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“WEKIVA WILD AND SCENIC RIVER ACT OF 2000” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6750-H6752 on July 24, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WEKIVA WILD AND SCENIC RIVER ACT OF 2000
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2773) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Wekiva River and its tributaries of Rock Springs Run and Black Water Creek in the State of Florida as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2773
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 ``Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Public Law 104-311 (110 Stat. 3818) amended section 5 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276) to require the study of the Wekiva River and its tributaries of Rock Springs Run and Seminole Creek for potential inclusion in the national wild and scenic rivers system.
(2) The study determined that the Wekiva River, Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek are eligible for inclusion in the national wild and scenic rivers system.
(3) The State of Florida has demonstrated its commitment to protecting these rivers and streams by the enactment of the Wekiva River Protection Act (Florida Statute chapter 369), by the establishment of a riparian wildlife protection zone and water quality protection zone by the St. Johns River Water Management District, and by the acquisition of lands adjacent to these rivers and streams for conservation purposes.
(4) The Florida counties of Lake, Seminole, and Orange have demonstrated their commitment to protect these rivers and streams in their comprehensive land use plans and land development regulations.
(5) The desire for designation of these rivers and streams as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system has been demonstrated through strong public support, State and local agency support, and the endorsement of designation by the Wekiva River Basin Ecosystem Working Group, which represents a broad cross section of State and local agencies, landowners, environmentalists, nonprofit organizations, and recreational users.
(6) The entire lengths of the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek are held in public ownership or conservation easements or are defined as waters of the State of Florida.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WEKIVA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES, FLORIDA,
AS COMPONENTS OF NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC
RIVERS SYSTEM.
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(161) Wekiva River, Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek, Florida.--The 41.6-mile segments referred to in this paragraph, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior:
``(A) Wekiva river and wekiwa springs run.--The 14.9 miles of the Wekiva River, along Wekiwa Springs Run from its confluence with the St. Johns River to Wekiwa Springs, to be administered in the following classifications:
``(i) From the confluence with the St. Johns River to the southern boundary of the Lower Wekiva River State Preserve, approximately 4.4 miles, as a wild river.
``(ii) From the southern boundary of the Lower Wekiva River State Preserve to the northern boundary of Rock Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva River, approximately 3.4 miles, as a recreational river.
``(iii) From the northern boundary of Rock Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva River to the southern boundary of Rock Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva River, approximately 5.9 miles, as a wild river.
``(iv) From the southern boundary of Rock Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva River upstream along Wekiwa Springs Run to Wekiwa Springs, approximately 1.2 miles, as a recreational river.
``(B) Rock springs run.--The 8.8 miles from the confluence of Rock Springs Run with the Wekiwa Springs Run forming the Wekiva River to its headwaters at Rock Springs, to be administered in the following classifications:
``(i) From the confluence with Wekiwa Springs Run to the western boundary of Rock Springs Run State Reserve at Rock Springs Run, approximately 6.9 miles, as a wild river.
``(ii) From the western boundary of Rock Springs Run State Reserve at Rock Springs Run to Rock Springs, approximately 1.9 miles, as a recreational river.
``(C) Black water creek.--The 17.9 miles from the confluence of Black Water Creek with the Wekiva River to outflow from Lake Norris, to be administered in the following classifications:
``(i) From the confluence with the Wekiva River to approximately .25 mile downstream of the Seminole State Forest road crossing, approximately 4.1 miles, as a wild river.
``(ii) From approximately .25 mile downstream of the Seminole State Forest road to approximately .25 mile upstream of the Seminole State Forest road crossing, approximately .5 mile, as a scenic river.
``(iii) From approximately .25 mile upstream of the Seminole State Forest road crossing to approximately .25 mile downstream of the old railroad grade crossing (approximately River Mile 9), approximately 4.4 miles, as a wild river.
``(iv) From approximately .25 mile downstream of the old railroad grade crossing (approximately River Mile 9), upstream to the boundary of Seminole State Forest
(approximately River Mile 10.6), approximately 1.6 miles, as a scenic river.
``(v) From the boundary of Seminole State Forest
(approximately River Mile 10.6) to approximately .25 mile downstream of the State Road 44 crossing, approximately .9 mile, as a wild river.
``(vi) From approximately .25 mile downstream of State Road 44 to approximately .25 mile upstream of the State Road 44A crossing, approximately .6 mile, as a recreational river.
