[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2715 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2715

    To provide for necessary improvements to facilities at Yosemite 
                 National Park, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 14, 2003

Mr. Radanovich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To provide for necessary improvements to facilities at Yosemite 
                 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. AUTHORIZATION FOR PARK FACILITIES TO BE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE 
              BOUNDARIES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.

    (a) Authorization.--In order to facilitate the administration of 
Yosemite National Park, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized, 
under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may deem advisable, to 
expend donated funds, funds collected from user fees, or appropriated 
funds for the planning, design, construction of, and related activities 
for, essential facilities for Park and concessions administration and 
visitor use outside the boundaries, but within the vicinity, of the 
Park. Such facilities and the use thereof shall be in conformity with 
approved plans for the Park. Such facilities may only be constructed by 
the Secretary upon a finding that the facilities are necessary for Park 
operation, and that the location of such facilities would--
            (1) avoid undue degradation of natural or cultural 
        resources within the Park;
            (2) enhance service to the public; or
            (3) provide a cost saving to the Federal Government.
    (b) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into 
cooperative agreements with local governments or private entities to 
undertake the activities granted under this section. The Secretary is 
encouraged to identify and use alternative funding sources to 
supplement any Federal funding used for these facilities.

SEC. 2. PLANNING; TRANSPORTATION; VISITOR SERVICE PROJECTS.

    (a) Authorization.--The Secretary shall allocate amounts made 
available under section 1(a) to carry out the following activities:
            (1) Planning and restoration of low-impact camping at upper 
        and lower river campgrounds. The Secretary may use amounts 
        appropriated to the Secretary for flood recovery in the 
        Yosemite Valley to carry out planning (including environmental 
        documentation) and development related to the activities 
        required under this paragraph.
            (2) Construction and maintenance of the maximum amount of 
        parking available at Camp 6 and adjacent previously impacted 
        lands.
            (3) Cooperation and participation (including the provision 
        of technical and financial assistance) with governments of 
        counties located in the vicinity of Park for the preparation of 
        county general and specific plans related to determining the 
        feasibility of locating park administrative facilities, visitor 
        services and facilities, housing, or other facilities necessary 
        for Park operations outside the boundaries of the Park. Not 
        later than December 31, 2003, and annually thereafter, the 
        Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
        Natural Resources of the Senate a description of the actions 
        that the Secretary has taken under this paragraph.
            (4) Consistent with the projects described in paragraphs 
        (1) through (3), development of traffic management and traveler 
        information services, signage, and circulation improvements.
            (5) Provision of housing for employees of the Federal 
        Government and employees of concessionaires related to the Park 
        who are required as a condition of employment to reside in 
        Yosemite Valley. Notwithstanding the last sentence of section 
        814(a)(8) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act 
        of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 17o note; 110 Stat. 4192), for employee 
        housing requirements outside of Yosemite Valley, the Secretary 
        shall use partnerships with private entities whenever 
        practicable and cost effective, including through leases and 
        lease agreements. Guarantees to carry out this paragraph shall 
        not apply against the limitation in the last sentence of such 
        section 814(a)(8).
            (6) Entering into and carrying out cooperative agreements 
        with the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System Joint 
        Powers Authority to transport employees of the Federal 
        Government and employees of concessionaires related to the Park 
        to and from the Park for the purposes of their employment.
            (7) Removal of the Le Conte Memorial, a private special 
        use, from the Park and restoration of the grounds of that 
        memorial to its natural state.
    (b) Prohibited Projects.--The Secretary may not allocate amounts 
described in section 1(a) to implement a shuttle system which uses 
remote parking facilities or includes operations outside of the 
boundaries of Yosemite Valley.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Park.--The term ``Park'' means Yosemite National Park.
            (2) Record of decision.--The term ``Record of Decision'' 
        means the record of decision entitled ``Final Yosemite Valley 
        Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement'' dated 
        December 29, 2000.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
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