Michelle Wu: “H.R. 3380 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue right-of-way permits for an existing natural gas pipeline as…”

“H.R. 3380 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue right-of-way permits for an existing natural gas pipeline as well as future natural gas pipelines that would cross or parallel three road segments that lead into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We must be very careful in approving such activities. When the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 3380 earlier this year, the National Park Service testified in support of the legislation, noting that the pipelines would cross or parallel only park roads and not involve other park resources. The National Park Service also assured the committee that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure that these pipelines have no negative impact on park resources or visitor use. Given those assurances and relying upon them, we have no objection to consideration of H.R. 3380 by the House today.”