[House Report 107-36]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 107-36
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EIGHTMILE RIVER WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY ACT OF 2001
_______
April 3, 2001.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 182]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 182) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate
a segment of the Eight Mile River in the State of Connecticut
for study for potential addition to the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and
recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Eightmile River Wild and Scenic
River Study Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut possesses
important resource values, including wildlife, ecological, and
scenic values, and historic sites and a cultural past important
to America's heritage;
(2) there is strong support among State and local officials,
area residents, and river users for a cooperative wild and
scenic river study of the area; and
(3) there is a longstanding interest among State and local
officials, area residents, and river users in undertaking a
concerted cooperative effort to manage the river in a
productive and meaningful way.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY.
Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a))
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(138) Eightmile River, Connecticut.--The segment from its
headwaters downstream to its confluence with the Connecticut River.''.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT.
Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b))
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(18) The study of the Eightmile River, Connecticut, named in
paragraph (138) of subsection (a) shall be completed by the Secretary
of the Interior and the report thereon submitted to Congress not later
than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph.''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
to carry out this Act.
Amend the title so as to read:
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of
the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut for study for potential
addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other
purposes.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 182, as ordered reported, is to amend
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the
Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut for study for
potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System, and for other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study of the Eightmile River in Connecticut for the
purpose of evaluating its eligibility for designation as a Wild
and Scenic River. This study could ultimately result in adding
a segment of the Eightmile River to the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System from its headwaters downstream to its
confluence with the Connecticut River.
The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by
Congress in 1968 to create a ``Hall of Fame'' for exceptional
rivers. To be eligible, rivers or river segments must meet two
criteria. First, the river corridor must be free flowing and,
second, it must contain at least one ``outstanding remarkable
resource'' deserving special recognition, such as a prominent
natural, cultural, scenic, or recreational resource.
The Eightmile River in Connecticut is a free flowing river
that contains excellent water quality and a wide diversity of
aquatic habitats. In addition, it supports a high diversity of
fish species and flows through large tracts of forest. It is
also an important recreational resource and contributes
prominently to the character of the communities in which it
flows, including the towns of East Haddam, Lyme and Salem. The
Eightmile River System is currently listed on the National Park
Service's Nationwide Rivers Inventory which lists river areas
believed to be good candidates for Wild and Scenic designation.
There is longstanding interest among state and local officials,
area residents and river users in protecting the River by
pursuing a possible strategy for its protection and management.
The National Park Service will summarize the results of its
study in a report that serves as the basis for a designation
recommendation.
Committee Action
H.R. 182 was introduced on January 3, 2001, by Congressman
Rob Simmons (R-CT). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On March 13, 2001,
the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On March 22, 2001,
the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. Congressman Joel
Hefley (R-CO) offered an amendment in the nature of a
substitute to make two technical corrections to the original
bill. First, the amendment corrected the spelling of
``Eightmile,'' which is one word rather than two. Second, the
amendment inserted technical language in the form of the
heading to Section 4 which was inadvertently omitted from the
original bill. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. The
bill, as amended, was then forwarded to the Full Committee by
voice vote. On March 28, 2001, the Full Resources Committee met
to consider the bill. No further amendments were offered and
the bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported to
the House of Representatives by voice vote.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of Rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations
are reflected in the body of this report.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
Compliance With House Rule XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of Rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that Rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill, as ordered reported, is to designate a
segment of the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut for
study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, March 30, 2001.
Hon. James V. Hansen,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 182, the Eightmile
River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2001.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan
Carroll.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson,
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 182--Eightmile River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2001
H.R. 182 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to
study a segment of the Eightmile River in Connecticut for
potential addition to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The
legislation would require the Secretary to complete the study
within three years of enactment. Based on information from the
National Park Service, CBO estimates that carrying out the
study would cost $100,000 a year over the next three years,
assuming availability of the necessary amounts. Because
enacting H.R. 182 would not affect direct spending or receipts,
pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
H.R. 182 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Megan Carroll.
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 5 OF THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT
Sec. 5. (a) The following rivers are hereby designated for
potential addition to the national wild and scenic rivers
system:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(138) Eightmile River, Connecticut.--The segment from its
headwaters downstream to its confluence with the Connecticut
River.
(b)(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(18) The study of the Eightmile River, Connecticut, named in
paragraph (138) of subsection (a) shall be completed by the
Secretary of the Interior and the report thereon submitted to
Congress not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment
of this paragraph.
* * * * * * *