Speech #1060019093

By working together at all levels. the broad coalition of support for H.R. 15 has demonstrated that wilderness designation is not inherently incompatible with essential law enforcement activities in the same region. and vice versa. Where it is appropriate. we should take these opportunities to demonstrate that different agency missions or operating strategies can be made to complement each other. rather than to exist completely independently from one another. or worse. in conflict. We have already seen the positive environmental and enforcement results of the Border Patrols increased access to Otay Mountain and adjoining areas near the border. The reductions in illegal smuggling and immigration there have directly translated into a lessened impact on the resource itself. such as fewer illicit trails beaten through sensitive habitat. less discarded trash and human waste. and greatly lessened risk of damage from warming or diversionary fires set by smugglers. such as devastated much of the mountain several years ago. H.R. 15 will ensure that Border Patrols access to this region will continue unhindered. with continued resulting benefit to both law enforcement and environmental protection concerns. In addition to facilitating increased and continued law enforcement and resource protection for Otay Mountain. the ability of the general public to enjoy this beautiful region is maintained. When I first introduced this legislation. several of my colleagues expressed to me their strong interest in maintaining public access. and as this has also been a high priority of mine. H.R. 15 does so. The two existing access roads on Otay Mountain (the Otay Truck trail and the Minnewawa Truck trail) have been "cherrystemmed" from the wilderness boundaries. to ensure that both the Border Patrol and the CDF will be able to continue their critical law enforcement and fire suppression activities in the region under H.R. 15. and that the history of access by the public to this tremendous resource will continue. Other roads in the vicinity. specifically the Otay Mountain Pack trail and the East and West Spur roads. are not included within the wilderness boundaries and so are not impacted by this legislation. There may be other regions of extraordinary natural beauty elsewhere in our country. perhaps even in other border regions. where the critical individual missions of various state or federal law enforcement agencies have in the past been (or have been perceived to be) operating at "cross purposes" with equally important missions of resource conservation or environmental protection.