The city government has petitioned Congress requesting that H. R. 3589 be enacted, pointing out that the land desired is less than 1 percent of the entire area within the experiment station and is not suitable for worth-while cultivation. In view of opposition expressed to this bill by the Department of Agriculture, H. R. 3589 has been amended by reducing the acreage to be conveyed from 671.67 acres to 426.88 acres, in an effort to reach a compromise that would be acceptable to the Department of Agriculture. The Department of the Interior has indicated that it has no objection to H. R. 3589 as amended. The Congressmen from Montana strongly urge that this bill be enacted. At hearings held before the Committee on Public Lands, civic and business leaders of Miles City testified in behalf of the legis lation. These witnesses were unanimous in their belief that the benefits accruing to the city through the enactment of H. R. 3589 far outweighed any inconvenience that might be caused the experiment station. The Committee on Public Lands unanimously recommends that H. R. 3589, as amended, be enacted. COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES, OF THE RECREATIONAL USES OF LANDS AND WATERS JUNE 27, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. PETERSON, from the Committee on Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT To accompany H. R. 4403) The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4403) to facilitate the administration by the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, of the recreational uses of lands and waters within reclamation, flood-control, power, and other Federal reservoir projects, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: Page 2, line 8, strike out the period and insert the following: : Provided further, That the provisions of this Act shall not apply to projects under the supervision of the Department of the Army Page 3, line 9, after the word "land" add the following: "with the approval by appropriate resolution of the local taxing authority,". Page 4, line 10, strike out the word "conveyed" and substitute in lieu thereof the word "constructed". Page 5, line 11, insert before the word "construction" the word. "investigation". EXPLANATION OF THE BILL The purpose of this bill is to provide for the orderly development, administration, and disposal of recreational facilities within reclamation, flood-control, power, and other Federal reservoir projects under the primary jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior. Similar legislation has previously been enacted by the Congress for the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. As amended, H. R. 4403 would not apply to projects under the supervision of the Department of the Army. Basically, H. R. 4403 provides the authority for the Secretary of Interior to administer, operate, and develop recreational facilities on reservoirs, particularly those located in potential resort areas. It also provides for the possible transfer of recreational features to States or local communities when primarily of significance to such political subdivisions. There has been considerable overlapping and confusion with reference to administration of certain recreational facilities and it is felt that this bill will make possible closer coordination between the various bureaus involved and will enable the utilization of State and local agencies wherever possible. It is believed that a great number of the areas can be administered through cooperation with local agencies with greater convenience to the public and saving of expense to the Government, with, of course, proper safeguards and restrictions so as to protect the public interest. The Department of the Interior regards this bill as very desirable legislation and recommends its enactment. The Department's favorable report, pertinent comments from which are set forth below, further explains the purpose of the bill: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington 25, D. C., June 14, 1949. We recommend the enactment of H. R. 4403. This proposed legislation would facilitate the administration of the recreational uses of lands and waters within reclamation, flood-control, power, and other Federal reservoir projects by defining the authority that may be exercised with respect to such areas for recreational purposes. This authority is especially desirable in connection with areas such as the Coulee Dam recreational area, the recreational features of which are being administered by the National Park Service of this Department pursuant to agreement with the Bureaus of Reclamation and Indian Affairs. Legislation that is somewhat similar in purpose has previously been enacted by the Congres 3 for the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, Section 4 of the Flood Control Act of 1944, as amended by the act of July 24, 1946 (60 Stat. 641, 642; 16 U. S. C., 1946 ed., sec. 460d), authorizes that agency to construct, maintain, and operate public park and recreational facilities in reservoir areas" under its control and "to permit the construction. maintenance. and operation of such facilities" by others. One of the collateral assets created by Federal reservoir projects is the recres tional opportunities offered by the impoundment of large bodies of water Many of these reservoirs offer excellent opportunities to the public for boating, fishing, picnicking, and other outdoor recreational activities The terms of this bill are sufficiently flexible to permit Federal administration of the recreational features when such features are of national significance Where, however, the recreational features and uses are primarily of State or local significance or importance. administration of such recreational features and uses by State or local agencies would be possible under the terms of H. R. 4403 The bill also contains other important provisions which the experience of this 'Department ndicates are desirable in carrying out the objectives of this legislation Pursuant to suitable basic statutory authority, as would be provided by this bill, the development and provision of adequate recreational facilities at the reservoir areas would accord desirable and wholesome recreational opportunities to large numbers of our citizens Numerous States and localities have indicated their interest in the permanent operation and management