The Following letters have been retyped for internet viewing, they are exact copies of the originals, photocopies of which are available through our Faxback system 518/725-7890 Document # 284

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

March 30, 1998

The Honorable Henry Bonilla

Washington, DC 20515

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

May 7, 1998

The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Hutchison:

Thank you for your letter, requesting that rivers in the State of Texas not be included in the American Heritage Rivers initiative. I appreciate your comments on this issue.

President Clinton instructed the Cabinet to work with communities in the design of the American Heritage Rivers initiative to support community-led efforts that spur economic revitalization, protect natural resources and the environment, and preserve our historic and cultural heritage. An advisory committee of nonfederal experts will meet on May 11 and 12 in Washington, DC to review all nominations and recommend rivers to the President for designation.

Two criteria will be used to determine those rivers eligible for consideration as American Heritage Rivers: broad-based community support and a clearly defined plan of action. As a Member of Congress, your views and concerns are important in determining whether these criteria have been met for rivers in your state.

I would like to take this opportunity to address some of your specific concerns. Each of the programs that will be utilized by the American Heritage Rivers initiative is authorized and appropriated by Congress. This initiative will be used to achieve a better use of resources for these existing programs.

The American Heritage Rivers initiative is one hundred percent locally-driven. Communities were required to demonstrate, in their nomination, that public meetings were held to discuss the proposed designation and the plan of action.

The Administration has agreed that, under the circumstances, the nomination of certain rivers or stretches of river would be excluded from consideration for designation under this initiative, at the request of Members of Congress. However, where the view of a single Senator who opposes a nomination conflicts with the position of the other Senator from that state or a Member of Congress (for that part of a river which he or she represents) because one or the other supports the nomination, then the views of all members of the Congressional delegation will be presented to the advisory committee. The advisory committee will, in evaluating the merits of the nomination, weigh the degree to which the criteria of strength and diversity of support have been satisfied by the application.

Representative Silvestre Reyes and Representative Henry Bonilla have written in support for the nomination of the Rio Grande River. I have forwarded your letter in opposition to the nomination of the Rio Grande River, along with their letters in support of it, to the advisory committee.

If a single Senator opposes a nomination, and the other Senator and the relevant House Member express no view, the nomination will not be considered by the advisory committee. This is the situation for the Brazos, Sabine and San Antonio Rivers. At your request, these three rivers will not be considered by the advisory committee.

A Federal Register notice, to be published on Friday, May 8, is enclosed. It fully explains the Administration’s policy on this issue.

Sincerely,

Kathleen A. McGinty

Chairman

KAM/rsk

Enclosure

Congress of the United States

Ms. Kathleen A. McGinty, Chairman

Council on Environmental Quality

Executive Office of the President

Washington, DC 20503

Dear Ms. McGinty:

A letter to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, dated May 7, 1998, has just come to my attention. In the letter you state that I am supportive of designating the Rio Grande as an American Heritage River. This is not the case and I frankly cannot understand why you would misstate my position in light of previous communications between us.

In a letter to me dated March 30, 1998, you acknowledge my opposition to the AHRI when you state "Per your request, the portion of the Rio Grande River in your district will not be considered for designation." My position remains the same.

I do not support designating that portion of the Rio Grande that runs along the 23^rd Congressional District in the AHRI, unless elected officials petition to have their jurisdiction included and until this program is fully explained and disclosed to the American people.

I would also expect that any misrepresentation of my position on the American Heritage Rivers Initiative will be immediately corrected.

I thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Henry Bonilla

Member of Congress

cc: President Bill Clinton

Vice President Al Gore

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

U.S. Representative Sylvester Reyes

Governor George W. Bush