a sound science program and basic data on park
resources is of greater concern because Congress is already
allocating over $210 million per year to the agency for
resource stewardship. In light of the amount of funding already
allocated for this function and large increases to the NPS
generally, it is unclear why the science and resource
management program is so deficient.
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing regarding how
science is integrated into NPS decisions. To date, the NPS has
little scientific information about either the current
condition of park resources, or trends in the condition of park
resources. As a result, the agency is unable to adequately
formulate strategies to address threats to park resources. This
oversight hearing explored better ways to integrate science
back into NPS decisions and also how to hold the park
superintendents accountable for the condition of the resources
in the park unit that they manage.
State Land and Water Conservation Fund Renewal: In the last
two years, Federal funding for the State Land and Water
Conservation Fund program has been eliminated, in favor of
dedicating all funds to Federal land acquisition. At a time
when the Federal government already owns 30 percent of the
land, and cannot adequately manage the lands under its
jurisdiction, continued expansion of the Federal estate is
difficult to justify. In fact, three years ago, the Interior
Inspector General recommended that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service discontinue all land acquisition until they could
properly care for the lands already under their jurisdiction.
Further, the need for public outdoor recreation space is
greatest in urban and suburban areas of this country. For these
reasons, continued exclusive focus on Federal land acquisition
cannot be justified.
Current law specifies that no less than 50 percent of the
funds allocated from the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act
must be spent on Federal land acquisition; however, there is no
cap on the amount which can be spent on Federal land
acquisition. During the Bush Administration, the Administration
sought, and Congress provided, annual allocation of about $25
million for the State Land and Water Conservation program. For
the last two years, the Clinton Administration has recommended
no funding. There has been a continuing record of bipartisan
support for this program from the Resources Committee. The
Subcommittee intends to hold hearings on where the greatest
need for outdoor recreation opportunities are, and whether the
existing funding allocation is targeted toward meeting that
need.
An oversight hearing was held which focused on the
disparity between the ``state side'' of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund and the ``Federal side.''
Land Exchange Promises: In the last four years, the
Administration has announced a number of major land exchange
``agreements.'' The total cost of these proposals is in the
staggering hundreds of millions of dollars. These major
exchange proposals include: the California Desert Protection
Act (estimated cost: over $100 million); the Crown Butte Mine
in Montana (estimated cost: $65 million); the Pacific northwest
timber buy out (estimated cost: several hundred million
dollars); and Headwaters Forest (estimated cost: $380 million
dollars). Although each of these ``deals'' have been announced
with great fanfare, none of them appear to be close to closure.
Further, in every case, the government entered into these
agreements with no idea of where the lands for these exchanges
would come from.
The Subcommittee will work with the Subcommittee on Forests
and Forest Health to examine the status of these agreements,
and the prospects that they will be implemented in the near
future.
The Subcommittee did not hold hearings on this issue, but
continued to monitor the status of the land exchanges.
National Trail System Program: There are now over 35,000
miles of federally-designated trails in the country. National
trails have proven to be popular designations, generally with
little political opposition. However, there has been little
consideration given to the long-term consequences of these
designations. For example, the Federal government is now
spending about $2 million per mile to acquire the viewshed
along the Appalachian Trail. Further, while most of these
trails are presented largely as volunteer efforts, there is
increasing support within the trail-user community for these
trails to be designated as units of the park system, and to
receive an annual appropriation. Currently, there is a proposal
to add a new category to the national trail system, and
designate the 6,000 mile American Discovery Trail. It is
important to examine and understand the long term consequences
of the current program, before expanding the scope of the
national trail system.
The Subcommittee did not hold hearings on this issue, but
plans to continue to examine the National Trail System Program
in the 106th Congress.
Efficiency of Federal Land Management: The Subcommittee
will continue its work into analyzing the efficiency of Federal
land management, with a particular interest in examining
whether Federal lands could be more efficiently managed.
Following on with a hearing held last Congress comparing the
efficiency of Federal versus State management of lands, this
Congress the Subcommittee expects the release of a major GAO
report which will compare management of park, forest and
multiple use lands between the State and Federal governments.
In addition, in another joint House-Senate effort, GAO is
examining the magnitude of overlap and duplication between the
various Federal agencies. Both of these efforts are designed to
identify cost savings which could be implemented in Federal
land management.
An oversight hearing was held to examine the different
management strategies and policies of state parks and how these
may be integrated into the National Park System.
Additional National Park Service Oversight Hearings Held
Yosemite National Park: The Subcommittee held a field
oversight hearing in El Portal, California and focused on the
National Park Service plans for the restoration of Yosemite
National Park. The Park suffered major damage during floods
which occurred in winter of 1996 and 1997.
Wilderness Act Implementation: In April the Subcommittee
held a joint oversight hearing with the Subcommittee on Forests
and Forest Health which concentrated on the Wilderness Act of
1964. The Wilderness Act has caused numerous access problems
for the public and is one of the most misunderstood Federal
laws dealing with our natural resources. This oversight hearing
explored many of the problems associated with wilderness
designations.
Proposal to Drain Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah: In
November of 1996, the Sierra Club Board of Directors passed a
resolution to support a proposal to drain Lake Powell on the
border of Arizona and Utah. Since the Glen Canyon dam was
built, Lake Powell has become a major attraction for
recreational use. The Sierra Club far reaching proposal became
a major environmental issue for recreationists, water users,
and environmentalists who support the Sierra Club. This
oversight hearing focused on the Sierra Club's proposal to
drain the lake and somehow restore Glen Canyon while
eliminating recreational use of the lake.
Miccosukee Tribe and Everglades National Park: Since 1962,
the Miccosukee Tribe has held a special use permit from the
National Park Service at the northern edge of Everglades
National Park. The permit provides an area of approximately 333
acres for the Tribe to provide administrative, educational
facilities, and places to live and sell handicrafts. This
oversight hearing examined many of the problems between the
Park Service and the Tribe in regard to the special use permit
and explored possible solutions to the ongoing problems.
National Park Service Air Tour Overflights: Conflicts
between air tour operators conducting overflights over national
parks, the National Park Service and environmental groups have
been ongoing for many years. Although there was a lack of
evidence, the Park Service determined that the overflights were
causing significant impacts to the natural quiet of parks. This
oversight hearing focused on the continuing problems in the
definition of natural quiet, the alleged impacts of air tours
on park resources, along with pending legislation dealing with
air tour overflights.
National Park Concession Reform: Since enactment of the
Concessions Policy Act of 1965, the National Park Service and
various concessioners have experienced problems. Some of the
problems include fair monetary returns to the government,
possessory interest, and rights of contract renewal. This
oversight hearing focused on these major issues and on future
legislation that could be developed to address these problems.
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park: Glacier
National Park contains 137 miles of paved and unpaved roads
that are critical to serve park visitors. The Going-to-the-Sun,
completed in 1936, is one of the most important of these roads.
Although use has increased from 40 thousand to 660 thousand
vehicles over the years, there has been no program of
sustainable repair or rehabilitation. Because of this, it will
take millions of dollars to bring the road up to standards.
This oversight hearing examined the problems and importance of
the Going-to-the-Sun Road and how to solve them.
Grand Canyon National Park--Wilderness Plan and Data Use
for Overflights: This oversight hearing focused on two very
important issues in the Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand
Canyon has recently proposed that 94 percent of the park be
designated as wilderness per the Wilderness Act of 1964. This
invariably will cause public access problems to the park. In
addition, the Colorado River and its recreational use by
thousands of visitors would be severely impacted by wilderness
designation. The other unresolved issue with the Grand Canyon
National Park regards air tour overflights and how the Park
Service determined the noise impacts on natural quiet. It is
apparent the Park Service manipulated the data in using models
that showed that air tour aircraft were having impacts on park
resources. This part of the oversight hearing focused on both
on the data the Park Service used for the models and also the
results of these models.
Bureau of Land Management
Grand Staircase--Escalante National Monument: On September
18, 1996, in the midst of his re-election campaign, President
Bill Clinton utilized the 1906 Antiquities Act to create a 1.7
million-acre national monument in Southern Utah.
The creation of the monument was made by the President
under powers given to him under the Antiquities Act of 1906. A
national monument is the designation given to a particular area
to protect ``objects of historic or scientific interest that
are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the
government of the United States.'' The 1906 Antiquities Act has
been used by previous Presidents to create some of the Nation's
crown jewel preserves, but that was before modern Federal land-
use laws were enacted to give Congress and the public a voice
in how the lands would be managed.
The decision to create the monument was done without
Congressional oversight and input. Even the Federal land
managers, who are responsible for managing the lands for future
generations, were shut out of the process of developing the
monument allegedly in order to accommodate the wishes of the
Clinton/Gore `96 campaign.
The monument was created in an attempt to erase the
possibility of mining 62 billion tons of the cleanest, most
environmentally beneficial coal in the U.S. At least 16 billion
tons of recoverable coal exists within the boundaries of the
monument and could be extracted using underground mining
techniques. The loss of revenue created by this action will
cost the State of Utah an estimated $9.25 billion in lost
mineral revenues.
Additionally, the monument imposes an obstacle to the
possibility of generating an estimated $2 billion for
schoolchildren in Utah. President Clinton during his remarks at
the Grand Canyon establishing the monument proclaimed: ``I know
the children of Utah have a big stake in school lands located
within the boundaries of the monument that I am designating
today . . . I will say again, creating this national monument
should not and will not come at the expense of Utah's
children.'' Seeing that the President's promise is kept is an
issue of central concern to all, and upmost on the priority
list of Utah's Congressional Delegation and Governor, Mike
Leavitt.
This national monument is the first in history for which
management responsibility has been given to the BLM. The
proclamation establishing the monument states that the monument
is to be managed pursuant to applicable law, which includes but
is not limited to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
(FLPMA). The proclamation withdraws Federal lands within the
monument for entry, location, selection, sale, leasing or other
disposition. It mandates respect for valid existing rights,
recognizes the State of Utah's responsibility and authority for
fish and wildlife, maintains current grazing permits, and
continues existing reservations.
The management plan for the monument is to be prepared over
the next three years. Because of the way the monument was
created and lack of specific information regarding the
Proclamation's directives, many questions remain unanswered.
The Subcommittee will hold oversight hearings on the
establishment of the monument early in the 105th Congress. The
hearings will be used to obtain further information concerning
the monument.
An additional issue that may be addressed as part of the
hearings on the monument is the 1906 Antiquities Act. Shortly
after the establishment of the monument, legislation was
introduced in both the House and Senate in the 104th Congress
to limit the powers of the President to designate national
monuments under the Antiquities Act. It is expected that this
issue will be addressed either as part of the hearing on the
monument or separately.
An oversight hearing was held which focused on how the
Clinton administration abused the 1906 Antiquities Act amid
accusations that it was for political gain. On September 18th
1996, President Clinton stood on the south rim of the Grand
Canyon, pointed toward Utah and created, by Presidential
proclamation, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
He did this without consulting or even notifying anyone from
Utah. White House E-Mail and documents show that Clinton
created the monument to sway votes in California, Nevada, New
Mexico and Arizona. This oversight hearing examined how the
Administration abused and engineered the process in the
designation of this monument.
H.R. 1127, the National Monument Fairness Act, was
introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Jim Hansen (R-UT). The
legislation sought to amend the Antiquities Act to prohibit the
President from issuing a proclamation designating more than
50,000 acres in a single State in a single calendar year as a
national monument until 30 days after the President has
transmitted the proposed proclamation to the Governor of the
affected State. The bill further provides that the proclamation
shall cease to be effective two years after it is issued unless
the Congress has approved it by joint resolution. The bill was
reported from Committee and passed the Full House of
Representatives.
Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement Regulations: On
November 7, 1996, BLM published in the Federal Register a
proposed rule to revise and consolidate many of BLM's existing
criminal law enforcement regulations. The rule according to BLM
was designed to help the public understand and locate the
regulatory provisions detailing the activities that are
prohibited on BLM lands. Prior to this action, these provisions
were contained in nearly a dozen separate parts dealing with
recreation, cultural resources, minerals, etc.
Due to the timing and content of the regulations, many
members of the public reacted negatively to the proposed
regulations. In response to the controversy, the commend period
was extended to February 5, 1997.
Additionally, the BLM briefed Congressional staff in
December 1996 to answer questions regarding the proposed
regulations. At the meeting, the BLM promised to supply
information to Congress regarding the legislative authority to
promulgate the new regulations.
On January 17, 1997, a second notice appeared in the
Federal Register further extending the comment period to March
7, 1997.
Due to the controversial nature of the regulations and the
many questions that remain unanswered, the Subcommittee intends
to conduct oversight hearings on the BLM's law enforcement
regulations.
An oversight hearing was held to focus on some of the
problems associated with having an independent BLM law
enforcement force. Some abuses were illustrated. The hearing
also showed how there are often clashes between the BLM and
local law enforcement agencies. Ways to improve BLM law
enforcement were debated.
Effect of Public Land Policies on Rural Communities: How
the public lands affect rural communities is a key to nearly
every public lands issue from grazing to timber harvesting.
Environmental groups have suggested that the public lands can
benefit rural economies byincreasing tourism. Some have
suggested that tourism and recreation provide the ``new'' paradigm for
rural development.
With regards to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument, what will be the effect of transferring from a
resource-to a tourism-based economy deserves attention. Several
studies including work done by the Political Economy Research
Center have shown some of the effects. Although we can
speculate that tourism can be a viable growth industry in rural
areas, confirming the full impact of public lands policies
should be explored.
Studies are currently being conducted by academia into the
effects of public land policies on rural economies. The
Subcommittee is considering holding an oversight hearing to
investigate the facts surrounding what the effects of changing
public lands policies are on rural economies.
Hearings were not held on this issue by the Subcommittee.
Access to Public Lands: Responding to a request made in
1992, GAO conducted a review of the adequacy of public access
to land managed by the Department of Agriculture's Forest
Service and the Department of the Interior's BLM. Specifically,
GAO was asked to look at the extent and effects of, as well as
the reasons for, inadequate public access and the methods used
by the Forest Service and BLM to resolve access problems.
The public continues to be frustrated by inadequate access
to the public lands. Because the agencies do not maintain
information at a central location on access problems, facts and
conclusions regarding the question of access have been
difficult to surmise.
Many complain that one of the reasons for inadequate public
access to Forest Service and BLM lands has to do with private
landowners' unwillingness to grant public access across their
land. Factors contributing to inadequate access across private
lands deal with concerns of landowners about vandalism and
potential liability, and landowners' desire for privacy and
exclusive personal use. The other main complaint heard is that
the Forest Service and BLM, due to cost reduction and other
reasons, have prevented access to the public lands.
The Subcommittee intends to conduct oversight hearings on
access to public lands. Many questions regarding access to
public lands need to be answered before a solution can be
properly fashioned.
The Subcommittee did not hold hearings on access to Public
Lands.
Current Status of Implementation of Rangeland Reform: On
August 9, 1993, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt
announced ``Rangeland Reform `94.'' ``Rangeland Reform `94''
included proposed rangeland rules, including a proposal to more
than double the grazing fee over three years and to
substantially modify Federal rangeland policy. The new rules
provedextremely controversial producing several revisions. The
rules were published in February 1995. Final rules went into effect
August 21, 1995, but did not contain an increase in the grazing fee.
In an attempt to fight implementation of ``Rangeland Reform
`94,'' an industry-led lawsuit was filed in the Wyoming 10th
district court. On June 12, 1996, the Wyoming Federal District
court ruled that Secretary Babbitt had violated the law with
regard to four aspects of the regulations.
The four areas of the regulations held invalid were: (1)
the elimination of statutory grazing preference rights and
replacement of those rights with the term ``permitted use;''
(2) the regulations providing that the U.S. shall have full
title to all future range improvements; (3) the regulations
providing for conservation use permits; and (4) the regulations
reducing the mandatory qualifications for a grazing permit.
The Federal government filed an appeal to the case in
August of 1996 and filed their appellate brief on November 15,
1996. Arguments on the appeal are expected to take place in
1997 with a decision around the Fall of 1998.
The implementation of ``Rangeland Reform `94'' continues to
move forward with many of the State Resource Advisory Councils
formed and advancing with their work. Concerns continue to be
raised about the sweeping nature of the new Interior Department
grazing management regulations. In light of the facts brought
out by the 10th District decision and the controversial nature
of the policy, the Subcommittee intends to conduct oversight of
implementation of ``Rangeland Reform `94'' and to pursue
necessary legislative solutions.
An oversight hearing was held which focused on some of the
issues involved with grazing reductions.
The Subcommittee also worked with the Agriculture Committee
on H.R. 2493, to establish a mechanism by which the Secretary
of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior can provide
for uniform management of livestock grazing on Federal lands.
H.R. 2493 was favorably reported from Committee and passed the
House of Representatives.
Additional Bureau of Land Management oversight hearings
held
Oversight Hearing on BLM land exchanges and realty
appraisals: The ``checkerboard'' pattern of land ownership in
the west makes Federal lands difficult to manage, and causes
numerous problems for state and private landowners. Land
exchanges are the preferred method for blocking-up the public
lands into manageable tracts, but unfortunately, even minor
land exchanges are taking years to complete. One of the biggest
problems is land appraisals. The landowner knows his land is
much more valuable than the appraisals say it is, and the BLM
refuses to accept public interest value as a legitimate
criteria on which to base an appraisal. Often, neither side
will budge. No one benefits from this deadlock. An oversight
hearing was held to focus on problems with appraisals, and on
ways to improve land exchanges.
Wild Horse and Burro Field Hearing (Reno, Nevada): An
oversight hearing was held to focus on range issues and
problems with the Wild Horse and Burro Act and its
implementation. The BLM faces numerous challenges as it tries
to manage feral horses and burros on the public lands. These
include: overpopulation, disease, habitat destruction,
degradation of riparian areas, competition with other
domesticated animals on the range such as sheep and cattle, and
competition with wildlife. This hearing provided an opportunity
for environmentalists, state and local government officials,
and concerned citizens to present ideas on how to improve
management of feral horses and burros while protecting our
public lands.
B. Hearings
February 27, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Research and
Resource Management in the National Park Service. Printed
Hearing 105-3
March 11, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Federal funding
of the State Land and Water Conservation Act Programs. Printed
Hearing 105-2
March 22, 1997--Oversight field hearing held in El Portal,
California, on the National Park Service plans for restoration
of Yosemite National Park following this winter's flood.
Printed Hearing 105-11
April 15, 1997--Joint oversight hearing with Subcommittee
on Forests and Forest Health, on implementation of the 1964
Wilderness Act on BLM and Forest Service lands. Printed Hearing
105-13
April 29, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument: From Designation to Management.
Printed Hearing 105-20
May 15, 1997--Oversight hearing on Bureau of Land
Management Law Enforcement Authorities.
July 10, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Federal versus
State management of parks. Printed Hearing 105-43
September 23, 1997--Joint oversight hearing with
Subcommittee on Water and Power on the proposal to drain Lake
Powell or reduce its water storage capability. Printed Hearing
105-56
September 25, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Everglades
National Park and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians in Florida.
Printed Hearing 105-65
September 30, 1997--Oversight hearing held on grazing
reductions and other issues on Bureau of Land Management lands.
Printed Hearing 105-52
November 17, 1997--Joint oversight field hearing in St.
George, Utah, with the Subcommittee on Aviation of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on National
Park Service Overflight Policy. Printed Hearing 105-67
February 26, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Fee
Demonstration Programs: Successes and Failures. Printed Hearing
105-73
March 12, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Concession Reform
March 24, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Realty Appraisal
Process on BLM Land Exchange. Printed Hearing 105-86
July 13, 1998--Oversight field hearing in Reno, Nevada, on
Wild Horse and Burro Act. Printed Hearing 105-105
September 21, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in
Kalispell, Montana, on future maintenance and repair of the
Going-to-the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Printed Hearing
105-115
September 24, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Grand Canyon
National Park. Printed Hearing 105-109.
v. subcommittee statistics
Total number of bills and resolutions referred.................... 266
Total number of bills reported from Subcommittee.................. 58
Total number of bills reported from Full Committee................ 40
Total number of bills passed by the House......................... 48
Total number of bills enacted into law............................ 73
Public Hearings and Markups:
Legislative................................................... 26
Oversight..................................................... 17
Markup sessions............................................... 13
Total number of subcommittee meetings (days)...................... 52
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans
i. introduction
After a highly successful initial two years, the
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans
worked hard to build upon its successful accomplishments for
the American people. By any objective standard, the
Subcommittee's performance during the 105th Congress was
superb.