of reservoir recreational areas. It is our purpose, if this legislation is enacted, to utilize such State and local agencies whenever possible in carrying out the purposes of this legislation While a very few of the reservoirs, such as Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, and Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake behind Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, may be of sufficient size, scope, and importance to warrant Federal administration of the recreational uses of such reservoirs, the recreational COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES, OF THE RECREATIONAL USES OF LANDS AND WATERS JUNE 27, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. PETERSON, from the Committee on Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT To accompany H. R. 4403) The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4403) to facilitate the administration by the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, of the recreational uses of lands and waters within reclamation, flood-control, power, and other Federal reservoir projects, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: Page 2, line 8, strike out the period and insert the following: : Provided further, That the provisions of this Act shall not apply to projects under the supervision of the Department of the Army Page 3, line 9, after the word "land" add the following: "with the approval by appropriate resolution of the local taxing authority,". Page 4, line 10, strike out the word "conveyed" and substitute in lieu thereof the word "constructed". Page 5, line 11, insert before the word "construction" the word "investigation". EXPLANATION OF THE BILL The purpose of this bill is to provide for the orderly development, administration, and disposal of recreational facilities within reclamation, flood-control, power, and other Federal reservoir projects under the primary jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior. Similar legislation has previously been enacted by the Congress for the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. As amended, H. R. 4403 would not apply to projects under the supervision of the Department of the Army. Basically, H. R. 4403 provides the authority for the Secretary of Interior to administer, operate, and develop recreational facilities on reservoirs, particularly those located in potential resort areas. It also provides for the possible transfer of recreational features to States or local communities when primarily of significance to such political subdivisions. There has been considerable overlapping and confusion with reference to administration of certain recreational facilities and it is felt that this bill will make possible closer coordination between the various bureaus involved and will enable the utilization of State and local agencies wherever possible. It is believed that a great number of the areas can be administered through cooperation with local agencies with greater convenience to the public and saving of expense to the Government, with, of course, proper safeguards and restrictions so as to protect the public interest. The Department of the Interior regards this bill as very desirable legislation and recommends its enactment. The Department's favorable report, pertinent comments from which are set forth below, further explains the purpose of the bill: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington 25, D. C., June 14, 1949. We recommend the enactment of H. R. 4403. This proposed legislation would facilitate the administration of the recreational uses of lands and waters within reclamation, flood-control, power, and other Federal reservoir projects by defining the authority that may be exercised with respect to such areas for recreational purposes. This authority is especially desirable in connection with areas such as the Coulee Dam recreational area, the recreational features of which are being administered by the National Park Service of this Department pursuant to agreement with the Bureaus of Reclamation and Indian Affairs. Legislation that is somewhat similar in purpose has previously been enacted by the Congres 3 for the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. Section 4 of the Flood Control Act of 1944, as amended by the act of July 24, 1916 (60 Stat. 641, 642; 16 U. S. C., 1946 ed., sec. 460d), authorizes that agency "to construct, maintain, and operate public park and recreational facilities in reservoir areas" under its control and "to permit the construction. maintenance. and operation of such facilities" by others. One of the collateral assets created by Federal reservoir projects is the recreational opportunities offered by the impoundment of large bodies of water Many of these reservoirs offer excellent opportunities to the public for boating, fishing, picnicking, and other outdoor recreational activities The terms of this bill are sufficiently flexible to permit Federal administration of the recreational features when such features are of national significance Where, however, the recreational features and uses are primarily of State or local significance or importance, administration of such recreational features and uses by State or local agencies would be possible under the terms of H. R. 4403 The bill also contains other important provisions which the experience of this Department ndicates are desirable in carrying out the objectives of this legislation Pursuant to suitable basic statutory authority, as would be provided by this bill, the development and provision of adequate recreational facilities at the reservoir areas would accord desirable and wholesome recreational opportunities to large numbers of our citizens Numerous States and localities have indicated their interest in the permanent operation and management of reservoir recreational areas. It is our purpose, if this legislation is enacted, to utilize such State and local agencies whenever possible in carrying out the purposes of this legislation. While a very few of the reservoirs, such as Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, and Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake behind Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, may be of sufficient size, scope, and importance to warrant Federal administration of the recreational uses of such reservoirs, the recreational |