Twelve of 126 communities applying for a new White House initiative to help revitalize rivers will not be considered because of opposition by their local Congressman or U.S. Senator. Stretches of 14 other nominated rivers also are out of the running because of Congressional opposition.

White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Kathleen A. McGinty announced today that the 26 rivers and river sections will not be eligible for Presidential designation as an American Heritage River because their nomination was "vetoed" by a Member of Congress. McGinty said her office received 45 letters from Members opposing specific nominations, and 197 Congressional letters supporting nominations.

"Comments by Members of Congress have run more than 4-1 in favor of the American Heritage Rivers initiative and we are pleased by this overwhelming show of support," said McGinty. "Regrettably, 26 rivers or stretches of river are now out of the running. I hope these communities will continue working nonetheless to realize their visions for their rivers."

The American Heritage Rivers initiative, announced by President Clinton in his 1997 State of the Union address, recognizes and assists voluntary river restoration efforts. Communities were invited to nominate their rivers for designation, and the 10 selected will receive help tapping existing federal resources to carry out their plans for restoring their rivers and riverfronts.

The 126 nominations, from 46 states and the District of Columbia, include rivers large and small -- from the Santa Rosa Creek in California to the Cedar River in Iowa to the Hudson River in New York.

An advisory committee appointed by the President will convene in Washington, D.C., on May 11 and 12 to review the remaining nominations. The committee will recommend up to 20 of the nominations to the President, who will make the final selection. It is expected the 10 American Heritage Rivers will be named in June.

At a hearing of the House Resources Committee on September 24, 1997, the majority members of the committee strongly urged the Administration to allow Members to "veto" any river or river stretch running through their districts. The Administration agreed, and Members were asked to inform CEQ of their opposition by January 23. If a river runs through more than one district, any section not opposed by a Member remains eligible for designation.

The designation of three river sections, the South Platte in Colorado, the Willamette in Oregon and the Missouri in Nebraska, have been opposed by one Senator from each state, but will still be considered because local members of the House support the nominations or are neutral. The Senator's opposition will be appropriately weighed in the selection process, McGinty said.

Each community submitted a detailed plan for restoring and protecting the environmental, economic and cultural values of its river and riverfront. A community's plan could aim to clean up pollution, attract businesses, improve flood protection, protect farm land, rebuild historic docks and buildings, restore eroded stream banks or promote new economic opportunities.

For each American Heritage River, a "River Navigator" will be appointed to help the community identify federal programs and resources that can be used to carry out its plan. Federal agencies also will make field staff available to help match community needs with available resources. Federal agencies will have no regulatory powers or control over local decision-making.

All communities that submitted nominations will be encouraged to continue their river restoration efforts. Each will be invited to a symposium to exchange ideas with other communities and to learn about government and private resources that can help. Each also will receive site-specific data on its river, including planning software and economic modeling tools.

Information on the American Heritage Rivers initiative, including a complete list of nominated rivers, is available on the Web at www.epa.gov/rivers.

A list of members of the House and Senate who opposed nominations is attached, along with a list of Members who supported specific nominations.

Rivers Eliminated From Consideration
The entire river is removed from consideration due to the listed Members' opposition.

Clearwater River, ID -- Rep. Helen Chenoweth (ID-1); Sen. Conrad Burns (MT); Sen. Larry Craig (ID); Rep. Rick Hill (MT-ALL); Sen. Dirk Kempthorne (ID)
Gunnison River, CO -- Rep Scott McInnis (CO-3)
Lake Brazos River Corridor, TX -- Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Osage River, MO -- Rep. Ike Skelton (MO-4)
St. Mary's River, MI -- Rep. Bart Stupak (MI-1)
Sabine River, TX -- Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
San Antonio River, TX -- Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX); Representative Lamar Smith (TX-21)
San Joaquin River, CA -- Rep. George Radanovich (CA-19)
San Juan River, NM -- Rep. Bill Redmond (NM-3)
San Luis Rey River, CA --Rep. Randy Cunningham (CA-51); Rep. Ron Packard (CA-48)
Snohomish River, WA -- Rep. Jack Metcalf (WA-2)
Upper Rio Grande, NM -- Rep. Bill Redmond (NM-3); Rep. Steve Schiff (NM-1); Joe Skeen (NM-2)

River Sections Eliminated From Consideration
River sections that run through the listed Members' district(s) will be excluded from any designation, but the remaining part of the nomination will still considered.

American River, CA -- Representative John Doolittle (CA-4), Richard Pombo (CA-11)
Arkansas River, AR, CO, OK, KS -- Representative Marion Berry (AR-1), Senator Sam Brownback (KS), Representative Tom Coburn (OK-2), Representative Jay Dickey (AR-4), Representative Jerry Moran (KS-1), Representative Todd Tiahrt (KS-4), Asa Hutchinson (AR-3), Senator Tim Hutchinson (AR), Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO)
Cold Water Creek, MO-- Representative James Talent (MO-2)
Columbia River, OR --Senator Gordon H. Smith (OR)
French Broad River, NC -- Representative Charles Taylor (NC-11)
James River, VA -- Representative Thomas Bliley, Jr. (VA-7)
Jordan River, UT --Representative Christopher Cannon (UT-3)
Mississippi River, MO -- Representative Pat Danner (MO-6), Representative James Talent (MO-2)
Missouri River, MT, MO, NE, SD -- Representative Pat Danner (MO-6), Representative Rick Hill (MT-ALL), Representative Kenny Hulshof (MO-9), Representative James Talent (MO-2), Representative Ike Skelton (MO-4), Senator Sam Brownback (KS), Senator Conrad Burns (MT), Senator Chuck Hagel (NE), Representative John Thune (SD-ALL), Representative Vincent Snowbarger (KS-3)
Ohio River, IN -- Representative John Hostettler (IN-8)
Ouachita River, LA/AR -- Representative Jay Dickey (AR-4), Representative Asa Hutchinson (AR-3), Senator Tim Hutchinson (AR)
St. John's River, FL -- Representative David Weldon (FL-15), Representative Cliff Stearns (FL-6)
Santa Cruz River, AZ --Senator Jon Kyl (AZ)
Yellowstone River, WY, MT -- Representative Barbara Cubin (WY-ALL), Representative Rick Hill (MT-ALL), Senator Conrad Burns (MT), Senator Michael Enzi (WY), Senator Craig Thomas (WY)

River Sections With Senatorial Opposition Only
River sections are opposed by the listed Senator, but supported by a member of the House or the other Senator from the state's delegation. Will still be considered for designation.

South Platte River, CO --Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO)
Willamette River, OR -- Senator Gordon H. Smith (OR)
Missouri River, NE -- Senator Chuck Hagel (NE)

Senators Supporting American Heritage River Nominations

(Senator, River(s))

Akaka, Daniel K., Hanalei

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