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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1034 Introduced in House (IH)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1034

To declare a portion of the James River and Kanawha Canal in Richmond, 
 Virginia, to be nonnavigable waters of the United States for purposes 
  of title 46, United States Code, and the other maritime laws of the 
                             United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 1999

 Mr. Bliley (for himself and Mr. Scott) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To declare a portion of the James River and Kanawha Canal in Richmond, 
 Virginia, to be nonnavigable waters of the United States for purposes 
  of title 46, United States Code, and the other maritime laws of the 
                             United States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The James River and Kanawha Canal, located in Richmond, 
        Virginia, played an important part in the economic development 
        of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Richmond.
            (2) The canal ceased to operate as a functioning waterway 
        in the conduct of commerce in the late 1800's.
            (3) Portions of the canal have been found by a Federal 
        district court to be nonnavigable.
            (4) The restored portion of the canal will be utilized to 
        provide entertainment and education to visitors and will play 
        an important part in the economic development of downtown 
        Richmond.
            (5) The restored portion of the canal will not be utilized 
        for general public boating, and will be restricted to 
        activities similar to those conducted on similar waters in San 
        Antonio, Texas.
            (6) The continued classification of the canal as navigable 
        waters of the United States based on historic usage that ceased 
        more than 100 years ago does not serve the public interest and 
        is not necessary to protect public safety.
            (7) Congressional action is required to clarify that the 
        canal is no longer to be treated as navigable waters of the 
        United States.

SEC. 2. PORTION OF JAMES RIVER AND KANAWHA CANAL DECLARED TO BE 
              NONNAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES.

    The portion of the canal known as the James River and Kanawha Canal 
in Richmond, Virginia, between the Great Ship Lock on the East and the 
border of the City of Richmond on the West is declared to be 
nonnavigable waters of the United States for purposes of title 46, 
United States Code, and the other maritime laws of the United States.
                                 <all>
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