The bill passed the House of Representatives in November and would provide $100 million over 10 years for conservation buyouts in the Appalachian Highlands region in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

"This truly is a bipartisan effort," Frelinghuysen told a key Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee, because "the bill provides deference to local authority, while recognizing the need for federal assistance to preserve nationally significant natural resources in our local forest areas."

He noted that Congress followed a similar collaborative state-federal formula seven years ago with Sterling Forest.

Sterling Forest, just across the New York border from the Wanaque Reservoir, North Jersey's largest, was purchased in the late 1990s with a combination of federal, state, and private funds.

The Highlands in New Jersey stretch from Hunterdon County's farmlands to Mahwah's border with New York, and contain water reservoir systems that serve millions of state residents.

Frelinghuysen noted that President Bush's current Forest Legacy Budget "designates the Highlands as one of nine national priority areas threatened by development." He argued that "this bill fits into the Bush administration's vision for land conservation" because it calls for states and local governments to acquire land from willing sellers, rather than "strong armed" action by the federal government.

In his testimony, Corzine noted that a study by the U.S. Forest Service found that "nearly 300,000 acres of land critical to future water supplies remain unprotected" in the New Jersey and New York portion of the mountain region.

More than 11 million people in four states get water from the region's streams and aquifers, Corzine said.

"The Highlands are a national treasure," said Corzine, who is sponsoring the Senate version of the Highlands bill approved by the House. "This legislation is an important step in protecting them."

A Corzine spokesman, David Wald, said the subcommittee's response was "very cordial." Wald said there are indications that the Highlands bill will get Senate approval.