Mr. TAYLOR. And you did not include that in your figures? Mr. MEEDS. No; that is not included in my proposal, because it is part of the existing wilderness system. Mr. TAYLOR. So the difference, acrewise, is about 300,000-some rather than 700,000? Mr. MEEDS. That is right. As I recall my testimony, I created the impression that the chairman got, and I just wanted to make sure that that was not the case. Mr. TAYLOR. We appreciate your clearing up that point. Mrs. May, we thank you very much for your testimony. Mr. TAYLOR. I was very much impressed by the pictures of this area appearing in the National Geographic recently. Mrs. MAY. Weren't they beautiful, though. Mr. TAYLOR. We were out there last spring and were very disappointed that the weather wouldn't even let us fly over there. Mrs. MAY. As Mr. Meeds can testify, a million pictures still doesn't do justice to it. Mr. TAYLOR. I might tell you that area is of special interest to me. I was born out there in Julia Hansen's district. Mrs. MAY. For goodness sake, we knew there was something good about him, unusually good, didn't we. Mr. TAYLOR. A statement received from Congressman Burt Talcott of California will be placed in the record at this point without objection. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF HON. BURT L. TALCOTT, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Mr. Chairman and Members of your Subcommittee, it is a privilege and pleasure for me to appear before you today in support of the proposed North Cascades National Park. I commend the work done by the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and your Subcommittee's part in recent Congresses in the field of conservation and recreation legislation. Just to mention a few, one immediately thinks of the establishment of the National Wilderness Preservation System, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, the Cape Cod National Seashore Act, and others. I am hopeful that a National Redwood Park, worthy of the majestic greatness of these most noble of nature's creations, will soon come out of conference and be enacted into law. The beauties and wonders of nature surpass man's creativity and inspire a sense of awe in any sensitive beholder. The land for which we have been given the responsibility of custodianship has been richly endowed with unique geological and horticultural phenomena. We are eternally grateful for the foresight and vision of our predecessors who established the National Park System and set aside many of our natural wonders. The area in the proposed North Cascades National Park is almost virgin territory and contains unexcelled panoramic scenic vistas, glacier-fed lakes, mountain accents, and an opportunity for human solace and close communion with nature. If these areas are desecrated in search of minerals considered by some to be in short supply at the moment, all future generations will pay a heavy price for our temporary enrichment. Measured against the values of centuries, such misuse of this area is too high a price to pay and too exorbitantly wasteful. I respectfully urge approval of this bill so that our generation and succeeding generations may find, when they seek, refuge and renewal in the quietude and splendor of the Cascades and that history will place our actions in the same league with the great conservationists who have gone before us. Mr. TAYLOR. This finishes our testimony on North Cascades. In the morning we will hear Secretary Udall at 9:45 on North Cascades. The Democratic caucus that was planned in the morning, I understand, has been canceled. In the absence of objection, I would like to place in the record a letter from Thomas L. Kimball, a letter from Charles H. Callison, a letter from John M. Nelson, a letter from George B. Hartzog, a letter from Robert L. McCarty, and a statement from the American Forestry Association. (The documents follow :) Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, Chairman, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We have a copy of the Committee's press release of July 19, 1968, announcing that restricted hearings will be held July 26 upon bills to create a North Cascades National Park in the State of Washington. The announcement indicates that the hearings are exclusively for the purpose of receiving testimony from Congressional witnesses and representatives of affected Federal agencies. This procedure, of course, excludes private citizen-type organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, which did not appear in the field hearings because of an understanding that an opportunity would be afforded later in Washington, D.C. If this is an informative hearing, one designed to develop additional data, and public witnesses will be heard later, the National Wildlife Federation's position need not be expressed at this time. However, if this is an action type of hearing which may result in Committee "markup" on the bills, we want to register our opposition to the project as is indicated in the attached copy of Resolution No. 14, adopted at the annual convention of the National Wildlife Federation earlier this year and have it made a part of the hearing record. Also, if this is an action type of hearing, I must register a vigorous protest against a procedure which does not allow major citizen-type organizations based in Washington, D.C., an opportunity to be heard. Sincerely, Inclosure. THOMAS L. KIMBALL, RESOLUTION NO. 14-NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, 32D ANNUAL CONVENTION, HOUSTON, TEX., MARCH 8-10, 1968 NORTH CASCADES, WASH. Whereas the State of Washington is experiencing rapid growth, both in population and in industrial production, and many people move to the area or visit it because of the varied types of outdoor recreation which are available; and Whereas the North Cascades Mountains are unsurpassed for scenic beauty and offer a broad variety of outdoor recreational opportunities; and Whereas the State of Washington has been outstanding in its successful efforts to manage game and game fish and provide quality experiences in high country hunting; and Whereas this North Cascades Primitive Area has been preserved under the able management of the U.S. Forest Service since 1935; and Whereas the State of Washington has the smallest land area of the western states, is second only to California in population: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the National Wildlife Federation, in annual convention assembled March 8, 1968, at Houston, Texas, hereby expresses its opposition to the creation of a North Cascades National Park from National Forest lands; provided, however, that should the Congress create a national park, the park should be limited to the alpine reaches of the Picket Range to offer facilities of a national park with a minimal effect on hunting and fishing opportunities; and be it further Resolved, That the proposed Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas should be managed by the U.S. Forest Service as well as lands and waters within the North Cascades Primitive Area and the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area. Hon, Roy A. TAYLOR, NATIONAL AUBUBON SOCIETY, Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation. DEAR