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.
“VIRGIN RIVER DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT PRESERVE ACT” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Senate section on pages S11650-S11651 on Nov. 19, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
VIRGIN RIVER DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT PRESERVE ACT
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 591, H.R. 2385.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 2385) to convey certain property to the city of St. George, Utah, in order to provide for the protection and preservation of certain rare paleontological resources on that property, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources with amendments, as follows:
[Strike the part shown in black brackets and insert the part shown in italic.]
H.R. 2385
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 ``Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve Act''.
SEC. 2. VIRGIN RIVER DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT PRESERVE.
[(a) Authorization for Grant To Purchase Footprint Preserve.--As soon as is practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, if the City agrees to the conditions set forth in subsection (b), the Secretary of the Interior may award to the City a grant equal to the lesser of $500,000 or the fair market value of up to 10 acres of land (and all related facilities and other appurtenances thereon) generally depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve'', numbered 09/06/2001-A, for purchase of that property.]
(a) Authorization for Grant To Purchase Preserve.--Of the funds appropriated in the section entitled ``Land Acquisition'' of the Fiscal Year 2002 Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Public Law 107-63, the Secretary of the Interior shall grant $500,000 to the City for--
(1) the purchase of up to 10 acres of land within the area generally depicted as the ``Preserve Acquisition Area'' on the map entitled ``Map B'' and dated May 9, 2002; and
(2) the preservation of such land and paleontological resources.
(b) Conditions of Grant.--The grant under subsection (a) shall be made only after the City agrees to the following conditions:
(1) Use of land.--The City shall use the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve in a manner that accomplishes the following:
(A) Preserves and protects the paleontological resources located within the exterior boundaries of the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve.
(B) Provides opportunities for scientific research in a manner compatible with subparagraph (A).
(C) Provides the public with opportunities for educational activities in a manner compatible with subparagraph (A).
(2) Reverter.--If at any time after the City acquires the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve, the Secretary determines that the City is not substantially in compliance with the conditions described in paragraph (1), all right, title, and interest in and to the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve shall immediately revert to the United States, with no further consideration on the part of the United States, and such property shall then be under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) Conditions to be contained in deed.--If the City attempts to transfer title to the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve (in whole or in part), the conditions set forth in this subsection shall transfer with such title and shall be enforceable against any subsequent owner of the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve (in whole or in part).
(c) Cooperative Agreement and Assistance.--
[(1) Cooperative agreement.--The Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the City for the management of the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve by the City.
(2)] (1) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide to the City--
(A) financial assistance, if the Secretary determines that such assistance is necessary for protection of the paleontological resources located within the exterior boundaries of the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve; and
(B) technical assistance to assist the City in complying with subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1).
[(3)] (2) Additional grants.--
(A) In general.--In addition to funds made available under subsection (a) and paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may provide grants to the City to carry out its duties under the cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1).
(B) Limitation on amount; required non-federal match.--Grants under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $500,000 and shall be provided only to the extent that the City matches the amount of such grants with non-Federal contributions
(including in-kind contributions).
(d) Map on File.--The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Department of the Interior.
(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of St. George, Utah.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) Virgin river dinosaur footprint preserve.--The term
``Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve'' means the property (and all facilities and other appurtenances thereon) described in subsection (a).
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to say a few words about S. 1497, the Virgin River Dinosaur Footprint Preserve Act and its companion measure in the House, H.R. 2385. This bill would convey certain property to the city of St. George, Utah, in order to provide for the protection and preservation of certain rare paleontological resources on that property.
This legislation would provide vital protections to one of our nation's most recent, and most intact pre-Jurassic paleontological discoveries. In February 2000, Sheldon Johnson of St. George, UT, began development preparations on his land when he uncovered one of the world's most significant collections of dinosaur tracks, tail draggings, and skin imprints in the surrounding rock. Without any advertising, the site has attracted many tens of thousands of visitors and the interest of some of the world's top paleontologists.
This was a fantastic discovery that has added important new insights into the Jurassic period. However, now that these prints have been uncovered, the fragile sandstone in which the impressions have been made is in jeopardy due to the heat and wind typical of the southern Utah climate. We must act quickly if these footprints from our past are to be preserved. This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to purchase the land where the footprints and tail draggings are found and convey the property to the city of St. George. The city will work together with the property owners and Washington County to preserve and protect the area and the resources found there.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Sheldon and LaVerna Johnson who made this discovery on their land and have dedicated thousands of hours of their personal time and much of their own money to trying to preserve this site. They have done all they can to protect it, while at the same time opening up their land for visitors and scientists to view the new findings free of costs. They have given so much to this cause, but they cannot keep it up indefinitely. They desperately hope that the Government will step up and help carry the burden of managing this precious resource, and with passage of this legislation tonight we will provide them with the relief they deserve.
I thank Senators Bingaman and Murkowski, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, for their assistance in seeing this measure passed by Congress and sent to the President. I also thank Representative James Hansen, my good friend and the sponsor of the companion measure in the House for all he has done to make this legislation possible.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-
reported amendments be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee amendments were agreed to.
The bill (H. R. 2385), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, before we get to the next matter, let me express my appreciation to the Senator from Utah, Mr. Bennett. He has been here all night. But for him, we would not have made the progress we have. All Senators should be very grateful for his weighing in on these delicate matters. I appreciate what the Senator from Utah has done to help us get to this point.
Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I thank the assistant majority leader. I wish to make it clear that without his leadership and cooperation, we would not be doing what we are doing. It takes two hands to clap. We were waving our hands uselessly in the air until the Senator from Nevada stepped in. I am very grateful to him.
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