[Senate Report 106-377]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 741
106th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 106-377
======================================================================
ADDITION OF LAND TO SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
_______
August 25, 2000.--Ordered to be printed
Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of July 26, 2000
_______
Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2279]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2279) to authorize the addition of land
to Sequoia National Park, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 2, line 5, amend subsection (c) to read as follows:
2``(c) Addition to Park.--Upon acquisition of the land
under subsection (a)--
``(1) the Secretary of the Interior shall--
``(A) modify the boundaries of Sequoia
National Park to include the land within the
park; and
``(B) administer the land as part of Sequoia
National Park in accordance with all applicable
laws; and
``(2) The Secretary of Agriculture shall modify the
boundaries of the Sequoia National Forest to exclude
the land from the forest boundaries.''.
Purpose of the Measure
The purpose of S. 2279 is to authorize the addition of
approximately 1,540 acres of land to Sequoia National Park.
Background and Need
The 1,540 acre Dillonwood Grove is the largest privately
owned stand of giant sequoia trees anywhere in the world, and
borders the southern boundary of Sequoia National Park in
California. Dillonwood is the southern extension of the
Garfield Grove, which is located within the park. The Garfield/
Dillonwood grove ranks among the five groves in the world in
total number of mature sequoia trees. Much of the Dillonwood
section of the combined grove is a vigorous young forest, a
result of natural regeneration after past sequoia logging. The
grove also contains a number of surviving monarch specimens.
Dillonwood's locale is primarily on steep terrain ranging
in elevation from 5,400 to 8,000 feet. It is accessible in good
weather by a dirt road that extends to the park boundary. Aside
from its boundary with Sequoia National Park, Dillonwood is
entirely surrounded by national forest land.
The owner of the property has decided to sell the land, and
has expressed a strong desire to have it added to Sequoia
National Park. The Save-the-Redwoods League has negotiated an
option to purchase Dillonwood for $10 million with the intent
of subsequently selling the property to the Federal Government.
Since Dillonwood is located outside of the boundaries of
Sequoia National Park and is considered an inholding within the
adjacent national forest, legislation is needed to authorize
the addition of the grove to the park.
S. 2279 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire
the Dillonwood Grove and modify the boundaries of Sequoia
National Park so that the land can be administered as part of
the park.
Legislative History
At the business meeting on July 13, 2000, the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2279 favorably
reported, as amended.
Committee Recommendation
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on July 13, 2000, by a majority vote of a
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 2279, if
amended as described herein.
Committee Amendment
During the consideration of S. 2279, the Committee adopted
an amendment to clarify that both the Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary of Agriculture are directed to adjust the
boundaries of the lands under their respective jurisdictions.
The amendment is necessary because the Dillonwood property is
located within the boundaries of the Sequoia National Forest,
so that both the park and forest boundaries must be adjusted to
reflect its inclusion in the park.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1 directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire
the land described in the specified map reference. The land is
to be added to Sequoia National Park, and the park boundary
modified to include the land. The boundaries of the Sequoia
National Forest are to be adjusted to exclude the land.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The following estimate of the cost of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, July 19, 2000.
Hon. Frank H. Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2279, a bill to
authorize the addition of land to Sequoia National Park, and
for other purposes.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
S.2279--A bill to authorize the addition of land to Sequoia National
Park, and for other purposes
S. 2279 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire by donation, purchase, or exchange about 1,540 acres of
land in California known as Dillonwood Grove. Once acquired,
the acreage would be added to the boundaries of Sequoia
National Park and administered as part of the park.
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts and based
on information provided by the National Park Service, CBO
estimates that purchasing Dillonwood Grove would cost the
federal government about $10 million in fiscal year 2001.
Managing the additional acreage would not have any significant
cost.
S. 2279 would not affect direct spending or receipts;
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The bill
contains no private-sector or intergovernmental mandates as
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would have no
significant impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 2279. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 2279, as ordered reported.
Executive Communications
Legislative reports from the Department of the Interior and
the Office of Management and Budget setting forth Executive
agency recommendations on S. 2279 had not been received at the
time the report on S. 2279 was filed. When the reports become
available, the Chairman will request that they be printed in
the Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate. The
testimony provided by the National Park Service at the
Subcommittee hearing follows:
Statement of Jacqueline Lowey, Deputy Director, National Park Service,
Department of the Interior
Thank you for the opportunity to present the position of
the Department of the Interior on S. 2279, a bill to authorize
the addition of land to Sequoia National Park. The Department
supports Congressional efforts to protect the land that is the
subject of this bill.
Acquisition of the 1,540-acre Dillonwood parcel would
provide opportunities for research and conservation management,
as well as recreational activities. The fact that it is
contiguous to the Garfield Grove in Sequoia National Park would
enhance these opportunities. Ranging in elevation from
approximately 5,000-7,800 feet and adjacent to the southern
boundary of Sequoia National Park, Dillonwood contains
waterfalls on the Tule River, remote alpine locations, and
magnificent vistas of the San Joaquin Valley. Dillonwood
provides habitat for a number of threatened and sensitive
species, including the California spotted owl, and the Pacific
fisher. It is adjacent to an historical roost for the
California condor. It is also populated by mountain lions and
black bears. Bears have been frequently poached to harvest bear
gall bladders for the foreign aphrodisiac market. The current
owners have worked to eliminate this practice. The property is
estimated to cost over $10,000,000. We expect that private
contributions could make up at least fifty percent of this
purchase price.
S. 2279 would extend the boundary of Sequoia National Park
to include the Dillonwood parcel. The park was established in
1890 to ``perpetuate the environment in a natural state for the
benefit and enjoyment of the people.'' Several areas have been
added to the park since 1890, including the Mineral King Area,
formerly of the Sequoia National Forest, which was added to the
park in 1978. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are
managed as one entity, covering over 864,411 acres.
Preservation of the unique giant sequoia trees, native to the
western slope of the Sierra Nevada, was and continues to be a
primary purpose of the park. As noted above, the 1,540 acre
parcel contains part of the Dillonwood sequoia grove that is an
extension of the Garfield Grove, which is located within the
park. The majority of the Dillonwood grove is within the
boundary of the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The combined
Garfield/Dillonwood Grove ranks among the top five groves in
total number of mature sequoia trees and is larger than the
world-famous Giant Forest Grove.
The Dillonwood Grove, which was logged between the 1880s-
1950s, contains both ancient, old-growth monarchs and extensive
stands of healthy, young sequoias. The diverse second-growth
forest, which reproduced after the logging, contrasts
dramatically with some of the older groves that have been
protected within the park for over a century. Fire suppression
in the park between the turn of the century and the 1960s
impaired the regeneration of giant sequoias.
The Dillonwood Grove is presently within the boundary of
the Giant Sequoia National Monument, proclaimed by President
Clinton on April 15, 2000. The Presidential Proclamation
provides that any land acquired by the Federal government
within this boundary would become part of the National
Monument. The President's budget for the United States Forest
Service also includes $4 million toward the purchase of the
Dillonwood Grove.
We believe the resources of the Dillonwood Grove are worthy
of protection and we would be pleased to work with the
Committee on the appropriate ways of preserving these resources
for the enjoyment of future generations.
This concludes my testimony. I would be happy to answer any
of your questions.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 2279, as
ordered reported.