[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 776 Referred in House (RFH)]

  1st Session
                                 S. 776


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 12, 1999

                 Referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To authorize the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study 
        for the preservation of the Loess Hills in western Iowa.

    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 Study Act 
of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the Loess Hills encompasses 600,000 acres in western 
        Iowa, having been formed by ancient glaciers and hundreds of 
        centuries of westerly winds blowing soil across the Missouri 
        River, which were then deposited in Iowa;
            (2) this area is the largest Loess formation in the United 
        States, and one of the two largest in the world, supporting 
        several species of rare native prairie grasses;
            (3) portions of the Loess Hills remain undeveloped and 
        provide an important opportunity to protect and preserve an 
        historic, rare and unique natural resource;
            (4) a program to study the Loess Hills can only be 
        successfully implemented with the cooperation and participation 
        of affected local governments and landowners;
            (5) in 1986, the Loess Hills area was designated as a 
        National Natural Landmark in recognition of the area's 
        nationally significant natural resources;
            (6) 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
            (7) 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.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary 
of the Interior to conduct a suitability and feasibility study to 
determine what measures should be taken to preserve the Loess Hills in 
western Iowa.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act--
            (1) the term ``Loess Hills'' means the natural geological 
        formation of soils 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; and
            (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, its political subdivisions, and non-profit groups or 
other interested parties.
    (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. No later than 30 days after 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 to carry out this Act not to 
exceed $275,000.

            Passed the Senate July 1, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.