STATEMENT OF JOHN J. REYNOLDS,
REGIONAL DIRECTOR, PACIFIC WEST REGION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, RECREATION, AND PUBLIC LANDS OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES CONCERNING H.R. 1712, A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BOUNDARY OF THE
NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA TO INCLUDE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE ISLANDS OF
OFU AND OLOSEGA WITHIN THE PARK.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the
opportunity to present the Department of the Interior's views on H.R. 1712, a
bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make minor adjustments to
the boundary of the National Park of American Samoa, to include certain lands
of the islands of Ofu and Olosega within the park, and for other purposes.
The Department does not oppose
H.R. 1712. We do, however, suggest amendments as outlined in this
testimony. This legislation will
provide authority for the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the boundary of
the National Park of American Samoa to include up to approximately 1,000 acres
of land on the island of Olosega, up to approximately 450 acres on the island
of Ofu, and approximately 1,500 acres of ocean waters offshore of Olosega and
Ofu. The lands on the island of Olosega
and the adjacent offshore waters will add important cultural, biological and
marine resources to the national park.
The lands on the island of Ofu will ensure the long-term protection of
important and fragile coral reef resources presently within the national park.
Proposed additions on Ofu contain
excellent wildlife and coral reef habitats. Currently, only a strip of sand
beach and the associated coral reef are within the national park boundary on
Ofu. This coastal area contains a world-class coral reef area of remarkably
high diversity and beauty. The proposed
addition would protect the upland watershed so that the coral reef would not
be impaired by non-park developments. Coastal areas on the north side of Ofu are
proposed because of the exceptionally healthy and diverse coral communities
found there, and because the north shores of Ofu and Olosega are connected and
constitute a single coral reef ecosystem.
The archeological resources found
on Olosega between the 300 and 800-foot elevations are not only important, but
are unique in American Samoa. Unique to
Olosega are the number of star mounds and what appears to be a remnant
agro-forestry system. Archeological
reconnaissance surveys carried out on Olosega in July 1999 by the National Park
Service and the University of North Dakota's Department of Anthropology
identified 31 star mounds, 46 modified terraces, 14 house platforms, an
elevated grave site believed to be associated with the Tui Olosega (King of
Olosega), and numerous stone tools. Star mounds are massive rock platforms with
radiating arms built by the ancient Samomans for cultural and sporting
events. Up until 1999, star mounds were
known to exist only on Upolo (in Samoa) and Tutuila islands. Archeologists
believe the agro-forestry system found on Olosega, with further study, could
prove to be an agricultural system that existed in relative equilibrium with
the native forest system. Most of the
sites and artifacts found on Olosega were well preserved.
Also in 1999, a survey of Olosega's
biotic resources by the park's wildlife biologist found that the unoccupied
portions of the island provide excellent habitat for native wildlife. Large tracts of land on Olosega remain
relatively wild and the island is free of many of the introduced species that
compete with the native wildlife within the park on Tutuila. In addition,
Olosega includes the presence of the rarer bird species that occur in American
Samoa. Fiji shrikebill, uncommon on the other islands, were consistently seen
on Olosega during the 1999 survey. The
Friendly ground dove and the Blue-crowned lory are also present. The Friendly ground dove is a candidate for
listing as an endangered species.
Biologists believe the shrikebill found on Olosega may be a separate
subspecies found only on the Manu'a Islands.
Although Olosega shares the same
fauna found on the other islands of American Samoa, the species composition of
the forest trees is somewhat unique.
The 1999 survey found a high concentration of Samoan medicinal plants. Many of these medicinal plants are
disappearing from the native forests of Samoa.
The survey also found that the area between the 200 and 800-foot
elevation represented a traditional mixed agro-forestry system developed over
decades of manipulation and cultural use.
The system appeared to be relatively stable and may have reached a
sustainable equilibrium.
Small populations of two species
of flying foxes are believed to exist on Olosega. Protection of these
fruit-eating bats is included in the park’s enabling legislation. In addition, there are indications that a
few individuals of the nearly extirpated sheath-tailed bat are present on
Olosega. This small insectivorous bat is a candidate for listing as an
endangered species and is not currently found within the existing boundary of
the park.
The coastal and marine areas of
Olosega contain rich coral and fish communities and would complement the Ofu
reef currently included within the park boundary. Surveys have found that Olosega's offshore waters are among the
richest and most densely populated with fish species in the entire Samoan
archipelago. Both the endangered
Hawksbill and the threatened Green sea turtles are present in Olosega's
offshore waters. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service believe that the
Hawksbill turtle is a species rapidly approaching extinction, making its
protection in Olosega's reefs and offshore waters of vital importance.
The law that established the
National Park of American Samoa does not provide the authority for the National
Park Service to acquire park lands, but instead requires that lands must be
leased from the Governor of American Samoa. Lands within the authorized
boundary expansion would be added to the park incrementally, based on future
discussions with village landowners and modification of the existing lease. The
park’s enabling legislation places the responsibility for determining the
rental value of lands to be leased for the national park with the High Court of
American Samoa. As a point of reference, the park currently leases
approximately 8,000 acres for $419,000 annually. The
offshore waters would be leased from the Government of American Samoa at no
cost. No development is contemplated within the boundary adjustment areas, so
no line-item construction or significant development costs are anticipated in
connection with H.R. 1712.
In March 1998, the Olosenga
Village Council noted in a letter to American Samoa's Congressional
representative, Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, that the national park has
contributed much to the preservation of Samoan culture, the rainforest and the
coral reef. In addition, the council noted that the park has also been a
positive factor to the economic well-being of the territory through tourism and
lease payments to the villages in the park. The village council of Olosega
expressed its support for expansion of the park boundaries, and we are pleased
that this has been a grassroots effort supported by the community.
Also significant would be inclusion
of the coral reefs around portions of Olosega within the national park, which
would further the Governor’s directive to local agencies to protect 20 percent
of the territory's coral reefs. At present, only about six percent of the
territory's reefs are in protected areas.
We recommend an amendment to the
bill to eliminate the word “minor” when referring to the boundary adjustment.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCF), as amended, provides the
Secretary of the Interior with the authority to make minor boundary
adjustments, and defines the conditions that are considered to be minor.
Because the boundary adjustment addressed by H.R. 1712 would not meet those
criteria, we suggest that the term be deleted from the bill in order to avoid
confusion between its use in H.R. 1712 and the definition provided in the LWCF.
We also recommend an amendment to
include a map reference in the bill in order to clarify the lands to be
included in the boundary adjustment. Both of the suggested amendments are
attached to this testimony.
This concludes my testimony. I would be glad to answer any questions that
you or members of the subcommittee may have.
Proposed amendments to H.R. 1712—
In the title of the bill and on
page 2, line 5 strike “minor”.
On page 2, line 7, after Olosega
insert “as depicted on the map entitled ‘National Park of American Samoa,
Proposed Boundary Adjustment’, numbered 82,035 and dated Feb 2002”.