tional benefits. Sufficient safeguards to protect the ecology of the area have been written into the bill. There is one area, however, where we would like to see the administrative provisions tightened. NPCA believes that a prohibition on the use of off-the-road vehicles should be written into this legislation. The rapid increase in the use of such vehicles has resulted in an alarming rise in the damage they cause. Such vehicles are not generally barred from recreation areas but in view of the delicate nature of the Oregon Dunes we believe such a prohibition is necessary in this case. The establishment of an Advisory Council for the Recreation Area, Section 12 of the bill, is a desirable provision. Advisory Councils for units of the Park System have proved an extremely effective means of ensuring that the administration of the area reflects the public's concern and wishes. We are confident it will prove equally advantageous in the case of the Oregon Dunes, and NPCA fully endorses the principles that the users of the recreation area should have some say in its administration. In conclusion, NPCA supports HR 8763, with the suggestion that a provision to prohibit off-the-road traffic be included. We urge early adoption of this measure so that we may ensure the preservation of this land for recreational purposes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. TAYLOR. Before we adjourn, I ask unanimous consent to be placed in the record immediately after the testimony of the witness this morning a letter from the International Paper Company, and a statement from Brock Evans of the Sierra Club. In the absence of objection, so ordered. (In letter and statement referred to follow :) INTERNATIONAL PAPER Co., The Honorable Roy A. TAYLOR, Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: International Paper Company would like to submit the following comments on H.R. 8763: "To Establish the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area" and respectfully request that they be made a part of the hearing record on this legislation. As your notice of hearings indicates, field hearings have been held and the record of these hearings will be available. Since International Paper Company was represented at those hearings, we have not requested them to appear at your current hearings in the interest of conserving your Subcommittee's time. International Paper Company appreciates the consideration shown by Congressman Dellenback, sponsor of H.R. 8763, with respect to the properties of the Company located in the immediate vicinity of the proposed Recreation Area. The paper mill and lumber and plywood operations of International Paper Company located at Gardiner provide employment for approximately 825 persons with an annual payroll of approximately $4,000,000, which we are sure you will agree is a most significant contribution to the economy of the area. The dams controlling the water level of both Tahkenitch and Siltcoos Lakes are owned and operated by International Paper Company. These lakes provide the water supply necessary for the continued operation of the Gardiner Paper Mill. By locating these dam sites in the inland sector of the Recreation Area and by providing in Section 7 of the proposed legislation that such properties may be acquired only with the consent of the owner, the author has given recognition to the significance of the Gardiner Mill to the area and the necessity for con tinued ownership and control of the dams by International Paper Company. While the Company believes these dams and adjacent landholdings should be completely excluded from the proposed Recreation Area, if this is not possible then we respectfully submit that there should at least be provided the minimum protection of the present provisions of Section 7 for these facilities which are so vital to the economy of the area. Further provisions found in Section 11 of the Bill recognize the existing right: to water supply and waste disposal also necessary to the continued operation o these facilities. We commend the author of the legislation for his recognition o these existing rights and urge your Subcommittee to include these protectiv provisions in the Bill as you report it. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the legislation before you and would be happy to work with the Subcommittee and its staff to resolve any questions you may have. Very truly yours, MARSHALL C. MCGRATH. STATEMENT OF Brock Evans, Northwest Representative, SIERRA CLUB AND FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS My name is Brock Evans, and I reside in Seattle, Washington. I am presently the Northwest Representative for the Sierra Club-well known to this Committee and also for the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs, a completely separate organization consisting of approximately 50 outdoor groups with a membership in excess of 170,000 persons. This membership and the member clubs are scattered throughout the West, from Utah to Southeast Alaska. A great many of our members live in or use wilderness areas in the State of Oregon. Mr. Chairman, our organizations have been working to establish some form of firm protection for the Oregon Dunes area for over a dozen years now; and we hope that at last something might be done before it is finally too late. The scenic and recreation values of this area are hardly open to question. The Oregon Dunes have been described by eminent authorities as being the most beautiful and impressive coastal