[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 589 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 589

To require the National Park Service to undertake a study of the Loess 
  Hills area in western Iowa to review options for the protection and 
    interpretation of the area's natural, cultural, and historical 
                               resources.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 11, 1999

  Mr. Harkin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the National Park Service to undertake a study of the Loess 
  Hills area in western Iowa to review options for the protection and 
    interpretation of the area's natural, cultural, and historical 
                               resources.

    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 ``Loess Hills Preservation Act of 
1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the Loess Hills area in western Iowa, formed by ancient 
        glaciers and hundreds of centuries of westerly winds blowing 
        across the Missouri River, has resulted in the largest loess 
        formation in the United States, and one of the two largest in 
        the world;
            (2) portions of the Loess Hills remain undeveloped and 
        provide an important opportunity to protect an historic and 
        unique natural resource;
            (3) a program to study the Loess Hills can only be 
        successfully implemented with the cooperation and participation 
        of affected local governments and landowners;
            (4) in 1986, the Loess Hills area was designated as a 
        National Natural Landmark in recognition of the area's 
        nationally significant natural resources;
            (5) although significant natural resources remain in the 
        area, increasing development in the area has threatened the 
        future stability and integrity of the Loess Hills area; and
            (6) the Loess Hills area merits further study by the 
        National Park Service, in cooperation with the State of Iowa, 
        local governments, and affected landowners, to determine 
        appropriate means to better protect, preserve, and interpret 
        the significant resources in the area.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) The term ``Loess Hills'' means the area in the State of 
        Iowa located between Waubansie State Park and Stone Park, and 
        which includes Plymouth, Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, 
        Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fremont counties.
            (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
        Interior.
            (3) The term ``State'' means the State of Iowa.

SEC. 4. LOESS HILLS STUDY.

    (a) The Secretary shall undertake a study of the Loess Hills area 
to review options for the protection and interpretation of the area's 
natural, cultural, and historical resources. The study shall include, 
but need not be limited to an analysis of the suitability and 
feasibility of designating the area as--
            (1) a unit of the National Park System;
            (2) a National Heritage Area or Heritage Corridor; or
            (3) such other designation as may be appropriate.
    (b) The study shall examine the appropriateness and feasibility of 
cooperative protection and interpretive efforts between the United 
States, the State, and its political subdivisions.
    (c) The Secretary shall consult in the preparation of the study 
with State and local governmental entities, affected landowners, and 
other interested public and private organizations and individuals.
    (d) The study shall be completed within one year after the date 
funds are made available. Upon its completion, the Secretary shall 
transmit a report of the study, along with any recommendations, to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate 
and the Committee on Resources of the United States House of 
Representatives.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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