Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s Prepared Testimony for
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4003: Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act
January 21, 2010
House Committee on Natural Resources
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
Washington, DC – The following is Congressman Maurice Hinchey's (D-NY) prepared testimony for today's House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands legislative hearing on H.R. 4003, the Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act. Hinchey authored the bill, which would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a study on whether the Hudson River Valley should become a unit of the National Park system.
In order to become part of the National Park System, a congressionally-authorized NPS study must be conducted. Hinchey's legislation would authorize such a study from Fort Edward in Washington County down through Westchester County. If the NPS's study finds that the Hudson River Valley would be a good fit as part of the National Park System then subsequent legislation would be needed to make that designation. Hinchey said he would immediately introduce the necessary legislation.
Hinchey's bill outlines specific guidelines to ensure that the NPS study recognizes the realities of the Hudson River Valley. These guidelines require the NPS to closely examine park unit models, in particular national river and recreation areas, as well as other landscape protection models, that: encompass large areas of non-federal lands within their designated boundaries; foster public and private collaborative arrangements for achieving NPS objectives, and protect and respect the rights of private land owners. No forced land acquisition activities would be permitted.
“Thank you Mr. Chairman for including the Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act, H.R. 4003, on today's agenda. This bill would authorize the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study of the Hudson River Valley to evaluate the national significance of the area; and the suitability of designating the area as a unit of the National Park System.
Popularity: 1% [?]
