[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3898 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3898

 To establish the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New 
            Bedford, Massachusetts, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 24, 1994

 Mr. Frank of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. Moakley, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
Studds, Mr. Blute, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Torkildsen, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Neal of 
    Massachusetts, Mr. Olver, and Mr. Faleomavaega) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New 
            Bedford, Massachusetts, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) the New Bedford National Historic Landmark District and 
        associated historic sites as described in section 3(b), 
        including the Schooner Ernestina, are National Historic 
        Landmarks and are listed on the National Register of Historic 
        Places as historic sites associated with the history of whaling 
        in the United States;
            (2) the city of New Bedford was the 19th century capital of 
        the world's whaling industry and retains significant 
        architectural features, archival materials, and museum 
        collections illustrative of this period;
            (3) New Bedford's historic resources provide opportunities 
        for illustrating and interpreting the whaling industry's 
        contribution to the economic, social, and environmental history 
        of the United States and provide opportunities for public use 
        and enjoyment; and
            (4) the National Park System presently contains no sites 
        commemorating whaling and its contribution to American history.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to preserve, protect, and interpret the resources that 
        comprise the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 
        including its architecture, setting, and associated archival 
        and museum collections;
            (2) to collaborate with the city of New Bedford and with 
        local historical, cultural, and preservation organizations to 
        further the purposes of the park; and
            (3) to provide opportunities for the inspirational benefit 
        and education of the American people.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``park'' means the New Bedford Whaling 
        National Historical Park established by section 3.
            (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
        Interior.

SEC. 3. NEW BEDFORD WHALING NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

    (a) Establishment.--In order to preserve for the benefit and 
inspiration of the people of the United States as a national historical 
park certain districts, structures, and relics located in New Bedford, 
Massachusetts, and associated with the history of whaling and related 
social and economic themes in America, there is established the New 
Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
    (b) Boundaries.--(1) The boundaries of the park shall be those 
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed Park Boundaries (Map 
4)'', in the document published by the National Park Service entitled 
``Special Resource Study, New Bedford, Massachusetts'', dated November 
1993. Such map will be on file and available for public inspection in 
the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. The boundaries 
shall include the following:
            (A) The area included within the New Bedford National 
        Historic Landmark District, known as the Bedford Landing 
        Waterfront Historic District, as listed within the National 
        Register of Historic Places and in the Massachusetts State 
        Register of Historic Places.
            (B) The National Historic Landmark Schooner Ernestina, with 
        its home port in New Bedford.
            (C) The land along the eastern boundary of the New Bedford 
        National Historic Landmark District over to the east side of 
        MacArthur Drive from the Route 6 overpass on the north to an 
        extension of School Street on the south.
            (D) The land north of Elm Street in New Bedford, bounded by 
        Acushnet Avenue on the west, Route 6 (ramps) on the north, 
        MacArthur Drive on the east, and Elm Street on the south.
    (2) In addition to these sites, areas and relics, the Secretary may 
assist in the interpretation and preservation of the following:
            (A) The southwest corner of the State Pier.
            (B) Waterfront Park, immediately south of land adjacent to 
        the State Pier.
            (C) The Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, located 
        at 396 County Street.
            (D) The Wharfinger Building, located on Piers 3 and 4.
            (E) The Bourne Counting House, located on Merrill's Wharf.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF PARK.

    (a) In General.--The park shall also be administered by the 
Secretary in accordance with this Act and in accordance with the 
provisions of law generally applicable to units of the national park 
system, including the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a National 
Park Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 1916 (39 
Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2, 3, and 4) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 
Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467).
    (b) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may consult and enter 
into cooperative agreements with the New Bedford National Park 
Citizens' Partnership and other interested entities and individuals to 
provide for appropriate activities related to the preservation, 
development, interpretation, and use of the park.
    (c) Acquisition of Real and Personal Property and Services.--The 
Secretary may acquire by donation, exchange, lease or purchase with 
donated or appropriated funds personal property and lands and 
improvements in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for the purposes of the 
park.
    (d) Other Property, Funds, and Services.--The Secretary may accept 
and use donated funds, property, and services to carry out this Act.

SEC. 5. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    Not later than the end of the second fiscal year beginning after 
the date of enactment of this Act, 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 general 
management plan for the park and shall implement such plan. The plan 
shall be prepared in accordance with section 12(b) of the Act of August 
18, 1970, and other applicable law.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.

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