E 1100 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 23, 1995

For more than a century, quality Catholic

education has been available on Milwaukee’s

South Side thanks to the traditions forged by

Pio Nono College and High School and by

Don Bosco High School. Although these two

outstanding schools have since merged to become Milwaukee’s Thomas More High School,

the standards of excellence and commitment

to Catholic principles which they established

remain as strong and true as ever.

Pio Nono College was founded in 1870 and

initially trained young men in music and teaching. For a time, Pio Nono stood as one of this

country’s foremost centers of Catholic liturgical

music. As the educational needs of the Milwaukee diocese evolved, the focus of Pio

Nono changed. Over the years, Pio Nono was

transformed into a boarding and day school

for young men, later into the St. Francis Minor

Seminary, and by 1965, into Pio Nono High

School. Throughout these changes, Pio

Nono’s commitment to providing quality Catholic education never wavered.

By the mid 1940’s, the need arose on Milwaukee’s South Side for a high school serving

young men who sought a Catholic education,

but who were not called to join a seminary. In

1945, Don Bosco High School was founded in

response to that need. For the next two and

a half decades, Don Bosco High School,

under the guidance of the Marianist order of

priests and brothers, prepared scores of Milwaukee’s young men for the lifetime of challenges that lay before them. I am very proud

to be among those members of our community who received their scholastic and spiritual

foundation at Don Bosco.

By the late 1960’s, the needs of the Milwaukee diocese had again changed, and in 1972,

these two institutions were merged into Thomas More High School. This year, as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of

Pio Nono and the 50th anniversary of the

founding of Don Bosco, we can be proud that

the traditions of those outstanding schools are

being carried forward into the future by Thomas More. The alumni of Pio Nono, Don Bosco,

and Thomas More owe a debt of thanks to the

men and women, past and present, who cared

enough to make quality and affordable Catholic education available to our community.

TACOMA AMENDMENT TO H.R. 961

CLEAN WATER AMENDMENTS

fACT OF 1995

HON. BILL EMERSON OF MISSOURI

HON. GREG LAUGHLIN OF TEXAS

HON. RANDY TATE OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues

and I rise today to supplement the discussion

we and several of our distinguished colleagues had on May 11, 1995. We were successful in amending H.R. 961, the Clean

Water Amendments Act of 1995. During the

debate, Mr. Emerson offered his amendment,

and then accepted the substitute to his

amendment that was offered by Mr. Laughlin

and Mr. Tate. The substitute for the amendment is called the Tacoma amendment and is

described as follows.

The amendment would resolve the uncertainty in regulation of hydroelectric projects

caused by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent

decision in PUD No. 1 of Jefferson County et

al. Versus Washington Department of Ecology

et al., known as the Tacoma case. In Tacoma,

the Supreme Court ruled that State water

quality agencies under section 401 of the

Clean Water Act may determine whether a hydroelectric project qualifies as a designated

use of a water body, prescribe flow conditions

for the project, and impose conditions on the

project under either State water quality standards for any other appropriate requirement of

State law.

The Tacoma case brings section 401 of the

Clean Water Act into conflict with the comprehensive licensing process already administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC] under the Federal Power Act

[FPA]. Under the FPA, FERC exhaustively

evaluates and balances all public values affected by a project in a lengthy and comprehensive process that requires a minimum

of 5 years to complete. The considerations examined thoroughly by FERC include all aspects of water quality as well as a need for

power, irrigation, flood control, recreation, effects on Indian tribes, effects on Federal

lands, endangered species concerns, and effects of fish and wildlife habitat.

Thus, the problem with the Tacoma case is

two-fold. First, it creates duplication by allowing for 50 mini-FERC processes at the State

level to be added to the already costly and

burdensome process before FERC. Second, it

potentially leaves hydroelectric licensing conditions in the hands of agencies that are

charged with maintaining only one value,

namely water quality.

In recognition that hydroelectric development frequently presents conflicts among competing societal values, there must be an ultimate arbiter that resolves such conflicts on the

basis of weighing and balancing all interests.

FERC is charged with filling that role under

Federal law. If licensing conditions are left in

the hands of water quality agencies who have

no responsibility to the overall public interest it

is inevitable that licensing decisions will be

made on the basis of environmental impacts

alone.

The amendment is a compromise approach

to the Tacoma problem which is supported by

the hydroelectric industry. It uses as departure

point the fact that the Supreme Court in Tacoma explicitly left open the question of what

happens when section 401 conditions conflict

with licensing conditions chosen by FERC.

The amendment would allow State water quality agencies to exercise the broad reach of authority under Tacoma, but State-imposed conditions would yield in situations where FERC

finds inconsistency with the purposes and requirements under the Federal Power Act.

These situations should be rare.

The Tacoma amendment is not a perfect

solution for the hydroelectric industry, but an

attempt to meet the States halfway. As directed by Chairman SHUSTER at the full committee markup of H.R. 961, representatives of

the hydroelectric industry have met with the

National Governors Association and the Western States Water Council in an attempt to

achieve a consensus approach. These efforts

have not been successful; nor have State interests come forward with any alternatives of

their own. Resolution of the Tacoma issue is

essential to the continued viability of hydroelectric resources since the majority of existing

projects will undergo relicensing, and therefore

section 401 certification, within the near future.

IN RECOGNITION OF THE ENFIELD

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION

fCOUNCIL VOLUNTEERS IN ENFIELD, CT

HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and respect that I rise

to commend the many students, parents, educators, and professionals who are members of

the Enfield Substance Abuse Prevention

Council and will be honored for their efforts to

raise community awareness of substance

abuse.

This evening, at Enrico Fermi High School,

the council will be hosting a celebration of

youth to recognize the dedication and accomplishments of the volunteers, both children and

adults, who have volunteered their time, energy, and experience to causes or projects

whose mission is related to substance abuse

prevention.

Substance abuse prevention is critical to the

health and prosperity of all citizens, and I express my appreciation to all of the volunteers

who have worked together and daily demonstrate their commitment to the quality of life

in Enfield, CT.

A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT WIENS

fHON. JERRY LEWIS OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I

would like to bring to your attention the fine

work and outstanding public service of Mr.

Robert Wiens of Redlands, CA. Bob, a dedicated professional and longtime community

activist, has retired as the president and chief

executive officer of Redlands Federal Bank

after 38 years of service to Inland Empire. A

tribute dinner will be held in his honor on June

17 with the proceeds of the event going to the

Inland Empire Habitat for Humanity

Bob Wiens graduated from the University of

Redlands in 1956 and later attended Indiana

University’s Graduate School of Savings and

Loan. Following graduation, Bob went to work

at Redlands Federal Bank where he spent almost the next 40 years of his professional life,

moving up the professional ranks and leaving

an indelible impression upon the bank and the

local community. In his first 27 years with

Redlands Federal, Bob served as a bank teller, manager of the Beaumont and Yucaipa

branches, corporate secretary, treasurer/controller, and executive vice-president. In 1983,

Bob became president and chief operating officer, and 3 years later, became president and

chief executive officer. Bob became chairman,

president, and chief executive officer in 1992.

To say the least, Bob Wiens has played an

extraordinary and critical role in our community. Since 1976, he has served in numerous