Mr. VENTO. What are there, 30 or 35 communities in Essex? Mr. VENTO. Thirty-four. And I think it is amazing that on a voluntary basis most of this has been achieved. Generally, when you have a commission you have it for a reason, because you need a certain independence, a certain autonomy. And if you have cooperation already in this case, obviously, then having some sort of management entity that can coordinate that cooperation or collaboration is very important. Obviously, the risk we run, from our standpoint, if we set up something that is Federal-and supposedly it is supposed to respond to the Federal Government-it almost, by definition, will be a little outside the gambit of the 34 local governments in Essex County to retain the type of response they want. Anything_can work, but I think there is a risk in terms of establishing it. Then you have funding and you have executives. We do not have objection, in a sense, to providing some operation and maintenance dollars for the effort that goes forward on a participating basis, on a 50-50 basis. There is no objection to that. The concern is that we want to make certain that we are working with the management entity or the local governments that are present there. Even having State input in this particular process, I think, is highly desirable, because I think very often you are calling upon the State to, in fact, have policies or provide some assistance. One of the strong programs we have had through the Historic Preservation Act is the State historic preservation office. And they, basically, for a very small amount of money, less than $50 million, carry the whole historic preservation program nationwide. They are the backbone of that program. We can make rules and qualifications nationally through the Park Service, but they do not mean anything unless they are carried out, and that is done at the State level through the State historic preservation offices. I don't know what the proper moniker is. In Minnesota, we have the Minnesota Historical Society, and that is a public entity that is very, very strong. I don't know what it is in Massachusetts, but it may not be recognized as a State historic preservation office by most. But you have that entity, I can assure you. And then we have the historic districts, which have a certain level of commitment, a recognition. So we are trying to find here something that will not become part of the Park Service. It, basically, will remain private. That is to say we are not going to buy Essex County nor much of it. In fact, we do not intend to, but we want to promote the cultural preservation and use the expertise of the Park Service. That is what the intent here is, for an intensive period of years here with local cooperation. And then when we are done there is someone to sort of catch the ball after we have concluded. So that is the idea, how it has evolved, and with the involvement of a lot of groups and Park Service and contributions by members. As we get to understand this, we take credit for it. That is the idea in politics, as you know. So I am very confident that your responses today seem to be very positive concerning this matter. You heard my questions of Director Galvin in terms of getting some sort of idea of dollars and author ization. I think it is best to do that if we can, looking at the management plan and what the prospects are for an area this large. It could be very significant dollar figures, even though the amount of support would be very limited because of the resources. I feel pretty good about it. Mr. Torkildsen, Mr. Rahall, did you have any questions of this panel? Mr. RAHALL. No, Mr. Chairman. Mr. VENTO. Mr. Torkildsen, without objection, do you have any comments? Mr. TORKILDSEN. No, I just want to thank the witnesses for testifying. I think they did a great job of testifying as to the essence of what we are trying to accomplish and, again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding the hearing. Mr. VENTO. Well, I don't want to hold you. We have a busy day. I want to thank you for coming down and sharing your views and being able to communicate with you concerning this issue and our direction in the near future. Thank you very much. Mr. LEONARD. Thank you again. We will work with the deputy from the National Park Service to work on a compact to try to organize something to make this come together. Mr. VENTO. We know we can set the rules after a lot of work and study that has gone on, so we do not want to hold you to a rigid form. But we want to at least get the good faith effort to the same sort of standards that we would like to see replicated in the future. Thank you all very much. Mr. LEONARD. Thank you. Mr. VENTO. I would like to call the Director, Mr. Galvin, back to speak on the West Virginia issue. Congressman Rahall is here, and I don't know if any of your associates, Mr. Galvin, are going to testify on this basis. Also, let me recognize Congressman Rahall, who has a few opening comments at this point, since he was not permitted to do so in his absence. Mr. Rahall. STATEMENT OF HON. NICK J. RAHALL II, A U.S. Mr. RAHALL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I deeply appreciate your scheduling this hearing on H.R. 3988, the West Virginia National Coal Heritage Act of 1994. The coal mining history of southern West Virginia is indeed a story of struggle, of human sacrifice, and of occurrences which have left their mark on our Nation as a whole. Our history is indelibly inscribed and etched in these occurrences that have happened in West Virginia and in particular the southern part of our great State. A central element in this history is the role of the men and women who worked in the mines and their efforts toward obtaining social justice. During the latter part of the 19th century the railroads opened up West Virginia's coal fields to the rest of the Nation giving rise to the age of what are known as the coal barons. The native population began to become integrated with southern blacks and immigrants from Italy and other countries who came to work the mines. Company stores and housing and payment by script were a way of life for many. Mother Jones became a frequent visitor to our State, and by 1922 the United Mine Workers of America had successfully unionized many mines. A great deal of history was made during the subsequent labor disturbances on Paint and Cabin Creek during 1912 and 1913. The Matewan Massacre in 1920 the battle of Blair Mountain the following year. These were the days indeed of the West Virginia mine wars. This is in part our coal mining heritage, a part of America's heritage. A heritage that played not only an essential role until the formation of our culture and our values, but an essential role to the industrialization of the United States. Today there are few physical vestiges of this era remaining. I believe that it is incumbent upon this generation to ensure that what does remain is not lost to further decay. With these old mining camps, company stores, tipples and related structures are an integral and important part of our heritage and the lessons learned from them should not be forgotten or lost to future generations. The West Virginia National Coal Heritage Area