Upper White Salmon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and my other colleague, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).

I want to begin by thanking the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo); the ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) of the Committee on Resources; the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden); and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, for their guidance. And I certainly appreciate the help of their staff throughout this process.

I also want to acknowledge the work of my good friend and colleague, Senator Cantwell, who has introduced the companion legislation in that Chamber.

A number of people locally in our region deserve credit, including among them Phyllis Clausen of the Friends of the White Salmon River, Connie Kelleher from American Rivers, the SDS Lumber Company, the U.S. Forest Service, and local county commissioners from the region as well. This process has taken several years and represents a true collaborative local effort.

The Upper White Salmon River is literally a world-famous river. Located in south central Washington, it is known for its great white water, stunning scenery, and fish and wildlife resources. The designation before us today will preserve the river's free-flowing status as well as the natural values and rural lifestyle in the surrounding area.

In 1986, the river's outstanding quality received national recognition when Congress designated the lower 8 miles of the White Salmon as a National Wild and Scenic River. Congress directed the Forest Service to study the Upper White Salmon for possible designation into the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

H.R. 38 seeks to protect 20 miles of Upper White Salmon River segments within the Gifford Pinchot Forest as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by designating them wild and scenic. This designation has broad public support within the local community and throughout the region. It has been endorsed by a wide variety of environmental and recreational organizations, local community and business leaders.

The land to be designated as wild and scenic consists entirely of public land, no private land is included; the area is currently being managed as if it is already part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

I want to reiterate my gratitude to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) and the chairman of the overall committee. I thank Members for their support and urge passage of this valuable piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Upper White Salmon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, H.R. 38, passed the House by a voice vote. I want to make clear where I stand on this issue.

The White Salmon River begins in the Cascade Mountains, fed by snowmelt from nearby Mt. Adams and the rains for which Western Washington is famous. The river makes its way south, winding through Skamania and Klickitat counties, until it meets the Columbia River in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge.

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act made much of the lower river part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program. At the same time, it directed the Forest Service to study the suitability of the upper river for designation as well. The legislation passed this week adds 20 miles of the Upper White Salmon River and Cascade Creek to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program. This portion of the river is entirely within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and outside of the Fourth District of Washington, which I represent.

While I did not oppose the legislation the House passed earlier this week, I do want to make clear that I would have considerable concerns with any proposal to declare as Wild and Scenic any currently undesignated portions of the White Salmon River that flows through the district that I represent. The views of local county commissioners, elected officials and affected landowners would be of paramount interest to me should any such designation be suggested or proposed. This portion of the river does not run through Federal land, but through private property of economic importance to the landowners and local communities. The burden of Federal regulation is already very heavy on the area, and I have great reservations about actions that would make the load even more difficult to bear.

We have an obligation to protect the natural treasures of the Columbia Gorge while also protecting the livelihoods of those that make their homes there. I look forward to continuing to work closely with my colleagues from the Northwest to make sure we strike the right balance on such matters.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 38) to designate a portion of the White Salmon River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 38.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 38, as introduced by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird), would designate 20 miles of the Upper White Salmon River as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers system.

This legislation would designate four different segments of the Upper White Salmon River and Cascade Creek, totaling 20 miles, as ``wild and scenic.'' The segments are limited to Federal land, located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and include 6.7 miles in the Mt. Adams Wilderness.

This designation is supported by the local community as well as the Forest Service. I urge support for this important measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would recognize the staff of both the majority and minority and also congratulate the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) on not only his performance in submitting this bill but his stellar performance in the congressional baseball game last Thursday night.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 38 designates the main stem of the Upper White Salmon River and Cascade Creek, totaling 20 miles, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Congress added the lower White Salmon River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1986.

The White Salmon River originates in the glaciers of Mt. Adams and flows through south central Washington to the Columbia River. The river is known for its remarkable scenery and abundant wildlife and is popular with white water enthusiasts.

The gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) should be recognized for his leadership on H.R. 38. My good friend, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird), is one of our strong conservation leaders in the Northwest and has worked very hard in showing strong leadership in getting this bill to the point that it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the entire Committee on Resources staff and especially Meghan Conklin for her work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I ask consent that the committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 38, H.R. 481, and H.R. 541, and the Senate proceed to the measures en bloc, provided that the bills be read a third time and passed en bloc, and any statements related to the bills be printed in the Record.