[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 94 (Monday, June 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5048-H5050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK WILDERNESS ACT OF 2008
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3022) to designate the John Krebs Wilderness in the State of
California, to add certain land to the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National
Park Wilderness, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3022
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks Wilderness Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
California.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.), the following areas in the State are designated as
wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System:
(1) John krebs wilderness.--
(A) Designation.--Certain land in Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks, comprising approximately 69,500 acres of
land, and 130 acres of potential wilderness additions as
generally depicted on the map numbered 102/60014a, titled
``John Krebs Wilderness'', and dated March 10, 2008.
(B) Limitations.--The designation of the wilderness under
subparagraph (A) does not preclude operation and maintenance
of the existing Hockett Meadow Cabin and Quinn Patrol Cabin
in the same manner and degree in which the cabins were
operated and maintained on the day before the date of
enactment of this Act.
(C) Effect.--Nothing in this paragraph affects--
(i) the cabins in, and adjacent to, Mineral King Valley; or
(ii) the private inholdings known as ``Silver City'' and
``Kaweah Han''.
(D) Potential wilderness additions.--The designation of the
potential wilderness additions under subparagraph (A) shall
not prohibit the operation, maintenance, and repair of the
small check dams and water impoundments on Lower Franklin
Lake, Crystal Lake, Upper Monarch Lake, and Eagle Lake. The
Secretary is authorized to allow the use of helicopters for
the operation, maintenance, and repair of the small check
dams and water impoundments on Lower Franklin Lake, Crystal
Lake, Upper Monarch
[[Page H5049]]
Lake, and Eagle Lake. The potential wilderness additions
shall be designated as wilderness and incorporated into the
John Krebs Wilderness established by this Act upon
termination of the non-conforming uses.
(2) Sequoia-kings canyon wilderness addition.--Certain land
in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California,
comprising approximately 45,186 acres as generally depicted
on the map titled ``Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness
Addition'', numbered 102/60015a, and dated March 10, 2008, is
incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the
Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
(a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, each
area designated as wilderness by this Act shall be
administered by the Secretary in accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any
reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of the
Wilderness Act shall be considered to be a reference to the
date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) Submission of map and legal description.--As soon as
practicable, but not later than 3 years, after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and
legal description of each area designated as wilderness by
this Act with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Force and effect.--The map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may
correct any clerical or typographical error in the map or
legal description.
(3) Public availability.--The map and legal description
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the Office of the Secretary.
(c) Hydrologic, Meteorologic, and Climatological Devices,
Facilities, and Associated Equipment.--The Secretary shall
continue to manage maintenance and access to hydrologic,
meteorologic, and climatological devices, facilities and
associated equipment consistent with House Report 98-40.
(d) No Buffer Zones.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this Act creates a protective
perimeter or buffer zone around an area designated as
wilderness by this Act.
(2) Activities outside wilderness.--Nothing in this Act
precludes authorized activities conducted outside of the
areas designated as wilderness by this Act by cabin owners
(or their designees) in the Mineral King Valley area, or the
property owners (or their designees) or lessees in the Silver
City private inholding (as identified on the map titled
``John Krebs Wilderness'' and dated March 10, 2008).
(e) Horseback Riding.--Nothing in this Act precludes
horseback riding in, or the entry of recreational or
commercial saddle or pack stock into, an area designated as
wilderness by this Act.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Costa) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognize the gentleman the California (Mr. Costa).
General Leave
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today to introduce H.R. 3022, the Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks Wilderness Act of 2008. This bill adds nearly 115 acres
of wilderness in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in
California, two parks that are among the crown jewels of our Nation's
national park system. Coupled with existing wilderness areas in the
parks, this bill will expand the wilderness to about 97 percent on the
land base that is included within the park area.
About 45,000 acres of the wilderness created by this bill will be
incorporated into currently existing Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness
Area. The other 70,000 acres will comprise a new wilderness area, which
will be named after former Congressman John Krebs.
Congressman John Krebs served in this House from 1974 until 1978. He
immigrated to this country when he was 17 years old. Like immigrants
before him and immigrants since, he came here to find a better life for
himself and his family. And in that effort, he contributed mightily, as
all immigrants have, over the history of our Nation's years.
He served in this House with distinction and honor. He was tenacious,
and one of the areas that he worked on was this area of wilderness
within the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness Area.
So therefore it is appropriate that we designate this act by
including this as a namesake, because within the Sequoia and Kings
Canyon National Parks, we have California's and some of our country's
most beautiful areas. The Redwood Canyon area contains Redwood Mountain
Grove, the largest stand of giant sequoia within the parks. The Redwood
Canyon also includes over 75 known caves, include the longest cave in
California with over 21 miles of surveyed passage. The Hockett Plateau
includes vast rolling forests of lodgepole pine surrounding spectacular
subalpine meadows. The area is a favorite designation for equestrians,
backpackers and anglers, people who, like all of us, like to enjoy our
mountains.
