Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2005

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., to conduct an oversight hearing on the semi-annual monetary policy report of the Federal Reserve.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on Wednesday, February 16 at 11:30 a.m., to consider pending calendar business.

Agenda

Agenda Item 1: S. 48--A bill to reauthorize appropriations for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 2: S. 52--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey a parcel of real property to Beaver County, Utah.

Agenda Item 3: S. 54--A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to update the feasibility and suitability studies of four national historic trails, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 4: S. 55--A bill to adjust the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado.

Agenda Item 5: S. 56--A bill to establish the Rio Grande Natural Area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 6: S. 57--A bill to further the purposes of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000.

Agenda Item 7: S. 97--A bill to provide for the sale of bentonite in Big Horn County, Wyoming.

Agenda Item 8: S. 99--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to contract with the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, for the storage of the city's water in the Kendrick Project, Wyoming.

Agenda Item 9: S. 101--A bill to convey to the town of Frannie, Wyoming, certain land withdrawn by the Commission of Reclamation.

Agenda Item 10: S. 128--A bill to designate certain public land in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake, and Napa Counties in the State of California as wilderness, to designate certain segments of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County, California as a wild or scenic river, and for other purposes.

The PRESIDING OFFICIER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Agenda Item 11: S. 136--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide supplemental funding and other services that are necessary to assist certain local school districts in the State of California in providing education services for students attending schools located within Yosemite National Park, and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Agenda Item 12: S. 152--A bill to enhance ecosystem protection and the range of outdoor opportunities protected by statute in the Skykomish River valley of the State of Washington by designating certain lower-elevation Federal lands as wilderness, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 13: S. 161--A bill to provide for a land exchange in the State of Arizona between the Secretary of Agriculture and Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership.

Agenda Item 14: S. 164--A bill to provide for the acquisition of certain property in Washington County, Utah.

Agenda Item 15: S. 182--A bill to provide for the establishment of the Uintah Research and Curatorial Center for Dinosaur National Monument in the States of Colorado and Utah, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 16: S. 272--A bill to designate certain National Forest System land in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Agenda Item 17: S. 276--A bill to revise the boundary of the Wind Cave National Park in the State of South Dakota.

Agenda Item 18: S. 301--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the States of New Hampshire and Vermont. In addition, the Committee may turn to any other measures that are ready for consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing regarding S. 131, Clear Skies Act 2005 and S. 125 to designate the United States courthouse at 501 I Street in Sacramento, CA as the ``Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse''.

The hearing will be held in SD 406.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., to hear testimony on the President's budget proposals.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 16, 2004, at 10 a.m., to hold a meeting on the foreign affairs budget.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., in SD-430.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., for a hearing titled ``Transforming Government for the 21st Century.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on the President's fiscal year 2006 budget request for Indian programs.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2005, at 10 a.m., to hold an open hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Obscenity Prosecution and the Constitution'' on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 3 p.m., in

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which is the companion to a House bill, H.R. 774, introduced by our colleague, Mrs. Musgrave, that I have cosponsored with my Colorado colleagues Mr. Beauprez and Mr. Tancredo.

It directs the Secretary of Interior to enter into a land exchange to benefit Rocky Mountain National Park, and adjusts the boundary of the park in order to facilitate that exchange.

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of Colorado's outstanding natural treasures. Established by Congress in 1915, it includes about 266,000 acres whose spectacular high alpine scenery and abundant wildlife attract over 3 million visitors annually.

Not all the land within the park's boundaries is owned by the United States. One private inholding is the historic McGregor Ranch. Part of that ranch is a private access road that hikers and rock climbers have been using to reach the Twin Owls Trailhead just inside the park boundary and from there to visit various parts of the park.

Over the last 20 years the popularity of the Twin Owls trailhead has grown steadily and in recent years overflow parking from the trailhead has had adverse effects on the ranch while the increase in traffic on the one-lane access road has diminished the historic character of the area.

For several years the National Park Service, NPS, and the McGregor Ranch have been working to find a solution to the traffic and parking problems. In 2003, after a process that involved public participation and an environmental assessment, the NPS decided to relocate the Twin Owls parking lot to the east end of the McGregor Ranch, a location well away from the historic homestead. Construction of a new access road and a larger parking lot for the trailhead is planned at the new location.

In order to enforce NPS regulations on the new access road and at the new trailhead, the land must be located within the park boundary. This legislation is necessary to authorize the land exchange and to adjust the park boundary to include the newly acquired lands.

Under the bill, the McGregor Trust--owner of the ranch--will convey 5.9 acres of land to the NPS to facilitate the construction and management of the new facilities. In exchange, the McGregor Trust will acquire up to 70 acres to be used for the purpose of growing hay and cattle.

The difference in the acreages reflects a difference in market value. The land now held by the ranch, which will be transferred to the United States, is suitable for residential use and therefore of higher per acre value than the grazing land that will be transferred to the ranch. To maintain the character of the land being transferred to the ranch, the National Park Service will retain a conservation easement that will allow grazing but prohibit construction of buildings.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is good for the McGregor Ranch, for Rocky Mountain National Park, and for the public. I urge its approval.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 55) to adjust the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado.

Madam 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 the bill under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, S. 55 is identical to H.R. 774, which I introduced earlier this year. S. 55 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to accept a conveyance of 5.9 acres and in return convey approximately 70 acres to the MacGregor Ranch Trust in order to consolidate trailheads and improve visitor access in Rocky Mountain National Park.

According to the National Park Service, Rocky Mountain National Park is the fifth most visited park in the system. With the popularity of Rocky Mountain National Park, the park officials must continuously find ways to improve visitor access and enjoyment.

For this reason, Senator Allard and I introduced the Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2005. This is a straightforward piece of legislation, and it is legislation that is needed to enhance enjoyment and ease of access to a popular trailhead.

S. 55 would convey three strategic pieces of land to the park system from the MacGregor ranch, a historic working cattle ranch that is located within the boundary of the park. The new parcels of land would be used to build a new parking lot and road to offer improved access for the public, while protecting the historic integrity of the ranch.

The MacGregor ranch would, in turn, receive much-needed grazing land. I believe this is a long-term solution for both the park and the MacGregor ranch.

Madam Speaker, S. 55 is supported by the majority and the minority, and I urge passage of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

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

Madam Speaker, as the majority has explained, S. 55 provides for a land exchange at Rocky Mountain National Park in order to facilitate the relocation of a park trailhead.

Madam Speaker, the proposed exchange will include private property within the park that will further the public use and enjoyment of a popular hiking trail. In addition, the legislation requires that a conservation easement be maintained on Federal land being conveyed in order to protect, preserve, and enhance the conservation values of that land.

Madam Speaker, the terms of the exchange are satisfactory to both parties, and we know of no problems with the legislation. That being the case, we have no objection to the adoption of S. 55 by the House today.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to just thank the majority and minority staff and especially Rick Healy of the Resources Committee.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.