[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3941 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3941

 To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
 study to determine whether it is suitable and feasible to include the 
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial as a unit of the National 
                              Park System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 12, 2002

 Mr. George Miller of California introduced the following bill; which 
               was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
 study to determine whether it is suitable and feasible to include the 
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial as a unit of the National 
                                 Park 
                                System.

    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 ``Port Chicago Naval Magazine National 
Memorial Study Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Port Chicago Naval Magazine, located in Contra 
        Costa County, California, served as the major West Coast 
        munitions supply facility during World War II, during which 
        time the facility played a critical role in the success of the 
        war effort.
            (2) On July 17, 1944, an explosion at Port Chicago, the 
        origin of which has never been determined, resulted in the 
        deaths of 320 officers and sailors, the largest domestic loss 
        of life during World War II, and the injury of many others.
            (3) On October 28, 1992, Port Chicago Naval Magazine was 
        designated as a National Memorial by Public Law 102-562; 106 
        Stat. 4235 to commemorate the role of the facility during World 
        War II, to recognize those who served at the facility, and to 
        honor the memory of those who gave their lives and those who 
        were injured in the explosion on July 17, 1944.
            (4) The Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this Act 
        referred to as the ``Secretary'') does not have the authority 
        to administer the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial 
        (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``National 
        Memorial'') as a unit of the National Park System, nor to 
        adequately research (including the collection of oral 
        histories), interpret, and preserve the resources associated 
        with the National Memorial.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Navy, shall conduct a special resource study to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of including the Port Chicago Naval 
Magazine National Memorial as a unit of the National Park System.
    (b) Study Guidelines.--Section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 
1a-5(c)) shall apply to the study required by subsection (a).
    (c) Scope.--In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall examine potential links between the National Memorial 
and other World War II home front sites in the San Francisco Bay area.
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