[Senate Report 106-442]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 887
106th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 106-442
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VIRGINIA WILDERNESS ACT OF 2000
_______
September 29, 2000.--Ordered to be printed
Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of September 28
(legislative day, September 22), 2000
_______
Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2865]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2865) to designate certain land of the
National Forest System located in the State of Virginia as
wilderness, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Measure
The purpose of S. 2865 is to amend Public Law 100-326 to
designate certain land of the National Forest System located in
the States of Virginia and West Virginia as Wilderness.
Background and Need
The Virginia Wilderness Act (Public Law 100-326),
identified wilderness study areas in the George Washington
National Forest for evaluation as wilderness during the
revision process for the land and resource management plan for
the George Washington National Forest. The plan revision,
completed in 1993, recommends wilderness consideration for the
Priest Wilderness Study Area and the Three Ridges Study Area.
Congressional action is necessary to designate wilderness.
Legislative History
S. 2865 was introduced by Senators Robb and Warner on July
13, 2000. The Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land
Management held a hearing on S. 2865 on September 13, 2000. At
a business meeting on September 20, 2000, the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2865 reported favorably
without amendment.
Committee Recommendation and Tabulation of Votes
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on September 20, 2000, by a voice vote of
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 2865.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1 provides the title of the Act as the Virginia
Wilderness Act of 2000.
Section 2 amends the existing Virginia and West Virginia
Wilderness Act to add the Priest Wilderness Area and the Three
Ridges Wilderness Area to the Act.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate of the costs
of this measure has been requested but was not received at the
time the report was filed. When the report becomes available
the Chairman will request that they be printed in the
Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 2865.
The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of
imposing Government-established standards or significant
economic responsibilities on private individuals and
businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 2865, as ordered reported.
Executive Communications
On September 25, 2000 the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of
Agriculture and the Office of Management and Budget setting
forth Executive agency recommendations on S. 2865. These
reports had not been received at the time the report on S. 2865
was filed. When the reports become available, the Chairman will
request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for
the advice of the Senate. The testimony provided by the Forest
Service at the Subcommittee hearing follows:
Statement of Paul Brouha, Associate Deputy Chief, USDA--Forest Service
Dear Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank
you for the opportunity to testify today on S. 2865, the
Virginia Wilderness Act of 2000.
The Administration supports S. 2865.
S. 2865, the Virginia Wilderness Act of 2000, proposes to
amend Public Law 100-326 by adding the Priest and Three Ridges
areas to the National Wilderness Preservation System. These two
areas were reviewed by George Washington National Forest
personnel during the forest planning effort completed in 1993.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision
identified these areas as potential wilderness and recommended
them for wilderness study.
The Priest
The Priest is an area 5,963 acres in size. It is located in
the northeast portion of the Pedlar Ranger District on the
George Washington National Forest, east of the Blue Ridge
Parkway in Nelson County, Virginia. Elevations range from 4,063
feet at the Priest Mountain summit to 997 feet above sea level.
The area is generally very steep and rugged consisting of
undulating ridges with deep ``V'' shaped hollows. Large rock
outcrops are common throughout. This area contains spectacular
mountain scenery.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail provides access to
very rugged terrain. Vistas from the Appalachian Trail are
restricted due to the closed vegetative canopy; however, spur
trails to overlooks, rock outcrops, and waterfalls provide
magnificent views of the surrounding area.
Little evidence of turn-of-the-century activities would be
evident to the casual visitor. The very limited number of old
skid trails and haul roads have grown over with vegetation and
have healed, and are being used as hiking or horse trails.
Timber harvest areas where logging and prior road construction
occurred in the past are not readily apparent to the casual
visitor. The last major logging took place in the western part
of the area around 1945 when the South River Lumber Company
extended their railroad to Crabtree Meadows. The only evidence
remaining of this logging activity is American chestnut stumps
and the pole size second growth timber in the area. There are
no valid mining claims or mineral leases within the wilderness
study area. There are no private land inholdings within the
area.