``(vii) From approximately .25 mile upstream of the State Road 44A crossing to approximately .25 mile downstream of the Lake Norris Road crossing, approximately 4.7 miles, as a wild river.
``(viii) From approximately .25 mile downstream of the Lake Norris Road crossing to the outflow from Lake Norris, approximately 1.1 miles, as a recreational river.''. SEC. 4. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO WEKIVA RIVER AND
TRIBUTARIES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section and section 5:
(1) Wekiva river system.--The term ``Wekiva River system'' means the segments of the Wekiva River, Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek in the State of Florida designated as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system by paragraph (161) of section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)), as added by this Act.
(2) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the Wekiva River System Advisory Management Committee established pursuant to section 5.
(3) Comprehensive management plan.--The terms
``comprehensive management plan'' and ``plan'' mean the comprehensive management plan to be developed pursuant to section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) Use authorized.--In order to provide for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the Wekiva River system, the Secretary shall offer to enter into cooperative agreements pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e), 1282(b)(1)) with the State of Florida, appropriate local political jurisdictions of the State, namely the counties of Lake, Orange, and Seminole, and appropriate local planning and environmental organizations.
(2) Effect of agreement.--Administration by the Secretary of the Wekiva River system through the use of cooperative agreements shall not constitute National Park Service administration of the Wekiva River system for purposes of section 10(c) of such Act (10 U.S.C. 1281(c)) and shall not cause the Wekiva River system to be considered as being a unit of the National Park System. Publicly owned lands within the boundaries of the Wekiva River system shall continue to be managed by the agency having jurisdiction over the lands, in accordance with the statutory authority and mission of the agency.
(c) Compliance Review.--After completion of the comprehensive management plan, the Secretary shall biennially review compliance with the plan and shall promptly report to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate any deviation from the plan that could result in any diminution of the values for which the Wekiva River system was designated as a component of the national wild and scenic rivers system.
(d) Technical Assistance and Other Support.--The Secretary may provide technical assistance, staff support, and funding to assist in the development and implementation of the comprehensive management plan.
(e) Limitation on Federal Support.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize funding for land acquisition, facility development, or operations.
SEC. 5. WEKIVA RIVER SYSTEM ADVISORY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the Wekiva River System Advisory Management Committee, to assist in the development of the comprehensive management plan for the Wekiva River system.
(b) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of a representative of each of the following agencies and organizations:
(1) The Department of the Interior, represented by the Director of the National Park Service or the Director's designee.
(2) The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.
(3) The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks.
(4) The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve.
(5) The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry, Seminole State Forest.
(6) The Florida Audubon Society.
(7) The nonprofit organization known as the Friends of the Wekiva.
(8) The Lake County Water Authority.
(9) The Lake County Planning Department.
(10) The Orange County Parks and Recreation Department, Kelly Park.
(11) The Seminole County Planning Department.
(12) The St. Johns River Water Management District.
(13) The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
(14) The City of Altamonte Springs.
(15) The City of Longwood.
(16) The City of Apopka.
(17) The Florida Farm Bureau Federation.
(18) The Florida Forestry Association.
(c) Additional Members.--Other interested parties may be added to the Committee by request to the Secretary and unanimous consent of the existing members.
(d) Appointment.--Representatives and alternates to the Committee shall be appointed as follows:
(1) State agency representatives, by the head of the agency.
(2) County representatives, by the Boards of County Commissioners.
(3) Water management district, by the Governing Board.
(4) Department of the Interior representative, by the Southeast Regional Director, National Park Service.
(5) East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, by Governing Board.
(6) Other organizations, by the Southeast Regional Director, National Park Service.
(e) Role of Committee.--The Committee shall assist in the development of the comprehensive management plan for the Wekiva River system and provide advice to the Secretary in carrying out the management responsibilities of the Secretary under this Act. The Committee shall have an advisory role only, it will not have regulatory or land acquisition authority.
(f) Voting and Committee Procedures.--Each member agency, agency division, or organization referred to in subsection
(b) shall have 1 vote and provide 1 member and 1 alternate. Committee decisions and actions will be made with consent of
\3/4\ of all voting members. Additional necessary Committee procedures shall be developed as part of the comprehensive management plan.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act and paragraph (161) of section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)), as added by this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
General Leave
Mr. GIBBONS. 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. 2773.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Nevada?