Drawing on its bi-coastal membership, the Subcommittee,
under the leadership of Chairman Jim Saxton of Mt. Holly, New
Jersey, conducted 21 legislative and 22 oversight hearings on
topics ranging from corals reefs on the bottom of the oceans to
the top of the world in the Arctic.
During this Congress, the Subcommittee was instrumental in
enacting legislation to implement an international treaty to
protect dolphins; to conserve highly endangered Asian
elephants; to establish a nationwide refuge volunteer
coordination program; to improve the collection and use of
hydrographic data; to prohibit the importation of products
containing parts of endangered rhinoceros and tigers; to
protect coral reef ecosystems throughout the world and to
reform Federal protections for migratory birds by prohibiting
baited fields, while ensuring that sportsmen are treated
fairly. Furthermore, the Subcommittee took a leadership role in
promoting the passage of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997. This historic law sponsored by
Chairman Don Young established for the first time an organic
statute for our nation's 94 million acre, 514 unit National
Wildlife Refuge System.
Finally, the Subcommittee was responsible for moving a
number of bills to extend valuable fish, wildlife and ocean
resource programs. These included reauthorization of: the
African Elephant Act of 1988, the Atlantic Striped Bass
Conservation Act of 1984, the Atlantic Tunas Convention of
1975, the National Sea Grant College Program Act of 1967, the
North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, the
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 and the Sikes Act
of 1960.
ii. jurisdiction
(1) Fisheries management and fisheries research generally,
including the management of all commercial and recreational
fisheries, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, interjurisdictional fisheries, international
fisheries agreements, aquaculture, seafood safety and fisheries
promotion.
(2) Wildlife resources, including research, restoration,
refuges and conservation.
(3) All matters pertaining to the protection of coastal and
marine environments, including estuarine protection.
(4) Coastal barriers.
(5) Oceanography.
(6) Ocean engineering, including materials, technology and
systems.
(7) Coastal zone management.
(8) Marine sanctuaries.
(9) U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
(10) Sea Grant programs and marine extension services.
(11) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
iii. legislative activities
A. Legislative hearings and markups
February 27, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 437, to reauthorize
the National Sea Grant College Program Act.
March 6, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 511, to amend the
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to
improve the management of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
and H.R. 512, to prohibit the expenditure of funds from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund for the creation of new
National Wildlife Refuges without specific authorization from
Congress pursuant to a recommendation from the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service. Printed Hearing 105-7
March 13, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 39, to reauthorize the
African Elephant Conservation Act; and H. Con. Res. 8,
expressing the Sense of Congress with respect to the
significance of maintaining the health and stability of coral
reef ecosystems. Printed Hearing 105-4
March 19, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 39, to reauthorize the
African Elephant Conservation Act; and H. Con. Res. 8,
expressing the Sense of Congress with respect to the
significance of maintaining the health and stability of coral
reef ecosystems.
April 9, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 408, to amend the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to support the
International Dolphin Conservation Program in the eastern
tropical Pacific Ocean.
April 10, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 408, to amend the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to support the
International Dolphin Conservation Program in the eastern
tropical Pacific Ocean.
May 6, 1997--Hearing held on H. Res. 87, expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives that the United States
and the United Nations should condemn coral reef fisheries that
are harmful to coral reef ecosystems and promote the
development of sustainable coral reef fishing practices
worldwide; H.R. 608, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
convey the Marion National Fish Hatchery and the Claude Harris
National Aquacultural Research Center to the State of Alabama;
and H.R. 796, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to make
technical corrections to a map relating to the Coastal Barrier
Resources System.
May 15, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 741, to clarify hunting
prohibitions and provide for wildlife habitat under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Printed Hearing 105-23
May 22, 1997--Markup held on H. Res. 87, expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives that the United States
and the United Nations should condemn coral reef fisheries that
are harmful to coral reef ecosystems and promote the
development of sustainable coral reef fishing practices
worldwide; H.R. 608, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
convey the Marion National Fish Hatchery and the Claude Harris
National Aquacultural Research Center to the State of Alabama;
H.R. 796, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to make
technical corrections to a map relating to the Coastal Barrier
Resources System; H.R. 1278, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Authorization Act of 1997; and H.R. 1658, to
reauthorize and amend the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation
Act and related laws.
May 22, 1997--Joint hearing with the Committee on National
Security Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities
on H.R. 374, to amend the Act popularly known as the ``Sikes
Act'' to enhance fish and wildlife conservation and natural
resources management programs.
June 18, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1856, Volunteers for
Wildlife Act of 1997.
June 26, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1855, to impose a
moratorium on ``large fishing vessels'' in the Atlantic herring
and mackerel fisheries.
July 31, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1787, to assist in the
conservation of Asian elephants by supporting and providing
financial resources for the conservation programs of nations
within the range of Asian elephants and projects of persons
with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of Asian
elephants. Printed Hearing 105-49
Markup held on H.R. 512, to prohibit the expenditure of
funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the
creation of new National Wildlife Refuges without specific
authorization from Congress pursuant to a recommendation from
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to create the
refuge; H.R. 1856, Volunteers for Wildlife Act of 1997; and
H.R. 2233, to assist in the conservation of coral reefs.
September 11, 1997--Markup held on H. Con. Res. 131,
expressing the sense of Congress regarding the ocean.
September 25, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 2376, to
reauthorize and amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act. Printed Hearing 105-54
October 23, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 2376, to reauthorize
and amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act.
Hearing held on H.R. 2401, to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to make technical corrections to a map relating to the
Coastal Barrier Resources System; and H.R. 2556, to reauthorize
the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the
Partnerships for Wildlife Act. Printed Hearing 105-64
October 30, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 2556, to reauthorize
the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the
Partnerships for Wildlife Act.
February 5, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2807, Rhino and
Tiger Product Labeling Act; and H.R. 3113, Rhinoceros and Tiger
Conservation Reauthorization Act. Printed Hearing 105-69
February 12, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 2807, Rhino and
Tiger Product Labeling Act; H.R. 3113, Rhinoceros and Tiger
Conservation Reauthorization Act; and H.R. 3164, Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998.
March 3, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2973, Sportfishing and
Boating Improvement Act of 1997.
March 19, 1998--Hearing held on S. 1213, Oceans Act of
1997; H.R. 2547, to develop and maintain a coordinated,
comprehensive, and long-range national policy with respect to
ocean and coastal activities that will assist the Nation in
meeting specified objectives; and H.R. 3445, Ocean Commission
Act. Printed Hearing 105-75
April 23, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 3445, Oceans Act of
1998.
April 28, 1998--Joint hearing held with Subcommittee on
National Parks and Public Lands on H.R. 2800, Battle of Midway
National Memorial Study Act.
May 7, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3498, Dungeness Crab
Conservation and Management Act.
May 14, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2760, Disabled
Sportsmen's Access Act. Printed Hearing 105-84
May 19, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2291, to amend the Fish
and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 to enable the Secretary of
the Interior to more effectively utilize the proceeds of sales
of certain items; H.R. 3460, to approve a Governing
International Fishery Agreement between the United States and
the Republic of Latvia, to reauthorize the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act of 1975 and extend the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Convention Act of 1995; H.R. 3461, to approve a
Governing International Fishery Agreement between the United
States and the Republic of Poland; and H.R. 3647, to make a
technical correction in unit FL-35 (Pumpkin Key) of the Coastal
Barrier Resources System;
June 4, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 2291, to amend the Fish
and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 to enable the Secretary of
the Interior to more effectively utilize the proceeds of sales
of certain items; H.R. 3460, to approve a Governing
International Fishery Agreement between the United States and
the Republic of Latvia, to reauthorize the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act of 1975 and extend the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Convention Act of 1995; and H.R. 3498, Dungeness Crab
Conservation and Management Act.
June 18, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1481, Great Lakes Fish
and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1997.
July 16, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1481, Great Lakes Fish
and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1997.-
September 17, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 4337, Nutria
Eradication and Control Pilot Program.
Hearing held on H.R. 2304, to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to make technical corrections to a map relating to the
Coastal Barrier Resources System; H.R. 4248, to authorize the
use of receipts from the sale of the Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamps to promote additional stamp purchases; and
H.R. 4517, Neotropical Migratory Bird Habitat Enhancement Act.
B. Legislation enacted
H.R. 39, reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act
(Public Law 105-217).
H.R. 374, to amend the Act popularly known as the ``Sikes
Act'' to enhance fish and wildlife conservation and natural
resources management programs (enacted as part of Public Law
105-85).
H.R. 408, amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
to support the International Dolphin Conservation Program in
the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, and for other purposes
(Public Law 105-42).
H.R. 511, amends the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 to improve the management of the
National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-57).
H.R. 741, clarifies hunting prohibitions and provide for
wildlife habitat under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (enacted
as part of Public Law 105-312).
H.R. 796, directs the Secretary of the Interior to make
technical corrections to a map relating to the Coastal Barrier
Resources System (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 1481, amends the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Act of 1990 to provide for implementation of
recommendations of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
contained in the Great Lakes Fishery Restoration Study Report
(Public Law 105-265).
H.R. 1658, reauthorizes and amend the Atlantic Striped Bass
Conservation Act and related laws (Public Law 105-146).
H.R. 1787, assists in the conservation of Asian elephants
by supporting and providing financial resources for the
conservation programs of nations within the range of Asian
elephants and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise
in the conservation of Asian elephants (Public Law 105-96).
H.R. 1855, establishes a moratorium on large fishing
vessels in Atlantic herring and mackerel fisheries (enacted as
part of Public Law 105-119).
H.R. 1856, amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a volunteer
pilot project at one national wildlife refuge in each United
States Fish and Wildlife Service region, and for other purposes
(Public Law 105-242).
H.R. 2401, directs the Secretary of the Interior to make
technical corrections to a map relating to the Coastal Barrier
Resources System (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 2556, reauthorize the North American Wetlands
Conservation Act and the Partnerships for Wildlife Act (enacted
as part of Public Law 105-312).
H.R. 2760, amends the Sikes Act to establish a mechanism by
which outdoor recreation programs on military installations
will be accessible to disabled veterans, military dependents
with disabilities, and other persons with disabilities (enacted
as part of Public Law 105-261).
H.R. 2807, amends the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act
of 1994 to prohibit the sale, importation, and exportation of
products labeled as containing substances derived from
rhinoceros or tiger (Public Law 105-312).
H.R. 2973, amends the Act popularly known as the Federal
Aid in Fish Restoration Act, authorizing assistance to the
States for fish restoration and management projects, and for
other purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-178).
H.R. 3113, reauthorize the Rhinoceros and Tiger
Conservation Act of 1994 (enacted as part of Public Law 105-
312).
H.R. 3164, describes the hydrographic services functions of
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and for other purposes (enacted as part of
Public Law 105-384).
H.R. 3460, approves a governing international fishery
agreement between the United States and the Republic of Latvia,
and for other purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-384).
H.R. 3461, approve a governing international fishery
agreement between the United States and the Republic of Poland
(Public Law 105-384).
H.R. 3498, amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act to authorize the States of Washington,
Oregon, and California to regulate the Dungeness crab fishery
in the exclusive economic zone (enacted as part of Public Law
105-384).
H.R. 3544, amends the National Sea Grant College Program
Act with respect to the treatment of Lake Champlain (enacted as
part of Public Law 105-174).
H.R. 3569, transfers administrative jurisdiction over
certain parcels of public domain land in Lake County, Oregon,
to facilitate management of the land, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321).
H.R. 3647, directs the Secretary of the Interior to make
technical corrections to a map relating to the Coastal Barrier
Resources System (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 3689, transfers administrative jurisdiction over the
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area to the
Secretary of Agriculture (enacted as part of Public Law 105-
277).
H.R. 4180, reduces fishing capacity in United States
fisheries (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
H.R. 4235, authorizes appropriations for the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct research,
monitoring, education, and management activities for the
prevention, reduction, and control of harmful algal blooms,
including blooms of Pfiesteria piscicida and other aquatic
toxins, hypoxia, and for other purposes (enacted as part of
Public Law 105-383).
H.R. 4248, authorizes the use of receipts from the sale of
the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps to promote
additional stamp purchases (Public Law 105-269).
H.R. 4289, provides for the purchase by the Secretary of
the Interior of the Wilcox ranch in Eastern Utah for management
as wildlife habitat (enacted as part of Public Law 105-363).
H.R. 4337, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
provide financial assistance to the State of Maryland for a
pilot program to develop measures to eradicate or control
nutria and restore marshland damaged by nutria (Public Law 105-
322).
H.R. 4585, establishes the Northwest Straits Advisory
Commission (enacted as part of Public Law 105-384).
H.R. 4634, catalyzes restoration of estuary habitat through
more efficient financing of projects and enhanced coordination
of Federal and non-Federal restoration programs, and for other
purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-312).
S. 1104, directs the Secretary of the Interior to make
corrections in maps relating to the Coastal Barrier Resources
System (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277).
S. 1807, transfers administrative jurisdiction over certain
parcels of public domain land in Lake County, Oregon, to
facilitate management of the land, and for other purposes
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321).
S. 1883, directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey
the Marion National Fish Hatchery and the Claude Harris
National Aquacultural Research Center to the State of Alabama,
and for other purposes (Public Law 105-239).
S. 2094, amends the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of
1978 to enable the Secretary of the Interior to more
effectively use the proceeds of sales of certain items (Public
Law 105-328).
S. 2317, improves the National Wildlife Refuge System, and
for other purposes (enacted as part of Public Law 105-312).
S. 2505, directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey
title to the Tunnison Lab Hagerman Field Station in Gooding
County, Idaho, to the University of Idaho (Public Law 105-346).
C. Resolutions approved by both houses
H. Con. Res. 8 (H. Rept. 105-69), expressing the sense of
Congress with respect to the significance of maintaining the
health and stability of coral reef ecosystems.--
D. Legislation passed House
H. Con. Res. 124, expressing the sense of the Congress
regarding acts of illegal aggression by Canadian fishermen with
respect to the Pacific salmon fishery, and for other purposes.
H. Con. Res. 131 (H. Rept. 105-262), expressing the sense
of Congress regarding the ocean.
H.R. 437 (H. Rept. 105-22, Pt. I), to reauthorize the
National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.
[See S. 927 for further action]
H.R. 512 (H. Rept. 105-276), to prohibit the expenditure of
funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the
creation of new National Wildlife Refuges without specific
authorization from Congress pursuant to a recommendation from
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to create the
refuge.
H.R. 2233 (H. Rept. 105-277), to assist in the conservation
of coral reefs.
H.R. 3445 (H. Rept. 105-718, Part I), to establish the
Commission on Ocean Policy, and for other purposes.
E. Legislation ordered reported by the full committee
H.R. 1278 (H. Rept. 105-66, Part II), to authorize
appropriations for the activities of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, and
for other purposes.
H.R. 2376 (H. Rept. 105-483), to reauthorize and amend the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act.
H.R. 2993 (H. Rept. 105-678), to provide for the collection
of fees for the making of motion pictures, television
productions, and sound tracks in National Park System and
National Wildlife Refuge System units, and for other purposes.
F. Legislation marked up at subcommittee
H. Res. 87, expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that the United States and the United Nations
should condemn coral reef fisheries that are harmful to coral
reef ecosystems and promote the development of sustainable
coral reef fishing practices worldwide.
H.R. 608, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey
the Marion National Fish Hatchery and the Claude Harris
National Aquacultural Research Center to the State of Alabama.
[See S. 1883 for further action]
H.R. 2291, to amend the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act
of 1978 to enable the Secretary of the Interior to more
effectively utilize the proceeds of sales of certain items.
[See S. 2094 for further action]
IV. oversight activities of the subcommittee on fisheries conservation,
wildlife and oceans
A. Introduction
The Subcommittee also seriously pursued and aggressively
carried out its oversight responsibilities. In fact, more than
50 percent of the Subcommittee's public hearings were dedicated
to ensuring that Federal programs were working and that U.S.
taxpayer dollars were being wisely spent. This Congress, the
Subcommittee conducted oversight hearings on: the budget
requests of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the environmental
impact of snow geese on the Arctic Tundra; the impact of
pfiesteria on our fishing resources; the International Year of
the Ocean activities; the management of our Nation's fisheries
by the National Marine Fisheries Service; west coast
groundfish; U.S. ownership of fishing vessels; and U.S.
participation in the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Budget Review: The Subcommittee will hold an oversight
hearing on the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 budget
recommendations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
National Marine Fisheries Service, and certain ``wet'' programs
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The Fish and Wildlife Service operates the National Wildlife
Refuge System and NOAA implements the Coastal Zone Management
Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the National Sea
Grant College Act, and U.S. fishing laws. Both agencies
implement the Endangered Species Act.
Oversight hearings were held on the budgets of NOAA and US
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for FY 1998 and 1999 in 1997
and 1998, respectively.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988: The major
provisions of this landmark conservation law are: to require
the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the effectiveness of
the elephant conservation program of each ivory-producing
nation; to prohibit ivory imports from African countries unable
to adequately protect their elephants; to require intermediary
countries to stop selling illegally obtained ivory; and to
provide up to $5 million per year to assist African nations in
their elephant conservation efforts. Congress has previously
reauthorized money for the African Elephant Conservation Fund.
This authorization expires on September 30, 1998. During the
104th Congress, the Subcommittee conducted an oversight hearing
(June 20, 1996) on this historic law. The Subcommittee will
conduct a hearing on legislation to further extend the African
Elephant Conservation Fund.
The Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on H.R. 39, the
African Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act, on March 13,
1997. The legislation was favorably reported from Committee and
passed the Full House of Representatives. The African Elephant
Conservation Reauthorization Act was then enacted (Public Law
105-217).
Coastal Barrier Resources System: The Coastal Barrier
Resources Act of 1982 ended Federal financial assistance on
undeveloped coastal barriers included in the Coastal Barrier
Resources System. Inclusion in the System does not prevent
private development, but restricts the use of Federal funds for
flood insurance, highway construction, and water and sewer
grants. During the 104th Congress, legislation was enacted that
removed certain coastal barrier lands in Florida, New York, and
South Carolina that were incorrectly incorporated within the
System. Legislation may be introduced during the next two years
to remove additional lands from the System. The Subcommittee
will carefully examine, through public hearings, the merits of
each of these proposals.
Hearings were held and legislation was enacted on various
coastal barrier resources issues. H.R. 796, S. 1104, H.R. 2401,
and H.R. 3647 were included in Public law 105-277.
Federal Fish Hatcheries: There are currently 72 Federal
fish hatcheries operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
that produce various species of fish that are distributed as
part of the Service's nationwide stocking programs in lakes,
ponds, and streams throughout the U.S. Duringthe 104th
Congress, legislation was enacted that transferred title of eight
Federal fish hatcheries to State and local governmental entities. The
Subcommittee will conduct an oversight hearing on whether additional
facilities should be transferred. Furthermore, it is likely that
legislation will be introduced to transfer additional hatcheries in the
105th Congress. These bills will be carefully reviewed.
Legislation to transfer the Marion National Fish Hatchery
and the Claude Harris National Aquacultural Research Center to
the State of Alabama (S. 1883) was enacted into law (Public Law
105-239).
Marine Mammal Protection Act: The Marine Mammal Protection
Act (MMPA) was enacted in 1972 for the purpose of ensuring that
marine mammals are maintained at, or in some cases restored to,
healthy population levels. This Act governs a variety of
subjects including public display, scientific research,
subsistence use of marine mammals, and the incidental take of
marine mammals during commercial fishing operations.
Jurisdiction over marine mammals under the MMPA is divided
between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has
responsibility for dugongs, manatees, polar bears, sea otters,
and walrus, and the National Marine Fisheries Service, which
has responsibility for all other marine mammals. In 1994,
Congress enacted the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments
(Public Law 103-238). This law reauthorized Federal funding for
the MMPA until September 30, 1999, and made a number of
significant changes in the Act. The Subcommittee will conduct
oversight hearings during the 105th Congress on the
effectiveness of MMPA.
The Subcommittee continued to conduct oversight of the MMPA
in preparation of reauthorizing the Act. Oversight and
legislative hearings will be held during the 106th Congress.
National Wildlife Refuge System: This System is comprised
of Federal lands that have been acquired for the conservation
and enhancement of fish and wildlife. Totaling about 91.7
million acres, the System provides habitat for hundreds of fish
and wildlife species, including more than 165 species listed as
threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. At
present, the System is comprised of 511 refuges, which are
located in all 50 States and the five territories. During the
last Congress, the Subcommittee conducted a number of
legislative and oversight hearings on our Refuge System.
