Bruce F. Vento: “the issue before us in terms of the one-square mile road is of some concern. The basis for some of the negotiations, I…”

“the issue before us in terms of the one-square mile road is of some concern. The basis for some of the negotiations, I might say, are directly related to the military withdrawal of China Lake which has been a long-time military reservation. The issue in the negotiations went on eliminated from perpetuity to a 15-year time period exactly matches those of what we are advocating as the House position in terms of the Engle pact and the withdrawals we have to renew every 15 years. That is the basis of the compromise. Furthermore, this, of course, is a speculative project. I know some of my colleagues are convinced of the space-age technology and so forth, think that this is and they are absolutely convinced that this is going to become a reality. I do not know as much about it as some of the Members apparently who are present who obviously were trying to work in a fashion that will leave a window of opportunity so that if this goes forward the technology could be developed on such public land area. I might further say that one square mile area, through a wilderness area, especially a road with the attendant type of activities that go on on roads is has a fairly significant impact on a much broader area than just the one-mile square area.”