THE NORTH CASCADES

Part III

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1968

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE

COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to recess, at 10:05 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Roy A. Taylor (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Mr. TAYLOR. The subcommittee will come to order for the purpose of continuing hearings on H.R. 8970 and pending bills establishing the North Cascades National Park.

The first witness this morning is the Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior.

Mr. Udall, we welcome you.

STATEMENT OF HON. STEWART L. UDALL, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; ACCOMPANIED BY DR. EDWARD C. CRAFTS, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND GEORGE B. HARTZOG, JR., DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. ASPINALL. Before we get into the questioning of departmental witnesses, after the Secretary and his group have made their presentations, could we have the representatives of the Department of Agriculture come up and make their presentation, and then question them all together? I know Secretary Udall has to leave and that is all right. Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Secretary, you may proceed.

Secretary UDALL. I have Dr. Crafts, of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, and Mr. Hartzog with me this morning.

I have a brief statement which I will read and try to make our presentation as brief as possible this morning.

It is a particular pleasure for me to have this opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of legislation which would create a North Cascades National Park, two national recreation areas, and one Forest Service wilderness area in the State of Washington. This proposal ranks among the four or five most far-reaching and significant of the conservation proposals before the Congress this session. I am grateful, Mr. Chairman, to you and other members of the committee for the attention you are giving to it.

Use of the North Cascades area has been the subject of great interest by many groups and individuals for well over 30 years. Several studies

have been conducted to determine how these magnificent lands could best be utilized in the public interest.

The most thorough study was completed 2 years ago by a joint Agriculture-Interior study team chaired by Edward C. Crafts, Director, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. I believe you have copies of the study team's report before you today. The study team considered all the resources prevalent in a much larger area-lumbering, mining, grazing, hunting and fishing, water and recreation-and recognized the North Cascades scenic and recreational values which are unprecedented in any other area in this country.

The team made 21 recommendations, and among these was the conclusion that a national park should be established to include about one-tenth of the region's most spectacular mountain, valley, glacier, meadow, and lake scenery.

In 1966, President Johnson requested that a field inspection be made of the area by Secretary of Agriculture Freeman, the Deputy Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and myself.

As a result of this inspection and the study team report, President Johnson in January 1967 recommended establishment of a national park-wilderness area-recreation area complex, and in March of that year, a proposed bill was submitted to Congress by the administration. This bill was introduced in the House by Representative Meeds as H.R. 8970, and an identical bill was introduced in the Senate.

Extensive field hearings by this committee were held in Seattle and Wenatchee earlier this year in the North Cascades area in the State of Washington.

The details of this bill and the views of the local people are well known to the committee, including

(1) The minimal dependency of the timber, grazing, and other resource-based industries of the State on the park and recreation areas;

(2) The stability provided to the concerned counties through a provision that would not affect distribution of national forest receipts;

(3) The probable economic benefits flowing from creation of a national park;

(4) The protection given to the North Cross-State Highway; and

(5) The opportunity in national recreation areas to fully develop the ski potential, to permit hunting, and to protect present and potential developments of Seattle City Light. There is little point in my attempting at this hearing today to go into details on these matters.

The legislation before you today, in my judgment, will provide management units which recognize the superlative qualities of the entire region as a recreation complex without parallel, and each unit is singularly fitted for the management designation given to it.

Enactment of either the administration or the Senate-passed bill would, in my opinion, be not only acceptable but a great step forward. Attached to my prepared statement is a summary of H.R. 8970, the administration bill introduced by Representative Meeds, and S. 1321, which the Senate passed in November 1967. This summary shows the few major differences between these measures.

It will be noted that the principal difference between the administration and the Senate-passed bill is that the latter reduces the size of the

proposed 570,000-acre national park recommended by the administration to 505,000 acres. In lieu thereof the Senate-passed bill would establish a 62,000-acre Lake Chelan National Recreation Area whereas the administration bill would include this area in the national park.

We believe the Senate-passed bill, like H.R. 8970, will provide for the effective management and administration necessary to carry out the purposes of this proposal. The costs involved in both bills are approximately the same. In both cases, land acquisition is a minimal factor, since over 99 percent of the lands involved are already publicly owned.

Mr. Chairman, the North Cascades Mountains area is, as I am certain you will agree, among the most magnificent areas in the world. This area of rugged scenic beauty lies adjacent to the Northwest's most populous area. With completion of the North Cross-State Highway and the off-highway access to be provided by the National Park Service and Forest Service, thousands of people will be able to see for themselves this beautiful area.

The area has been studied for years, the views of the people are known, the administration's position is clear, and it is time for congressional decision.

I am most happy that this committee has seen fit to consider this legislation, and it is my earnest hope that Congress will take final favorable action to establish this park before recessing next week.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN H.R. 8970 AND S. 1321, AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

I. PURPOSE

H.R. 8970-To establish the North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area, to designate the Pasayten Wilderness and modify the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

S. 1321-Same as H.R. 8970, except it also establishes a Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

Note: Land acquisition costs: Private land in national park and recreation area, including mineral patents, $3,402,000.

98-524-68-pt. 3- 5

Note: Land acquisition costs: Private land in national park and recreation areas, including mineral patents, $3,402,000.

IV. PROPERTY ACQUISITION AUTHORITY

H.R. 8970—Within the boundaries of the park and recreation area the Secretary may acquire property by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, except lands owned by the State and its political subdivisions may be acquired only by donation. The bill transfers Federal property within the park and recreation area boundaries to the Secretary's jurisdiction.

S. 1321-Same as H.R. 8970, except that section 301 provides that the Secretary may not acquire private property within the recreation areas, without the owner's consent, so long as the property is used compatibly with the purposes of the Act.

A. North Cross State highway

V. DEVELOPMENTS

H.R. 8970-No specific provision, but section 502 of the bill makes clear that the rights of the State of Washington in the property within the national recreation area used for this highway would not be adversely affected in any way. S. 1321-Specific provision in section 503 that the bill will not adversely affect any rights or privileges of the State in the property within the national recreation areas used for this highway.

B. Construction of other roads

H.R. 8970-No provision.

S. 1321-Specifically provides in section 402 (e) that the Secretary of the Interior shall not permit the construction or use of (1) any road within the park which would provide vehicle access from the North Cross State Highway to the Stehekin Road, or (2) any permanent road which would provide vehicle access between May Creek and Hozomeen along the east side of Ross Lake. C. Public use facilities

H.R. 8970-No specific provision.

S. 1321-Specific provision in section 504 that within two years after enactment of the bill the two Secretaries shall agree on areas needed for public use facilities (including interpretive centers, visitor contact stations, lodges, campsites, and ski lifts) and such facilities are required to be constructed according to a plan agreed upon by the two Secretaries.