Additionally, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly
adopted H.R. 1675, the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement
Act, on April 24, 1996. This legislation is expected to be
reintroduced in the 105th Congress and will be the subject of a
Subcommittee hearing.
At the beginning of the 105th Congress H.R. 511 (the
successor bill to H.R. 1674) was introduced and a hearing was
held on March 7, 1997. After consultations with the
Administration a new bill was introduced (H.R. 1420) to improve
the management of our National Wildlife Refuges. H.R. 1420 was
favorably reported by the Committee on Resources and
overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives. H.R. 1420
was then enacted into law (Public Law 105-57).
National Wildlife Refuge System--Maintenance Backlog:
During the 104th Congress, the Subcommittee conducted two
oversight hearings on the growing maintenance backlog issue at
our Nation's Wildlife Refuge System. According to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, this backlog has now risen to $440
million. This backlog represents deferred maintenance at
visitor centers, picnic pavilions, observation towers, public
use buildings, roads, bridges, dams, canals, and other water
management structures. The Subcommittee intends to hold a
series of oversight hearings in Washington, D.C., and other
places on this backlog maintenance issue. The purpose of these
hearings will be to clearly identify the problem and to seek
effective solutions so that the System can be revitalized
before the 100th birthday of the National Wildlife Refuge
System in 2003.
The Subcommittee conducted hearing on this issue on April
21, 1997, and during consideration of the budget request for
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Act of 1984: This
Foundation, which was established as a non-profit corporation,
was created to encourage, accept, and administer private gifts
of property for the benefit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and to conduct activities to further the conservation
and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources of
the U.S. During the 104th Congress, the Subcommittee conducted
an oversight hearing on the Foundation, whose authorization of
appropriations expires on September 30, 1998. The Subcommittee
will hold a hearing on legislation related to reauthorization
of the Foundation in the future.
The Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on H.R. 2376 to
reauthorize and amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act on September 25, 1997. The legislation was
then ordered reported to the Full Committee who favorably
reported the legislation on March 11, 1998. The Senate
companion bill, S. 2095, was brought to the House of
Representatives under Suspension of the Rules, but failed to
receive the necessary two-thirds vote to pass.
Natural Resource Management on Military Lands Act of 1960:
The Department of Defense (DOD) manages nearly 25 million acres
at approximately 900 military bases nationwide. These lands
contain a wealth of plant and animal life, they provide vital
habitat for thousands of migratory waterfowl, and they are home
for nearly 100 endangered or threatened species. First enacted
in 1960, the Sikes Act provides protection for threatened and
endangered species of fish, plants, and wildlife on these
military lands. The authorization of appropriations for the Act
expired on September 30, 1993. During the last Congress, the
House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted H.R. 1141, the
Sikes Act Improvement Amendments, which reauthorized funding
until September 30, 1998. Regrettably, the Senate took no
action on this bill. TheSubcommittee will conduct a joint
hearing with the Committee on National Security's Subcommittee on
Military Installations and Facilities on legislation to reauthorize the
Sikes Act.
H.R. 374, the Sikes Act Improvement Amendments, was
introduced on January 7, 1997, to enhance fish and wildlife
conservation and natural resources management programs. A joint
hearing was held with the Committee on National Security,
Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities, on May
22, 1997. H.R. 374 was incorporated into Public Law 105-85, the
Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1119).
National American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989: The
purpose of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act is to
conserve wetland ecosystems and the species they support, which
are primarily waterfowl. This Act also provides the financial
assistance necessary for the implementation of the North
American Waterfowl Management Plan, an agreement originally
signed in 1986, to reverse the loss of wetlands and to stem the
decline in populations of migratory birds. The authorization of
appropriations for the Act expires on September 30, 1998. The
Subcommittee will conduct a hearing on legislation to extend
the Act.
A legislative hearing was held on October 27, 1997, on H.R.
2556, to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation
Act and the Partnerships for Wildlife Act. The Subcommittee
reported the legislation to the Full Committee who favorably
reported the bill to the House of Representatives. H.R. 2556
was passed by the House and then incorporated into Public Law
105-312, Rhino and Tiger Product Labeling Act (H.R. 2807).
Sport Fish Restoration Programs:
(A) Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1952
(Sport Fishing and Boating Enhancement Fund or the Wallop-
Breaux Trust Fund): This fund is derived from fees, taxes, and
duties imposed on fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, imported
watercraft, and fishing tackle. The revenues are allocated to
the States, on a formula basis, and are used to protect natural
resources and enhance recreational opportunities for millions
of Americans. Since its inception, more than $2 billion has
been collected and allocated to the States.
(B) Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937
(Pittman-Robertson): Nearly 60 years ago, hunters lobbied
Congress to impose a tax on themselves. The money is derived
from an 11 percent excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition;
a 10 percent tax on pistols and revolvers; and an 11 percent
tax on certain archery equipment. Hunters have now paid more
than $2.6 billion into the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
Program. Federal aid money is distributed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to the States to fund wildlife conservation
and hunter education programs. These funds have been largely
responsible for the recovery of many species, including
pronghorn antelope, white-tailed deer, wood ducks, and wild
turkey. Many State wildlife agencies could not operate without
this money.
(C) Capital Construction Fund: Section 607 of the Merchant
Marine Act of 1936 was enacted to provide an incentive to build
and document commercial and fishing vessels in the U.S. by
allowing companies to establish individual Capital Construction
Fund (CCF) accounts funded by tax-deferred deposits. The
commercial and fishing vessel programs are administered by the
Maritime Admistration (MARAD) and NOAA respectively.
Overcapitalization of some U.S. fisheries has prompted calls
for changes in the CCF regulations to allow early withdrawal or
alternative uses of the funds rather than requiring the
construction of additional new fishing vessels. These ideas
will be examined, as well as attempts by the Internal Revenue
Service to exert sole authority over the CCF program.
The Subcommittee intends to hold several oversight hearings
on these three funding proposals. The purpose of these hearings
is to examine their effectiveness, how the money is allocated
to the States, and whether these resources have been
effectively spent.
A legislative hearing was held on H.R. 3972, the
Sportfishing and Boating Improvement Act, on March 3, 1998. The
legislation was incorporated into Public Law 105-178,
Transportation Reauthorization Bill--TEA 21 (H.R. 2400).
``Teaming With Wildlife'': The International Association of
Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the National Association of
State Park Directors have developed a new funding concept to
raise additional revenues that would be allocated to the States
for the more than 1,800 wildlife species for which no reliable
funded conservation programs exist. These species include
butterflies, frogs, herons, songbirds, turtles, and otters.
Under this concept, a new excise fee of up to five percent of
the value of a product would be placed on an extensive list of
recreational items including backpacks, canoes, film, hiking
boots, sport utility vehicles, and sleeping bags. The goal is
to raise some $350 million in new revenues each year. The
Subcommittee may conduct an oversight hearing on this issue.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
Trinity River Basin Fish and Wildlife Management Act of
1984: This Act implemented 11 actions recommended by a federal/
State Trinity River Basin Fish and Wildlife Task Force to
restore the habitat of the watershed. These actions were
necessary because 90 percent of the River's flow was diverted
to the Central Valley of California for agricultural,
municipal, and industrial uses. During the 104th Congress,
legislation was enacted to extend the authorization of
appropriations until September 30, 1998. The Subcommittee will
conduct an oversight hearing on this issue and is likely to
extend the authorization beyond its current deadline.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Aquaculture: Each year, Federal funds are appropriated to
the National Marine Fisheries Service to promote the growth of
marine aquaculture industry. The Subcommittee will hold an
oversight hearing to evaluate the effectiveness of this program
and whether continued investment by the Federal government is
warranted.
No oversight hearing was held.
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975: This is the
implementing legislation for the International Convention for
the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, an international treaty for
the conservation and management of highly migratory tuna and
tuna-like species of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
During the 104th Congress, the authorization of appropriations
for this Act was extended until September 30, 1998. The
Subcommittee will reevaluate the effectiveness and whether
there is an ongoing need for further Federal funding of this
program in the future.
A provision was included in Public Law 105-384 (H.R. 3461)
to reauthorize the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975.
Artificial Reefs: In recent years, there have been several
proposals to allow National Defense Reserve Fleet surplus ships
to be sold for scrap or used for artificial reefs. The
Subcommittee may hold an oversight hearing on the effectiveness
of artificial reefs in building new fish and shellfish
habitats.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
Fish Passages Technology: The Office of Technology
Assessment has issued a report on the state of technology of
fish passages and other systems for transferring hatchlings
around Federal power projects. The Subcommittee will hold a
hearing on this report during the 105th Congress.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act:
This Act provides a national program for the conservation and
management of our Nation's marine fishery resources within our
200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. The Act established eight
Regional Fishery Management Councils that have primary
responsibility for managing the fishery resources outside of
State waters. During the 104th Congress, landmark legislation
was enacted to improve and extend the authorization of
appropriations for the Magnuson Act. This authorization expires
on September 30, 1999. The Subcommittee will conduct an
oversight hearing on Public Law 104-297.
The Subcommittee conducted oversight hearings on the
management of our Nation's fishery resources on July 24, 1997;
August 15, 1997; September 11, 1997; October 9, 1997; April 30,
1998; and June 4, 1998.
Pacific Salmon Treaty: The U.S. and Canada signed the
Pacific Salmon Treaty in 1985. Since then, the two countries
have met numerous times to further negotiate outstanding issues
related to the Treaty. While a series of yearly agreements have
been successfully approved, a final resolution of these
negotiations is still pending. The Subcommittee will hold an
oversight hearing on these negotiations.
An oversight hearing was held on the U.S.-Canada Pacific
Salmon Treaty negotiations on September 18, 1997.
Saltonstall-Kennedy Program: The Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant
Program is administered by the National Marine Fisheries
Service and is used to provide grants for fisheries research
and development projects. Funding is provided by the Department
of Agriculture as a percentage of the gross receipts collected
on imported fish and fish products. All grant projects undergo
technical and industry review and are encouraged to have a
cost-sharing component. The Subcommittee will review the
amounts received and granted under this program.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
Seafood Safety and Inspection Programs: Legislation to
develop an expanded, mandatory national seafood safety program
has been introduced and debated at length in previous
Congresses. There is an ongoing debate over who should be the
lead agency for seafood safety--the Food and Drug
Administration, NOAA, or the Agriculture Department. The
Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing on this subject.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
Tuna/Dolphin Issue: In October of 1995, twelve nations,
including the U.S., completed negotiations on an international
agreement to protect dolphins and other species in the eastern
tropical Pacific Ocean. During the 104th Congress, the House of
Representatives approved legislation, the International Dolphin
Conservation Program of 1996, to codify the international
agreement. The U.S. Senate took no action on this issue. The
Subcommittee may conduct further deliberations on this issue
during the 105th Congress.
H.R. 408, to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
to support the international Dolphin Conservation Program in
the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, was enacted into law
(Public Law 105-42).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Arctic Research: In 1995, Congress directed the National
Science Foundation to submit a report on the relationship of
those Federal resources used for Arctic and Antarctic
scientific research. The statutory deadline for this report is
February 20, 1997. The Subcommittee intends to conduct an
oversight hearing on that report and on other Federal programs
involving Arctic research, including NOAA's new Arctic
Initiative.
An oversight hearing was held on Arctic Snow Geese: Is the
Arctic Ecosystem in Peril? This hearing was held on April 23,
1998.
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act: This law, which was
first enacted in 1984, requires that States implement
conservation measures that are consistent with interstate
fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission. In the past 12 years, the resurgence of
the Atlantic Striped Bass has been a major fishery management
success story. During the 104th Congress, the House of
Representatives overwhelmingly adopted legislation (H.R. 1139
and H.R. 4139) to extend this conservation law until September
30, 1997. The U.S. Senate took no final action on either of
these proposals. The Subcommittee intends to hold a hearing on
legislation to reauthorize the Act.
Legislation to reauthorize and amend the Atlantic Striped
Bass Conservation Act and related laws (H.R. 1658) was enacted
into law (Public Law 105-146).
Coastal Zone Management Act: Enacted in 1972, the Coastal
Zone Management Act (CZMA) encourages States to regulate land
and water uses that affect their coastal zones. While the
program is voluntary, States receive grant money to develop a
plan which, when approved by NOAA, makes them eligible for
further Federal assistance to help manage their coastal
programs. Last year, Congress enacted the Coastal Zone
Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-150), which reauthorized
the CZMA funding programs until September 30, 1999. During the
second session of the 105th Congress, the Subcommittee will
conduct an oversight hearing on Public Law 104-150 to evaluate
the ongoing effectiveness and need for future funding of CZMA
programs as well as implementation of the CZMA amendments of
1996.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
Mapping and Charting Program: In the last 15 years,
advances in computer technology have caused dramatic leaps
forward in marine navigation technology. Satellite-based
Differential Global Positioning Systems and the ability to
monitor real-time and current data hold the promise of
significant economic efficiencies. Unfortunately, these
efficiencies can only be exploited if we have accurate, up-to-
date nautical charts. Many of the charts we use today are based
on data collected in the last century. The accuracy of this
information is totally insufficient for today's larger ships
and advanced navigation capabilities. NOAA is preparing a plan
on how it will update its charts and develop real-time tide and
current information. The Subcommittee will hold an oversight
hearing on this plan.
An oversight hearing was held on the future of hydrography
on April 24, 1997. Legislation was subsequently introduced:
H.R. 3164, the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act. This
legislation was incorporated into Public Law 105-384 (H.R.
3461).
NOAA Corps: NOAA has under its jurisdiction a 358-person
uniform corps that is trained in both science and vessel
operations. The Corps, which operates 16 active ships and 10
aircraft, receives military type pay and benefits. The
Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing to evaluate the
purpose, role, and mission of the Corps in the future.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
NOAA's Generic Laws: The Subcommittee will hold one or more
oversight hearings on those programs and responsibilities under
the jurisdiction of the Resources Committee.
H.R. 1278, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Authorization Act was introduced on April 10,
1997. The legislation was later favorably reported by the
Committee on Resources.
NOAA Fleet Modernization: As part of the NOAA Authorization
Act of 1992, Congress approved a provision requiring NOAA to
prepare and submit a fleet modernization plan for the agency's
ongoing 16 research vessel fleet. While NOAA has submitted its
plan, fundamental questions remain about whether these vessels
should be replaced or if these functions could be effectively
contracted out to private sector vessels.
The Subcommittee conducted no hearings on this issue in the
105th Congress.
National Marine Sanctuaries Program: The National Marine
Sanctuaries Act of 1972 authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to
designate areas of the marine environment with nationally
significant aesthetic, ecological, historical, or recreational
values as National Marine Sanctuaries. The primary objective of
this law is to protect marine resources, such as coral reefs,
sunken historical vessels, or unique habitats, while allowing
all compatible public and private uses of these resources. In
short, marine sanctuaries are our Nation's underwater parks.
During the 104th Congress, legislation was approved, the
National Marine Sanctuaries Preservation Act of 1996 (Public
Law 104-283), to reauthorize this landmark environmental law
until September 30, 1999. During the 105th Congress, the
Subcommittee will conduct an oversight hearing on the
management of the National Marine Sanctuaries Program.
An oversight hearing was held on November 6, 1997, to hear
testimony on the management of the MONITOR National Marine
Sanctuary.
National Sea Grant College Program: The National Sea Grant
College Program was established in 1966 to improve marine
resource conservation, management, and utilization. The Program
is patterned after the Land Grant College Program, which was
created in 1862. There are currently 26 sea grant colleges and
three smaller institutional programs which manage a network of
over 300 universities and affiliated institutions.
Authorization for the program expired on September 30, 1995.
While the House Resources Committee approved a bill, H.R. 1175,
the Marine Resources Revitalization Act of 1995, to extend the
Program until September 30, 1998, no further action was taken
on this legislation. The Subcommittee intends to make the
reauthorization of the National Sea Grant College Program a top
legislative priority and will hold a hearing on a bill to
extend funding on February 27, 1997.
A legislative hearing was held on H.R. 437, to reauthorize
the National Sea Grant College Program Act, on February 27,
1997. H.R. 437 was passed by the House of Representatives. The
Senate companion bill, S. 927, was then passed by both Houses
and enacted into law (Public Law 105-160).
B. Hearings
February 27, 1997--Oversight hearing held on National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration FY 1998 budget request.
March 19, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service FY 1998 budget request.
April 21, 1997--Oversight field hearing held in Manahawkin,
New Jersey, on the management of the National Wildlife Refuge
System and the importance of interactions between striped bass,
bluefish, and forage fish. Printed Hearing 105-14
April 24, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the future of
hydrography. Printed Hearing 105-15
June 3, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the upcoming CITES
(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora) meeting. Printed Hearing 105-29
July 17, 1997--Oversight hearing held on results of
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora. Printed Hearing 105-29
July 24, 1997--Oversight hearing held on review of the
authority and decisionmaking processes of the National Marine
Fisheries Service Northwest Region. Printed Hearing 105-34
August 15, 1997--Oversight field hearing held in Boise,
Idaho, on National Marine Fisheries Service management of
Columbia River Basin salmon (continuation of the hearing held
on July 24, 1997). Printed Hearing 105-34
September 11, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the review of
the management of our Nation's fisheries by the National Marine
Fisheries Service. Printed Hearing 105-39
September 18, 1997--Oversight hearing held on U.S.-Canada
Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations. Printed Hearing 105-57
October 9, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Pfiesteria and
its impact on our fishery resources. Printed Hearing 105-63
October 30, 1997--Oversight hearing held on examining
activities being planned by the Administration for the
International Year of the Ocean in 1998.
November 6, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the management
of the MONITOR National Marine Sanctuary. Printed Hearing 105-
68
February 26, 1998--Oversight hearing held on U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service FY 1999 budget request.
March 18, 1998--Oversight hearing held on National Marine
Fisheries Service FY 1999 budget request and other National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs.
April 23, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Arctic Snow
Geese: Is the Arctic Ecosystem in Peril? Printed Hearing 105-81
April 30, 1998--Oversight hearing held on West Coast
Groundfish Issue. Printed Hearing 105-99.
June 4, 1998--Oversight hearing held on United States
Ownership of Fishing Vessels. Printed Hearing 105-98
June 11, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Spiny Dog Fish
Fishery Impact on Striped Bass.
July 16, 1998--Oversight hearing held on a pilot program to
control the nonindigenous species nutria at the Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. Printed Hearing 105-97
July 30, 1998--Oversight hearing on status of oceanographic
monitoring and assessment efforts on both global and local
scales. Printed Hearing 105-106
September 29, 1998--Oversight hearing held on research
being conducted in National Marine Sanctuaries. Printed Hearing
105-113
V. Subcommittee Statistics
Total number of bills and resolutions referred.................... 106
Total number of bills reported from Subcommittee.................. 23
Total number of bills reported from Full Committee................ 22
Total number of bills passed by the House......................... 25
Total number of resolutions approved both Houses.................. 1
Total number of bills enacted into law............................ 38
Public Hearings and Markups:
Legislative-.................................................. 21
Oversight..................................................... 22
Markup sessions............................................... 12
Total number of subcommittee meetings (days)...................... 44
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
I. Introduction
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources acted
promptly in the 105th Congress to enact a bill to reauthorize
and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act (NGMA). The NGMA is
a cooperative effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the
various state geological surveys and academia to share
responsibilities for prioritizing geologic mapping for societal
needs, and for cost-sharing between Federal and state
governments. The program's authorization had expired September
30, 1996, after the U.S. Senate failed to act upon House-passed
legislation for reauthorization. H.R. 709 (introduced by
Congresswoman Barbara Cubin, R-WY) was introduced February 12,
1997, heard in the Subcommittee on February 27, 1997, and
reported favorably with an amendment to the full committee,
reported favorably by the Committee to the full House on March
5, 1997, (H. Rept. 105-17, and adopted by voice vote by the
full House of Representatives on March 11, 1997. The Senate
considered and passed H.R. 709 on July 23, 1997. President
Clinton signed the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization
Act of 1997 into law on August 5, 1997, as Public Law 105-36.
On March 19, 1998, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 3334 (introduced by Congressman William M.
