Mr. TAYLOR. I'd like to join in thanking Mr. Pryor for his presentation. It's a pleasure to have a colleague come here who knows how to give support to something that is in his State.

Mr. TAYLOR. Any other questions?

Mr. SKUBITZ. I merely want to add my commendations for Mr. Pryor to that of my colleagues. Mr. Pryor, the project isn't in your district?

Mr. PRYOR. No. It does touch our district.

Mr. SKUBITZ. Do you have any caves in your district?

Mr. PRYOR. Our district does not have many caves. I think up in the northern section, there are several.

Mr. SKUBITZ. Thank you.

Mr. TAYLOR. Anyone else?

Mr. BURLISON. I want to join my colleagues in welcoming my friend Mr. Pryor to the committee. I have long been impressed with Mr. Pryor's ability and dedication in Congress.

I can't pass up this opportunity to recognize all of the attention that has been given to our distinguished Ways and Means chairman, Mr. Mills. I'm sure Mr. Pryor's constituents are aware that Mr. Pryor serves on the powerful Appropriations Committee, so I would say to Mr. Alexander and to Mr. Mills and to Mr. Hammerschmidt, that it speaks mighty well for them to have a member of the Appropriations Committee from their State to be in such strong support of this legislation. I commend my friend for a fine statement. Mr. PRYOR. Thank you.

Mr. TAYLOR. I feel indebted to Arkansas right now. Wilbur Mills made a speech last night in my home district, with a large, large crowd. Mr. PRYOR. He is speaking considerably around the Nation at this point.

Mr. TAYLOR. The Honorable William Alexander.

We welcome you before our committee.

STATEMENT OF HON. WILLIAM VOLLIE ALEXANDER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

Mr. ALEXANDER. Thank you Mr. Chairman, colleagues.

I believe, Mr. Chairman, we floated the Buffalo together this summer, and during your committee trip to Arkansas, it was a very enjoyable occasion for me.

I know on that occasion you saw this at first hand, so I'll offer only a very short statement to you this morning in support of the legisla tion. I am consponsor of the bill.

I would like to add that before this day ends, I am sure that all of you will have a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the physical and economic aspects of the Buffalo River in Arkansas.

This river is a rarity among the natural wonders of the United States. Unlike so many other of our natural phenomena, the 125 bluffline course of the Buffalo is equally available to millions of persons in the middle part of the United States.

In its present status, the Buffalo is doomed to become an elongated resort-type area, subject to the type of despoliation that only man is capable of creating. No river in our country has the potential for wholesale recreation in an orderly manner than does the Buffalo.

I feel that the maximum use of this God-given wonder can only be secured through the administration of the National Park Service. The Buffalo River should be set aside forever for the enjoyment not only of the people of Arkansas, but every citizen of the United States. Here, there is no dispute concerning flood control or drainage for agricultural purposes. The only question is whether or not the Buffalo shall be controlled for the benefit of everyone or whether it shall be subjected to the ravages of private development for recreational pur

poses.

The latter course is an almost certain death warrant to one of the world's most beautiful pieces of real estate.

I strongly urge you to approve this legislation.

Thank you very much.

Mr. TAYLOR. Thank you very much.

I agree with your statements with regard to the beauty of the areabeautiful river and the high cliffs. It's magnificent.

Any questions!

The gentleman from Colorado.

Mr. ASPINALL. I'd like to commend Mr. Alexander. I also wish to advise him that as a fellow member on the Committee of Official Objectors, this would not pass on the Consent Calendar.

I think perhaps the most outstanding statement you made as far as I'm concerned, was that you desire this recreation area to be administered in "an orderly manner."

Of course, this is what we all want. We will have some problems seeing that this is done, and there are people in Arkansas who have the great responsibility of seeing that it is not overused or abused. Mr. ALEXANDER. If we have the opportunity, we'll accept our part of the responsibility.

Mr. TAYLOR. Any questions?

Mr. BURLISON. I'd like to thank my neighbor-neighbor in two respects not only does his congressional district join mine, but I also sit beside him on the Agriculture Committee, and I appreciate his coming before the committee and presenting this fine statement. Mr. TAYLOR. The gentleman from Iowa.

Mr. KYL. This isn't the time or place, perhaps, but I think we might try to generate a little interest in another project. The gentleman from Arkansas and I have been contemplating another little river called the Mississippi. We hope we can get something done on that.

