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.
“MOUNT NAOMI WILDERNESS BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H8421-H8422 on Sept. 23, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
MOUNT NAOMI WILDERNESS BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 278) to make certain adjustments to the boundaries of the Mount Naomi Wilderness Area, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 278
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 ``Mount Naomi Wilderness Boundary Adjustment Act''.
SEC. 2. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS.
(a) Lands Removed.--The boundary of the Mount Naomi Wilderness is adjusted to exclude the approximately 31 acres of land depicted on the Map as ``Land Excluded''.
(b) Lands Added.--Subject to valid existing rights, the boundary of the Mount Naomi Wilderness is adjusted to include the approximately 31 acres of land depicted on the Map as
``Land Added''. The Utah Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-428) shall apply to the land added to the Mount Naomi Wilderness pursuant to this subsection.
SEC. 3. MAP.
(a) Definition.--For the purpose of this Act, the term
``Map'' shall mean the map entitled ``Mt. Naomi Wilderness Boundary Adjustment'' and dated May 23, 2002.
(b) Map on File.--The Map shall be on file and available for inspection in the office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
(c) Corrections.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make technical corrections to the Map.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop).
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mount Naomi is located in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah and borders the eastern boundary of the city of Logan in my State. At over 44,000 acres, it is clearly one of the largest wilderness areas in the State of Utah and was designated in the Wilderness Act of 1984. Unfortunately, mysteriously, some utility poles have grown up in this wilderness area.
In reality, when it was created, by an oversight of Congress it encompassed an area which has utility corridors, both water and electricity. In addition to that utility corridor, there is a section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail system that runs through this wilderness area. This is a trail system that connects northern and southern Utah. It is extremely popular with bikers, hikers, equestrian traffic; and it is the only section of that trail system which actually happens to be in a wilderness area.
Seeing that problem, maintaining that utility corridor as well as maintaining that trail system in a wilderness area, the Forest Service and the local community have found a solution, which is in this particular bill. By taking 31 acres, which is the smallest footprint possible, on the western side of this wilderness area, which abuts the city of Logan, and transferring that out of the wilderness area and then finding on the eastern side of the wilderness area a section by the Forest Service 31 other acres which fits the contour of Mount Naomi and also has all the characteristics that are required for a wilderness area, we have been able to make an exchange which will allow the city of Logan to maintain their utility corridor, the State to maintain their trail system and also maintain the same acreage of wilderness in the State of Utah.
This has passed this particular House before. I hope to do it a second time and then solve this problem for the city of Logan as well as for the Forest Service, which has the support of the Forest Service and the local community and all other entities that I am aware that have an interest in this particular area. It is a good piece of legislation.
I definitely thank my colleagues on the committee for expediting its consideration, and I urge adoption of Senate bill 278.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, S. 278 would remove from the wilderness designation 31 acres of land in one section and would add 31 acres to another portion of the Mount Naomi Wilderness Act. Last Congress, the House passed identical legislation. S. 278 passed the Senate earlier this year.
We support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 278.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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