``Mac'' Thornberry, R-TX), a bill to mandate the collection of
Federal oil and gas lease royalties in-kind. This complex
legislation required a follow-up legislative hearing on May 14,
1998, to further elicit views from governments and industry as
to the practicality of such revision from the current practice
of collecting the royalty obligation from lessees in value, a
complex system in and of itself which has led to enormous audit
and enforcement burdens upon the Federal government and equally
steep costs for lessees to defend themselves from arbitrary
rulings on valuation. On June 18, 1998, the Subcommittee
reported the bill with an amendment to the full Committee on
Resources. The 105th Congress adjourned before the
Congressional Budget Office responded to Chairmen Don Young and
Barbara Cubin's request for a cost estimate on the subcommittee
reported bill. A cost analysis is critical given the huge
disparity between revenue estimates of Administration and the
industry.
On October 15, 1998, the full House debated and passed S.
2500, (identical to H.R. 4598 [Cubin]) a bill to recognize and
protect the sanctity of coalbed methane leases and contracts in
situations where the U.S. owns coal rights but has patented all
other minerals and the surface estate to other parties. The
bill was made necessary by a ruling of the Tenth Circuit Court
of Appeals (Southern Ute Tribe v. Amoco) which jeopardized
legitimate private leases. S. 2500 does not apply where the
Secretary of the Interior holds coal rights in trust for Indian
tribes. S. 2500 was signed into law on November 10, 1998, as
Public Law 105-367.
On July 21, 1998, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R.
3972, a bill to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to
require the Secretary of the Interior to make available to
state and local governments sand resources from the Outer
Continental Shelf without charge. The bill was discharged from
the Subcommittee and reported without amendment from the Full
Committee on August 5, 1998. On October 15, 1998 the full House
debated and passed H.R. 3972 under suspension of the rules, but
the Senate failed to act upon it prior to adjournment.
On July 21, 1998, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R.
1467, a bill to allow the Secretary of the Interior to waive
Federal bonding requirements for certain oil lessees on the
Wayne National Forest in deference to the State of Ohio's
orphan well program, which currently is an adequate guarantor
of reclamation funds in the event improper abandonment occurs
because of bankruptcy. The wells in question are on formerly
private leases, now Federal through the expiration of private
mineral reservations made when the surface was acquired by the
Secretary of Agriculture under the Weeks Act of 1911. The bill
was discharged from the Subcommittee, and reported with an
amendment offered by Subcommittee Chairman Cubin, from the Full
Committee on August 5, 1998. On October 15, 1998, the full
House debated and passed H.R. 1467 under suspension of the
rules, but the Senate failed to act upon it prior to
adjournment.
On July 21, 1998, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R.
3878, a bill to subject certain reserved mineral rights to the
operation of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. This legislation
was introduced by Chairman Cubin to allow the Secretary of the
Interior to lease two tracts of land in the Big Piney area of
Sublette County, Wyoming, in which all minerals were reserved
when the surface estate was sold under a 1964 statute requiring
withdrawals of such reserved minerals if deemed to be in
conflict with the purposes for which the sale occurred. The
bill was discharged from the Subcommittee and reported without
amendment from the Full Committee on August 5, 1998. On October
15, 1998, the full House debated and passed H.R. 3878 under
suspension of the rules. The Senate chose not to act upon H.R.
3878, per se; however, this provision (the exact same language)
became Section 132 of Public Law 105-277, the Omnibus
Appropriations Act of 1998, signed October 21, 1998.-
II. Jurisdiction
(1) All measures and matters concerning the U.S. Geological
Survey, except for the activities and programs of the Water
Resources Division or its successor.
(2) All measures and matters affecting geothermal
resources.
(3) Conservation of United States uranium supply.
(4) Mining interests generally, including all matters
involving mining regulation and enforcement, including the
reclamation of mined lands, the environmental effects of
mining, and the management of mineral receipts, mineral land
laws and claims, long-range mineral programs and deep seabed
mining.
(5) Mining schools, experimental stations and long-range
mineral programs.
(6) Mineral resources on public lands.
(7) Conservation and development of oil and gas resources
of the Outer Continental Shelf.
(8) Petroleum conservation on the public lands and
conservation of the radium supply in the United States.
(9) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
iii. legislative activities
A. Legislative hearings and markups
February 27, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 709, to reauthorize
and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1997.
Markup held on H.R. 709, to reauthorize and amend the
National Geologic Mapping Act of 1997.
March 19, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3334, to provide
certainty for, reduce administrative and compliance burdens
associated with, and streamline and improve the collection of
royalties from Federal and outer continental shelf oil and gas
leases. (Part I) Printed Hearing 105-92
May 21, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3334, to provide
certainty for, reduce administrative and compliance burdens
associated with, and streamline and improve the collection of
royalties from Federal and outer continental shelf oil and gas
leases. (Part II) Printed Hearing 10592
June 18, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 3334, to provide
certainty for, reduce administrative and compliance burdens
associated with, and streamline and improve the collection of
royalties from Federal and outer continental shelf oil and gas
leases.
July 21, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1467, to provide for
the continuance of oil and gas operations pursuant to certain
existing leases in the Wayne National Forest; H.R. 3878, to
subject certain reserved mineral interests of the operation of
the Mineral Leasing Act; and H.R. 3972, to amend the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the
Interior from charging State and local government agencies for
certain uses of the sand, gravel, and shell resources of the
Outer Continental Shelf. Printed Hearing 105-101
B. Legislation enacted
H.R. 709, reauthorizes and amends the National Geologic
Mapping Act of 1992, and for other purposes (Public Law 105-
36).
H.R. 1163, amend title 10, United States Code, to transfer
jurisdiction over Naval Oil Shale Reserves Numbered 1 and 3 to
the Secretary of the Interior and to authorize the leasing of
such reserves for oil and gas exploration and production
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-85).
H.R. 1659, to provide for the expeditious completion of the
acquisition of private mineral interests within the Mount St.
Helens National Volcanic Monument mandated by the 1982 Act that
established the Monument, and for other purposes. (Public Law
105-279)
H.R. 3689, to transfer administrative jurisdiction over the
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area to the
Secretary of Agriculture. (enacted as part of Public Law 105-
277)
H.R. 3878, to subject certain reserved mineral interests of
the operation of the Mineral Leasing Act, and for other
purposes. (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277)
H.R. 3962, to provide for the ratification of payments made
under preexisting onshore and offshore royalty-in-kind
programs. (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277)
S. 750, to consolidate certain mineral interests in the
National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through
the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to
enhance land management capabilities and environmental and
wildlife protection, and for other purposes. (Public Law 105-
167)
S. 2500, to protect the sanctity of contracts and leases
entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed
methane gas. (Public Law 105-367)
C. Legislation passed House
H.R. 1467 (H. Rept. 105-770), to provide for the
continuance of oil and gas operations pursuant to certain
existing leases in the Wayne National Forest.
H.R. 2249, to authorize appropriations for carrying out the
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal years 1998
and 1999, and for other purposes. [See S. 910 for further
action]
H.R. 3972 (H. Rept. 105-766), to amend the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the
Interior from charging State and local government agencies for
certain uses of the sand, gravel, and shell resources of the
outer Continental Shelf.
4. Legislation ordered reported by the full committee
H.R. 2574 (H. Rept. 105-471), to consolidate certain
mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings
County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and
private mineral interests to enhance land management
capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for
other purposes. [See S. 750 for further action]
E. Legislation marked up at subcommittee
H.R. 3334, to provide certainty for, reduce administrative
and compliance burdens associated with, and streamline and
improve the collection of royalties from Federal and outer
continental shelf oil and gas leases, and for other purposes.
IV. Oversight Activities of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral
Resources
A. Introduction
Agency Budget Oversight: The Subcommittee oversees three
Interior Department agencies in toto and programs in two
others: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Office of Surface
Mining(OSM), Minerals Management Service (MMS), the energy and minerals
program of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the minerals and
geology program of the Forest Service (USDA). The Subcommittee will
examine these agencies' programs for streamlining, privatization
opportunities, contracting out work, and otherwise streamlining
research programs. Outside witnesses familiar with the programs' output
may be asked to testify regarding prioritizing programs/turning work
over to State agencies and the private sector. Particular attention
will be paid to proposed funding of traditional earth sciences programs
versus biological studies to be performed by the new Department of the
Interior Biological Research Division.
The Subcommittee held oversight hearings on the
Administration's budget details for the USGS, OSM, MMS and
BLM's energy and minerals programs on March 4, 1997 (Printed
Hearing 105-9) for FY 1998 and on February 26, 1998 (Printed
Hearing 105-74) for FY 1999.
Hardrock Mineral Exploration and Development: At least one
oversight field hearing will examine mining royalty issues.
During these hearings, the Subcommittee will examine means of
increasing the return to the taxpayer from mining on public
lands in a way which preserves the long-term viability of an
important industry. Royalties must be structured so that they
do not reduce mining activity.
In the 104th Congress, a hearing was held to examine
factual investment data for trend in capital flow with industry
and environmental testimony explaining reasons for these
trends. The Subcommittee may hold a hearing with testimony from
foreign governments explaining how they balance attracting
investment versus regulatory oversight of mining proposals. The
purpose of this hearing is to explore ways to improve the U.S.
business climate for development of mineral resources on lands
within our jurisdiction. Summer 1997.
The Subcommittee held an oversight field hearing in Elko,
Nevada on September 22, 1997 (Printed Hearing 105-53) regarding
the Administration's planned rewrite of the surface management
regulations and the existing relationship between Federal land
management agencies (BLM and U.S. Forest Service) and the State
of Nevada's Department of Environmental Protection in the
permitting of mineral activities. The issue of proposed
structuring for royalties on hardrock mineral production was
not addressed in the hearing, however.
Coal Mining Regulatory Reform: The Subcommittee will likely
address the issue of giving States exclusive jurisdiction to
enforce the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
(SMCRA), as was intended by Congress but which the Federal
Office of Surface Mining (OSM) has thwarted through improper
implementation of State ``primacy'' for regulation of existing
coal mine operations. State regulators interpreting Federal
standards are routinely second-guessed by OSM inspectors.
Federal inspectors continue to penalize operators rather than
conduct a broad-based statewide program to oversee the adequacy
of a State's regulation of coal mining. In addition, the
Subcommittee may hold field hearings to investigate OSM's
recently issued regulations for use of ten-day notices.
Subcommittee Chairman Cubin was satisfied by actions taken
by OSM Director Karpan (consistent with the Committee's budget
views and estimates) to work better with the coal-producing
primacy states' regulatory agencies to oversee enforcement of
SMCRA-permitted active mining operations.
Regulatory Streamlining for Coal and Other Minerals: In the
104th Congress, H.R. 1975, a bill to incorporate equity and
fairness into oil and gas royalty collection from Federal
lands, was signed into law (Public Law 104-185). The
Subcommittee will pursue oversight hearings of MMS' ability and
intent to broaden these streamlining measures to coal and other
minerals.
The Subcommittee is satisfied by the directives of the MMS
to apply Public Law 104-185 provisions to other Mineral Leasing
Act commodities as appropriate, in particular, the commitment
to finalize appeals of Royalty Management Program decisions
within 33 months.
Abandoned Mine Lands Funding: The Subcommittee will
investigate the recent and historical uses of the Abandoned
Mine Lands (AML) funds, the annual funding level appropriated
for the AML, and possibly the effect of taking AML funds off-
budget.
OSM Director Karpan indicated during the FY 1999 budget
hearing a strong willingness to seek approval of an increased
budget for abandoned mined land reclamation for FY 2000,
payable from the AML trust fund established for this purpose,
consistent with the Committee's budget views and estimates for
the last several years. Likewise, the position of the states'
AML agencies is to support the Subcommittee's and OSM's efforts
to allow a larger portion of the $1.3 billion unappropriated
balance in the AML trust fund.
Energy Policy: In the 104th Congress, the Subcommittee held
two oversight hearings on energy policy: the first examined the
economic and employment implications of declining U.S. oil and
gas production, and a second reviewed the Nation's oil and gas
resource base and Federal initiatives for domestic oil and gas
production. General oversight of the Administration's
inadequate energy policy and resulting ever-increasing U.S.
dependence on foreign sources of crude oil will remain a focus
of the Subcommittee in the 105th Congress. Issues include
access to public lands and the Outer Continental Shelf, which
remain the areas most likely to provide significant new
domestic discoveries of oil and gas. One element of this
investigation will be to determine the total amount of Federal
acreage off-limits to oil and gas exploration and development
and the impact of these restrictions on the U.S. domestic
economy. Field hearings are planned in western States with
significant oil and gas production from Federal lands to
investigate BLM's regulatory process for balancing
environmental concerns, energy and mineral resource
availability and economic factors.
The Subcommittee held an oversight field hearing in Casper,
Wyoming on June 30, 1997 (Printed Hearing 105-50) regarding the
Bureau of Land Management's oil and gas regulations concerning
access and permitting of surface disturbing activities
necessary for exploration, development and production of
hydrocarbons from onshore Federal lands.
Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Production-Boosting
Initiatives: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act of
1954 governs the leasing of tracts in Federal waters off our
coasts. This program is by far the biggest revenue raiser of
all Department of the Interior programs and is likely the
second biggest in all the Federal government (after the
Internal Revenue Service). MMS collects about $3 billion per
year in bonus bids, rentals and royalties from oil and gas
producers, of which a portion goes into the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF) for Federal and State land acquisition
programs. The Subcommittee will examine the types and amounts
of funds spent through the LWCF and how those expenditures
relate to State and local policies for oil and gas development.
The Full Committee planned for, but subsequently canceled,
an oversight hearing on the workings of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund. But the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing on May 20, 1997 (Printed Hearing 105-40) regarding the
expenditure of Land and Water Conservation Funds for the
acquisition of private property rights in the New World mining
district near Yellowstone National Park potentially threatening
park values.
The OCS leasing program has been subjected to numerous
leasing and drilling bans via appropriations bills and
executive order. In the 104th Congress, the Subcommittee held
an oversight hearing on several bills introduced to provide for
permanent moratoria on much of the U.S. coastline. The
Subcommittee will explore the rationale for retention versus
elimination of such bans on activity in various waters in an
effort to find acceptable ways to increase production from the
OCS.
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on May 14, 1998
(Printed Hearing 105-92) concerning oil and gas development on
the outer continental shelf where coastal state Members of
Congress were invited to testify as to the need for continuing
leasing moratoria off various coastlines versus the likelihood
of discovery of additional hydrocarbon reserves and the
potential impacts of their development.
Onshore Federal Oil and Gas Initiatives: The Subcommittee
will continue to investigate the Department of the Interior's
progress on a proposal to transfer BLM's oil and gas inspection
and enforcement functions to the States. The States have
current programs which duplicate these functions and are
anxious to assume these duties. Through the efforts of the
Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the States fully
support this proposal with appropriate funding. Following two
hearings on this issue in the 104th Congress, the Subcommittee
will likely invite the Federal and State government agencies to
bring us up to date on the status of the transfer negotiations.
The Subcommittee monitored continuing discussions between
the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission on behalf of the
oil-producing states and the BLM to attempt to find consensus
on the regulatory activities which could be administratively
transferred from Federal jurisdiction to a state. No such
agreement was had by adjournment. A bill to guide transfer
efforts may be introduced in the 106th Congress.
Royalty-In-Kind/Valuation: The Subcommittee will pursue
oversight of MMS' ability to collect royalties ``in-kind'' as
opposed to the cash value as is currently paid. The cumbersome
and costly collection procedures associated with collecting the
government's share of revenue from production on Federal leases
could be drastically reduced if MMS were to take their royalty-
in-kind (R-I-K). Using the R-I-K collection method would
eliminate the controversial ``valuation'' issues surrounding
the complicated oil and gas production and transportation
systems. MMS conducted a one-year pilot program for gas only in
the Gulf of Mexico. The FY 1997 Interior Appropriations
legislation included instructions to the director of MMS to
conduct further pilot studies. The Subcommittee will oversee
MMS' initiation of these programs and the progress on its
proposed crude oil valuation regulations and evaluate its
effectiveness.
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on this issue on
July 31, 1997, and followed up on September 18, 1997, (Printed
Hearing 105-41). The information gained led to the introduction
of the Royalty Enhancement Act of 1998 (H.R. 3334) which
attempted to mandate a broad-based oil and gas royalty-in-kind
program by the United States in an effort to both equitably
settle valuation disputes and enhance revenues to the states
and Federal Treasury by gaining the ``uplift'' in the value of
royalty oil and gas marketed downstream from the wellhead, as
opposed to the current practice of receiving royalty-in-value
at the wellhead.
U.S. Geological Survey Reorganization: The Subcommittee is
planning oversight of the USGS's reorganization and its ability
to meet its mission, especially regarding mineral resources and
the traditional role of the Federal survey to provide objective
scientific data for land use decisions and the Nation's
economic development. The Subcommittee is interested in the
Administration's mission for the Biological Research Division
with respect to the ``geosciences'' mission, particularly with
likely smaller budgets in the future. The Subcommittee will pay
close attention to how USGS restores its reputation for doing
objective science in the wake of the ``unsanctioned'' USGS Ward
Valley hydrology report which prompted Interior Secretary Bruce
Babbitt to seek National Academy of Sciences peer review of the
official USGS study (and oppose transfer of the BLM land to
California), as well as allegations that the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) oil and gas estimates were reduced for
``political science'' reasons.
The Subcommittee monitored the USGS' organizational status
in the wake of the FY 1999 budget hearing while the agency was
led by an acting director. Subcommittee Chairman Cubin will be
meeting soon with the newly confirmed Director, Dr. Charles
Groat, about this matter.
Disposition of Other Federal Minerals: The so-called
fertilizer minerals, trona (a sodium carbonate mineral),
phosphate and potash are produced from Federal leases in
California, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and New Mexico. An
oversight hearing will examine a number of associated issues
including possible conflict between oil and gas production and
potash development and oil and gas production and trona
development. In addition, the Subcommittee may examine
valuation methodology for these commodities.
The Subcommittee corresponded with the MMS regarding the
manner in which sodium (trona) lease production is valued for
royalty purposes. The Subcommittee is monitoring an agreement
for a study of the impacts on trona mine development by natural
gas drilling in the Green River Basin of Wyoming, and is
likewise monitoring the outcome of an appeal by oil lessees of
a BLM decision regarding a potash leasing conflict in the
Delaware Basin of New Mexico.
Compensation for Land Exchanges: The Subcommittee will
evaluate the substantial value of public resources traded to
meet the President's environmental agenda, i.e. Utah's Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument designation, California's
Headwaters Forest acquisition, and Montana's New World Project
mining land exchange. The Subcommittee may hold an oversight
hearing on the Secretary's ability to trade mineral rights that
are subject to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and
other relevant Federal statutes.
The budget agreement of May 1997 obviated the
Administration's plans for asset sales (mineral rights
transfers) to pay for these high-profile land acquisitions. As
a result, the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on May 20,
1997 (Printed Hearing 105-40) regarding the expenditure of Land
and Water Conservation Funds for the acquisition of private
property rights in the New World mining district near
Yellowstone National Park potentially threatening park values.
U.S. Geological Survey Mapping and Data Programs: The USGS
is often criticized for failing to update maps and other data
in a timely manner and for taking an excessive amount of time
to publish the results of its research. During the last decade,
great advances have been made in geographic information
science, and application of some of this new technology to USGS
programs would potentially improve the quality of the database
and shorten the time required before publication, all at a
lower cost. The Subcommittee will hold two hearings to examine
this issue. One will be concerned with identifying the type,
quality, and quantity of government geographic data needed and
the other will identify useful new technologies and how they
may be applied to USGS programs to achieve more timely
dissemination of higher quality data at lower costs.
The Subcommittee held no hearings on this issue, but did
monitor the progress and results of a National Academy of
Public Administration study (Geographic Information for the
21st Century) on the needs for and ability of the BLM, USGS,
USFS and the National Ocean Service to produce digital map
products for the Nation, and opportunities for efficiencies in
consolidation of these activities.
Additional Oversight Hearings Held
Abuse of Power: The Hardrock Bonding Rule: In February
1997, the BLM published a ``Final Rule on Hardrock Bonding''
which amended its surface management regulations under the
Federal Land Management Policy Act (FLPMA). The Subcommittee on
Energy and Mineral Resources undertook its oversight
responsibility after concluding that the new rule might not
have been adopted according to law. Oversight hearings on this
rule were held by the Subcommittee on March 20, 1997, and on
June 19, 1997.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) attempted to prevent
and obstruct the Subcommittee from carrying out its oversight
responsibilities by withholding key documents. Some records
were produced by DOI pursuant to the Subcommittee's request,
but many documents were withheld from the Subcommittee under a
prospective claim of ``privilege.'' DOI also tried to impose
rules and conditions under which the Subcommittee could have
access to documents. After these tactics continued for more
than three months, the Resources Committee subpoenaed the
documents. As a result of DOI's drawn-out string of dilatory
tactics to prevent and obstruct the Congress from carrying out
its Constitutional oversight responsibilities, Chairman Don
Young and Chairman Barbara Cubin directed that a Committee
report on the DOI rule-making be prepared.