There was no objection.
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2773 adds the Wekiva River and many of its tributaries to the wild and scenic rivers system. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) is to be commended for his bill, which is the product of extensive public involvement and has the endorsement of a variety of State, local, and Federal governments. H.R. 2773 sets apart over 40 miles of Florida rivers as wild and scenic and in doing so extends existing riparian and water protection zones.
In 1996, Mr. Speaker, Congress passed a law which directed the Secretary of the Interior to study the inclusion of these segments as wild and scenic rivers. The study has been completed and concluded that the river segments contained in this bill are eligible for inclusion into the wild and scenic rivers system. Administration of the river segments will be done by the Secretary of the Interior in cooperation with the State of Florida and Lake, Orange, and Seminole Counties. H.R. 2773 also establishes the Wekiva River System Advisory Committee, which will assist in the development of a comprehensive management plan.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2773, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2773 would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to make the Wekiva River in Central Florida, as well as several of its tributaries, components of the wild and scenic rivers system. Congress authorized a study of the river in 1996 to determine whether it met the criteria for addition to the wild and scenic rivers program. The study found that it did. There is a great deal of local support for conferring this status on the Wekiva; and in addition to this Federal designation, the Wekiva already benefits from important State and local protections.
During consideration of this measure by the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, an amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted which made a number of technical changes to the bill, the majority of which are suggested by the National Park Service. With these changes, we support the legislation and urge our colleagues to approve H.R. 2773.
Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2773, the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Act. This legislation designates the Wekiva River and its tributaries for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Floridians are blessed with some of the most rich and engaging natural resources in the world. Every year thousands of people come to Florida to enjoy the ocean as well as our many lakes and rivers. Located in Central Florida, the Wekiva River Basin in a complex ecological system of rivers, springs, lakes, and streams with many indigenous varieties of vegetation and wildlife which are dependent on this water system. Included in this area are several distinct recreational, natural, historic and cultural resources that make the Wekiva River an excellent addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. So, it is with great pride that I bring this legislation to the floor for its consideration before the House of Representatives.
First, I would like to take a moment to thank Mr. David Sukkert who brought this issue to my attention years ago. He has been an asset to my staff; illuminating the significance of this beautiful river so that the nation can recognize the environmental treasure we have in Central Florida. I would also like to thank the Friends of the Wekiva, the St. Johns Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection who have been instrumental in this process; I truly appreciate their significant contribution to the Wekiva River.
Growing up, I spent many afternoons with my father canoeing and fishing on Florida's pristine waterways. As they were growing, I took my own sons to experience the same surroundings on the Wekiva River. In this beautiful and serene setting a multitude of species find their refuge. Avid bird watchers travel to the area to catch a glimpse of a few of the 213 different species of birds that are said to be native to the area. The Wekiva area is also home to our national bird, the bald eagle, with 4 active nests. Within the Wekiva River GEOPark, there are 6 threatened or endangered species, including the American Alligator. Not only is the Wekiva River and important wildlife refuge, it also has a deep historical importance. Scientists have found fragments of pottery dating back to the aboriginal period when the Seminole Indians lived in the area.
For more than 30 years, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has safeguarded some of the nation's most precious rivers. In October of 1968, The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act pronounced that certain selected rivers of the nation that possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. Designated rivers receive protection to preserve their-free-flowing condition, to protect the water quality and to fulfill other vital national conservation purposes.
In the 104th Congress, I introduced legislation which was signed into law to authorize a study of the Wekiva River by the Department of Interior to determine whether it would be eligible and suitable for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The National Parks Service completed this study and concluded that the Wekiva River system was an excellent candidate for receiving this designation.
This legislation would allow the Wekiva and its tributaries to join the Loxahatchee as Florida's second river to receive this designation. The Wekiva Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1999 provides Congressional designation of 41.6 miles of eligible and suitable portions of the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, Wekiwa Springs Run, and Black Water Creek with State management and the establishment of a coordinated Federal, State, and local management committee. As the report states, the Wekiva River area provides ``outstandingly remarkable resources'' which makes it eligible for this national designation.
Therefore, I thank Congressmen Hansen and Young for their efforts in bringing this measure to the floor. I enthusiastically support H.R. 2773, the Wekiva Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and encourage my colleagues to vote in support of this important legislation.
Mr. George Miller of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2773, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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