Act of 1994 is aimed at salvaging remnants of these coal sites and as such preserving this unique heritage. In my view, this must be done not only for educational purposes, but for the potential regional economic benefits that this type of historic preservation may hold. Aside from establishment of a heritage area, this bill would also provide for a study pursuant to the National Trails Systems Act for the feasibility of establishing a Miners March National Historic Trail along the route traveled by the participants in what became known as the Battle of Blair Mountain. Blair Mountain is the site of a major but largely unknown episode in labor and American history that took place in 1921. Marching from the Charleston area, our State capital, in an effort to open up the southern coal fields to unions, 10,000 miners confronted Federal troops sent in by President Harding, State troopers, county deputies, coal detective agents. It is a site of the largest domestic deployment of U.S. forces during the post-Civil War era. The historical significance of this battle is perhaps best described in a PBS documentary entitled "Even the Heavens Weep." Blair Mountain is quiet today. What happened here in 1921 needs to be remembered for it was a turning point for America. It was one of those rare moments when history itself seemed to hold its breath. Those at the top of the mountains were not just defending Logan and Mingo Counties. They were defending the 19th Century belief that those with wealth and power had a right to the destiny of those who toiled. Those who marched in the mountains were bringing with them a new century's conviction that there were limits to what humans could do to one another for the sake of profit and power. The mountain's shame is that it became a symbol for the violence of the era. Its glory is that so many came to insist that a new age begin. Mr. Chairman, as I conclude, I want to emphasize that we have followed a proper and prudent course of action in devising this legislation. This bill is a product of a process that started with the provision in legislation enacted in 1988, which originated in this subcommittee. Under that bill, the National Park Service was authorized to conduct a coal mining heritage study which was subsequently funded by the Congress. This study provides a basis for the pending legislation. Mr. Chairman, again, I thank you for scheduling this hearing and I look forward to working with you toward enactment of this legislation. Mr. VENTO. I thank the gentleman for his presence, and I will invite Mr. Galvin to give his testimony, which I have read, and I will give you the gavel for a few minutes while I take care of some other matters. So if the gentleman does not mind-and I have read the testimony, Mr. Galvin, and I will be back momentarily to question you. Mr. GALVIN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. VENTO [presiding]. Please proceed. STATEMENT OF DENIS P. GALVIN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mr. GALVIN. As Mr. Rahall pointed out, this legislation sets forth a study done by the National Park Service that was transmitted to the Congress on December 7, 1993. Mr. Rahall, before you arrived, I explained that in testifying on these five bills today we are trying to place each of these studies in the context of the recently-passed H.R. 3707, which is a generic approach to the heritage area bills. And my testimony is based on that approach, and I will summarize my statement. We do not support the bill as written and recommend it be restructured to censure I am sorry-H.R. 3988 would establish a West Virginia national coal mining heritage area. It would authorize the Secretary to enter into a contractual agreement with the Governor of the State of West Virginia to assist the State in developing and implementing an integrated program for preserving resources associated with the coal mining heritage of this area. The program would include coordination of activities by Federal, State and local governments. Acquisition of property by donation or purchase for public use would be authorized by this bill. However, in order to be consistent with the proposed American Heritage Areas Partnership Program Act, we do not support this aspect of the bill. It should be restructured to conform with H.R. 3707. Within 2 years after enactment, the Governor would be required to submit for approval by the Secretary a coal heritage management plan setting forth program policies, guidelines, standards, and responsibilities. Section 8 of this act would amend the National Trails Systems Act adding the route from Lens Creek near Marmet to Blair Mountain, WV as a study trail. We also recommend deferring action on this section of H.R. 3988 until further evaluation is completed. Currently, the National Park Service is conducting a labor history national historic landmark theme study that is taking a comprehensive look at the labor history of West Virginia including Blair Mountain. The National Park Service in cooperation with the State and local governments did conduct a 1992-93 study to determine the feasibility-this is language from the legislation-"to determine the feasibility of protecting and preserving certain significant cultural historic and natural resources associated with the coal mining heritage of southern West Virginia." This study documented numerous State and locally significant resources related to coal mining. It suggested three basic concepts but made no recommendation for any one course of action and did not recommend establishment of a national heritage area. The study found that strong, sustained leadership and technical assistance would be needed in order to develop an effective conservation program in southern West Virginia. A community-based approach to heritage conservation was suggested, focusing on leadership development and economic renewal, infrastructure, restoration and recreation, and cultural conservation. While the study implied that strong partnerships not only with the State but also with local organizations would be the most effective and appropriate means for achieving preservation goals, it did not address potential roles for the various agencies and organizations. Preparation of a study such as that done here is a first step in the process in meeting the conditions set forth in H.R. 3707. While this is the beginning, we would like to see the process followed and additional criteria and conditions addressed to ensure future consistency in the designation of such areas. Therefore, we recommend that action on this bill be deferred. Mr. Rahall-that concludes my summary. I might point out in the earlier testimony with Chairman Vento, he recommended that we take all of these bills and also the ones that he has heard earlier and make judgments on them with respect to this H.R. 3707 to come to some agreement as to how we can move forward on each of them. And that would color-and we certainly agree with that approach, that we are prepared to sit down and discuss how to move forward with each of these, recognizing that some of these have been in studies for a considerable period of time and need to move on to a new stage. [Prepared statement of Mr. Galvin follows:] |