The Committee approved this report, Abuse of Power: The
Hardrock Bonding Rule, which analyzes the subpoenaed documents
and concludes DOI actions constitute a coordinated effort by
high level DOI political appointees to affirmatively
mischaracterize the import and impact of the hardrock bonding
rule. The report also found that DOI political appointees:
(1) unduly interfered in the BLM rule-making;
(2) ignored laws, such as the Administrative Procedure Act
and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, that govern the rule-making
process; and
(3) obstructed the impartiality of the rule-making process
by excluding interested parties from participating in the rule-
making process in a meaningful way.
The Subcommittee's oversight activities clearly
demonstrated that DOI did not comply with requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act or the Regulatory Flexibility Act
in making the hardrock bonding regulation. DOI also concealed
the fact that the bonding regulation was a significant rule,
enabling the Department to evade a higher standard of scrutiny
and avoid considering any alternatives to the new bonding rule.
B. Hearings
March 4, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the FY 1998 budget
for USGS and MMS Printed Hearing 105-9
March 20, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Bureau of Land
Management final rulemaking on bonding of hardrock mining
operations. Why was there no meaningful public comment
solicited? Printed Hearing 105-8
May 20, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the proposed buyout
of the New World Mine project in Montana. Printed Hearing 105-
40
June 19, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the final bonding
rule for hardrock mining operations on BLM-administered public
lands (follow-up to the hearing on March 20, 1997). Printed
Hearing 105-24
June 30, 1997--Oversight field hearing held in Casper,
Wyoming, on Bureau of Land Management's oil and gas regulations
regarding access and permitting issues. Printed Hearing 105-50
July 31, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Royalty-In-Kind
for Federal oil and gas production. Printed Hearing 105-41
September 18, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the Federal
government collecting oil and gas royalties-in-kind (follow-up
from July 31, 1997, hearing). Printed Hearing 105-41
September 22, 1997--Oversight field hearing in Elko,
Nevada, on Hardrock mining issues. Printed Hearing 105-53
February 26, 1998--Oversight hearing held on the
President's FY 1999 Budget request for Office of Surface
Mining, Minerals Management Service, and the Energy and
Minerals programs of the Bureau of Land Management. Printed
Hearing 105-74
May 14, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Outer Continental
Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing. Printed Hearing 105-87
V. subcommittee statistics
Total number of bills and resolutions referred-................... 52
Total number of bills reported from subcommittee-................. 2
Total number of bills reported from full committee-............... 6
Total number of bills passed by the House-........................ 8
Total number of bills enacted into law-........................... 8
Public Hearings and Markups:
Legislative-.................................................. 4
Oversight-.................................................... 10
Markup sessions-.............................................. 2
Total number of subcommittee meetings (days)-..................... 15
Subcommittee on Water and Power
I. introduction
During the 105th Congress the Subcommittee on Water and
Power Resources pursued legislation and held numerous hearings
regarding the appropriate role of the Federal Government in
many of the major water and public power projects throughout
the United States. Consensus legislation was crafted, and later
passed to transfer selected Federal water facilities to local
entities, thus furthering the goal of a more efficient, smaller
Federal Government. Additionally, the Subcommittee continued
its oversight of the Bureau of Reclamation and Power Marketing
Administrations.
ii. jurisdiction
(1) Generation and marketing of electric power from Federal
water projects by Federally chartered or Federal regional power
marketing authorities.
(2) All measures and matters concerning water resources
planning conducted pursuant to the Water Resources Planning
Act, water resource research and development programs and
saline water research and development.
(3) Compacts relating to the use and apportionment of
interstate waters, water rights and major interbasin water or
power movement programs.
(4) All measures and matters pertaining to irrigation and
reclamation projects and other water resources development
programs, including policies and procedures.
(5) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
iii. legislative activities
A. Legislative hearings and markups
June 24, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 134, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to provide a loan guarantee to the
Olivenhain Water Storage Project, and for other purposes; and
H.R. 1400, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Bureau of Reclamation, to participate in a water
conservation project with the Tumalo Irrigation District in the
State of Oregon.
July 29, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 2007, to amend the Act
that authorized the Canadian River reclamation project, Texas,
to direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow use of the
project distribution system to transport water from sources
other than the project.
Markup held on H.R. 2007, to amend the Act that authorized
the Canadian River reclamation project, Texas, to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to allow use of the project
distribution system to transport water from sources other than
the project; and H.R. 134, toauthorize the Secretary of the
Interior to provide a loan guarantee to the Olivenhain Water Storage
Project, and for other purposes.
September 11, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 2398, the Small
Reclamation Water Resources Project Act of 1997.
Markup held on H.R. 2402, the Reclamation Technical
Corrections Act of 1997; and H.R. 1400, the Tumalo Irrigation
District Water Conservation Project Authorization Act.
March 12, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 2367, Sonny Bono
Memorial Salton Sea Reclamation Act. Printed Hearing 105-77
March 26, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 3267, Sonny Bono
Memorial Salton Sea Reclamation Act.
April 30, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1282, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities of the
Minidoka project to the Burley Irrigation District; H.R. 1943,
Carlsbad Irrigation Project Acquired Land Transfer Act; H.R.
2161, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the
Palmetto Bend Project to the State of Texas; H.R. 2506,
Collbran Project Unit Conveyance Act; H.R. 3056, to provide for
the preservation and sustainability of the family farm through
the transfer of responsibility for operation and maintenance of
the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, Montana; H.R. 3677, to
authorize and direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey
certain works, facilities, and titles of the Gila Project, and
Designated Lands within or adjacent to the Gila Project, to the
Welton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District; H.R. 3687, to
authorize prepayment of amounts due under a water reclamation
project contract for the Canadian River Project, Texas; H.R.
3706, Clear Creek Distribution System Conveyance Act; and H.R.
3715, Pine River Project, Colorado.
May 19, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1212, Fall River Water
Users District Rural Water System Act.
June 18, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1688, Lewis and Clark
Rural Water System Act of 1997; H.R. 2108, Dutch John Federal
Property Disposition and Assistance Act of 1997; and H.R. 2306,
Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 1997.
June 25, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 4111, to provide for
outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, a study for reconstruction
of the Northfork American River Cofferdam, and the transfer to
the State of California all right, title, and interest in and
to the Auburn Dam.
Markup held on H.R. 1282, to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to convey certain facilities of the Minidoka project
to the Burley Irrigation District; H.R. 1943, Carlsbad
Irrigation Project Acquired Land Transfer Act; H.R. 3056, to
provide for the preservation and sustainability of the family
farm through the transfer of responsibility for operation and
maintenance of the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, Montana;
H.R. 3687, to authorize prepayment of amounts due under a water
reclamation project contract for the Canadian River Project,
Texas; H.R. 4048, Sly Park Unit Conveyance Act; and H.R. 4111,
to provide for outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, a study for
reconstruction of the Northfork American River Cofferdam, and
the transfer to the State of California all right, title, and
interest in and to the Auburn Dam.
July 16, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 2161, to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to convey the Palmetto Bend Project
to the State of Texas; H.R. 3677, to authorize and direct the
Secretary of the Interior to convey certain works, facilities,
and titles of the Gila Project, and Designated Lands within or
adjacent to the Gila project, to the Welton-Mohawk Irrigation
and Drainage District; H.R. 3706, Clear Creek Distribution
System Conveyance Act; and H.R. 3715, Pine River Project,
Colorado.
July 28, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3478, to amend the
Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to provide for
a final settlement of the claims of the Colorado Ute Indian
Tribes; and H.R. 745, to deauthorize the Animas-La Plata
Federal Reclamation Project, and to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to enter into negotiations to satisfy, in a manner
consistent with all Federal laws, the water rights interests of
the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian
Tribe. Printed Hearing 105-103
September 23, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3658, to provide
for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Chippewa
Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation. Printed Hearing 105-
112
September 29, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1213, to authorize
the construction of the Perkins County Rural Water System and
authorize the appropriations of Federal dollars to assist the
Perkins County Rural Water System, Inc., a nonprofit
corporation in the planning and construction of the water
supply system.
B. Legislation enacted
H.R. 63, designates the reservoir created by Trinity Dam in
the Central Valley Project, California, as ``Trinity Lake''.
(Public Law 105-44)
H.R. 412, approves a settlement agreement between the
Bureau of Reclamation and the Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation
District. (Public Law 105-9)
H.R. 2355, extends the repayment periods for the repayment
for Nueces River reclamation project. (enacted as part of
Public Law 105-174)
H.R. 2795, extends certain contracts between the Bureau of
Reclamation and irrigation water contractors in Wyoming and
Nebraska that receive water from Glendo Reservoir. (Public Law
105-293)
H.R. 3035, establishes an advisory commission to provide
advice and recommendations on the creation of an integrated,
coordinated Federal policy designed to prepare for and respond
to serious drought emergencies. (Public Law 105-194)
H.R. 3267, directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Bureau of Reclamation, to conduct a feasibility
study and construct a project to reclaim the Salton Sea.
(Public Law 105-372)
H.R. 3687, authorizes prepayment of amounts due under a
water reclamation project contract for the Canadian River
Project, Texas. (Public Law 105-316)
H.R. 3964, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
participate in the design, planning, and construction of the
Willow Lake Natural Treatment System Project for the
reclamation and reuse of water, and for other purposes.
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321)
H.R. 4079, authorizes the construction of temperature
control devices at Folsom Dam in California. (Public Law 105-
295)
S. 744, authorize the construction of the Fall River Water
Users District Rural Water System and authorize financial
assistance to the Fall River Water Users District, a non-profit
corporation, in the planning and construction of the water
supply system, and for other purposes. (Public Law 105-352)
S. 2041, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
participate in the design, planning, and construction of the
Willow Lake Natural Treatment System Project for the
reclamation and reuse of water, and for other purposes.
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321)
C. Legislation passed House
H.R. 2007 (H. Rept. 105-279), to amend the Act that
authorized the Canadian River reclamation project, Texas, to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow use of the
project distribution system to transport water from sources
other than the project. [See H.R. 2402 for further action]
H.R. 2402 (H. Rept. 105-353), to make technical and
clarifying amendments to improve management of water-related
facilities in the Western United States.
S. 2117, to authorize the construction of the Perkins
County Rural Water System and authorize financial assistance to
the Perkins County Rural Water System, Inc., a nonprofit
corporation, in the planning and construction of the water
supply system, and for other purposes. -
D. Legislation ordered reported by the full committee
H.R. 134 (H. Rept. 105-327), to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to provide a loan guarantee to the Olivenhain
Water Storage Project, and for other purposes. [See H.R. 2402
for further action]
H.R. 2108 (H. Rept. 105-714), to dispose of certain Federal
properties located in Dutch John, Utah, and to assist the local
government in the interim delivery of basic services to the
Dutch John community, and for other purposes. [See S. 890 for
further action]
H.R. 3056 (H. Rept. 105-812), to provide for the
preservation and sustainability of the family farm through the
transfer of responsibility for operation and maintenance of the
Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, Montana.
H.R. 4111 (H. Rept. 105-811), to provide for outlet
modifications to Folsom Dam, a study for reconstruction of the
Northfork American River Cofferdam, and the transfer to the
State of California all right, title, and interest in and to
the Auburn Dam, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4223 (H. Rept. 105-813), to assist in the development
and implementation of projects to provide for the control of
drainage, storm, flood and other waters as part of water-
related integrated resource management, environmental
infrastructure, and resource protection and development
projects in the Colusa Basin Watershed, California.
E. Legislation marked up at subcommittee
H.R. 1400, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior,
acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to participate in a
water conservation project with the Tumalo Irrigation District
in the State of Oregon. -
H.R. 1943, to convey certain real property within the
Carlsbad Project in New Mexico to the Carlsbad Irrigation
District. [See H.R. 4389 for further action]
H.R. 2161, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
convey the Palmetto Bend Project to the State of Texas. [See
H.R. 4389 for further action]
H.R. 3677, to authorize and direct the Secretary of the
Interior to convey certain works, facilities, and titles of the
Gila Project, and Designated Lands within or adjacent to the
Gila Project, to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage
District, and for other purposes. [See H.R. 4389 for further
action]
H.R. 3706, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
implement the provisions of the Agreement conveying title to a
Distribution System from the United States to the Clear Creek
Community Services District. [See H.R. 4389 for further action]
H.R. 3715, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
convey the facilities of the Pine River Project, to allow
jurisdictional transfer of lands between the Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, and the Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, and for other purposes. [See H.R. 4389 for further
action]
H.R. 4048, to convey the Sly Park Dam and Reservoir to the
El Dorado Irrigation District, and for other purposes. [See
H.R. 4389 for further action]
iv. oversight activities of the subcommittee on water and power
A. Introduction
Budget Overview: The Subcommittee will hold a hearing each
year on that portion of the President's budget proposal falling
within its jurisdiction.
On March 4, 1998, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held
an oversight hearing on the President's proposed FY 1998 budget
request for the Bureau of Reclamation, the Central Utah
Project, and the Water Resources Division of the U.S.
Geological Survey and the Power Marketing Administrations.
Water Technology Development: The Subcommittee will hold
hearings on various aspects of water technology development
which affect Federal water management, reclamation activities,
and how to assist the States in water resource planning.
Congress passed the National Drought Policy Act of 1997
(H.R. 3035) that creates a national program designed to help
prepare for serious drought emergencies. Furthermore, the
Subcommittee held a hearing, and Congress later passed
legislation to address technology development for the Salton
Sea Restoration project in California. Additionally, Congress
passed H.R. 4079 to authorize the construction of temperature
control devices at Folsom Dam in California for the benefit of
fall-run chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the American
River, California. The Subcommittee continued its participation
in briefings and events concerning reverse osmosis,
desalination, and hydrology prediction.
Bureau of Reclamation
Central Valley Project Improvement Act Implementation: The
Subcommittee will continue to review actions taken by Federal
and State agencies to implement the various provisions of the
Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), that was
enacted in 1992. Legislative proposals to amend the CVPIA will
be considered.
A hearing was held in Fresno, California, that continued
the series of oversight efforts concerning the 1992 law that
radically altered the operations of the California Central
Valley Project. Implementation of the law has caused
significant hardships throughout the Central Valley, with
environmentalists, farmers, and municipal water providers upset
at the Administration for its mismanagement of the program and
the environmental trust fund that was established under the
law.
Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District: The Subcommittee may
mark up legislation to implement the pending settlement between
the Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District and the Department of
the Interior. Oversight will be needed regarding the
settlement.
Congress passed H.R. 412 that approved a settlement
agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Oroville-
Tonasket Irrigation District over disputes arising from the
construction of the Oroville-Tonasket Unit Extension.
Implementation of the settlement agreement includes transfer of
the title to the Oroville-Tonasket Unit Extension Project
Irrigation Works to the District.
Garrison Diversion: The Subcommittee will review the status
of the Garrison Diversion Unit and consider new proposals
relating to water supply management in North Dakota. Oversight
hearings, including possible field hearings, will be held.
Legislation, if necessary, will be considered by the
Subcommittee during the second session.
On September 29, 1998, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing on the Garrison Unit Reformulation. Along with hearing
the various alternatives to the original Garrison Diversion
project, the hearing addressed some of the issues raised by the
Canadians and bordering states to North Dakota who would like
to see more studies done prior to any project being funded.
California Bay-Delta Funding: The Subcommittee will examine
the Administration's funding request for those funds authorized
in the 104th Congress to carry out restoration activities in
California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta, since the 1996
authorization did not specify how Federal funds were to be
allocated among the various Federal agencies. The Subcommittee
will also investigate how Federal programs and expenditures are
being coordinated with State funding for the Bay-Delta area.
State funding for such restoration activities and other water-
related activities was approved by the California Legislature
and by voter referendum in 1996.
The Subcommittee held two relevant oversight hearings
during the 105th Congress. They were held on April 17, 1997,
and on May 12, 1998. These hearings reviewed this new program
and provided oversight to ensure the efficient development of a
long-term comprehensive plan to restore ecological health and
improve water management in the Bay-Delta system in coastal
California while honoring the water rights and private property
rights of residents. The oversight hearings have highlighted a
lack of goal setting and measurements to evaluate the success
of the $1 billion+ program.
Phase I of the Bay-Delta Program resulted in the
development of three possible comprehensive solutions to Bay-
Delta problems. At this time, capital costs for the three
alternatives developed in Phase I are estimated to range from
$4 billion to more than $8 billion, an amount to be paid over
20 years.
Central Arizona Project: The Subcommittee will review the
status of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), and the financial
and management practices of the Bureau of Reclamation as they
relate to CAP. The Subcommittee will also investigate the
breakdown of negotiations between the parties to restructure
the project's debt.
Due to the ongoing litigation within the State of Arizona
over this project the Subcommittee did not hold any oversight
hearings on the CAP. However, the Subcommittee remained
involved through ongoing briefings.
Bureau of Reclamation Project Transfers: The Subcommittee
will review the status of the Administration's initiative to
transfer Bureau of Reclamation facilities out of Federal
ownership. Specific attention will be directed to case studies
where project beneficiaries are seeking such title transfers.
Field hearings will be held in several locations.
The Resources Committee passed a number of bills
transferring the ownership of Bureau of Reclamation projects
and facilities to local entities who are in a better position
to take responsibility for them. In taking these facilities off
the Federal books, these transfers also represent real budget
savings for the future. These transfers will help shrink the
size and budget of the Federal Government, and help us manage
our water resources in a more efficient way. The transfers
approved by the Resources Committee include:
Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District (H.R. 412),
Washington
Burley Irrigation District (H.R. 1282), Idaho
Canadian River Project (H.R. 3687), Texas
Dutch John Privatization (H.R. 2108), Utah
Pine River Project Conveyance Act (H.R. 2142),
Colorado
Wellton-Mohawk Transfer Act (H.R. 3677), Arizona
Eldorado Irrigation District (H.R. 4389), California
Clear Creek Distribution System Conveyance (H.R.
3706), California
Carlsbad Irrigation District (H.R. 1943), New Mexico
Palmetto Bend Project (H.R. 2161), Texas
Oversight of Colorado River Operations: The Subcommittee
will hold hearings on the operation of the Colorado River, and
its impact on the States in both the Upper and Lower basins.
The Subcommittee held several hearings that addressed
issues associated with the Lower Colorado River operations. On
October 3, 1997, and March 12, 1998, the Subcommittee held
hearings that focused on the Salton Sea and Colorado River
Allocations. Additionally, the Subcommittee considered
agriculture return flows and salinity levels in the lower
Colorado River on April 30, 1998, and the role of the
desalination plant in the lower Colorado River Basin.
Reclamation Reform Act Rules and Regulations: As required
by the negotiated settlement to litigation, the Bureau of
Reclamation recently promulgated new rules and regulations to
implement the 1982 Reclamation Reform Act (RRA) on a West-wide
basis. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor the
enforcement of these rules by the various regional offices of
the Bureau. The Subcommittee will also examine closely a
related proposed rulemaking on the treatment of trusts, as that
rulemaking moves forward.
The Subcommittee passed H.R. 2402 to authorize the refund
of monies overpaid under the RRA. Additionally, the
Subcommittee was briefed by the Administration on the
enforcement of the RRA. During the winter of 1998, the
Administration will complete its new rulemaking.
Bureau of Reclamation Contracting Policies: The
Subcommittee will evaluate the Administration's policies
concerning water service contracts and operations and
maintenance contracts between the Bureau of Reclamation and
various water districts. The Subcommittee will examine the
extent to which Reclamation is using contract renewals in an
effort to reallocate water for other uses in light of State
supremacy in the allocation of water rights.
The Committee monitored the Government Performance and
Results Act compliance by the Bureau of Reclamation; U.S.
Geological Survey--Water Resource Division; and the Department
of Energy Power Marketing Administrations. On July 17, 1997,
the Subcommittee focused onBureau of Reclamation project
financing. The purpose of this new law is to ensure that government
works efficiently to meets the needs of its citizens.
Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission Report: The
Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission is scheduled to
release a report on western water resource issues and problems
in October 1997. A hearing will be held on the recommendations
in the report which affect Federal agencies under the
Subcommittee's jurisdiction.
On April 3, 1998, Chairman Don Young wrote a strong letter
of opposition to the report and to many of the supporting
documents prepared for the Commission that are heavily
referenced throughout it. The opposition mainly focused on the
tone of the report against irrigated agriculture and commodity
production. Furthermore, the report failed to respect state
water law, and advocated a significant expansion of the Federal
role in watershed management.
