William R. Richardson: “H.R. 400 is identical to legislation considered by the Committee on Resources and passed by the House on a voice vote in…”

“H.R. 400 is identical to legislation considered by the Committee on Resources and passed by the House on a voice vote in the last Congress. It is noncontroversial legislation and deserves support. It is based on a proposal submitted by the administration in June 1994, and it was subsequently modified to reflect an agreement worked out between the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young], the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller], and the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento]. While that agreement is different from the administration's proposal for wilderness designation of BLM-managed lands in the Nigu River area, it is similar in that it would assure that the bill will not result in a net reduction of wilderness in the National Park System and would leave the remainder of this area in its current wilderness study status. In addition, the boundaries provided in the bill by that agreement would emphasize protection of riparian areas along the Nigu River. H.R. 400 would ratify an agreement among the National Park Service on behalf of the United States to Alaska native corporations and the municipal government of Anaktuvuk Pass, AK.”