STATEMENT
OF DAVID MIHALIC, SUPERINTENDENT, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, RECREATION, AND PUBLIC
LANDS, OF THE HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE, CONCERNING H. R. 3425, TO AUTHORIZE
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO STUDY THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF
ESTABLISHING HIGHWAY 49 IN CALIFORNIA, KNOWN AS THE ‘GOLDEN CHAIN HIGHWAY’, AS
A NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR.
December 13, 2001
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the
opportunity to present the Department of the Interior’s views on H. R.
3425. This bill would authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing
Highway 49 in California, known as the “Golden Chain Highway”, as a National
Heritage Corridor.
The Department supports this
legislation, but will not consider requesting funding for the study in this or
the next fiscal year so as to focus available time and resources on completing
previously authorized studies. As of
now, there are 41 authorized studies that are pending, and we only expect to
complete a few of those this year. We
caution that our support of this legislation authorizing a study does not
necessarily mean that the Department will support designation of this National
Heritage Area. The Administration is
determined to eliminate the deferred maintenance backlog in national parks, but
the costs of new parks or other commitments, such as grants for new National
Heritage Areas, could divert funds from taking care of current
responsibilities. Furthermore, in order
to better plan for the future of our National Parks, we believe that any such
studies should carefully examine the full life cycle operation and maintenance
costs that would result from each alternative considered.
H. R. 3425 requires the National
Park Service to complete a special resource study on the national significance,
suitability, and feasibility of establishing Highway 49 in California as a
National Heritage Corridor. The study
would be done in consultation with affected local governments, the State of
California, state and local historic preservation offices, community
organizations, and the Golden Chain Council.
The bill would require the study
to include an analysis of the significance of Highway 49 in California from the
city of Oakhurst in Madera County to the city of Vinton in Plumas County. The study would examine the lands,
structures, and cultural resources within the immediate vicinity of the highway,
options for preservation and use of the highway, and options for interpretation
of significant features associated with the highway. The bill would also require the study to examine alternatives for
preservation of these resources by the private sector.
Highway 49 traverses the area
where gold was discovered and mined during the California Gold Rush, and passes
through the heart of an area that includes communities with many Gold
Rush-related structures and sites. It
is the principle route of travel linking these major Gold Rush sites, and
provides access to numerous State Historic Parks and museums related to the
Gold Rush.
The discovery of and search for
gold in California transformed the nation.
“Gold fever” was a national experience, spreading throughout the country
and the world and precipitating a massive migration to California. The discovery of gold brought California
into the United States as the 31st state, preparing the way for the
United States to span the width of the North American continent, and
accelerating the exploration and settlement of the American West. Legends and literature have expanded the
reach of the Gold Rush story, through the work of nationally significant
writers such as Mark Twain and Bret Harte.
The area along Highway 49 retains
many Gold Rush-era resources, including two National Historic Landmark
Districts in the towns of Columbia and Coloma, and numerous properties and
districts that are included on the National Register of Historic Places. The
State of California has recognized the significance of this area through the
establishment of several State Historic Parks and mining museums, and
designation of Highway 49 as a State heritage corridor and a State scenic
highway. Many of the towns along
Highway 49 retain much of their historic integrity, and have sought to preserve
and promote their Gold Rush history.
As we have testified previously
before this subcommittee, there are several steps we believe should be taken
prior to Congress designating a national heritage area to help ensure that the
heritage area is successful. Those
steps are:
1.
completion of a suitability/feasibility study;
2. public
involvement in the suitability/feasibility study;
3.
demonstration of widespread public support among heritage area residents for
the proposed designation; and
4.
commitment to the proposal from the appropriate players which may include
governments, industry, and private, non-profit organizations, in addition to
the local citizenry.
The National Park Service has had
some inquiries in the past year from historic preservation groups, non-profit
organizations, and business groups seeking additional information about
heritage areas in general and a possible Highway 49 Heritage Corridor. A study of the area would allow a
determination of the level of support that might exist in the area and would
help identify further protection and preservation options. A critical element of the study will be to
evaluate the integrity of the resources and the nationally distinctive character
of the region before recommending national heritage area designation.
We would suggest a technical
amendment to clarify that the city of Vinton is located in Plumas County.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my
prepared remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions you or other
members of the subcommittee may have.