Truckee River Issues: The Subcommittee will monitor the
cumulative environmental impacts of implementation of the 1990
Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act on the
Lahontan Valley area in Nevada. The Subcommittee will also
examine the impacts of the Act on irrigators who are dependent
on Bureau of Reclamation facilities in the area for their water
supply.
The Subcommittee met with the interested parties and was
briefed on the developments.
Department of Energy--Power Marketing Administrations
Cost Recovery by the Federal Power Marketing
Administrations: The Subcommittee will review proposals to
improve the management of the Department of Energy's power
marketing administrations (PMAs), which market the electrical
power produced at Federal hydroelectric facilities. The
Subcommittee will be particularly involved in proposals to
ensure full cost recovery, aimed at correcting the revenue
shortfalls identified by the Subcommittee and the General
Accounting Office (GAO).
The Subcommittee has instigated an investigation with the
GAO to determine how the Federal Government is maintaining and
operating its Federal power generation facilities. In 1996 the
Committee discovered through a GAO investigation that many of
the Federal hydropower facilities operated in the southeast
were falling into disrepair or being mismanaged. The current
inquiry attempts to provide that information for a broader
segment of the system. In addition, it looks at the ability of
the Federal government to operate those facilities and market
the power in light of the rapidly evolving national electric
industry.
The Comprehensive Review of the Northwest Energy System:
The Subcommittee will hold hearings on the December 1996
Comprehensive Review of the Northwest Energy System, which was
prepared at the request of the Northwest Governors. The central
theme of the review concerns the management and restructuring
of the Bonneville Power Administration. Hearings are
anticipated in both sessions of the 105th Congress.
The Subcommittee held a hearing on June 12, 1997, that
addressed the rapidly evolving national electricity
restructuring and the particular process being undertaken in
the Pacific Northwest. The Subcommittee remains actively
involved in policy discussions with the Pacific Northwest
delegation.
Proposals to Reduce Power Marketed by the Bonneville Power
Administration: There are several proposals to reoperate John
Day Dam on the Columbia, in an effort to enhance juvenile
salmon migration on the Columbia River. The Subcommittee will
examine the impact of these various proposals on hydropower
production at the Dam, and will scrutinize the science on which
these proposals are based.
The Subcommittee held an oversight field hearing on this
issue in Lewiston, Idaho, on May 31, 1997.
Operation and Maintenance of Facilities That Generate Power
Marketed by the Federal Power Marketing Administrations: The
Subcommittee will review proposals designed to ensure that
adequate funding is allocated to, and spent for, the operation
and maintenance of facilities that generate the power marketed
by the PMAs.
The Subcommittee instigated an investigation with the
General Accounting Office to determine how the Federal
Government is maintaining and operating its Federal power
generation facilities. In 1996 the Committee discovered through
a GAO investigation that many of the Federal hydropower
facilities operated in the southeast were falling into
disrepair or being mismanaged. The current inquiry attempts to
provide that information for a broader segment of the system.
In addition, it looks at the ability of the Federal government
to operate those facilities and market the power in light of
the rapidly evolving national electric industry.
U.S. Geological Survey--Water Resources Division
Program Management Within the Water Resources Division of
the U.S. Geological Survey: The Subcommittee will review the
programs within the Water Resources Division to determine if
there are areas where better coordination can be encouraged
with other State and Federal agencies. The Subcommittee will
also be reviewing areas where State or university entities can
supplement U.S. Geological Survey activity.
The Subcommittee worked with appropriation subcommittees to
strengthen State academic involvement in this area.
B. Hearings
March 4, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the FY 1998 budget
for the Bureau of Reclamation, Power Marketing Administration
on the Water Resource Division of the USGS.
March 20, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Central Valley
Project Operations and Administration Reform Process. Printed
Hearing 105-21
April 17, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Federal
participation in the CALFED Program. Printed Hearing 105-17
May 6, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the Bureau of
Reclamation Project financing. Printed Hearing 105-31
May 31, 1997--Oversight field hearing held in Lewiston,
Idaho, on the Columbia/Snake River draw down proposals. Printed
Hearing 105-32
June 12, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the Bonneville
Power Administration, Status of Regional Review Process.
July 17, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Government
Performance and Results Act status--Bureau of Reclamation,
USGS, Water Resources and the Power Marketing Administration.
Printed Hearing 105-46
September 23, 1997--Joint oversight hearing with
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands on the proposal
to drain Lake Powell or reduce its water storage capability.
Printed Hearing 105-56
October 3, 1997--Oversight field hearing held in Palm
Desert, California, on potential solutions to the water quality
and water level problems at the Salton Sea. Printed Hearing
105-60
October 30, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the Water
Management Implications of the 1997/98 El Nino. Printed Hearing
105-58
April 15, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in Fresno,
California, on Central Valley Project Implementation Act.
May 12, 1998--Oversight hearing held on CALFED. Printed
Hearing 105-83
May 27, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in Sacramento,
California, on Proposed Modifications of Folsom Dam. Printed
Hearing 105-93
September 29, 1998--Oversight hearing held on which
alternatives should be pursued concerning the Garrison Unit
Reformulation. Public Hearing 105-114
V. Subcommittee Statistics
Total number of bills and resolutions referred.................... 67
Total number of bills reported from subcommittee.................. 15
Total number of bills reported from full committee................ 13
Total number of bills passed by the House......................... 11
Total number of bills enacted into law............................ 11
Public Hearings and Markups:
Legislative-.................................................. 11
Oversight..................................................... 14
Markup sessions............................................... 5
Total number of subcommittee meetings (days)...................... 26
Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health
I. Introduction
The 105th Congress introduced the new Forests and Forest
Health Subcommittee of the Resources Committee. This
Subcommittee has actively moved and passed legislation with the
purpose of improving forests health conditions on Federal lands
by promoting the active and scientific management of these
forests. The Subcommittee worked diligently to build consensus
on these issues to help ensure passage of key bills. Eighty
three bills were referred to the Subcommittee, 32 hearings
(days) were held, 18 forest bills passed the House and 21 have
become public law.
II. Jurisdiction
(1) Except in Alaska, forest reservations, including
management thereof, created from the public domain.
(2) Except for forest lands in Alaska, public forest lands
generally, including measures or matters related to entry,
easements, withdrawals and grazing.
(3) Except in Alaska, Federal reserved water rights on
forest reserves.
(4) Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System,
national heritage areas and other national units established
for protection, conservation, preservation or recreational
development administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(5) Federal and non-Federal outdoor recreation plans,
programs and administration in public forests.
(6) General and continuing oversight and investigative
authority over activities, policies and programs within the
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
III. Legislative Activities
A. Legislative hearings and markups
March 5, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 858, Quincy Library
Group Forest Recovery and Economic Stability Act of 1997.
Printed Hearing 105-10
March 20, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 799, to require the
Secretary of Agriculture to make a minor adjustment in the
exterior boundary of the Hells Canyon Wilderness in the States
of Oregon and Idaho to exclude an established Forest Service
road inadvertently included in the wilderness; and H.R. 838, to
require adoption of a management plan for the Hells Canyon
National Recreation Area that allows appropriate use of
motorized and nonmotorized river craft in the recreation area,
and for other purposes.
April 24, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 858, Quincy Library
Group Forest Recovery and Economic Stability Act of 1997.
May 6, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 79, to provide for the
conveyance of certain land in the Six Rivers National Forest in
the State of California for the benefit of the Hoopa Valley
Tribe; H.R. 985, to provide for the expansion of the Eagles
Nest Wilderness within Arapaho and White River National
Forests, Colorado, to include the lands known as the Slate
Creek Addition upon the acquisition of the lands by the United
States; H.R. 1019, to provide for a boundary adjustment and
land conveyance involving the Raggeds Wilderness, White River
National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects of earlier
erroneous land surveys; H.R. 1020, to adjust the boundary of
the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado to
include all National Forest System lands within Summit County,
Colorado, which are currently part of the Dillon Ranger
District of the Arapaho National Forest; and H.R. 1439, to
facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe National Forest in
the State of California to Placer County, California.
May 8, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 79, to provide for the
conveyance of certain land in the Six Rivers National Forest in
the State of California for the benefit of the Hoopa Valley
Tribe; H.R. 985, to provide for the expansion of the Eagles
Nest Wilderness within Arapaho and White River National
Forests, Colorado, to include the lands known as the Slate
Creek Addition upon the acquisition of the lands by the United
States; H.R. 1019, to provide for a boundary adjustment and
land conveyance involving the Raggeds Wilderness, White River
National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects of earlier
erroneous land surveys; H.R. 1020, to adjust the boundary of
the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado to
include all National Forest System lands within Summit County,
Colorado, which are currently part of the Dillon Ranger
District of the Arapaho National Forest; and H.R. 1439, to
facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe National Forest in
the State of California to Placer County, California.
June 17, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 799, to require the
Secretary of Agriculture to make a minor adjustment in the
exterior boundary of the Hells Canyon Wilderness in the States
of Oregon and Idaho to exclude an established Forest Service
road inadvertently included in the wilderness; and H.R. 838, to
require adoption of a management plan for the Hells Canyon
National Recreation Area that allows appropriate use of
motorized and nonmotorized river craft in the recreation area,
and for other purposes.
July 10, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1663, to clarify the
intent of the Congress in Public Law 93-632 to require the
Secretary of Agriculture to continue to provide for the
maintenance of 18 concrete dams and weirs that were located in
the Emigrant Wilderness at the time the wilderness area was
designated as wilderness in that Public Law; and H.R. 1944, to
provide for a land exchange involving the Warner Canyon Ski
Area and other land in the State of Oregon.
July 22, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1309, to provide for an
exchange of lands with the city of Greeley, Colorado, and The
Water Supply and Storage Company to eliminate private
inholdings in wilderness areas, and for other purposes; and
H.R. 1843, to amend title 31, United States Code, to address
the failure to appropriate sufficient funds to make full
payments in lieu of taxes under chapter 69 to such title by
exempting certain users of the National Forest System from fees
imposed in connection with such use.
September 9, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1739, to amend the
Act designating the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to
clarify certain provisions of law regarding
activitiesauthorized within the wilderness areas, and for other
purposes; and H.R. 2149, to enhance the conservation and protection of
the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
September 18, 1997--Hearing held on H. Con. Res. 151, to
maximize management of public domain forests to achieve the
greatest greenhouse gas reductions. Printed Hearing 105-61
September 23, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 2458, Community
Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act of 1997. Printed
Hearing 105-62
September 25, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 434, to provide
for the conveyance of small parcels of land in the Carson
National Forest and the Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico,
to the village of El Rito and the town of Jemez Springs, New
Mexico.
October 7, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 1739, to amend the Act
designating the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to
clarify certain provisions of law regarding activities
authorized within the wilderness areas, and for other purposes;
H.R. 1309, to provide for an exchange of lands with the city of
Greeley, Colorado, and The Water Supply and Storage Company to
eliminate private inholdings in wilderness areas, and for other
purposes; and H.R. 434, to provide for the conveyance of small
parcels of land in the Carson National Forest and the Santa Fe
National Forest, New Mexico, to the village of El Rito and the
town of Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
October 28, 1997--Hearing held on H.R. 1659, to provide for
the expeditious completion of the acquisition of private
mineral interests within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic
Monument mandated by the 1982 Act that established the
Monument, and for other purposes; H.R. 2416, to provide for the
transfer of certain rights and property to the United States
Forest Service in exchange for a payment to the occupant of
such property, and for other purposes; and H.R. 2574, to
consolidate certain mineral interests in the National
Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the
exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to enhance
land management capabilities and environmental and wildlife
protection, and for other purposes.
November 4, 1997--Markup held on H.R. 1659, to provide for
the expeditious completion of the acquisition of private
mineral interests within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic
Monument mandated by the 1982 Act that established the Monument
and for other purposes; H.R. 2416, to provide for the transfer
of certain rights and property to the United States Forest
Service in exchange for a payment to the occupant of such
property, and for other purposes; and H.R. 2574, to consolidate
certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in
Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal
and private mineral interests to enhance land management
capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for
other purposes.
March 5, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 2458, Community
Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act of 1997.
March 17, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 3297, to suspend the
continued development of a roadless area policy on public
domain units and other units of the National Forest System
pending adequate public participation and determinations that a
roadless area policy will not adversely affect forest health.
Printed Hearing 105-72
March 24, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1021, Miles Land
Exchange Act of 1997; H.R. 2886, Granite Watershed Enhancement
and Protection Act of 1997; H.R. 3381, Gallatin Land
Consolidation Act of 1998; and H.R. 3467, California Spotted
Owl Interim Protection Act of 1998.
April 23, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1021, Miles Land
Exchange Act of 1997; H.R. 2886, Granite Watershed Enhancement
and Protection Act of 1997; H.R. 3381, Gallatin Land
Consolidation Act of 1998; and H.R. 3467, California Spotted
Owl Interim Protection Act of 1998.
April 28, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 1865, Spanish Peaks
Wilderness Act of 1997; H.R. 3186, Rogue River National Forest
Interchange Act of 1998; H.R. 3187, to amend the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 to exempt not-for-profit
entities that hold rights-of-way on public lands from certain
strict liability requirements imposed in connection with such
rights-of-way; and H.R. 3520, to adjust the boundaries of the
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and the adjacent Wenatchee
National Forest in the State of Washington.
May 7, 1998--Markup held on H.R. 1865, Spanish Peaks
Wilderness Act of 1997; H.R. 3186, Rogue River National Forest
Interchange Act of 1998; H.R. 3520, to adjust the boundaries of
the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and the adjacent
Wenatchee National Forest in the State of Washington; and H.R.
3796, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the
administrative site for the Rogue River National Forest and use
the proceeds for the construction or improvement of offices and
support buildings for the Rogue River National Forest and the
Bureau of Land Management.
July 21, 1998--Hearing held on H.R. 4021, Interstate 90
Land Exchange Act of 1998; and H.R. 4023, to provide for the
conveyance of the Forest Service property in Kern County,
California, in exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion
in Sequoia National Forest.
B. Legislation enacted
H. Con. Res. 332, expressing the sense of Congress
regarding the policy of the Forest Service toward recreational
shooting and archery ranges on Federal land. (enacted as part
of Public Law 105-277)
H.R. 79, provides for the conveyance of certain land in the
Six Rivers National Forest in the State of California for the
benefit of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. (Public Law 105-79)
H.R. 434, provides for the conveyance of small parcels of
land in the Carson National Forest and the Santa Fe National
Forest, New Mexico, to the village of El Rito and the town of
Jemez Springs, New Mexico. (Public Law 105-224)
H.R. 858, directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a
pilot project on designated lands within Plumas, Lassen, and
Tahoe National Forests in the State of California to
demonstrate the effectiveness of the resource management
activities proposed by the Quincy Library Group and to amend
current land and resource management plans for these national
forests to consider the incorporation of these resource
management activities. (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277)
H.R. 1021, provides for a land exchange involving certain
National Forest System lands within the Routt National Forest
in the State of Colorado. (Public Law 105-288)
H.R. 1439, facilitates the sale of certain land in Tahoe
National Forest, in the State of California to Placer County,
California. (Public Law 105-208)
H.R. 1659, provides for the expeditious completion of the
acquisition of private mineral interests within the Mount St.
Helens National Volcanic Monument mandated by the 1982 Act that
established the Monument, and for other purposes. (Public Law
105-279)
H.R. 1739, to amend the Act designating the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness to clarify certain provisions of law
regarding activities authorized within the wilderness area, and
for other purposes. (enacted as part of Public Law 105-178)
H.R. 1779, a bill to make a minor adjustment in the
exterior boundary of the Devils Backbone Wilderness in the Mark
Twain National Forest, Missouri, to exclude a small parcel of
land containing improvements. (Public Law 105-210)
H.R. 1944, provides for a land exchange involving the
Warner Canyon Ski Area and other land in the State of Oregon
(Public Law 105-40).
H.R. 2886, provides for a demonstration project in the
Stanislaus National Forest, California, under which a private
contractor will perform multiple resource management activities
for that unit of the National Forest System. (Public Law 105-
281)
H.R. 3186, provides for the transfer of administrative
jurisdiction over certain public lands in the State of Oregon
located within or adjacent to the Rogue River National Forest.
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321)
H.R. 3381, directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior to exchange land and other assets
with Big Sky Lumber Co. (Public Law 105-267)
H.R. 3520, adjusts the boundaries of the Lake Chelan
National Recreation Area and the adjacent Wenatchee National
Forest in the State of Washington. (Public Law 105-238)
H.R. 3796, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to
convey the administrative site for the Rogue River National
Forest and use the proceeds for the construction or improvement
of offices and support buildings for the Rogue River National
Forest and the Bureau of Land Management. (Public Law 105-282)
H.R. 4021, provides for the exchange of certain land in the
State of Washington. (enacted as part of Public Law 105-277)
H.R. 4320, adjusts the boundaries of the Wasatch-Cache
National Forest and Mount Naomi Wilderness in the State of Utah
to correct a faulty land survey and to provide for the
conveyance of the land that was subject to the faulty survey.
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-355)
H.R. 4816, authorizes the acquisition of the Valles Caldera
currently managed by the Baca Land and Cattle Company, to
provide for an effective land and wildlife management program
for this resource within the Department of Agriculture through
the private sector, and for other purposes. (enacted as part of
Public Law 105-277)
S. Con. Res. 123, expressing the sense of Congress
regarding the policy of the Forest Service toward recreational
shooting and archery ranges on Federal land. (enacted as part
of Public Law 105-277)
S. 750, consolidates certain mineral interests in the
National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through
the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to
enhance land management capabilities and environmental and
wildlife protection, and for other purposes. (Public Law 105-
167)
S. 2513, transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain
Federal land located within or adjacent to Rogue River National
Forest and to clarify the authority of the Bureau of Land
Management to sell and exchange other Federal land in Oregon.
(enacted as part of Public Law 105-321)
C. Legislation passed House
H.R. 985 (H. Rept. 105-111), to provide for the expansion
of the Eagles Nest Wilderness within Arapaho and White River
National Forests, Colorado, to include the lands known as the
Slate Creek Addition upon the acquisition of the lands by the
United States. [See S. 588 for further action]
H.R. 1019 (H. Rept. 105-112), to provide for a boundary
adjustment and land conveyance involving the Raggeds
Wilderness, White River National Forest, Colorado, to correct
the effects of earlier erroneous land surveys. [See S. 589 for
further action]
H.R. 1020 (H. Rept. 105-113), to adjust the boundary of the
White River National Forest in the State of Colorado to include
all National Forest System lands within Summit County,
Colorado, which are currently part of the Dillon Ranger
District of the Arapaho National Forest. [See S. 591 for
further action]
H.R. 1663 (H. Rept. 105-192), to clarify the intent of the
Congress in Public Law 93-632 to require the Secretary of
Agriculture to continue to provide for the maintenance of 18
concrete dams and weirs that were located in the Emigrant
Wilderness at the time the wilderness area was designated as
wilderness in that Public Law.
H. Con. Res. 151 (H. Rept. 105-330), expressing the sense
of the Congress that the United States should manage its public
domain National Forests to maximize the reduction of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere among many other objectives and that
the United States should serve as an example and as a world
leader in actively managing its public domain national forests
in a manner that substantially reduces the amount of carbon
dioxide added to the atmosphere.
D. Legislation ordered reported by the full committee
H.R. 799 (H. Rept. 105-377), to require the Secretary of
Agriculture to make a minor adjustment in the exterior boundary
of the Hells Canyon Wilderness in the States of Oregon and
Idaho to exclude an established Forest Service road
inadvertently included in the wilderness.
H.R. 838 (H. Rept. 105-378), to require adoption of a
management plan for the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
that allows appropriate use of motorized and nonmotorized river
craft in the recreation area, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1309 (H. Rept. 105-489), to provide for an exchange of
lands with the city of Greeley, Colorado, and The Water Supply
and Storage Company to eliminate private inholdings in
wilderness areas, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1567 (H. Rept. 105-814), to provide for the
designation of additional wilderness lands in the eastern
United States.
H.R. 1865 (H. Rept. 105-673), designate certain lands in
the San Isabel National Forest, in Colorado, as the Spanish
Peaks Wilderness.
