Hearing on H.R. 588, to Amend the National Trails
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HEARING ON H.R. 588, TO AMEND THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT TO CREATE A NEW CATEGORY OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS TO BE KNOWN AS NATIONAL DISCOVERY TRAILS, TO AUTHORIZE THE AMERICAN DISCOVERY TRAIL AS THE FIRST TRAIL IN THAT CATEGORY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; AND H.R. 1513, A BILL TO AMEND THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT TO DESIGNATE THE LINCOLN NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL AS A COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H.R. 588 AND H.R. 1513ÐTO AMEND THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT JUNE 10, 1997ÐWASHINGTON, DC Serial No. 105±22 Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 42±393 CC WASHINGTON : 1997 COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES DON YOUNG, Alaska, Chairman W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana GEORGE MILLER, California JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts JIM SAXTON, New Jersey NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado PETER A. DEFAZIO, Oregon JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland Samoa KEN CALVERT, California NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii RICHARD W. POMBO, California SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas BARBARA CUBIN, Wyoming OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho FRANK PALLONE, JR., New Jersey LINDA SMITH, Washington CALVIN M. DOOLEY, California GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELOÂ , Puerto WALTER B. JONES, JR., North Carolina Rico WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York JOHN SHADEGG, Arizona ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada SAM FARR, California ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island CHRIS CANNON, Utah ADAM SMITH, Washington KEVIN BRADY, Texas WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts JOHN PETERSON, Pennsylvania CHRIS JOHN, Louisiana RICK HILL, Montana DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin Islands BOB SCHAFFER, Colorado RON KIND, Wisconsin JIM GIBBONS, Nevada LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho LLOYD A. JONES, Chief of Staff ELIZABETH MEGGINSON, Chief Counsel CHRISTINE KENNEDY, Chief Clerk/Administrator JOHN LAWRENCE, Democratic Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah, Chairman ELTON, GALLEGLY, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee Samoa JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia RICHARD W. POMBO, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan LINDA SMITH, Washington FRANK PALLONE, JR., New Jersey GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELOÂ , Puerto WALTER B. JONES, JR., North Carolina Rico JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island RICK HILL, Montana WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts JIM GIBBONS, Nevada DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin Islands RON KIND, Wisconsin LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas ALLEN FREEMYER, Counsel STEVE HODAPP, Professional Staff LIZ BIRNBAUM, Democratic Counsel (II) C O N T E N T S Page Hearing held June 10, 1997ÐWashington, DC .................................................... 1 Statements of Members: Bereuter, Hon. Doug, a Representative in Congress from the State of Nebraska ........................................................................................................ 4 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 7 Hansen, Hon. James V., a Representative in Congress from the State of Utah, prepared statement ........................................................................ 2 Pickett, Hon. Owen B., a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia ...................................................................................................... 24 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 25 Weller, Hon. Jerry, a Representative in Congress from the State of Illi- nois ................................................................................................................. 9 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 11 Statements of witnesses: Joslin, Robert C., Deputy Chief, U.S. Forest Service .................................... 18 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 68 Lillard, David, President, American Hiking Society ..................................... 26 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 73 Lock, Leonard E. ............................................................................................... 31 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 102 Lukei, Mr. Reese, Jr., National Coordinator, American Discovery Trail Society ............................................................................................................ 27 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 81 Stevenson, Katherine H., Associate Director, Cultural Resources, Stew- ardship and Partnership, National Park Service ....................................... 17 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 53 Theis, Bill, Member, S.T.O.P. (Stop Taking Our Properties) Steering Com- mittee ............................................................................................................. 29 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 92 Additional material supplied: Bratton, Richard V., Mayor, Green Mountain Falls, CO .............................. 77 Dudley, Ellen and Eric Seaborg, Members of the original team that scouted the American Discovery Trail route .............................................. 50 News-Dispatch, Sept. 5, 1997 .......................................................................... 101 Settler's Advocate, May 1, 1997 ...................................................................... 100 H.R. 588 ............................................................................................................. 38 H.R. 1513 ........................................................................................................... 47 S. Res. 57 ........................................................................................................... 95 (III) HEARING ON H.R. 588, TO AMEND THE NA- TIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT TO CREATE A NEW CATEGORY OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS TO BE KNOWN AS NATIONAL DIS- COVERY TRAILS, TO AUTHORIZE THE AMERICAN DISCOVERY TRAIL AS THE FIRST TRAIL IN THAT CATEGORY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; AND H.R. 1513, A BILL TO AMEND THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT TO DESIGNATE THE LINCOLN NA- TIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL AS A COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1997 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON NA- TIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS, COMMITTEE ON RE- SOURCES, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:04 a.m. in room 1334, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. James V. Hansen presiding. Mr. HANSEN. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands convenes this hearing to receive testimony on H.R. 588, the National Discovery Trails Act of 1997, and H.R. 1513, the Lincoln National Historic Trail Act. The first bill is H.R. 588, the National Discovery Trails Act of 1997, introduced by Mr. Bereuter and cosponsored by many of our colleagues, which would amend the National Trails Systems Act of 1968 by creating a new category of long-distance national trails and authorizing the American Discovery Trail as the first trail in this new category. [The information appears at the end of the hearing.] Mr. HANSEN. The second bill is H.R. 1513, introduced by Mr. Weller, to amend the National Trails Act of 1968 by designating the Lincoln National Historic Trail in the State of Illinois. [The information appears at the end of the hearing.] Mr. HANSEN. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Na- tional Trails System Act of 1968, we should reflect briefly on the impact this legislation has had. From the initial recognition of the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States and the Pacific Crest Trail of the western United States, the National Trails Sys- tem today encompasses over 37,000 miles of trails in 45 States, (1) 2 consisting of 20 congressionally designated, nationally scenic and historic trails, administered by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. In addition, there are over 800 recognized national recreation trails that do not require congressional authorization, which are administered by local, State and private organizations after designations by the Sec- retary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture. H.R. 588 will amend the National Trails System Act of 1968 to establish a new congressionally authorized trail category. National discovery trails, which will be extended contiguous to interstate trails, providing outstanding outdoor recreation and travel opportu- nities. The national discovery trails would intertwine national, cul- tural and historic resources