Subcommittee on National Parks Hears Three Colorado Specific Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The conservation of Colorado’s natural and cultural heritage took center stage today in a congressional hearing chaired by United States Senator Ken Salazar.

In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Congress heard testimony regarding three important bills for Colorado: S.126, the Mesa Verde National Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2007; S. 443, the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area Act, and S. 444, the South Park National Heritage Area Act. The Mesa Verde National Park Boundary Expansion Act was introduced by Senators Salazar and Allard, and S. 443 and S. 444 are both written by Senator Salazar.

Senator Salazar also highlighted S. 126, the Mesa Verde National Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2007, a bipartisan bill he co-sponsored with Senator Allard to authorize a boundary adjustment that would incorporate the 324-acre Henneman property, which borders the northeastern corner of Mesa Verde National Park.

“I am pleased that the Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to discuss my legislation, the Mesa Verde National Park Boundary Expansion Act, which I hope will move the legislative process forward. The bill will expand the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park by more than 300 acres, protecting the gateway to the park from commercial development,” said Senator Allard. “This bipartisan bill has strong local support and is based on plain old common sense. The Henneman Family would like to see their land protected for future generations as part of Mesa Verde National Park and the Park Service would like to work with the family and The Conservation Fund to acquire the land. All the pieces are there, the only thing we need is legislation authorizing the expansion of the Park. Our bipartisan bill would accomplish this.”

“Both the Hennemans and the National Park Service support expanding Mesa Verde National Park and both want to curb development at the gateway to the Park to preserve its natural beauty. I admire the Hennemans’ commitment to help conserve our natural heritage and the National Park Service for working with the local community to expand one of our state’s crown jewels,” said Senator Salazar.

Present to testify on behalf of two of the three bills were Coloradans with first-hand knowledge to share with the Committee:

• Dennis Lopez, the Acting Chairman of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area Steering Committee and Principal of Sierra Grande High School in Blanca, testified on behalf of the Sangre de Cristo NHA bill, saying in his prepared testimony, “With 11,000 years of documented human habitation, the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area is a crossroads of the centuries. Here a unique blend of Native American, Hispano and Anglo settlement is reflected in the diversity of the people, art and traditions. The geographic isolation of the alpine valley and the people’s enduring tie to the land have given rise to a rich cultural heritage and ensured its preservation. The area’s fertile cultural landscape is complemented by remarkable natural resources, including the mighty Rio Grande, majestic Rocky Mountain peaks, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, National Wildlife Refuges, and the high mountain desert, all of which lend the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area an unparalleled beauty that offers a sense of retreat and a powerful source of inspiration for visitors.”

• Gary Nichols, Director of Tourism & Community Development for Park County, testified on behalf of the South Park NHA bill, saying in his prepared testimony, “Nowhere in the United States will you find the centennial ranches, prehistoric sites, steam locomotives, and forgotten gold mines preserved in a setting as extraordinary as South Park, at elevations exceeding two miles above sea level. The altitude of South Park and surrounding mountains define our heritage and attract individuals who value the authenticity of this proposed National Heritage Area. As they have for centuries, local residents still depend on the land for their livelihood and quality of life. As America’s population grows and other places lose their traditional industries and identity, places like South Park become increasingly rare and more intriguing.”

Testifying on behalf of the Allard-Salazar Mesa Verde National Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2007 was Dan Sakura, Director of Government Relations for The Conservation Fund. In his testimony, Mr. Sakura applauded the bipartisan effort, saying, “These facilities will provide the public with expanded opportunities to learn about the Park’s internationally significant cliff dwellings and the rich cultural heritage of the ancestral Puebloan people.”

Having received a hearing, the Mesa Verde National Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2007; the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area Act, and the South Park National Heritage Area Act now move on to the next step, a review and approval by the full Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This step, known as a “mark-up,” has not yet been scheduled.