H.R. 2108 (H. Rept. 105-714), to dispose of certain Federal
properties located in Dutch John, Utah, and to assist the local
government in the interim delivery of basic services to the
Dutch John community, and for other purposes. [See S. 890 for
further action]
H.R. 2223 (H. Rept. 105-693), to amend the Act popularly
known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act to authorize
transfers of certain public lands or national forest lands to
local education agencies for use for elementary or secondary
schools, including public charter schools, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 2416 (H. Rept. 105-516), to provide for the transfer
of certain rights and property to the United States Forest
Service in exchange for a payment to the occupant of such
property, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2574 (H. Rept. 105-471), to consolidate certain
mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings
County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and
private mineral interests to enhance land management
capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for
other purposes. [See S. 750 for further action]
H.R. 3297 (H. Rept. 105-816, Part I), to suspend the
continued development of a roadless area policy on public
domain units and other units of the National Forest System
pending adequate public participation and determinations that a
roadless area policy will not adversely affect forest health.
H.R. 4023 (H. Rept. 105-815), to provide for the conveyance
of the Forest Service property in Kern County, California, in
exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion in Sequoia
National Forest.
E. Legislation marked up at subcommittee
H.R. 2458, to provide new authority to the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to safeguard
communities, lives, and property from catastrophic wildfire by
eliminating hazardous fuels buildup, and to undertake other
forest management projects to protect noncommodity resources on
Federal lands where wildlands abut, or are located in close
proximity to, urban areas.
H.R. 3467, to address the protection of the California
spotted owl and its habitat in the Sierran Province of Region 5
of the Forest Service through the use of an interim management
direction consistent with the requirements of existing public
land management and environmental laws and by setting a date
certain for the completion of a final environmental impact
statement for the management of the California spotted owl.
IV. Oversight Activities of the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest
Health
A. Introduction
Along with passing legislation, the Subcommittee on Forests
and Forest Health also aggressively adhered to its oversight
mandate by conducting 30 hearings pertaining to forest health,
Forest Service policies and management. The Subcommittee worked
diligently to find solutions to the problems and controversies
surrounding our national forests and other forest lands.
Overall, Subcommittee activity was integral to the national
forestry debate--working closely with state foresters,
conservation organizations, local governments, and citizen
groups in efforts to improve the management of our Nation's
forests.
Examine Administration Commitments Made for Land Exchanges:
During the past years, President Clinton committed to a number
of major exchanges without designating specifically any lands
(or timber sales) to be exchanged. These include: a $65 million
land swap to block a gold mine outside Yellowstone National
Park; establishment of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument in Utah to block coal mining and protect 1.8 million
acres of Federal land (plus 200,000 acres of state/private
land); a $380 million federal/State swap for ``Headwaters
Forest,'' including $250 million from the U.S. and $130 million
from California; and 225 million board feet of timber for
canceled old growth timber sales in the Pacific Northwest. In
addition, the Forest Service has estimated it needs over $50
million to settle court adjudicated claims for other timber
sales nationwide. The Subcommittee will work with the
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands to evaluate the
potential opportunities and costs to fulfill each of the above
land exchanges.
The Subcommittee looked into the Administration's
commitment to land exchanges during oversight hearings on the
Forest Service Budget and assisted the Full Committee in the
Budget and Appropriations joint oversight hearing on management
of the Forest Service.
Final ``1995'' Resources Planning Act Program and
President's Statement of Policy: The Forest Service intends to
complete its final Resources Planning Act (RPA) Program for the
period 1995-2000 in March or April of 1997. At that time,
Congress will have 90 consecutive days to review the
Recommended Program and accompanying President's Statement of
Policy and either approve, reject, or modify the Statement of
Policy, as provided by the Resources Planning Act of 1974.
Completion of the 1995 Program was already far behind
schedule when the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and
Lands held an oversight hearing on the Draft Program on
February 29, 1996. In response to concerns raised by
Subcommittee Members prior to the hearing, on February 27,
1996, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman promised to delay
submitting the final RPA Recommended Program to Congress until
after the 105th Congressconvenes. In March 1996, Agriculture
Secretary Dan Glickman also announced that the Forest Service would
reopen the comment period on the draft for a 30-day period. The agency
completed that process and is now making changes to the draft program.
The Administration presented a draft strategic plan in May
1997 as required by the Government Performance Review Act
(GPRA). This plan replaced the Forest Service's RPA strategic
plan. The Subcommittee reviewed, analyzed and offered comments
and criticism during the July 31, 1997, oversight hearing on
the Forest Service's Strategic Plan under GPRA. The
Subcommittee identified problems and made suggestions on how
the Forest Service could improve performance and
accountability. The Subcommittee plans to remain engaged in the
process as the agency prepares a new strategic plan for 2000.
Forest Service Regulations on Land Management Planning: The
Forest Service has proposed new regulations governing the land
management planning process, and a final rule has been held in
the Secretary's office for over two years. Agriculture Under
Secretary Jim Lyons now says that completion of the final
planning rules is a ``top priority.'' When the final rule is
released, the Subcommittee should hold a hearing to review the
new forest planning regulations. If it appears a rule will not
be released, the Subcommittee should proceed with a hearing to
evaluate implementation of the current planning rules and
whether there is a need for new regulations.
The Administration organized a committee of scientists to
develop new rules. The rules have not yet been finalized and
released. The Subcommittee plans to hold an oversight hearing
once the rules become available.
Forest Health: To support the introduction of forest health
legislation, the Subcommittee may hold an oversight hearing on
forest health issues, focusing on the Southwestern U.S. (In the
104th Congress, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and
Lands held a hearing on November 30, 1995, with witnesses from
Virginia, Oregon, Idaho and Georgia and the Forest Service
Chief). The Subcommittee will request information and testimony
from other Forest Service regions regarding the problems
resulting from forest overcrowding and increased insect/disease
and fire risks.
The continued oversight should support the development and
enactment of legislation to remove barriers and provide
incentives for management of the national forests to improve
forest health. To achieve this goal, the Subcommittee may also
hold field hearings.
The Subcommittee held eight oversight hearings with an
emphasis on forest health, in addition to legislative hearings
addressing specific forest health issues. In addition, the
issue of forest health played a large role in the hearings
dealing with the Forest Service budget and accountability. The
Subcommittee held a field hearing in New Mexico to address
forest health concerns found in the Southwest, and two hearings
in Washington, D.C., focusing on fire and forest health issues
of concern in Florida.
California Spotted Owl Review: In August 1996, Secretary of
Agriculture Dan Glickman blocked release of a revised draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for management of
California Spotted Owl habitat on the day the report was to be
released for public comment. In response, Senator Larry Craig
(Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land
Management) convened a review team of scientists who are
currently evaluating the EIS. Meanwhile, Agriculture Under
Secretary Jim Lyons initiated efforts to establish a Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) review team that will evaluate
the draft owl EIS. As a result, the draft EIS remains delayed
by agency and Administration officials.
The Subcommittee anticipates a hearing on the findings of
the scientific team and on the progress to date of the
Secretary's review. Until the owl EIS is completed, the
affected forests in California must continue to operate under
temporary management guidelines which severely limit forest
management opportunities. These interim guidelines were
established as short term guidance pending completion of the
EIS. They have already been in effect for four years and
preclude needed fuel reduction and other forest management
activities to reduce the high risk of catastrophic wildfire.
As stated above, Under Secretary of Agriculture Jim Lyons
established a Federal Advisory Committee (FACA) and the FACA
committee which completed its report on the draft owl EIS. The
Forest Service then initiated a Sierra Nevada Framework for
conservation and Collaboration to develop a new EIS. The
Subcommittee held a field hearing on September 13, 1997, in
Sonora, California that focused on the impacts upon forest-
dependent communities in California resulting from overly-
restrictive interim management guidelines for the California
Spotted Owl and reductions in harvest levels. The hearing also
addressed the Administration's allegations that the science in
the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIS),
drafted to provide direction and replace the interim
guidelines, was inadequate.
Forest Service Decisions Pending at Secretary's Office:
Numerous decisions affecting National Forest management
activities have been sent by the Forest Service to the
Secretary of Agriculture for approval, where they remain
stalled without any action. The Subcommittee will review the
Secretary's role in Forest Service decision making and the
effect of his involvement on National Forest management and
agency accountability to Congress.
The Secretary hired a Chief Operating Officer, Francis
Pandolfi, as an attempt to improve Forest Service management
and accountability. The Subcommittee held several hearings that
focused on management and accountability. For example, on July
31, 1997, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the Forest
Service's Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)
strategic plan. Under GPRA, all Federal agencies must prepare
five-year strategic plans in consultation with Congress and
include input from stakeholders and other interested inthe
plan. The hearing focused on why the Forest Service failed to
incorporate Committee concerns in its draft plan and how the agency
intends to improve accountability.
The Committees on Budget and Resources and the
Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on the
management of the U.S. Forest Service on March 26, 1998. The
hearing focused on fiscal and administrative mismanagement. The
hearing exposed Forest Service inefficiencies and lack of
financial and administrative accountability.
Forest Service Budget: The Forest Service's budget and
accounting methods have been criticized by government officials
and the public for a number of reasons. Issues include:
accounting of the costs and benefits of Forest Service
management programs and activities, ``below-cost'' sales,
funding for Forest Service roads, and funding mechanisms for
firefighting and pre-suppression activities.
The Subcommittee should conduct oversight on the Forest
Service budget for its land management activities, possibly in
joint hearings with the Budget Committee. Recent Inspector
General reports and GAO evaluations of the Forest Service
budget and accounting methods should be addressed.
On April 17, 1998, the Subcommittee heard from the Under
Secretary of Agriculture on what steps the Forest Service had
taken to improve fiscal accountability. This hearing addressed
issues, concerns and questions regarding the Administration's
proposed budget for the Forest Service for FY 1998. The
Subcommittee explored the intent behind the Administration's
funding initiatives and the effectiveness of the proposals,
reviewed the agency's funding needs, and addressed Members'
concerns about budget accountability and agency performance.
The Administration provided little information on how it
expects to monitor performance and ensure accountability.
Review of Federal Land Management Policies: After
completing oversight on a number of specific land management
issues, the Subcommittee should conduct a broad review of
current legal authorities and administrative policies guiding
management of the National Forest System lands. The Committee
should explore conflicting as well as complementary statutory
objectives, procedural requirements, and proposals for amending
such authorities to clarify, streamline or otherwise modify the
statutory direction.
The GAO completed a review for the Subcommittee of the
Forest Service's decision-making procedures, concluding (in
part) that a lack of agreement over the agency's mission and
the lack of harmony between the agency's planning requirements
and numerous environmental laws have seriously hindered its
ability to carry out its statutory mandates. GAO also concluded
that statutory changes needed to improve its operations cannot
be identified until agreement is reached on the agency's
mission priorities. The Subcommittee will continue to work on
this critical issue in the 106th Congress.
Review Status of the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem
Management Project: In December 1996, the Forest Service
released its scientific findings for the Interior Columbia
River Basin, covering Eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho, and
portions of Western Montana, Wyoming, Northern Nevada, and a
small portion of California (along the State's northern
boundary). In June 1997 the Forest Service plans to release for
public comment two draft statements covering the assessment
area. Both efforts are part of the Interior Columbia Basin
Ecosystem Management Project (ICBEMP), scheduled for completion
in 1998. The final decision document(s) will amend management
direction for all land and resource management plans within the
assessment area. The ICBEMP has cost $33 million, according to
Forest Service testimony at an oversight hearing of the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands in May 1996.
The Forest Service is already incorporating information
from the scientific assessment into project planning documents
for individual national forests within the assessment area. The
Subcommittee will conduct additional oversight hearings to
review how the information is being used by national forests
and how the final decision documents will affect individual
forest plans.
The Subcommittee held three hearings on ICBEMP. On May 15,
1997, the Subcommittee worked with the Senate Subcommittee on
Public Land Management to address concerns over the Forest
Service decision making process and whether the legal
authorities were consistent under National Forest Management
Act (NFMA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to
conduct such a management projects as ICBEMP. On March 10,
1998, the Subcommittee held a follow-up hearing to address
additional concerns with the cost of the study and project
implementation; the validity and soundness of the scientific
findings of the project; and concerns about the ability of
forest managers to implement the project and meet project
goals. On April 14, 1998, the Subcommittee held a field hearing
in Nampa, Idaho, to hear local concerns with the ICBEMP
process. The Interior Department and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act of 1999 continued to fund the ICBEMP;
however, it stipulated that the agencies involved with ICBEMP
must provide a detailed estimation of the time and cost (for
all participating Federal agencies) to accomplish each
decision.
Review the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program and Its
Implications for National Forest Management: The Forest
Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis program (FIA) has been
in place since the early 1950s. This program provides
fundamental resource information needed by agency managers and
policy makers to make decisions regarding management of the
National Forest System lands. There has been little, if any,
Congressional review of this program since its early years. The
Subcommittee should review the program and assess its
effectiveness for agency land managers.
The Subcommittee worked successfully to include language in
the Fiscal Year 1999 Omnibus Spending Bill and the Research
title of the 1998 Farm Bill to expand FIA to an annualized
inventory and increase funding for the program by $6 billion.
B. -Hearings
March 18, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Management of our
Nation's forests and criteria for determining healthy forests.
Printed Hearing 105-6
April 8, 1997--Oversight hearing held on livestock grazing
policies on public domain National Forests. Printed Hearing
105-19
April 15, 1997--Joint oversight hearing with Subcommittee
on National Parks and Public Lands, on implementation of the
1964 Wilderness Act on BLM and Forest Service lands. Printed
Hearing 105-13
April 17, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Forest Service
budget.
April 29, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Forest Health,
Ecology, and Management.
May 15, 1997--Joint oversight hearing, with Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on
Forests and Public Land Management, on Interior Columbia Basin
Ecosystem Management Project. Printed Hearing 105-38
June 12, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the reintroduction
of the grizzly bear in the public domain National Forests.
Printed Hearing 105-42
June 24, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Resident Exotic
Plants and Pests threatening the health of the National
Forests.
July 31, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Forest Service
Strategic Plan under the Government Performance and Results
Act. Printed Hearing 105-47
September 11, 1997--Oversight hearing held on the affect of
international forestry agreements on U.S. Forest Service
decision-making.
September 13, 1997--Oversight field hearing in Sonora,
California, on management of the Stanislaus National Forest.
September 16, 1997--Oversight hearing on the implications
to public domain national forests should a bill to require the
appointment of the Chief of the Forest Service by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate be
enacted.
October 23, 1997--Oversight hearing held on Recreational
Residence Use Fees on National Forest System lands.
February 12, 1998--Oversight hearing on Tucson Rod and Gun
Club, Arizona.
February 25, 1998--Oversight hearing on Clinton-Gore
Administration's Forest Service Roadless Area Moratorium (Part
I). Printed Hearing 105-72
March 10, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Interior Columbia
Basin Ecosystem Management Project. Printed Hearing 105-88
March 17, 1998--Oversight hearing on follow up on the
Clinton-Gore's Forest Service Roadless Area Moratorium (Part
II) Printed Hearing 105-72
March 19, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Impact and Status
of Northern Spotted Owl on National Forests. Printed Hearing
105-79
April 14, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in Nampa,
Idaho, on Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project.
Printed Hearing 105-88
April 28, 1998--Oversight hearing held on a proposal to
permit the Forest Service to sell its office in Medford,
Oregon, in order to fund an add-on to the Bureau of Land
Management Medford District Office so it can co-locate.
May 14, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Forest Health in
the Rocky Mountain West.
June 23, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Forest Service Law
Enforcement. Printed Hearing 105-94.
June 25, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Forest Service
Training.
July 16, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Regional Haze.
Printed Hearing 105-100
July 30, 1998--Oversight hearing held on NEPA parity.
Printed Hearing 105-110
August 4, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Fire Suppression.
Printed Hearing 105-110
August 15, 1998--Oversight field hearing held in Espanola,
New Mexico, on Forest Service Management of the National
Forests in Northern New Mexico. Printed Hearing 105-107
September 15, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Forest Roads
Management and Obliteration.
September 17, 1998--Oversight hearing held on Forest
Service--Backcountry Airstrip Management.
September 28, 1998--Oversight hearing held on General
Accounting Office Study on Forest Health.
V. Subcommittee Statistics
Total number of bills and resolutions referred.................... 83
Total number of bills reported from subcommittee.................. 24
Total number of bills reported from full committee................ 27
Total number of bills passed by the House......................... 18
Total number of bills enacted into law............................ 21
Public Hearings and Markups:
Legislative-.................................................. 14
Oversight..................................................... 30
Markup sessions............................................... 8
Total number of subcommittee meetings (days)...................... 51
A P P E N D I C E S
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Printed Hearings
105-1--Joint oversight hearing on Forest Ecosystem Health
in the United States. April 9, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Committee on Resources and Committee on Agriculture)
105-2--Oversight hearing on State Land and Water
Conservation Act. March 11, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-3--Oversight hearing on Science and Resources
Management in the National Park Service. February 27, 1997, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)
105-4--Hearing on African Elephants (H.R. 39) and Coral
Reefs (H.Con.Res. 8). March 13, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-5--Hearing on Nevada Lands (H.R. 449). March 13, 1997,
in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)
105-6--Oversight hearing on Forest Health Criteria. March
18, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and
Forest Health)
105-7--Hearing on National Wildlife Refuge Improvement
(H.R. 511 and H.R. 512). March 6, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-8--Oversight hearing on Hardrock Mineral Bonding. March
20, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Energy and
Mineral Resources)
105-9--Oversight hearing on the Interior Department Budget
Request for FY 1998. March 4, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-10--Hearing on H.R. 858, Quincy Library Group Forest
Recovery Act. March 5, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee
on Forests and Forest Health)
105-11--Oversight field hearing on Yosemite Restoration.
March 22, 1997, in El Portal, CA. (Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands)
105-12--Hearing on H.R. 478, Flood Control Projects and
ESA. April 10, 1997, in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, CA.
(Full Committee)
105-13--Joint oversight hearing on Implementation of
Wilderness Act. April 15, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and
Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health)
105-14--Oversight field hearing on NWR Maintenance Backlog
and Fish Interrelationship. April 21, 1997, in Manahawkin, NJ.
(Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-15--Oversight hearing on Federal Hydrography Programs.
April 24, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-16--Hearing on H.R. 856, Puerto Rico Status. March 19,
1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-17--Oversight hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Program.
April 17, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Water and
Power)
105-18--Hearing on H.J.Res. 59, Polar Bear Trophies
Importation. April 30, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full
Committee)
105-19--Oversight hearing on Livestock Grazing. April 8,
1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and Forest
Health)
105-20--Oversight hearing on Establishing the Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument. April 29, 1997, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)
105-21--Oversight hearing on CVPIA. March 20, 1997, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-22--Hearing on H.R. 588, to amend the National Trails
System Act to create a new category of long-distance trails to
be known as National Discovery Trails, and to authorize the
American Discovery Trail as the first trail in that category;
and H.R. 1513, to amend the National Trails System Act to
designate the Lincoln National Historic Trail as a component of
the National Trails System. June 10, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-23--Hearing on H.R. 741, Migratory Bird Treaty Reform
Act. May 15, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-24--Oversight hearing on Hardrock Mining Operations.
June 19, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Energy and
Mineral Resources)
105-25--Oversight hearing on Narragansett Indian Tribe. May
1, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-26--Hearing on H.R. 901, American Land Sovereignty
Protection Act. May 5, 1997, in Tannersville, New York, and
June 10, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-27--Field hearing on H.R. 856, United States-Puerto
Rico Political Status Act. April 21, 1997, in Mayaguez, Puerto
Rico. (Full Committee)
105-28--Field hearing on H.R. 856, United States-Puerto
Rico Political Status Act. April 19, 1997, in San Juan, Puerto
Rico. (Full Committee)
105-29--Oversight hearings on CITES Meetings. June 3, 1997,
and July 17, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-30--Hearing on H.R. 1051, New Mexico Statehood and
Enabling Act Amendments of 1997. June 17, 1997, in Washington,
D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-31--Oversight hearing on Bureau of Reclamation Funding
Options for Water Project Construction, Enhancement,
Rehabilitation and Mitigation. May 6, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-32--Oversight field hearing on Columbia/Snake River
Drawdown Proposals. May 31, 1997, in Lewiston, ID.
(Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-33--Hearing on H.R. 1952 and H.R. 1500, to Designate
certain Federal lands and Bureau of Land Management Lands, in
the State of Utah as Wilderness. June 24, 1997, in Washington,
D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-34--Hearings on the Decision-Making Processes and
Interagency Cooperation of the National Marine Fisheries
Service Northwest Region. July 24, 1997, in Washington, D.C.,
and August 15, 1997, in Boise, ID, (Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-35--Hearing on H.R. 1567, the Eastern Wilderness Act.