Mr. ALEXNDER. We're going to join hands at the confluence of the Ohio and the Mississippi.

Mr. TAYLOR. The Honorable Nathaniel P. Reed, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior. Mr. Secretary, we welcome you before the subcommittee.

STATEMENT OF HON. NATHANIEL P. REED, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE AND PARKS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ACCOMPANIED BY R. K. GRISWOLD AND JOHN BRIGHT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Mr. REED. Thank you. Mr. Chairman. It's a pleasure to be here. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, we are happy to appear before you today in support of legislation to provide for the establishment of the Buffalo National River in the State of Arkansas.

In keeping with the chairman's request for brevity, I will skip the next two paragraphs of my statement as Congressmen Hammerschmidt, Pryor and Alexander have so eloquently covered these points. Mr. TAYLOR. Wthout objection, a copy of your entire statement will be placed in the record.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. NATHANIEL P. REED, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE AND PARKS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, we are happy to appear before you today in support of legislation to provide for the establishment of the Buffalo National River in the State of Arkansas.

The proposed Buffalo National River is located in Newton, Searcy, Marion, and Baxter Counties in northern Arkansas, approximately 120 miles north of Little Rock, 200 miles east of Tulsa, 280 miles southeast of Kansas City, 300 miles southwest of St. Louis, and 200 miles west of Memphis.

The Buffalo River is considered one of this country's finest remaining significant natural rivers. This is not due to any single aspect of the river, but rather to a remarkable combination of favorable attributes. The base of the river's appeal lies in its clean flowing waters, which support a notable sports fishery and provide an opportunity for pleasure boating and swimming. Massive bluffs and deeply entrenched valleys give the Buffalo the most spectacular setting of any stream in the region and enable it to be classed among the most outstandingly scenic of the free-flowing streams in the eastern United States. With little residential or commercial development on its banks, and without municipal or industrial development, the Buffalo River is unspoiled and free of pollution. It offers a unique opportunity for preservation since its headwaters lie within the Ozark National Forest, and the remaining 132 miles of the river can be preserved and administered as a single unit under the provisions of this legislation.

The Buffalo River, within an easy day's drive of nearly 15 million people, is a great outdoor museum whose geology, botany, wildlife, archeology, and history record the evolution of man and nature over thousands of years.

The bills authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, lands and waters or interests therein within the national river boundaries, and outside of such boundaries in order to avoid the payment of severance costs. Lands owned by the State of Arkansas or its political subdivisions may be acquired only by donation.

The total acreage of 95,730 acres comprises 950 acres of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, 2.960 acres of State land, which is in two State parks and scattered parcels of public hunting areas, and 91.820 acres of privately owned land. The State has agreed to donate the two State parks.

On the private land there are 201 improvements, consisting of 86 farm units, 47 year-round residences, 44 seasonal cottages, 12 stores, 2 ore processing plants, 2 lumber mills, 2 churches, and 2 motel-type units, with 4 associated structures. The estimated cost of acquiring the private lands within the proposed national river is $16,115,000, with total development costs of approximately $12,102,000. The estimated annual cost of operation will be $1,006,800 after the first five

years.

The Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings and Monuments has judged the Buffalo River in Arkansas to be a nationally significant free-flowing stream, and has recommended its preservation as a national river. Mr. Chairman, as the Department's report of September 13 indicates, we recommend the enactment of the legislation as passed by the Senate on May 21, in lieu of the enactment of one of the two identical House bills.

There are three major differences: First, the House bills have a cutoff date for the construction of improved property of January 1, 1971, whereas under the Senate-passed bill such property must have been constructed by January 1, 1967. These dates are significant in that the House bills would give persons who began to construct improvements with full knowledge of congressional concern, a statutory right to remain for life or up to 35 years. The Senate bill is more in keeping with a congressional desire to extend such use rights only to established residents, and it limits the term of years which may be retained to

25 years. We note that legislation to establish the Buffalo National River was first introduced in January 1967, which is in keeping with the cutoff date in the Senate bill.

Second, the House bills require the payment of funds to counties in lieu of taxes for 5 years. No such provision is contained in the Senate-passed bill. Real property taxes levied on the lands within the boundaries totalled only $21,570 in 1970. Furthermore, many owners of residential and agricultural property will be permitted to retain use and occupancy rights, and there is no impediment in Federal law to the counties' taxing these private rights. Generally, we believe payments in lieu of taxes are not warranted due to the increased economic benefits attending the creation of Federal park areas.