dunes in North America, if not the world. The transverse ridge pattern of the northern dunes in the area, while common in deserts, are extremely uncommon in coastal areas. The National Park Service has found this area to be one of the ten most important, relatively unspoiled natural seashore areas in the 48 contiguous states. The vast dunes of moving sand in this 40-mile stretch of beach are interlaced with fresh-water lakes; and inland from the moving dunes are ancient forested stable dunes, ranging 450 ft. above sea level, and interspersed with other lakes. Still further inland are fine examples of the famous Oregon coastal forests, and several beautiful large lakes, such as Tahkenitch and Siltcoos. Altogether, no other area on the Pacific Coast can present such an association of spectacular dunes, seashore, fresh-water lakes, forests, tidal bays and harbors. This area must be firmly protected by law, for the benefit of all the people of this nation. For nearly all of the years since 1959 that we have supported the concept of protection for this area, our support has been given to the proposed Oregon Dunes National Seashore, under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. We have consistently believed, and still do, that this method of management would be by far the best possible means of truly protecting the scenic, recreational, and scientific values of the area. It would also, we believe, provide more economic benefits to the communities surrounding the area, because of the well known attractiveness to tourists of national park areas. However, we do feel that HR 8763, creating a national recreation area under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, has commendable features and is worthy of support. It creates an area of over 32,000 acres, embracing both an Inland and a Dunes Sector. Its statement of purposes sets forth the intent to protect scenic and scientific values. It bans mining, a most important and commendable provision, in view of recurring threats to extract the sand on the beaches. It gives some sort of statutory recognition, and some hope of control of adverse developments in this very scenic area. At the same time, we feel that the legislation could be tightened up in several important respects, in order to make it a bill which will firmly and completely emphasize the primary recreation and scenic values of this area. Specifically, we arge: 1. That the legislation set a specific direction for management of the Dunes area, with specific provisions for the wilderness areas where dune buggies and milar vehicles will be banned. We favor at least three such areas along the Lunes, the first about a four mile stretch of beach just to the west of Honeyman State Park; the second, an eight mile stretch of beach from Three Mile Creek worth roughly to the Siltcoos River; and the third, a five and a half mile stretch of beach south of the Umpqua lighthouse. A specific directive to the Forest Service to manage these areas essentially as units of the Wilderness Preservation System would do much to protect the solitude and isolation of the beaches, which is one of the purposes of the Act as we read it. At the very least, there should be a requirement for wilderness study and hearings, as are being done for other recreation areas around the country. 2. Section 5 seems to permit the continuance of the telephone poles of the Coast Guard, which march up the coast just east of the vegetation line for the full length of the recreation area. We urge that this section be stricken, and provisions be made instead for the complete removal of these poles from the area where such removal will not further damage the landscape. They are extremely unsightly, and do much to change the character of the area in many places. 3. We remain deeply concerned about Section 11 (C) which would apparently authorize the Secretary to grant easements and rights, “in terms up to perpetuity" for the use of rights to water and disposal of waste in the area. This refers to the International Paper Company at Gardiner, and would authorize in effect a perpetual easement for waste disposal pipes across the recreation area. We strongly oppose any language which would grant an implication of perpetuity such as this one; we question the desirability of Congress' acting in this manner. Water rights can be protected through other sections of the bill, and indeed already are protected in Section 11 (A). We do not oppose the exercise of water rights as outlined in that section, assuming that withdrawals of water does not interfere with ecology in the Dunes area, which after all is the primary purpose of this legislation. 4. There should be some provision written into the legislation for control of roadside development, particularly along the major north-south artery of U.S. Highway 101. There appear to be no specific provisions in the legislation right now for acquisition of scenic easements to control development on this critical strip. Land use control incentives also should be provided for the "Inland Sector" through secretarial assistance to local units of government in the establishment of suitable zoning measures even where such laws are interim in nature, prior to adoption of county-wide zoning as presently required by Oregon statute (ORS 215.505). 