Sept. 24, 2002 – Federal legislation to allow the National Park Service to buy acreage adjacent to the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve on St. Croix has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, Delegate Donna M. Christensen said Tuesday in a release. A similar bill passed the U.S. Senate earlier.
A conference committee from both chambers now will meet to reconcile differences in the two versions before forwarding the measure to President Bush for his signature, Monique Clendinen, Christensen's spokeswoman, said Tuesday.
The legislation is necessary because a private owner of land on the south boundary of the park wants to donate 15.5 acres to the National Park Service to become part of the park, and a neighbor on the western side similarly wants to donate part and sell part of an 8.5-acre parcel. The 8.5-acre parcel includes a 4,800-square-foot house that could be used as a visitor center, something the Salt River site does not now have.
"In order to provide better service and a more rewarding experience for park visitors, it is important for the Park Service to have a place where visitors can come learn about the park and receive assistance from Park Service personnel," Christensen, the bill's sponsor, said in the release.
She said the Salt River area has incredible natural resources as well as areas of historical and archeological significance. "Salt River Bay is the first and best-documented site where Columbus made landfall on his second voyage to the New World in 1493," she noted.
An allocation of $1.5 million to pay for part of the 8.5-acre parcel is included in an Interior Department appropriations bill now making its way through the government process.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
