H.R. 8206

H.R. 8206 ,  To ensure that Big Cypress National Preserve may not be designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System

 

STATEMENT OF JOY BEASLEY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CULTURAL RESOURCES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND SCIENCE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOUCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL LANDS CONCERNING H.R. 8206, TO ENSURE THAT BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE MAY NOT BE DESIGNATED AS WILDERNESS OR AS A COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

June 27, 2024

Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior’s views on H.R. 8206, a bill to ensure that Big Cypress National Preserve may not be designated as wilderness or a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

The Department opposes H.R. 8206.

H.R. 8206 would prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve (Preserve) from being designated as wilderness or a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The bill appears to be intended to preempt any proposal from the Administration, or any Congressional decision, to enact a wilderness designation within the Preserve. If Congress does not want to designate wilderness in the Preserve, it can achieve that goal by not acting on any legislation designating wilderness within the Preserve, as only Congress can designate wilderness. Additionally, the National Park Service has not recommended wilderness in this area. Therefore, this legislation is unnecessary.

The historical establishment of the Preserve remains a remarkable example of unity and compromise among diverse stakeholders, including local conservationists, government representatives, outdoor recreationists, environmental advocates, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and Seminole Tribe of Florida. In the 1960s, these groups united to protect the Big Cypress Swamp from a major jetport development that posed a threat to the area’s invaluable natural and cultural assets. Their collective efforts led to the establishment of the Preserve, our nation’s first national preserve, in 1974. The law designating the Preserve as a unit of the National Park System ensured protection of these resources while simultaneously providing diverse public land uses, including hunting, fishing, off road vehicle use, private camp ownership, and traditional use and occupancy rights for Native American Tribes. The NPS remains committed to working with stakeholders, local and state officials, and Tribes—the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and the Seminole Tribe of Florida—on all issues of concern within the Preserve.

Chairman Tiffany, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may have.

Was this page helpful?

Please provide a comment