90TH CONGRESS 2d Session } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT No. 1857 AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY AND DESIRABILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA SEPTEMBER 4, 1968.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. TAYLOR, from the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H.R. 18333] The Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 18333) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility and desirability of establishing an Upper Mississippi Valley National Recreation Area between Wood River, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn., and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill do pass. The amendments are as follows: Page 2, line 7, strike out "one year" and insert "two years". Page 2, lines 22, 23 and 24, strike out all of paragraph (c) and insert: (c) the type of Federal, State, and local program that is feasible and desirable in the public interest to preserve, develop, and make accessible for public use the values set forth in subsection (a), including alternative means of achieving these values, together with a comparison of the costs and effectiveness of these alternative means. Page 3, line 4 strike out "to" and insert "or". Page 3, lines 9, 10 and 11, strike out all of section 4 and insert: SEC. 4. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, not to exceed $100,000. PURPOSE The purpose of H.R. 18333 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive study of the Upper Mississippi River Valley to determine the feasibility and desirability of establishing a national recreation area. NEED The area to be studied under the terms of H.R. 18333 comprises portions of the States of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota-an area readily accessible to more than 20 million people of the Midwest. From its southern terminus in St. Louis "The Gateway to the West"-through the countryside so picturesquely described by Samuel Langhorne Clemens and through lands rich in Indian lore, to the areas explored by Marquette and Joliet, this area comprises a wealth of American culture. Natural values along the Upper Mississippi are abundant; notwithstanding the fact that it lies in the heart of a heavily populated region. A major waterfowl flyway follows the river southward and many golden eagles make the area their winter home. Autumn leaves and a lazy summer river add to its attraction to Americans seeking outdoor enjoyment. Already this area is widely used for outdoor recreation purposes, but such use is heavily concentrated and tends to disturb and destroy the values which most people wish to use and enjoy. Because this area has so much to offer the Nation and to the millions of people living nearby. the committee feels that it would be judicious to begin to make a comprehensive evaluation of its recreation potentials. The Corps of Army Engineers has conducted some significant studies in this regard which should be most helpful in compiling a meaningful evaluation and report at the earliest possible time. Authorization of studies such as these are not specifically required: however, the Congress has, in the past, found this to be a useful and appropriate way to indicate and emphasize congressional interest. The committee firmly believes that this area is one which should be promptly surveyed before adverse activities endanger the prospects of future development of public outdoor recreation facilities. Once the study has been made and the report submitted to the Congress-which is to be within 2 years after the date of enactment-then the Congress will be in a position to evaluate its recommendations and determine what course of action should be taken to provide for the future outdoor recreation needs in this area. COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Aside from a clerical correction, the amendments recommended by the committee: (1) Provide that the study-report shall be submitted to the Congress within 2 years after the enactment of the act, rather than 1 year; (2) Broaden the scope of the study to assure complete consideration of all of the alternative means of promoting and developing the recreational resources in the area; and (3) Limit the funds authorized to be appropriated. COST As has been already pointed out, some studies concerning the recreation potential in the Upper Mississippi Valley have been conducted by the Corps of Army Engineers. Reference should be made to these studies at the outset to avoid duplication and to provide a basis for the comprehensive study to be conducted under this authority. In accordance with the estimates supplied to the committee, the authorized appropriation would be limited to no more than $100,000. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS The reports of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture are set forth below: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your committee has requested a report from this Department on H.R. 18333, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility and desirability of establishing an Upper Mississippi Valley National Recreation Area between Wood River, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn., and for other purposes. We understand that H.R. 18333 supersedes H.R. 12270. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to study, investigate, and formulate recommendations on the feasibility and desirability of establishing an Upper Mississippi Valley National Recreation Area on all or parts of the segment of the Mississippi River and adjacent lands between Wood River, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn., in the States of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Secretary is required to consult with interested Federal, State, and local bodies and officials, and to coordinate the study with applicable outdoor recreation plans, highway plans, and other planning activities relating to the region. The bill requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report of the study within 1 year after the bill is enacted. The report of the Secretary would contain, among other things, findings with respect to (1) the scenic, scientific, historic, outdoor recreation, and natural values of the water and related land resources involved; (2) the potential alternative beneficial uses of such resources; and (3) the type of Federal program that is feasible and desirable in the public interest to preserve, develop, and make accessible the values of such resources. We favor the study called for in the bill and would not object to its enactment with the amendments suggested below. Pending submission of the Secretary's report to the Congress, the bill directs the heads of Federal agencies administering the Federal lands within the study area to encourage and provide maximum opportunities for the types of recreation use specified in the bill. The proposed study area includes a segment approximately 665 miles long of the Upper Mississippi River along which the lands are in Federal, State, local, and private ownership and subject to a variety of uses. The Federal lands along this river segment are administered by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife of this Department and the Department of Army, Corps of Engineers. The enactment of legislation to authorize a study is not strictly necessary because the study could be conducted under existing authority. We believe it would be appropriate, however, to enact a study bill as an expression of congressional interest and emphasis. We recommend the following perfecting amendments to H.R. 18333: On page 2, line 6, delete the comma and on line 7 delete "within one year after the date of this Act,". In view of the substantial area required to be studied, and in view of the present fiscal and personnel constraints, we believe that the time limitation in the bill is inadequate. We recommend that no limitation be included in the bill. We will, however, endeavor to complete the study and report within 2 years after funds are available for the study. We estimate that the study will cost about $100,000. On page 2, change lines 22 through 24 to read as follows: "(c) the type of Federal, State, and local program that is feasible and desirable in the public interest to preserve, develop, and make accessible for public use the values set forth in subsection (a), including alternative means of achieving these values, together with a comparison of the costs and effectiveness of these alternative means.” This change will make it clear that all alternative means should be considered in the report relative to the presentation and development of the recreational values of this area. The Secretary's report to the Congress would also include appropriate findings with respect to the impact of the Federal program on the people living in the vicinity. We believe it is appropriate for these subjects also to be included in the study. On page 3, line 4, delete "to" and substitute "or". The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection. to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the administration's program. Sincerely yours, STANLEY A. CAIN, Assistant Secretary of the Interior. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, Washington, D.C., July 25, 1968. Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: As requested, here is our report on H.R. 18333, "To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility and desirability of establishing an Upper Mississippi Valley National Recreation Area between Wood River, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn., and for other purposes." We make no recommendation concerning the enactment of H.R. 18333. |