Senator HAYDEN. Since consideration of the supplemental bill in the House of Representatives you have submitted another supplemental request, this one in the amount of $1,850,000 for construction made necessary by the recent storms on the eastern seacoast and by flash floods in the Zion National Park. I will place the justifications for this request in the record at this point. (The justifications referred to follow:) Construction, National Park Service fiscal year 1962 Budget estimate next fiscal year.. Request (to remain available until expended, from April 1962) Employment: Average number, current appropriation.. Number involved this estimate.. Actual employment, Feb. 28, 1962. 1 Includes a carryover balance of $3,888,260 and $2,250,000 in the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1962. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS The estimate of $1,850,000 is to provide for the correction of damages to roads, buildings, grounds, and other facilities inflicted by the unusually severe northeast storm on the eastern seacoast in early March 1962, and a series of flash floods in Zion National Park, Utah, in September 1961. Reconstruction and repairs should be accomplished at the earliest possible date to prevent further loss and to restore essential operating facilities. None of the costs can be absorbed without adversely affecting the Mission 66 construction program. Construction, $1,850,000 JUSTIFICATION A supplemental appropriation of $1,850,000 is required for the following items: Correction of damages in areas on the eastern seacoast caused by northeast storm on Mar. 7, 8, and 9, 1962. Correction of damages in Zion National Park, Utah, caused by flash floods on Sept. 17, 20, and 21, 1961. Total.... The appropriation activity is as follows: Buildings, utilities, and other facilities___ Roads and trails.. Total... 1. Buildings, utilities, and other facilities.-The additional amount of $1,660,000 requested under this activity is for the following: Correction of damages in areas on the eastern seacoast caused by northeast storm on March 7, 8, and 9, 1962. Correction of damages in Zion National Park, Utah, caused by flash floods on Sept. 17, 20, and 21, 1961...... Total... $1,375,000 475,000 1, 850, 000 $1,660, 000 190, 000 1, 850, 000 $1,267, 000 393, 000 1, 660, 000 CORRECTION OF DAMAGES CAUSED BY NORTHEAST STORM ON MARCH, 7, 8, AND 9, 1962 The freak northeast storm which occurred on March 7, 8, and 9, 1962, along the eastern seacoast caused extensive damage to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, N.C., and lesser, but serious damage to Colonial National Historical Park, Va. The storm has sometimes been described as a collision of two lows and sometimes as a low which moved out to sea and looped back on itself. Whatever the atmospheric causes, the event triggered a plunging barometric pressure and a storm which can only be described as explosive and catastrophic. It was especially so because it was so unexpected. Everything was calm on the evening of March 6 when employees at Cape Hatteras "closed shop" and went home. By 7 a.m. the following morning the fury had been unleashed, the roads of the Outer Banks at Cape Hatteras were awash, and the area isolated. Tides were of 74 to 8 feet above mean sea level and winds of from 60 to 70 miles per hour whipped the area. The greatest damage in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is the loss of barrier dunes. Approximately 27 miles of dunes must be repaired and replaced. A new inlet approximately 600 feet in width with a channel depth of about 12 feet was cut between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound approximately 3 miles north of Buxton in vicinity of the cape. It is estimated that 75 percent of the barrier dunes on Bodie Island and 75 percent of those on Hatteras Island between Oregon Inlet and the new inlet were lost. Relatively slight damage was done south of the new inlet. Extensive damages were also inflicted on campgrounds, roads, parking areas, buildings, utilities, the marina, and on various items of equipment. It is essential that the various lost or damaged facilities be replaced or repaired immediately to meet visitor needs during the coming travel season and that the dunes be repaired or replaced at the earliest possible date to provide protection for the area against further high tides and heavy winds. Maximum progress must be made in repairing and replacing the dunes before the fall hurricane season arrives. In Colonial National Historical Park, substantial damages to the seawalls on the banks of the York River in the Yorktown Battlefield area and along the Colonial Parkway were inflicted by the high tides and heavy winds. Also the riverbanks were undercut in several places and, to insure that further similar damage is not done, the seawalls must be raised by 2 feet for an aggregate distance of 2,000 feet. The floodwaters with the heavy winds damaged landscaping and left debris along the shoreline. Shrubs must be replaced and grassed areas reseeded after being inundated with salt water. A breakdown of the $1,267,000 estimate follows: Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area: Replace protective barrier, residential area.... $87, 000 Sand replacement, Bodie Island, Coquina Beach to Oregon 47, 000 Sand replacement, Hatteras Island, 24 miles. 62, 600 Fencing, 27 miles.. 