5. A final map of the proposed area was not available to us when this testimony was prepared. Our position still remains strongly in favor of the addition of 750 to 800 acres in the inland sector adjacent to the Tahkenitch Lake shoreline south of the Tahkenitch Creek Arm and continuing south at least to the Mallard Arm. This is extremely important and beautiful freshwater shoreline frontage and its addition would do much to enhance the recreational values of the area, and provide for more campground area as necessary. If this area is not presently included within the boundaries of the Recreation Area, we request that the exterior boundaries be extended to so include at this time. 6. We remain concerned about possible adverse practices in the Inland Sector. Section 3 states that this sector is "hereby established as an inland buffer sector in order to promote such management and use of the lands, waters, and other properties within such sector as will best protect the value which contributes to the purposes set forth in Section 1 of this Act." It should be spelled out either in the legislation or in the Report, that large-scale cleancut logging, which affects the aesthetic and recreation values of the Inland Sector, will not be permitted. To sum up, HR 8763 does represent a significant step forward in the long effort to establish statutory protection for the magnificent Oregon Dunes region. It is a bill which we can support, and we hope that this Committee will see fit to tighten it up in the manner suggested, so as to make it more completely a Recreation Area bill. Thank you. Mr. TAYLOR. We also have a letter from Gov. Tom McCall, State of Oregon, addressed to Congressman Dellenback, and statements from the Izaak Walton League of America, National Wildlife Federation, the Wildlife Management Institute, and the Industrial Forestry Association, Portland, Ore. In the absence of objection they will be placed in the record at this point. (The letter and statements follow :) OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, STATE CAPITAL, Salem, Oregon, November 17, 1971. The Honorable JOHN DELLENBACK, Washington, D.C. DEAR JOHN: I am pleased to note the progress of legislation to create the longawaited Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. My support for providing spe i cial recognition and protection to this unique and magnificent public resource spans two decades, and it is my hope that we will see accomplishment of this goal in the current Congress. It seems to me that it is significant that action already taken by the State of Oregon to protect and ensure public rights to this tremendous recreation area is entirely complementary to the national effort. Our beach bill, initially enacted in 1967 and strengthened in 1969 has withstood challenge in our highest courts, and grants public rights to beach use in perpetuity. It provides additional strength to achieving the full purpose of the Dunes legislation in guaranteeing public access and public recreational use on both sides of the Dunes area. I am also convinced that Oregon parks in the area, including Honeyman State Park, add substantially and in no way detract from the concept which is central to your proposal. Indeed, numerous conferences were held, and full agreement was reached with the Regional Office of the Forest Service in detailed discussions of the joint cooperative efforts that will be provided to the entire area with passage of the Dunes legislation. You have Oregon's assurance of full coordinated actions between state and Federal governments to the long-term benefit of all citizens, both residents and visitors. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance in achieving this landmark conservation legislation. Best wishes. Sincerely, TOM MCCALL, Governor. STATEMENT OF TED PANKOWSKI, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee: I am Ted Pankowski, Director of Environmental Affairs for the Izaak Walton League of America. I am here this morning at the specific request of Mr. David Smith of Corvallis, Oregon, President of our Oregon Division. I am not sure of the number of times the Oregon Division has submitted testimony favoring legislation to protect the unique values of Oregon Dunes, and to give them the benefit of permanent national management directed toward recreational use. Our records disclose that we have favored this policy since introduction of legislation in 1959 by Senator Richard Neuberger. We again turn our attention to this matter in 1961, in the form of a resolution clearly indicating widespread support of our organization for such protections as are contained in H.R. 8763. The file on this matter is thick, and the many Congressional reports all indicate strong public support for the measure. While H.R. 8763 does not offer the scope or degree of protection suggested in the Pacific Coast Recreation Area Survey of 1959 and later developed into a National Park proposal by the Interior Department, we wholeheartedly recommend its enactment by this Congress. The values which the League sought to protect to begin with are still there. Regrettably, as time goes on they are being diminished. Fully ten miles of typical coastal scenery has disappeared from the roadside of U.S. Highway 101 near the dunes area. Much of it has been replaced by dwellings and small roadside businesses that help to destroy the coastal environment which is the attraction for this development to begin with. Much of the traffic movement between Reedsport and Astoria must be limited to 30 miles an hour to accommodate increasing traffic from the many uncontrolled accesses. We fully realize that such roadside development is not