Third, the House bills do not contain the escalator clause applicable to development funds contained in section 6 of the Senate-passed bill. This clause has been adopted in all recently authorized park legislation, and we believe it is desirable here.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared testimony. Mr. REED. The Buffalo River, within an easy day's drive of nearly 15 million people, is a great outdoor museum whose geology, botany, wildlife, archeology, and history record the evolution of man and nature over thousands of years.

The bills authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, lands and waters or interests therein within the national river boundaries, and outside of such boundaries in order to avoid the payment of severance costs. Lands owned by the State of Arkansas or its political subdivisions may be acquired only by donation.

The total acreage of 95,730 acres comprises 950 acres of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the forest service, Department of Agriculture, 2,960 acres of State land, which is in two State parks and scattered parcels of public hunting areas, and 91,820 acres of privately owned land. The State has agreed to donate the two State parks.

On the private land there are 201 improvements, consisting of 86 farm units, 47 year-round residences, 44 seasonal cottages, 12 stores, two ore processing plants, two lumber mills, two churches, and two motel-type units, with four associated structures.

The estimated cost of acquiring the private lands within the proposed national river is $16,115,000, with total development costs of approximately $12,102,000. The estimated annual cost of operation will be $1,006,800 after the first 5 years.

The Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings and Monuments, has judged the Buffalo River in Arkansas to be a nationally significant free-flowing stream, and has recommended its preservation as a national river.

Mr. Chairman, as the Department's report of September 13 indicates, we recommend the enactment of the legislation as passed by the Senate on May 21, in lieu of the enactment of one of the two identical House bills.

There are three major differences: First, the House bills have a cut-off date for the construction of improved property of January 1, 1971, whereas under the Senate-passed bill such property must have been constructed by January 1, 1967. These dates are significant in that the House bills would give persons who began to construct improvements with full knowledge of congressional concern, a statutory right to remain for life or up to 35 years. The Senate bill is more in keeping with a congressional desire to extend such use rights only to established

residents, and it limits the term of years which may be retained to 25 years. We note that legislation to establish the Buffalo National River was first introduced in January 1967, which is in keeping with the cut-off date in the Senate bill.

Second, the House bills require the payment of funds to counties in lieu of taxes for 5 years. No such provision is contained in the Senate-passed bill. Real property taxes levied on the lands within the boundaries totalled only $21,570 in 1970. Furthermore, many owners of residential and agricultural property will be permitted to retain use and occupancy rights, and there is no impediment in Federal law to the counties' taxing these private rights. Generally, we believe payments in lieu of taxes are not warranted due to the increased economic benefits attending the creation of Federal park areas.

Third, the House bills do not contain the escalator clause applicable to development funds contained in section 6 of the Senate-passed bill. This clause has been adopted in all recently authorized park legislation, and we believe it is desirable here.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared testimony.

With your permission, I would like to invite Mr. Griswold and Mr. Bright of the National Park Service to assist me in answering your questions.

Mr. TAYLOR. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

Would you give us more information as to what would be the impact on your program if this 1971 cut-off date is approved?

Mr. REED. I'll let Mr. Griswold answer that question.

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Griswold, we welcome you before the committee. Mr. GRISWOLD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Four years ago, there were approximately 120 residences. We now have in this area, residences which total 137. So we have 17 additional residential properties.

Also, Mr. Chairman, this provision for retention of use and occupancy covers agricultural lands, and I do not have the acreage, but there has been considerable land cleared for agriculture since 1967. Mr. TAYLOR. Thank you very much.

I judge from reading your statement that you do not favor the payment in lieu of tax provisions of the House bill?

Mr. REED. No, as a general policy the Department has not.

Mr. TAYLOR. And as a general position of this committee, we have not been approving it. I couldn't say that we wouldn't under very unusual circumstances.

Mr. REED. Understood, sir.

Mr. TAYLOR. Does the Department of the Interior issue environmental statements on this type of project?

Mr. REED. On any development within the boundaries of the park, once created, yes.

Mr. TAYLOR. You do that after the park is established?

Mr. REED. Yes.

Mr. TAYLOR. Now, would you go to the map and explain the meaning of the different colors, and anything else you think we need to know about the map?

Mr. REED. Fine sir.