Findings

Congress finds that— (1)Frank McWorter, an enslaved man, bought his freedom and the freedom of 15 family members by mining for crude niter in Kentucky caves and processing the mined material into saltpeter; (2)New Philadelphia, founded in 1836 by Frank McWorter, was the first town planned and legally registered by a free African-American before the Civil War; (3)the first railroad constructed in the area of New Philadelphia bypassed New Philadelphia, which led to the decline of New Philadelphia; and (4)the New Philadelphia site— (A)is a registered National Historic Landmark; (B)is covered by farmland; and (C)does not contain any original buildings of the town or the McWorter farm and home that are visible above ground.

Special resource study

(a)

Study

The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the Study Area. (b)

Contents

In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1)evaluate the national significance of the Study Area; (2)determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Study Area as a unit of the National Park System; (3)consider other alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the Study Area by— (A)Federal, State, or local governmental entities; or (B)private and nonprofit organizations; (4)consult with— (A)interested Federal, State, or local governmental entities; (B)private and nonprofit organizations; or (C)any other interested individuals; (5)identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph (3); (6)determine the effect of the designation of the Study Area as a unit of the National Park System on— (A)existing commercial and recreational activities, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and on the authorization, construction, operation, maintenance or improvement of energy production and transmission infrastructure; and (B)the effect of the authority of State and local governments to manage those activities; and (7)identify any authorities, including condemnation, that will compel or permit the Secretary to influence or participate in local land use decisions (such as zoning) or place restrictions on nonfederal land if the Study Area is designated a unit of the National Park System. (c)

Applicable law

The study required under subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 8 of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5). (d)

Report

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available for the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing— (1)the results of the study; and (2)any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.