the responsibility of Congress. However, the passage of the Dunes Bill ten years ago would have prevented much of the damage and might have set an example for local government to follow in planning compatible uses of this outstanding area. Eighteen years ago the Douglas County Park Board adopted a policy of retaining the county tax title lands in the dunes area which they believed would one day be needed for a Federal Park or recreation area. At that time traffic into the area was limited to jeeps and hikers. Now we have a proliferation of roads as each year sees more visitor use. The need for management and planned derelopment that could be provided under H.R. 8763 has become a matter of some urgency. We sincerely hope this Congress will be the one to enact H.R. 8763, the Oregon Dunes Bill, and in behalf of our Oregon Division and the League nationwide, I very much appreciate this opportunity to comment. STATEMENT OF LOUIS S. CLAPPER ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION Mr. Chairman, I am Louis S. Clapper, Conservation Director of the National Wildlife Federation which has its national headquarters at 1412 Sixteenth Street, N.W., here in Washington, D.C. The National Wildlife Federation has affiliates in all 50 States and the Virgin Islands. These affiliates, in turn, are composed of local groups and individuals who, when combined with associate members and other supporters of the Federation, number an estimated three million persons. We appreciate the invitation and opportunity to make these comments. The National Wildlife Federation expresses its agreement with the principles outlined in H.R. 8763, to establish the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in the State of Oregon. This position, which is in accord with our affiliate, the Oregon Wildlife Federation, is in context with previous efforts to set aside what is an outstanding natural area in some type of permanent protection. On July 16, 1965, the Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation wrote the Chairman of this Subcommittee to support the establishment of the Oregon Dunes National Seashore, citing a resolution adopted by the Federation in 1963. Then, as now, we believe that the Oregon Dunes offers outstanding public outdoor recreational opportunities which merit preservation. It has been my privilege and pleasure to visit a section of the Oregon Dunes and, even though this one occasion was during a rainy day, I could well appreciate why the area merits national protection. As I understand it, the proposed Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area contains approximately 32,000 acres. Located within this proposed recreation area are 31 private inholdings with improvements as well as approximately 3,600 acres of private land classed as commercial timber. Improved residential-commercial property occupies an estimated 510 acres within the area. We are in accord with Section 1 of H.R. 8763 and the reasons for which the National Recreation Area would be established. We are also in agreement with administration of the Recreation Area by the Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service, although we would expect that this jurisdiction would be transferred to a new Department of Natural Resources if it is established. The Forest Service presently administers four recreation areas of this type and we are confident that the unique natural phenomena can be fully protected and interpreted by this agency. This is particularly true in view of the fact that the Forest Service now manages most of the area as part of the Suislaw National Forest. One of the primary problems involved with the establishment of the Oregon Dunes National Seashore, of course, is related to inholdings, and we are of the firm opinion that these should be acquired by the Federal Government at the earliest possible time. With this in mind, we have reviewed Section 7 in H.R. 8763, with particular interest, believing it offers a vehicle for first providing a buffer zone and then the acquisition we believe is necessary to fully protect the outstanding natural values in the area. We recommend that the Subcommittee include Section 9 as written. This is a standard provision which directs that the Secretary will permit hunting, fishing and trapping on the lands within the recreation area in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, with appropriate protection for public safety. Populations of black-tailed deer and waterfowl inhabit portions of the area and hunting, as well as fishing, can be provided under appropriate State and Federal regulations. We are in agreement with the principle of the establishment of an Advisory Council for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area but hope the Committee will urge that a broad representation of all interests, including fish and wildlife and outdoor rcreation, shall be given equitable representation. To conclude, Mr. Chairman, we should like to express the hope that the Committee soon can act favorably on this proposal in order that it may be a conservation accomplishment of the 92nd Congress. Thank you again for the opportunity of making these remarks. STATEMENT OF LONNIE L. WILLIAMSON FOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE Mr. CHAIRMAN: I am Lonnie L. Williamson editor of the "Outdoor News Bulletin" of the Wildlife Management Institute. The Institute is one of the older national conservation organizations, and its program has been devoted to the |