This bill is obviously important not only to me but for my colleague,
Congressman Nunes, and all that have been a part of this effort, for
preserving our natural areas for future generations is a responsibility
that we all share in common. And it gives us an opportunity to honor
Congressman John Krebs, whom I first went to work for back in the 1970s
when he served in Congress. He was a mentor and still today is a friend
and is living well in Fresno, California, at the young, tender age of
82.
So it is fitting and appropriate that we recognize the people who
deserve credit for making this bill a reality. Among those, I want to
thank Chairman Rahall, subcommittee Chairman Grijalva of the Natural
Resources Committee for their support, their staffs, as well as the
committee's minority staff that worked so hard on this bill, and the
National Park Service.
In addition, there is a companion measure over in the Senate carried
by Senator Boxer. I would very much like to thank her and her staff for
their hard work, including most notably, the State director, Tom
Bohigian, who devoted a great deal of time and energy to make this bill
a reality.
{time} 1415
Finally, I want to thank my colleague and dear friend, Congressman
Devin Nunes, and his Deputy Chief of Staff, Damon Nelson, for their
work on this bill. This is a sensitive issue. The land we are talking
about resides within Congressman Nunes' congressional district. The
wilderness created by H.R. 3022 there is important to Congressman
Nunes, as well as to all of us, and I want to thank him for his hard
work on this bill and for ensuring that he protects the interests of
his district and the local communities and the folks that live and work
and recreate in the wilderness and surrounding areas.
Mr. Speaker, I request my colleagues to support the passage of H.R.
3022, as amended.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to express my support for H.R.
3022, the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness Act. I would
also like to thank my good friend Mr. Costa and Senator Boxer for their
willingness to work in a bipartisan manner to secure protections for my
constituents.
When the idea of this designation was proposed, my constituents had
three main concerns: Specifically, continued access to the
hydroelectric facilities in the area; continued access for private and
commercial horse stock users; and, finally, the cabin owners in the
Mineral King and Silver City area needed assurances that they will
continue to have access to their cabins in accordance with their Park
Service permits. In each case, Congressman Costa and Senator Boxer
agreed to add language to the bill that would resolve these concerns.
First the cabin owners were provided a half-mile buffer zone around
the cabins in order to ensure that management of the wilderness does
not impact their access to and their maintenance of the cabins.
Second, operators of the hydroelectric facilities were ensured they
will continue to have access to their facilities to conduct maintenance
and inspections as necessary. They will continue to be allowed
motorized access, including helicopters, if non-motorized access is not
reasonably feasible.
[[Page H5050]]
Finally, the private and commercial horse stock users were provided
strong assurances that nothing in the act precludes access to the areas
that are designated wilderness. There have been recurring problems with
such access to surrounding wilderness areas, and the language in this
bill intends to ensure that those issues will not be repeated in this
wilderness.
Again, these were hard-fought protections, and the work of my
colleagues during the drafting period was invaluable and much
appreciated.
At this time, I would like to yield to my colleague Mr. Costa and
would appreciate any comments he may have about these specific
provisions that I mentioned.
Mr. COSTA. First I would like to thank Congressman Nunes for your
hard work and efforts on this. Without your support, I don't believe
this measure would be a reality. The bipartisan effort I think is a
commendation on how we ought to be working on all of our efforts here
in the House.
Protecting the local interests was a concern of mine, as it was of
yours, and I am glad that we were able to find ways to satisfy the
existing uses within the wilderness and the park area, because having
been one who has utilized that park and have enjoyed it over the years,
I want to be able to continue to use it myself in those ways, as do all
of our constituents from the valley, who believe this, as I said, is
one of our crown jewels.
It was always a goal of mine that this be a bipartisan effort, and I
am glad that Congressman Nunes feels comfortable with supporting the
legislation and proud you were able to help make it a reality.
Mr. NUNES. Reclaiming my time, I want to thank the gentleman for his
statements. I think this is a fitting tribute to Mr. Krebs, who
dedicated his life to public service. He served on the Fresno County
Board of Supervisors and also in the United States Congress honorably.
Hopefully this wilderness bill ends up being something that is really
done in a bipartisan manner, that after it is passed is also enacted in
such a way that ensures use by all of our constituents, because really
these are America's parks and resources and we want to make sure that
access is granted to those that want it.
So, thank you, Mr. Costa and Senator Boxer for honoring Mr. Krebs in
this way, and I strongly urge passage of this bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTA. In closing, I just again want to thank Congressman Nunes
and thank Senator Boxer. I think it is fitting and appropriate that we
name this additional wilderness area on behalf of a gentleman who
dedicated a large part of his time to protect and preserve our heritage
for future generations to come and was one of my mentors. It is a proud
day for me to be here today to in fact make this happen.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Costa) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3022, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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