Date: 2000-03-09
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman H.R. 1695 directs the conveyance of a substantial tract of public lands located near the Mojave National Preserve for the development of a large commercial airport and related facilities for the Las Vegas area. As reported by the Committee on Resources. H.R. 1695 was a controversial measure. The bill was opposed by the administration. the environmental community. and many Members because the legislation failed to adequately address the potential environmental impacts. landuse conflicts. and H766 co administrative problems associated with largescale land conveyance. Attempts were made to address these significant issues in the Committee on Resources. These efforts were spearheaded by our colleague. the gentleman from Minnesota . who is unable to be here with us today because he is recovering from major surgery. but I know he is watching this closely. The gentleman from Minnesota has been involved in the legislative consideration of -this matter for several years. and his expertise on public lands issues gave him keen insight into the problems associated with the bill. The gentleman from Minnesota offered several constructive amendments to the legislation in committee. Although the committee did not adopt these amendments at that time. the seeds of his efforts are bearing fruit. H.R. 1695 was headed to the floor this week with solid opposition from the administration. from the environmental community. and from many Members of Congress. including myself. concerned about the environmental consequences of this proposal. Fortunately. efforts have been underway to address these concerns. and for that I want to commend our colleague. the gentlewoman from Nevada . The involvement of the gentlewoman from Nevada was critical in helping to diffuse that opposition and make possible the managers amendment that will be offered to this legislation. In helping to craft these changes. the gentlewoman from Nevada showed herself to be a strong advocate for her community and the environment. I. can attest to that fact because I have been cornered by her numerous times over the last couple of months about this legislation and about her concerns for the opposition to the legislation that was being registered at that time. As a result of that. I believe the managers amendment that we now have before us makes a significant improvement to the bill by providing a joint lead agency status for the Department of the Interior on the Environmental Impact Statement necessary for the planning and construction of an airport facility on the conveyed lands. This is important. since the lands to be conveyed are currently administered by the Department of the Interior. and the potential environmental impacts of such an airport involve the Mojave National Preserve and other resource responsibilities of the Interior Department. A detailed EIS will be crucial in determining whether an airport should be placed within the Ivanpah Valley. As noted in the NEPA regulations. found in 40 CFR 1502.14. the EIS must rigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable alternatives. including the noaction alternative. Further. it will have to include a detailed analysis of environmental issues and consequences associated with the proposed airport facilities and the related infrastructure.