[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 500 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 500

To authorize emergency appropriations for cleanup and repair of damages 
 to facilities of Yosemite National Park and other California national 
 parks caused by heavy rains and flooding in December 1996 and January 
                     1997, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 1997

 Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize emergency appropriations for cleanup and repair of damages 
 to facilities of Yosemite National Park and other California national 
 parks caused by heavy rains and flooding in December 1996 and January 
                     1997, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Yosemite Emergency Restoration and 
Construction Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLEANUP AND 
              REPAIR OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for fiscal year 
1997, to remain available until expended.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
        in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall use amounts made 
        available under subsection (a) for cleanup and repair of flood 
        damage to the facilities of Yosemite National Park and other 
        national parks in the State of California caused by heavy rains 
        and flooding in December 1996 and January 1997.
            (2) Included activities.--Activities by the Secretary under 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) repair, restoration, and, if appropriate, 
                relocation of infrastructure vital to operations at 
                Yosemite National Park, including roads, trails, 
                utilities, buildings, grounds (including campgrounds), 
                natural resources, cultural resources, and lost and 
                damaged property in the park and at the El Portal 
                administrative site servicing the park;
                    (B) repair and, if appropriate, relocation of 
                Yosemite National Park employee housing and the 
                Resource Management Office;
                    (C) repair and, if appropriate, relocation of 
                concession-operated rental cabins, motel rooms, rental 
                structures, and concession employee housing and 
                facilities;
                    (D) repair, maintenance, and opening of Tioga Pass 
                Road in Yosemite National Park;
                    (E) repair and expeditious opening of Highways 120, 
                140, and 41 in Yosemite National Park;
                    (F) any other repair and restoration that is 
                necessary for the expeditious and complete opening of 
                Yosemite National Park;
                    (G) making emergency grants to satellite 
                communities around Yosemite National Park to provide 
                mass transit visitor transportation into the park 
                during repair and restoration activities on access 
                roads to the park; and
                    (H) repair and restoration of damage caused by 
                heavy rains and flooding in December 1996 and January 
                1997 at Redwood National Park, Sequoia-Kings Canyon 
                National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, 
                Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Devils Postpile 
                National Monument, and Lava Beds National Monument.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR YOSEMITE SATELLITE COMMUNITIES.

    Of any amounts made available under section 2(a), the Secretary 
shall make available not less than $2,500,000 to make grants described 
in section 2(b)(2)(G).

SEC. 4. CAPITAL RECOVERY FROM CONCESSIONAIRES.

    To the extent practicable under the concession contract between the 
Secretary and Yosemite Concession Services, the Secretary shall recover 
from Yosemite Concession Services any amount used under section 
2(b)(2)(C).

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR 
              YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.

    (a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this section $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and such sums as 
are necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use amounts made 
        available under subsection (a) to establish a mass transit 
        system at Yosemite National Park.
            (2) Included activities.--Activities by the Secretary under 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) using not more than $1,500,000 for the purchase 
                of electric buses; and
                    (B) using not more than $5,500,000 for the purchase 
                of alternative-fueled buses.

SEC. 6. CONSISTENCY WITH PLANS.

    Activities at Yosemite National Park by the Secretary under this 
Act shall be consistent with the Yosemite General Management Plan, the 
Concession Services Plan, the Yosemite Valley Housing Plan, and the 
Valley Implementation Plan.
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