REFERENCE TITLE: urging Congress; river designations

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

SCM 1006

Introduced by Senator Griffin

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

urging the united states Congress to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, in 1968, Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Act), which created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; and

Whereas, under the Act, Congress or, if certain requirements are met, the United States Secretary of the Interior may designate certain rivers as wild, scenic or recreational; and

Whereas, once a river is designated, it becomes a part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and must be preserved in its free‑flowing condition; and

Whereas, such a designation can limit the economic growth of local and rural communities by foreclosing water and other development opportunities, infringe on the private property rights of landowners by preventing them from using their land in ways that are inconsistent with the Act and limit the use of land for agricultural and forestry practices and other purposes.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1.  That the Congress of the United States amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to require congressional approval plus state, county and local approval before a river may be designated as wild, scenic or recreational.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.