GREER SPRINGS LEGISLATION NOW NEEDS SENATE'S NOD

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation that would allow the U.S. Forest Service to purchase 6,900 acres of land surrounding and including Greer Spring in southern Missouri has passed the House of Representatives.

The bill, which passed on a voice vote Friday night, still must be approved by the Senate before going to President Bush for his expected signature.

Sen. Christopher Bond is handling the bill in the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, who has engineered the four years of discussion that led to a compromise agreement and legislation to purchase the spring, stressed the acquisition has the support of the entire Missouri congressional delegation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the environmental community.

It passed both the agriculture and interior committees of the House.

"I am so elated that we have done our job in the House and managed to pass this carefully crafted piece of legislation before Thanksgiving," said Emerson.

"The Greer Spring tract, which includes the second largest spring in Missouri, is finally on its way to its rightful federal designation as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and as a Special Management Area."

Under the measure, 2,800 acres along the Eleven Point River in Oregon County, including Greer Spring, would be placed in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Corridor. An additional 4,100 acres would be designated a special management area which helps spell out what can and cannot be done with that land in the future.

"Greer Spring is one of the most spectacular areas in all of Missouri and perhaps all of the nation," said Emerson. "Indeed, it is one of the crown jewels of the Ozarks. There is strong agreement among people with divergent interests about our common goals of protecting the unique beauty of this simple spring and surrounding properties. Through tireless hours, we have finally satisfactorily addressed the future management and access to the land in this bill."

Emerson said he hoped the Senate would act promptly to offer final approval.

Funding is in place for the purchase through $3.5 million appropriated by Congress for the acquisition, along with $500,000 donations each from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation and the current landowner, Leo Drey.

"Their donations not only will help the land acquisition become a reality, but make it cost effective for taxpayers," noted Emerson.

The Forest Service has wanted to purchase the land so it can provide complete public ownership of the 44 miles of the Eleven Point River, which in 1968 became a part of the national Wild and Scenic Rivers Corridor system.