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[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.''

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                                  
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