500, 900 Grassing, 27 miles 94, 500 Subtotal, barrier dunes.. Replacement of dune survey markers. Cleanup of buildings, other facilities and equipment.. Repairs and replacement of radio and other equipment... Campground repairs including replacement of tables, garbage cans, grills, etc.. 189, 000 9, 000 990, 000 5, 800 14, 600 Repairs to buildings and structures including comfort stations 6, 200 11, 800 Replace wood decking, Coquina Beach area. 4, 700 15, 800 6, 800 87,800 3, 500 Total, Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. 1, 147, 000 Colonial National Historical Park: Replanting and reseeding areas damaged by salt water inundation and removal of debris left by storm.. Total, Colonial National Historical Park.... Total, northeast storm damages. Stabilization of slide areas and repairs to seawall 37, 200 70, 500 12, 300 120, 000 1, 267, 000 CORRECTION OF DAMAGES CAUSED BY "FLASH FLOODS" On September 17, 20, and 21, 1961, flash floods inflicted considerable damage to physical facilities in Zion National Park, Utah. While flash floods can be expected fairly frequently in Zion Canyon, this particular one was of unusual severity. Not only was there severe damage to improvements, but there was also the loss of 5 lives; of this number, 2 bodies were not recovered. The valley road was washed out for approximately 200 feet, causing the channel of the Virgin River to flow down the center line of the road for a short distance; the foot bridge to the sewer spray field was washed out; the east rim trail was almost completely washed out over most of its 4-mile length and is closed to visitor traffic; damage to the stone basket revetments and retaining walls along 7 miles of the river bank required extensive repairs; and many of the water and sewer lines were exposed and must be covered with concrete. Funds are required for reconstruction of the flood damage, preventing further damage to existing facilities and protecting the many park visitors. As it now stands another flood could easily take out other sections of roadway and revetments which would result in greater reconstruction cost and considerable personal risk as well as inconvenience to park visitors who might be marooned above the washouts. Certain sections of the valley road are seriously endangered and each freshet continues to nibble away at these critical places. Much of the old wire basket and masonry revetments can be saved if funds are made available without delay to place concrete and stone reinforcements under them where they have been left in a hanging state. The wire mesh of the baskets which were exposed to the flooding waters and abrasions of rolling boulders has badly rusted and deteriorated; many of the baskets have completely failed and been swept down river. Reconstruction of some 12,000 lineal feet is required in order to protect and salvage the revetments and stone baskets that are still intact. This project is estimated to cost $388,500. At the same time, it is essential to place concrete covers over water and sewer lines in vulnerable locations at an estimated cost of $4,500. projects are listed as follows: Reconstruction of Virgin River banks and flood control structures---. The $388, 500 4, 500 393, 000 Total, flash flood damages. 3. Roads and trails.—The additional amount of $190,000 requested under this activity is for the following: Correction of damages in areas on the eastern seacoast caused by north- $108, 000 82, 000 Total__. 190, 000 CORRECTION OF DAMAGES CAUSED BY NORTHEAST STORM ON MARCH 7, 8, AND 9, 1962 The damages suffered from this storm are described under the buildings, utilities, and other facilities portion of this amendment and need not be restated here. Rehabilitation work to be accomplished on roads and trails facilities is limited to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. Projects are listed as follows: Coquina Beach area: Remove sand and clean up.. Replace 200 lineal feet of curb. Replace 200 feet of walk... $1, 200 600 Repairs to Marina road and parking areas.. Oregon Inlet Area: Uncover and replace road and walks. Replace damaged section of roads and parking areas. 1, 200 10, 000 10, 000 29, 000 Repairs to Pea Island road, parking area, and ramp.. 27, 000 Repairs to Hatteras Island parking area and 6 ramps. 4, 000 25, 000 Total, Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area... 108, 000 CORRECTION OF DAMAGES CAUSED BY FLASH FLOODS The general nature of damages occurring to roads and trails facilities from flash floods at Zion National Park, Utah, is explained under the "Buildings, utilities, and other facilities" activity, and is not repeated here. Funds are requested for roads and trails projects so that full visitor use can be made of the valley road and the east rim trail both of which were severely damaged, and to provide a footbridge access to the park sewer spray field. The east rim trail was damaged so severely throughout its 4-mile length that it has been and must remain closed to the public until the required extensive repairs can be made. The work will consist of reconstructing and constructing retaining walls, repairing old and constructing new drainage structures, grading and resurfacing the entire trail which is 5 feet wide, fairly steep, with numerous switchbacks. This type of work is very tedious and costly as most of the work must be done by hand and all of the supplies and materials must be brought in in small quantities. The two projects are summarized as follows: Reconstruction of east rim trail and surface, 4 miles.. Divert Virgin River to old channel, replace washed out roadway, and replace footbridge_ $62, 500 19, 500 |