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US Senate panel to hear Rota national park bill on March 7
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Posted on Mar 05 2012
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on National Parks has set a March 7 hearing on Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan’s (Ind-MP) bill authorizing the Interior secretary to study archaeological, historical, and natural resources on Rota for inclusion in the National Park System.
Sablan’s H.R. 1141 or the Rota National Park bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in January.
At the same time, the Rota Legislative Delegation chaired by Sen. Juan Ayuyu (Ind-Rota) adopted last week a resolution supporting Sablan’s Rota National Park bill.
The delegation resolution’s adoption came a few weeks after Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota) sent letters asking U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Jeff Bingaman and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, along with 20 other U.S. senators, to support HR 1141.
Sablan said the March 7 hearing “is the next step forward to passage of the bill.”
“In addition to protecting the rare and unique archaeological and natural resources of Rota, a national park could give a boost to eco-tourism, transportation, hotel, and restaurant businesses-and create jobs,” Sablan said.
The hearing will be webcasted live on March 8 at 5:30am, Chamorro Standard Time, on the Committee’s website and an archived video will be available shortly after.
Anyone interested in submitting a letter of support to be included into the hearing record may send it by fax to 202-226-4249, or by email to Kilili@mail.house.gov, addressing the letter to Chairman Jeff Bingaman and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, 304 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510.
A 2005 Department of the Interior field survey found that the Monchon Latte Stone Village, the Chugai Pictograph Cave, and other ancient sites on Rota have national significance and should be protected.