Activities in association with the Appalachian Trail are
visually evident but have not had any significant or permanent
influence on the area's ecological processes. There are
periodic improvements and maintenance to the Priest Trail
Shelter, the Appalachian Trail, and associated side trails. A
picnic table, fire grill, and pit toilet are located at the
shelter. Primitive, dispersed campsites are scattered
throughout the area, but are inconspicuous. Wooden directional
signs are present along the trails.
Three Ridges
The Three Ridges is 4,608 acres in size. It is located in
the Pedlar District on the George Washington National forest,
east of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Nelson and Augusta counties,
Virginia. Three Ridges is the major northern topographic
feature of the Pedlar Ranger District. This area encompasses a
very rugged and steep range of mountains along the crest of the
Blue Ridge. Elevations range from about 1,000 feet to 3,970
feet above sea level. The general topographic pattern is steep,
undulating ridges with deep ``V'' shaped hollows. Large rock
outcrops are common throughout the area.
Three Ridges contains some of the most spectacular mountain
scenery in Virginia. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail
provides access to very rugged terrain with rock cliffs and
chimneys. Sight distance from the Appalachian Trail is
restricted due to the closed vegetative canopy; however, spur
trails to overlooks, rock outcrops, and waterfalls provide
magnificent views of the Shenandoah, Rockfish, and Tye River
Valleys.
The swinging bridge on the Appalachian Trail, located just
outside the boundary, across the Tye River is considered to be
unusual and special. Hikers rate the northbound climb from
Harper's Creek shelter to the top of Three Ridges as one of the
steepest and toughest along the entire trail. There are some
tremendous opportunities in Three Ridges to experience solitude
and serenity, although many hikers use the Appalachian Trail
and shelter sites.
Timber stand improvement on 176 acres was performed in
1961. Wildlife habitat improvements, such as pruning, planting,
spring (water) improvements, and cutting of black locust, were
accomplished in the early 1970s. Because of the rugged terrain
and lack of access, there is no record of any timber sale
harvest in the Three Ridges Area and any existing old skid
trails and haul roads have grown over with vegetation and are
now healed.
Activities in association with the Appalachian Trail and
five old home sites are visually evident. The home sites are
managed as wildlife areas and were last maintained between 1983
and 1985. Nature is rapidly reclaiming these areas to native
vegetation. These areas would not be maintained if the area
is designated as wilderness. There are periodic improvements
and maintenance to the Maupin Field and Harpers Creek Shelters
and to the Appalachian Trail and its associated side trails.
Off road vehicle use in the area is limited. There are
currently no trails designated for motorized use. None of Three
Ridges is suitable for the development of a motorized trail
system.
There are neither valid mining claims nor mineral leases.
There are no private landholdings within the area.
In summary, both of these areas are suitable for wilderness
designation. They provide opportunities for solitude,
spectacular vistas, and challenging outdoor experiences. We
support S. 2865 as proposed.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the bill S. 2865, as ordered reported, are shown as follows
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman):
Public Law 100-326
AN ACT To designate certain national forest system lands in the States
of Virginia and West Virginia as wilderness areas
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131-1136), the following lands in the States of
Virginia and West Virginia are hereby designated as wilderness
and, therefore, as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(5) certain lands in the Jefferson National Forest,
which comprise approximately 72 acres, as generally
depicted on a map entitled ``Lewis Fork Wilderness Area
Addition--Proposed'', dated June 1987, and which shall
be known as the Lewis Fork Wilderness Area; [and]
(6) certain lands in the Jefferson National Forest,
which comprise approximately 2,500 acres, as generally
depicted on a map entitled ``Mountain Lake Wilderness
Area Addition--Proposed'', dated June 1987, and which
shall be known as the Mountain Lake Wilderness Area[.];
(7) certain land in the George Washington National
Forest, comprising approximately 6,500 acres, as
generally depicted on a map entitled ``The Priest
Wilderness Study Area'', dated June 6, 2000, to be
known as the ``Priest Wilderness Area''; and
(8) certain land in the George Washington National
Forest, comprising approximately 4,800 acres, as
generally depicted on a map entitled ``The Three Ridges
Wilderness Study Area'', dated June 6, 2000, to be
known as the ``Three Ridges Wilderness Area.''
* * * * * * *