The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WOOD-PAWCATUCK WATERSHED PROTECTION ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3268-H3269 on June 11, 2013.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WOOD-PAWCATUCK WATERSHED PROTECTION ACT
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 723) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 723
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 ``Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. BEAVER, CHIPUXET, QUEEN, WOOD, AND PAWCATUCK RIVERS
STUDY.
(a) 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:
``(__) Beaver, chipuxet, queen, wood, and pawcatuck rivers, rhode island and connecticut.--The approximately 10-mile segment of the Beaver River from its headwaters in Exeter, Rhode Island, to its confluence with the Pawcatuck River; the approximately 5-mile segment of the Chipuxet River from Hundred Acre Pond to its outlet into Worden Pond; the approximately 10-mile segment of the upper Queen River from its headwaters to the Usquepaugh Dam in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and including all its tributaries; the approximately 5-mile segment of the lower Queen (Usquepaugh) River from the Usquepaugh Dam to its confluence with the Pawcatuck River; the approximately 11-mile segment of the upper Wood River from its headwaters to Skunk Hill Road in Richmond and Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and including all its tributaries; the approximately 10-mile segment of the lower Wood River from Skunk Hill Road to its confluence with the Pawcatuck River; the approximately 28-mile segment of the Pawcatuck River from Worden Pond to Nooseneck Hill Road (RI Rte 3) in Hopkinton and Westerly, Rhode Island; and the approximately 7-mile segment of the lower Pawcatuck River from Nooseneck Hill Road to Pawcatuck Rock, Stonington, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island.''.
(b) 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:
``(__) Beaver, chipuxet, queen, wood, and pawcatuck rivers, rhode island and connecticut.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall--
``(A) complete the study of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Rhode Island and Connecticut, described in subsection (a)(__);
``(B) submit a report describing the results of that study to the appropriate committees of Congress;
``(C) include in the report under subparagraph (B) the effect of the designation under this Act on--
``(i) existing commercial and recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational shooting, motor boat use, or bridge construction;
``(ii) the authorization, construction, operation, maintenance, or improvement of energy production and transmission infrastructure; and
``(iii) the authority of State and local governments to manage those activities encompassed in clauses (i) and (ii); and
``(D) identify--
``(i) all authorities that will authorize or require the Secretary to influence local land use decisions (such as zoning) or place restrictions on non-Federal land if the area studied is designated under this paragraph;
``(ii) all authorities that the Secretary may use to condemn property if the area studied is designated under this paragraph; and
``(iii) all private property located in the area studied under this provision.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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 Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 723 would authorize the study of 86 miles of rivers in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
The Natural Resources Committee amended the legislation to specifically require that the study consider any potential limitations on existing uses and any impacts to private property that could occur in an eventual designation. These are important protections and are necessary for this study bill to move forward.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
We support the legislation, and I would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the author and sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, let me thank Congressman Grijalva, the ranking member of the subcommittee, for yielding and for his outstanding work in support of this legislation. Let me also thank Chairman Hastings, as well as the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Bishop, and your hardworking staff for working to bring this bill through the committee and to the floor today.
I would also like to thank my good friend from Connecticut, Congressman Courtney, who has been an outstanding partner in this effort as well. And, of course, our State partners, including the Wood-
Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Save the Bay, the Nature Conservancy, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Their collaboration really has been instrumental in bringing this legislation to fruition.
As a Nation, we are, of course, privileged to have access to a diverse system of wilderness areas--from remote expanses of our country to backyard wildernesses closer to home. The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed is such a place. Its rivers are within a 45-minute drive of every Rhode Islander, easily accessible for family outings and school field trips. Passage of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act will allow for a study of segments of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers in Rhode Island and Connecticut for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Rhode Island and Connecticut have long been outstanding stewards of these rivers, and I hope passage and completion of this study will affirm what we Rhode Islanders already know--that the Pawcatuck and its tributaries possess outstanding recreational, natural, and historical qualities that make them worthy of the designation of Wild and Scenic Rivers. The people of Rhode Island and Connecticut have long enjoyed the recreational and scenic wealth of the Wood-Pawcatuck, and we are eager to share this natural treasure with the rest of New England and the Nation.
The Wood-Pawcatuck watershed offers exceptional trout fishing, canoeing, photography, and bird watching, with adjacent hiking and camping for our sportsmen. These rivers are not only an important part of our national heritage, they are also a critical part of our tourism industry and the economy. Accordingly, the study will fully engage with local government, landowners, and businesses to recognize the existing commercial and recreational activities on or adjacent to the watershed.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act offers the best guarantee that the Wood-Pawcatuck will be here for future generations to enjoy, and passage of this study is an important first step along that path. The rivers of the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed contain outstanding recreational, scenic, and natural heritage qualities that would be an excellent addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill.
Again, I want to thank all those involved in helping to bring this bill to the floor.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 723, 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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