SEDONA, AZ
(October 30, 2009) – AZ District-1 Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ)
has followed up on her recent promise
to circulate draft legislation for public input, in a first step to
stamp a National Scenic Area designation on the greater Sedona area.
This week Kirkpatrick's office sent out a
bill for public comment entitled
Sedona Red Rock National Scenic Area Act of 2009.
If finalized and
approved by Congress, the bill would designate 160,000 acres of
Coconino National Forest Land in and around Sedona a "Scenic Area."
The stated objective of the bill is
"protecting and preserving the scenic quality and natural resources
of the Scenic Area; and restoring and enhancing the natural and
historic values of the Scenic Area."
The lack of a draft bill from Kirkpatrick's
office was the stumbling block that scuttled a recent Sedona City
Council decision on whether or not to issue a letter of support for
a National Scenic Area designation for Sedona.
|
Sedona Arizona News, Jobs, Tourist Info, Classifieds, Forums - Sedona.biz
|
The proposal to make Sedona a National
Scenic Area has been around for years but the reasons have
shifted over time. Originally, NSA proponents reportedly
wanted to prevent forest land trades for private land within the
greater Sedona area. As much of the area has been developed, and less private land is
available for exchange for forest land, the focus has shifted to
preventing forest land within the proposed scenic area from being
exchanged for private land somewhere else in the country.
More recently, some in support of an NSA designation have said that it would
attract more tourists to the area.
In her cover letter to the bill, Kirkpatrick
wrote, "As you know, I have been actively reviewing
the proposed National Scenic Area (NSA) designation for the National
Forest land around Sedona. Since being elected in November, my staff
and I have met with individuals on all sides of this project.
After hearing your comments and insights on this topic, I believe
the attached draft legislation will achieve a goal we are all
working towards: preserving the unique natural resources in our
Congressional District — one of the most beautiful and potentially
productive areas of the United States."
While the draft bill addresses how to handle wildfire suppression and the control of insects and
disease in the Scenic Area, the section regarding restrictions on
land trades remains blank awaiting public suggestions on proposed
language, something that will likely disappoint NSA proponents and
continue to be a stumbling block for the Sedona City Council.
The bill also states that 1) the Forest
Service will continue to manage the Coconino National Forest as it
currently does under the Coconino National Forest Land and Resource
Plan; 2) local municipalities, counties, and fire and school
districts can continue to seek to use the Scenic Area land for local
infrastructure needs; and 3) the creation of the Scenic Area does
not in any way affect existing water rights.
One interesting provision relates
specifically to the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Currently, the Chapel of the Holy Cross sits
on 11.2 acres of forest land that the church leases from the U.S.
Forest Service (i.e., the Secretary of Agriculture). The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona
has proposed purchasing the land at fair market value but there is
no legal mechanism to allow it. Kirkpatrick's bill
would allow the sale, and require that the land be conveyed within
180 days after the bill becomes law.
The "moneys received by
the Secretary [of Agriculture] from the sale of [Chapel of the Holy Cross] land...shall be deposited in the fund established by Public Law
6 90–171 (commonly known as the Sisk Act) for use by the
Secretary for the acquisition of land or interests in land
from willing sellers within the Sedona-Red Rock National
Scenic Area, as established by section 2. To the maximum
extent practicable, the Secretary shall utilize such moneys
for the authorized purposes within three years of their deposit into the Sisk
Act fund."
Kirkpatrick's office asks that the public email its comments to:
Sedona.NSA@mail.house.gov
by no later than December 1, 2009.
