06.08.04

Smooth Sailing Today in Senate Subcommittee for Cantwell's Legislation to Expand Mount Rainier National Park

Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Biggest Expansion of the Park in 70 Years; Expected to Move Through Senate Process Quickly

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This afternoon the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell's legislation that would expand the boundaries of Mt. Rainier National Park by roughly 800 acres. Today's hearing paved the way for the bill to move forward and be considered by the full Energy and Natural Resources Committee and then the U.S. Senate. The bipartisan bill is expected to move through the Senate process easily.

Cantwell's legislation would improve access for visitors to the park, allow for a new campsite to be built, and save taxpayers money that will no longer be needed to repair damages to a road that frequently gets washed out.

"Mount Rainier is a national treasure," Cantwell said. "This expansion is critical to preserving the park's natural environment and improving access for visitors, all while giving a boost to the local economy."

In addition to saving taxpayers money, Cantwell's bill will also give a boost to the eastern Pierce County economy. Business and community leaders from throughout the area offered their support to the bill in a letter to Cantwell earlier this year. Mount Rainier National Park is an enormous factor in the economic health of eastern Pierce County. According to a recent study conducted by Michigan State University, visitors to Mount Rainier spent over $24 million in 2001, supporting nearly 800 jobs and $13 million in personal incomes in communities surrounding the Park. In addition, it is estimated that Mount Rainier visitors spent $6.75 million at local restaurants and bars, and $5.5 million at regional lodging facilities.

Cantwell's bill, the Expanding and Making Mount Rainier National Park More Accessible Act (S. 2140), will authorize the purchase of a three-mile strip of land along the Carbon River, extending Mount Rainier National Park's northwest boundary and adding approximately 800 acres to the park. It would be the largest expansion of the park in more than 70 years.

The area Cantwell's bill would set aside for park protection contains one of the last inland old-growth rainforests in the country. It will also link Mount Rainier National Park to Pierce County's Fairfax Forest, creating a corridor that can be used by migrating elk and other animals. Property owners of the land designated for purchase support Cantwell's bill.

Sen. Maria Cantwell's testimony is below.

Statement of Senator Maria Cantwell Hearing on the Expanding and Making Mt. Rainier More Accessible Act June 8, 2004

"Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this important hearing today on my bill to expand Mount Rainier National Park, which I introduced along with Senator Murray last February. This is a bipartisan effort, and last week the House passed nearly identical legislation championed by my delegation colleague Representative Jennifer Dunn.

"We Washingtonians are incredibly fortunate to live near so many pristine and beautiful public lands. Mount Rainier towers over the Puget Sound region and has a special place in the hearts of Washingtonians. The Park is also an important part of our economy and each year hosts over a million visitors from all over the world.

"However, without this legislation, access to the Park from Seattle and Tacoma will get more difficult and expensive. That's because the Carbon River keeps washing out the road at the northwest corner of the Park. Unfortunately, the river is now higher than the road, and we are unlikely to be able continue stopgap road repairs much longer.

"To ensure that visitors will continue to have camping and hiking opportunities -- including the only day-hike accessible glacier in the continental United States -- this bill authorizes a small, but critical, boundary expansion of Mount Rainier National Park to allow the National Park Service to acquire 800 acres of land from willing sellers.

"The bill would allow NPS to build a replacement campground and lowland hiking trails, alleviate the need for costly road repairs, and protect additional riparian habitat for endangered salmon, bull trout, spotted owls, and marbled murrelets.

"I am pleased to report that the private landowners within the proposed expansion area actively participated in the development of this proposal and enthusiastically support this legislation. In fact, they are eager to sell their land to the National Park Service so that these lands will be permanently protected for future generations to be able to enjoy them as much as they did.

"While this legislation will make Mount Rainier National Park safer and more accessible for families and outdoor enthusiasts, it is important to note that this expansion will also promote the local economy. Outdoor recreation is more than a leisure activity, it is also a key part of our economy.

"By improving access to the park, this bill will make it easier for visitors to enjoy the park and to purchase goods and services in nearby communities. I'd like to submit for the record a letter I received from business and community leaders --including elected city and county government officials, outdoor industry retailers, and other local tourist-related business owners – that details the economic benefits the Park provides.

"Mr. Chairman, thank you again for holding this hearing. I look forward to working with you and our Senate colleagues to ensure swift passage of this important legislation."