[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 762 Referred in House (RFH)]

  1st Session
                                 S. 762


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 18, 1999

                 Referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
 study to determine the national significance of the Miami Circle site 
 in the State of Florida as well as the suitability and feasibility of 
its inclusion in the National Park System as part of Biscayne National 
                     Park, 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.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the Tequesta Indians were one of the earliest groups to 
        establish permanent villages in southeast Florida;
            (2) the Tequestas had one of only two North American 
        civilizations that thrived and developed into a complex social 
        chiefdom without an agricultural base;
            (3) the Tequesta sites that remain preserved today are 
        rare;
            (4) the discovery of the Miami Circle, occupied by the 
        Tequesta approximately 2,000 years ago, presents a valuable new 
        opportunity to learn more about the Tequesta culture; and
            (5) Biscayne National Park also contains and protects 
        several prehistoric Tequesta sites.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to direct the Secretary to 
conduct a special resource study to determine the national significance 
of the Miami Circle site as well as the suitability and feasibility of 
its inclusion in the National Park System as part of Biscayne National 
Park.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Miami circle.--The term ``Miami Circle'' means the 
        property in Miami-Dade County of the State of Florida 
        consisting of the three parcels described in Exhibit A in the 
        appendix to the summons to show cause and notice of eminent 
        domain proceedings, filed February 18, 1999, in Miami-Dade 
        County v. Brickell Point, Ltd., in the circuit court of the 
        11th judicial circuit of Florida in and for Miami-Dade County.
            (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means Biscayne National Park 
        in the State of Florida.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
        Park Service.

SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date funds are 
made available, the Secretary shall conduct a special resource study as 
described in subsection (b). In conducting the study, the Secretary 
shall consult with the appropriate American Indian tribes and other 
interested groups and organizations.
    (b) Components.--In addition to a determination of national 
significance, feasibility, and suitability, the special resource study 
shall include the analysis and recommendations of the Secretary with 
respect to--
            (1) which, if any, particular areas of or surrounding the 
        Miami Circle should be included in the Park;
            (2) whether any additional staff, facilities, or other 
        resources would be necessary to administer the Miami Circle as 
        a unit of the Park; and
            (3) any impact on the local area that would result from the 
        inclusion of Miami Circle in the Park.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completion of the study, 
the Secretary shall submit a report describing the findings and 
recommendations of the study to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the United 
States House of Representatives.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

            Passed the Senate October 14, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.