June 17, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands)
105-36--Oversight hearing on American Heritage Rivers
Initiative. July 15, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-37--Hearing on H.R. 1635, National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Act; H.R. 755, Tax Checkoff for Park System;
H.R. 1718, Wyoming Land Conveyance; and H.R. 708, Grazing at
Grand Teton National Park. July 22, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-38--Joint oversight hearing on Interior Columbia Basin
Ecosystem Management Plan. May 15, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health and Senate Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management)
105-39--Oversight hearing on the Management of Fisheries by
the National Marine Fisheries Service. September 11, 1997, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation,
Wildlife and Oceans)
105-40--Oversight hearing on New World Mine Proposed
Buyout. May 20, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-41--Oversight hearing on Royalty-In-Kind for Federal
Oil and Gas Production. July 31 and September 18, 1997, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-42--Oversight hearing on the Reintroduction of the
Grizzly Bear in the Public Domain National Forests. June 12,
1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and Forest
Health)
105-43--Oversight hearing on Federal versus State
Management of Parks. July 10, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-44--Joint oversight hearing on S. 569 and H.R. 1082,
Indian Child Welfare Act. June 18, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and House Committee on
Resources) (Senate Hearing 105-244)
105-45--Oversight hearing on the Use of Fire as a
Management Tool and its Risks and Benefits for Forest Health
and Air Quality. September 30, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full
Committee)
105-46--Oversight hearing on Compliance of Certain
Departments with the Government Performance and Results Act.
July 17, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Water and
Power)
105-47--Oversight hearing on U.S. Forest Service Strategic
Plan under the Government Performance and Results Act. July 31,
1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and Forest
Health)
105-48--Joint oversight hearing on Tongass Land Management.
July 9, and July 10, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and House Committee
on Resources)
105-49--Hearing on H.R. 1787, Conservation of Asian
Elephants. July 31, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-50--Oversight field hearing on Bureau of Land
Management and U.S. Forest Service Oil and Gas Regulations
Regarding Access and Permitting Issues. June 30, 1997, in
Casper, Wyoming. (Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-51--Hearing on H.R. 351, to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to make appropriate improvements to a county road
located in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and to
prohibit construction of a scenic shoreline drive in the
National Lakeshore; H.R. 1714, to provide for the acquisition
of the Plains Railroad Depot at the Jimmy Carter National
Historic Site; H.R. 2136, to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to convey, at fair market value, certain properties in
Clark County, Nevada, to persons who purchased adjacent
properties in good faith reliance on land surveys that were
subsequently determined to be inaccurate; and H.R. 2283, to
expand the boundaries of Arches National Park in the State of
Utah to include portions of the following drainages, Salt Wash,
Lost Spring Canyon, Fish Sheep Draw, Clover Canyon, Cordova
Canyon, Mine Draw, and Cottonwood Wash, which are currently
under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and to
include a portion of Fish Sheep Draw, which is currently owned
by the State of Utah. September 16, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-52--Oversight hearing on grazing Reductions and other
Issues on BLM Lands. September 30, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-53--Oversight field hearing on Hardrock Mining Issues.
September 22, 1997, in Elko, NV. (Subcommittee on Energy and
Mineral Resources)
105-54--Hearing on H.R. 2376, The National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act Amendments of 1997.
September 25, 1997 in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-55--Hearing on H.R. 1849, The Oklahoma City National
Memorial. September 9, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee
on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-56--Joint oversight hearing on the Sierra Club's
Proposal to Drain Lake Powell or Reduce its Water Storage
Capability. September 24, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and
Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-57--Oversight hearing on the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon
Treaty. September 18, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee
on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-58--Oversight hearing on the Water Management
Implications of the 1997/98 El Nino. October 30, 1997 in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-59--Hearing on H.R. 2098, National Cave and Karst
Research Institute Act of 1997, and H.R. 2989, Land Conveyance
to the St. Jude's Ranch for Children. February 5, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)---
105-60--Oversight field hearing on Salton Sea Stabilization
and Water Quality Improvement. October 3, 1997, in Palm Desert,
CA. (Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-61--Hearing on H. Con. Res. 151, to Maximize Management
of Public Domain Forests to Achieve the Greatest Greenhouse Gas
Reductions. September 18, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health)
105-62--Hearing on H.R. 2458, the Community Protection and
Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act of 1997. September 23, 1997, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health)
105-63--Oversight Hearing on Pfiesteria and its Impact on
our Fishery Resources. October 9, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-64--Hearing on H.R. 2401, CBRA Technical Corrections;
and H.R. 2556, to Reauthorize the North American Wetlands
Conservation Act of 1989. October 23, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-65--Oversight hearing on the Everglades National Park.
September 25, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
National Parks and Public Lands)
105-66--Hearing held on H.R. 1522, to Extend the
Authorization for the National Historic Preservation Fund.
October 21, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands)
105-67--Joint oversight field hearing on National Park
Overflights. November 17, 1997, in St. George, Utah
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on
Aviation)
105-68--Oversight hearing on the U.S.S. MONITOR National
Marine Sanctuary. November 6, 1997, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-69--Hearing on H.R. 2807, Rhino and Tiger Labeling Act;
and H.R. 3113, Rhino and Tiger Conservation Act. February 5,
1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-70--Hearing on H.R. 1842, The American Heritage Rivers
Initiative. September 24, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full
Committee)
105-71--Hearing on H.R. 2223, the Education Land Grant Act;
H.R. 2993, To Provide for the Collection of Commercial Filming
Fees on National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge
System Units; and H.R. 1728, The National Park Service
Administrative Amendment of 1997. February 24, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)
105-72--Oversight hearings on Clinton-Gore Administration's
Forest Service Roadless Area Moratorium. February 25 and March
17, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and
Forest Health)
105-73--Oversight hearing on Fee Demonstration Programs-
Successes and Failures. February 26, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-74--Oversight hearing on the President's Fiscal Year
1999 Budget Request for Agencies. February 26, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-75--Hearing on S. 1213, The Oceans Act of 1997; H.R.
2547, to Develop National Policy with Respect to Oceans and
Coastal Activities; and H.R. 3445, The Ocean Commission Act.
March 19, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-76--Hearing held on H.R. 2438, to Encourage the
Establishment of Appropriate Trails on Abandoned Railroad
Rights-of-Way, while Ensuring the Protection of Certain
Reversionary Property Rights; and H.R. 1995, to Provide for the
Protection of Farmland at the Point Reyes National Seashore.
October 30, 1997, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands)
105-77--Hearing on H.R. 3267, the Sonny Bono Memorial
Salton Sea Reclamation Act. March 12, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-78--Hearing on H.R. 100, Guam Commonwealth Act; H.R.
2370, Guam Judicial Empowerment Act; and S. 210, to Amend the
Organic Act of Guam, the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin
Islands, and the Compact of Free Association Act. October 29,
1997, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-79--Oversight hearing on the Impact and Status of the
Northern Spotted Owl on National Forests. March 19, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health)
105-80--Oversight hearing on the Implementation of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973. March 5, 1998, in Washington,
D.C. (Full Committee)
105-81--Oversight hearing on Arctic Snow Geese. April 23,
1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-82--Joint hearing on the Management of the United
States Forest Service. March 26, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Full Committee, Committee on the Budget, and Subcommittee on
Interior of the Committee on Appropriations)
105-83--Oversight hearing on the Future Water Needs of
California under CALFED, CALFED Financing, the Monitoring and
Performance Standards of CALFED, and CALFED Public
Participation. May 12, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee
on Water and Power)
105-84--Hearing on H.R. 2760, Disabled Sportsmen's Access
Act. May 14, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-85--Hearing on H.R. 3625, the San Rafael Swell National
Conservation Area. April 23, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-86--Oversight hearing on Bureau of Land Management
Realty and Appraisal Issues. March 24, 1998, in Washington,
D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-87--Oversight hearing on Outer Continental Shelf Oil
and Gas Leasing. May 14, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-88--Oversight hearings on the Interior Columbia Basin
Ecosystem Management Project. March 10, 1998, in Washington,
D.C. and April 14, 1998, in Nampa, ID (Subcommittee on Forests
and Forest Health)
105-89--Hearing on H.R. 3830, to provide for the exchange
of certain lands within the State of Utah. May 19, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)
105-90--Oversight hearing on Impact of Federal Land Use
Policies on Rural Communities. June 9, 1998, in Washington,
D.C. (Full Committee)
105-91--Hearing on H.R. 3705, to provide for the sale of
certain public lands in the Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, to the
Clark County Department of Aviation. June 23, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)
105-92--Hearing held on H.R. 3334, The Royalty Enhancement
Act of 1998. March 19 and May 21, 1998 in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-93--Oversight field hearing on Proposed Modifications
of Folsom Dam. May 27, 1998, in Sacramento, CA. (Subcommittee
on Water and Power)
105-94--Oversight hearing on Forest Service Law
Enforcement. June 23, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee
on Forests and Forest Health)
105-95--Hearing held on H.R. 3981, to modify the boundaries
of the George Washington Birthplace National Monument; H.R.
4109, Gateway Visitor Center Authorization Act of 1998; H.R.
4141, to amend the Act authorizing the establishment of the
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to modify the
boundaries of the Area, and to provide for the protection of
lands, waters, and natural cultural, and scenic resources
within the national recreation area; and H.R. 4158, National
Park Enhancement and Protection Act. July 16, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands)
105-96--Oversight hearing on Implementation of the
Endangered Species Act in the Southwest. July 15, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-97--Oversight hearing on pilot program to control
nutria at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.
July 16, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-98--Oversight hearing on United States Ownership of
Fishing Vessels. June 4, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-99--Hearings on West Coast Groundfish and Dungeness
Crab Conservation (H.R. 3498). April 30 and May 7, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation,
Wildlife and Oceans)
105-100--Oversight hearing on Regional Haze. July 16, 1998,
in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health)
105-101--Hearing held on H.R. 3972, to amend the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the
Interior from charging state and local Government Agencies for
certain uses of the sand, gravel, and shell resources of the
Outer Continental Shelf; H.R. 3878, to subject certain reserved
mineral interests of the operation of the Mineral Leasing Act;
and H.R. 1467, to provide for the continuance of oil and gas
operations pursuant to certain existing leases in the Wayne
National Forest. July 21, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources)
105-102--Oversight hearing on Problems and Issues with the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. March 18, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-103--Hearing held on H.R. 3478, Colorado Ute Settlement
Act Amendments of 1998; and H.R. 745, Deauthorize the Animas-La
Plata Federal Reclamation Project. July 28, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-104--Hearing held on H.R. 3963, to establish terms and
conditions under which the Secretary of the Interior shall
convey leaseholds in certain properties around Canyon Ferry
Reservoir, Montana; H.R. 2125, to authorize appropriations for
the Coastal Heritage Trail Route in New Jersey, and for other
purposes; H.R. 3950, to designate a portion of the Otay
Mountain region of California as wilderness; H.R. 4144, to
ensure the protection of natural, cultural, and historical
resources in Cumberland Island National Seashore and Cumberland
Island Wilderness in the State of Georgia; H.R. 4211, to
establish the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in
association with the Tuskegee University, in the State of
Alabama, and for other purposes; H.R. 4230, to provide for a
land exchange involving the El Portal Administrative Site of
the Department of the Interior in the State of California; and
H.R. 4287, to make technical corrections and minor adjustments
to the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument in the State of Utah. July 28, 1998, in Washington,
D.C. (Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-105--Oversight field hearing on Range Issues and
Problems with the Wild Horse and Burro Act and its
Implementation. July 13, 1998, in Reno, Nevada. (Subcommittee
on National Parks and Public Lands)
105-106--Oversight hearing on Ocean Observing Systems. July
30, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans)
105-107--Oversight field hearing on the Forest Service
Management of the National Forests in Northern New Mexico.
August 15, 1998, in Espanola, New Mexico. (Subcommittee on
Forests and Forest Health)
105-108--Oversight hearing on GAO Study on Forest Health.
September 28, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
Forests and Forest Health)
105-109--Oversight hearing on the Grand Canyon National
Park. September 28, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on
National Parks and Public Lands)
105-110--Oversight hearings on National Environmental
Policy Act. July 30 and August 4, 1998, in Washington, D.C.
(Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health)
105-111--Field hearings on Endangered Species Act.
September 2, 1998, in Pasco, WA, and September 3, 1998, in
Boise, ID. (Full Committee)
105-112--Hearing on H.R. 3658, to provide for the
settlement on the water rights claims of the Chippewa Cree
Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation. September 23, 1998, in
Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Water and Power)
105-113--Oversight hearing on Research conducted in
National Marine Sanctuaries. September 29, 1998, in Washington,
D.C. (Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and
Oceans)
105-114--Oversight hearing on Garrison Unit Reformulation.
September 29, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Subcommittee on Water
and Power)
105-115--Oversight field hearing on future maintenance and
repair of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
September 21, 1998, in Kalispell, MT. (Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands)
105-116--Hearing on H.R. 2822, Swan Creek Black River
Tribe. October 7, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-117--Oversight hearing on Compacts of Free Association
with the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and
Palau. October 1, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee)
105-118--Oversight field hearing on Endangered Species Act.
October 26, 1998, in Clovis, NM. (Full Committee)
105-119--Joint hearing on S. 1770, to Elevate the Director
of the Indian Health Service to Assistant Secretary for Health
and Human Services; and H.R. 3782, Tribal Trust Fund Account.
July 22, 1998, in Washington, D.C. (Full Committee and Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs)
List of Public Laws
First Session:
Public Law 105-9.................................... H.R. 412
Public Law 105-12................................... H.R. 1003
Public Law 105-21................................... H.J. Res. 32
Public Law 105-29................................... S.J. Res. 29
Public Law 105-36................................... H.R. 709
Public Law 105-37-.................................. S. 430
Public Law 105-39................................... H.R. 1198
Public Law 105-40................................... H.R. 1944
Public Law 105-42................................... H.R. 408
Public Law 105-44................................... H.R. 63
Public Law 105-47-.................................. S. 910
Public Law 105-57................................... H.R. 1420
Public Law 105-58-.................................. S. 871
Public Law 105-60................................... H.R. 1948
Public Law 105-74-.................................. S. 587
Public Law 105-75-.................................. S. 588
Public Law 105-76-.................................. S. 589
Public Law 105-77-.................................. S. 591
Public Law 105-79................................... H.R. 79
Public Law 105-81................................... H.R. 708
Public Law 105-82-.................................. S. 931
Public Law 105-83................................... H.R. 2107*
H.R. 822
H.R. 1476
H.R. 2136
Public Law 105-85................................... H.R. 1119*
H.R. 374
H.R. 1163
Public Law 105-96................................... H.R. 1787
Public Law 105-106-................................. S. 669
Public Law 105-119.................................. H.R. 2267*
H.R. 1855
Public Law 105-132-................................. S. 156
Public Law 105-138-................................. S. 1559
Public Law 105-143.................................. H.R. 1604
Public Law 105-146.................................. H.R. 1658
Second Session:
Public Law 105-156.................................. H.R. 3042
Public Law 105-160-................................. S. 927
Public Law 105-167-................................. S. 750
Public Law 105-174.................................. H.R. 3579*
H.R. 1424
H.R. 2355
H.R. 3544
Public Law 105-178.................................. H.R. 2400*
H.R. 1739
H.R. 2973
Public Law 105-182-................................. S. 423
Public Law 105-188-................................. S. 2069
Public Law 105-195.................................. H.R. 960
Public Law 105-199.................................. H.R. 3035
Public Law 105-201.................................. H.J. Res. 113
Public Law 105-202-................................. S. 731
Public Law 105-203.................................. H.R. 1635
Public Law 105-208.................................. H.R. 1439
Public Law 105-209.................................. H.R. 1460
Public Law 105-210.................................. H.R. 1779
Public Law 105-217.................................. H.R. 39
Public Law 105-224.................................. H.R. 434
Public Law 105-229.................................. H.R. 765
Public Law 105-238-................................. S. 1683
Public Law 105-239-................................. S. 1883
Public Law 105-242.................................. H.R. 1856
Public Law 105-243-................................. S. 1695
Public Law 105-256.................................. H.R. 4068
Public Law 105-261.................................. H.R. 3616*
H.R. 2760
Public Law 105-263.................................. H.R. 449
Public Law 105-265.................................. H.R. 1481
Public Law 105-267.................................. H.R. 3381
Public Law 105-269.................................. H.R. 4248
Public Law 105-277.................................. H.R. 4328*
H. Con. Res. 332/S. Con. Res. 123
H.R. 796
H.R. 858
S. 1104
H.R. 1994
H.R. 2259/S. 1092
H.R. 2401
H.R. 3647
H.R. 3689
H.R. 3878
H.R. 3957
H.R. 3962
H.R. 3963
H.R. 4021
H.R. 4180
H.R. 4548
H.R. 4575
H.R. 4671
H.R. 4816
H.R. 4867
Public Law 105-279.................................. H.R. 1659
Public Law 105-280.................................. H.R. 2411
Public Law 105-281.................................. H.R. 2886
Public Law 105-282.................................. H.R. 3796
Public Law 105-284.................................. H.R. 4284
Public Law 105-288.................................. H.R. 1021
Public Law 105-290.................................. H.R. 2186
Public Law 105-291.................................. H.R. 2370
Public Law 105-293.................................. H.R. 2795
Public Law 105-294.................................. H.R. 3069
Public Law 105-295.................................. H.R. 4079
Public Law 105-296.................................. H.R. 4166
Public Law 105-307-................................. S. 2468
Public Law 105-308.................................. H.R. 700
Public Law 105-312.................................. H.R. 2807
H.R. 741
S. 2317
H.R. 2556/S. 1677
H.R. 2863
H.R. 3113
H.R. 4634
Public Law 105-313.................................. H.R. 3055
Public Law 105-316.................................. H.R. 3687
Public Law 105-317.................................. H.R. 3903
Public Law 105-321.................................. H.R. 4326
S. 2513
H.R. 3186
H.R. 3542
H.R. 3569/S. 1807
H.R. 3964/S. 2041
Public Law 105-322.................................. H.R. 4337
Public Law 105-325-................................. S. 231
Public Law 105-326-................................. S. 890
Public Law 105-327-................................. S. 1333
Public Law 105-328-................................. S. 2094
Public Law 105-329-................................. S. 2106
Public Law 105-333.................................. H.R. 2000
Public Law 105-335.................................. H.R. 3830
Public Law 105-341-................................. S. 2285
Public Law 105-342-................................. S. 2240
Public Law 105-343-................................. S. 2246
Public Law 105-344-................................. S. 2413
Public Law 105-345-................................. S. 2427
Public Law 105-346-................................. S. 2505
Public Law 105-351-................................. S. 538
Public Law 105-352-................................. S. 744
Public Law 105-355.................................. H.R. 3910
H.R. 576
H.R. 1042
H.R. 1894/S. 1175
S. 2086
H.R. 2776
H.R. 2958/S. 1665
H.R. 3047/S. 1990
H.R. 3220
H.R. 3499
H.R. 3522
H.R. 3883
H.R. 4211
H.R. 4287
H.R. 4320
H.R. 4483
Public Law 105-356-................................. S. 2232
Public Law 105-359.................................. H.R. 4501
Public Law 105-363-................................. S. 1718
H.R. 4289
H.R. 4230
Public Law 105-364-................................. S. 2241
Public Law 105-365-................................. S. 2272
Public Law 105-367-................................. S. 2500
Public Law 105-372.................................. H.R. 3267
Public Law 105-376-................................. S. 1132
Public Law 105-378-................................. S. 1408
H.R. 60
H.R. 351
H.R. 2201
H.R. 4004
Public Law 105-380-................................. S. 2129
Public Law 105-383-................................. S. 2204*
H.R. 4235
Public Law 105-384.................................. H.R. 3461
H.R. 3164
H.R. 3460
H.R. 3498
H.R. 4585
Public Law 105-387-................................. S. 391
Public Law 105-391-................................. S. 1693
*These bills were not referred to the Committee on Resources, but
contain legislation that was referred to the Committee on Resources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Committee Prints -
105-A--Compilation of Selected Laws concerning National
Forests and Related Matters Text. January 1997.-
105-B--Compilation of Selected Laws concerning National
Parks and Related Matters Text. January 1997.
105-C--Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended through
December 1996) Text. January 1997. -
105-D--Behind Closed Doors: The Abuse of Trust and
Discretion in the Establishment of the Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument. November 1997.