COMPROMISE REACHED ON GREER SPRING ISSUE

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson will introduce legislation today that will allow the federal government to buy 7,000 acres of land surrounding Greer Spring in Oregon County.

According to Emerson, the compromise has the support of the entire Missouri House delegation.

The legislation would allow the federal government to acquire the land adjacent to the Mark Twain National Forest surrounding and including Greer Spring, Missouri's second largest spring.

Emerson's bill creates a Greer Spring Special Management Area for about 4,500 acres in Oregon County. The remaining 2,500 acres along the Eleven Point River, including the spring, would be placed into the Wild and Scenic Rivers corridor.

St. Louisan Leo Drey, owner of the tract, and Anheuser-Busch Foundation have pledged $500,000 each to facilitate the government's purchase of the property.

Greer Spring is "one of the most beautiful and exquisite places of nature in Missouri," Emerson said Monday. "Enacting this legislation will indeed provide protection for this crown jewel of the Ozarks, yet enable folks to enjoy and utilize this resource."

The Cape Girardeau Republican said access to the 4,500 acres outside the Scenic River corridor will be provided by designated roads. The area will allow access for hunters, fishermen, hikers, sportsmen, limited timber harvesting and forest management needs.

The Greer Spring property became a point of dispute in last year's 8th District congressional race. Environmental groups claimed Emerson was blocking attempts by the government to purchase and preserve the Greer Spring tract.

Emerson contended that Drey at that time was willing to sell the property only if the tract was restricted in its future uses. The congressman favored uses of the property for recreational and some commercial purposes. Environmentalists, said Emerson, wanted to close it off to all uses as a "wilderness" area.

The measure to be introduced today has been "carefully crafted to address the concerns of the environmental community as they relate to the protection of the property as well as the concerns of local residents as they relate to access to the tract," Emerson said.

All 11 members of the Missouri delegation nine representatives and two senators are lined up in support of the legislation, said the 8th District congressman.

In addition to preserving the property, the acquisition of the tract utilizing the contribution of the foundation and Drey is "cost effective for the taxpayers," said Emerson.

The remaining funds for acquisition of the tract were previously appropriated by Congress.