MR. TAYLOR: Please include this letter in your record of the hearing on H.R. 8970 and S. 1321 to establish a national park, recreation area and wilderness in the North Cascades. Generally, the National Audubon Society supports these bills which would help to protect a unique area of incomparable beauty. We are disappointed with the bills in many particulars, but we believe that at this late date the adoption of the Senate-passed bill would constitute a good start toward protection of the North Cascades, and that strengthening amendments could wait for the next session. Yours truly, Hon. WAYNE ASPINALL, CHARLES H. CALLISON, CITY OF SEATTLE, DEPARTMENT OF LIGHTING, Seattle, Wash., July 12, 1968. Chairman, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. ASPINALL: Geological investigations, conducted this summer by the City of Seattle in regard to the Thunder Creek Project, have indicated that the site originally considered as a point of diversion of the stream is unsuitable for an arch dam. Consequently, we are now directing our attention to a site about one mile upstream. This would result in a smaller dam, but a longer tunnel, and a smaller reservoir with a surface elevation at about 1830 feet. On the map' entitled "Proposed Management Units, North Cascade Washington," which is referred to in Section 101 of S. 1321, it appears that the proposed reservoir at the new site would be included within the National Recreational Area. However, since no description of the boundary is given other than the graphic illustration, we wish to go on record as requesting that no part of the line designating the Ross Dam National Recreational Area go below the 1850 contour as it crosses Thumder Creek and McAllister Creek. We are writing similarly to the Honorable Henry M. Jackson. Yours very truly, JOHN M. NELSON, Superintendent of Lighting. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, Washington, D.C., July 26, 1968. Chairman, Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in reference to the letter of John M. Nelson, Seattle City Light, relating to the boundary of the proposed Ross Lake National Recreation Area in the vicinity of Thunder Creek. We believe there is no problem. The boundary in this location was expressly chosen so as to locate Seattle City Light's project within the recreation area and thereby avoid prejudging the issues before the Federal Power Commission in proceedings relating to Seattle City Light's application for a license. The bill expressly continues the jurisdiction 1 Placed in committee files. of the FPC in the two recreation areas. It is clearly intended that none of the Seattle City Light's project be located within the proposed park. The boundary is not drawn on a topographic map, and its location in regard to the 1,850 foot contour can only be estimated. However, it seems clear that if the area included in the application for the project license goes to the 1,850 foot contour, the boundary set by S. 1321 is necessarily above that elevation. Your committee may want to clarify this matter further by noting in its report that the legislation does not affect the FPC's jurisdiction in regard to the Thunder Creek Project below the 1,850 contour. Sincerely yours, GEORGE B. HARTZOG, Director. MCCARTY AND NOONE, COUNSELLORS AT LAW, Washington, D.C. July 30, 1968. Re North Cascades proposal and Thunder Creek project, FPC No. 2657. Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This relates to National Parks Director Hartzog's letter of July 26, 1968 commenting on Mr. John M. Nelson's letter of July 12 informing you of changes in the Thunder Creek project necessitated by studies being conducted by the Department of Lighting, City of Seattle, under the preliminary permit issued to Seattle by the Federal Power Commission. It appeared that the City's proposals would be covered despite the changes but Mr. Nelson wished to make certain in view of the importance of the studies and the expense involved. Mr. Hartzog's letter makes it clear that while the map referred to in S. 1321 (which presumably will be the map incorporated by reference in H.R. 8970) is not a topographic map it was nevertheless intended that the boundaries include the Seattle proposals within the proposed Ross Lake National Recreation area, where FPC would continue to have jurisditcion, and not within the proposed park. This clarification by Mr. Hartzog is very helpful as is his suggestion that you may wish to make reference to the situation in the Committee report. With thanks for your consideration, Sincerely, ROBERT L. MCCARTY. STATEMENT BY THE AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, SUBMITTED BY KENNETH B. POMEROY I am Kenneth B. Pomeroy, Chief Forester of The American Forestry Association. The fundamental issues posed by H.R. 8970 are (a) how best to preserve wilderness conditions, and (b) how best to provide for mass recreation in an area having exceptional values for both purposes. Title I of H.R. 8970 calls for establishment of a two-unit North Cascades National Park. Heretofore, most of the Northern Unit, composed mainly of the Picket Range, has been managed as a national forest wilderness. If reclassified as a national park, parts of the area would be opened up for mass recreation by means of trails and tramways according to news releases issued by the Department of the Interior. The American Forestry Association believes it would be a mistake to turn the vacationing public loose on a wilderness by opening it up as a park. Under present administrative procedures all of this rugged scenic area would be preserved in its natural condition under the Wilderness Act of 1964. We do not know what percentage would be retained as wilderness if the area is reclassified as a park. No portion of any national park has ever been formerly designated as wilderness up to this date. The Southern Unit of the proposed national park, extending from Eldorado Peaks to the Stehekin Valley presently is managed for multiple purposes with recreation as the dominant use. Members of our Association make annual camping trips via horseback into this area. We recommend that the Eldorado PeaksStehekin Valley area continue to be managed as at present. The proposal in Title II of H.R. 8970 to manage lands surrounding Ross Lake, Skagit River, and related areas for multiple purposes as a national recreation area has our full support. This plan is a neat solution to potential conflicts between reservoir and highway developments versus wilderness and park values. Title VI to establish a Pasayten Wilderness Area also has our full support. This area has always been managed for wilderness purposes and should be formally classified now for permanent wilderness use. We approve also of Section 602 to extend the boundaries of the Glacier Peark Wilderness to include about 10,000 acres in the Suiattle River corridor and the White Chuck River. In summary, The American Forestry Association recommends against establishment of a two-unit National Park and recommends in favor of establishment of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and the Pasayten Wilderness under Forest Service administration. (Whereupon, the subcommittee proceeded to other business.) |