George Miller: “Mr. Speaker, the Mount Saint Helen's National Volcanic Monument Completion Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Mount Saint Helen's National Volcanic Monument Completion Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to acquire, by exchange, the mineral and geothermal interests of the Burlington Northern, Incorporated and the Weyerhaeuser Companies in the Mount Saint Helen's National Volcanic Monument in the State of Washington. We appreciate the interest of the Washington delegation to see this exchange executed as soon as possible, as the matter has been unsettled for too long. Therefore, we were pleased to learn that an appraisal agreement had been reached between the federal government and the private landowners involved. The negotiations have concluded with the Forest Service and Weyerhaeuser agreeing upon a value of $4.2 million. The Administration has indicated that they have no objection to the substitute bill which incorporates this agreement and is being offered today. Clearly, Burlington and Weyerhaeuser should be compensated for their mineral rights within Mount Saint Helen's National Volcanic Monument. Now that the Administration is no longer opposed to the bill because an agreed-upon value for the property has been accomplished and will be included in the bill, we see no reason to oppose the bill. We are in strong support of this legislation. The previous problems that they had with respect to value for the property have been worked out. We urge the passage of this legislation.”