1.
This Act may be cited as the
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
Designation Act of 2004
.
2.
(a)Congress
finds that—
(1)at the end of the
last Ice Age, some 12,000 to 17,000 years ago, a series of cataclysmic floods
occurred in what is now the northwest region of the United States, leaving a
lasting mark of dramatic and distinguishing features on the landscape of parts
of the States of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon;
(2)geological
features that have exceptional value and quality to illustrate and interpret
this extraordinary natural phenomenon are present on Federal, State, tribal,
county, municipal, and private land in the region; and
(3)in 2001, a joint
study team headed by the National Park Service that included about 70 members
from public and private entities completed a study endorsing the establishment
of an Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail—
(A)to recognize the
national significance of this phenomenon; and
(B)to coordinate
public and private sector entities in the presentation of the story of the Ice
Age floods.
(b)The
purpose of this Act is to designate the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
in the States of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, enabling the public to
view, experience, and learn about the features and story of the Ice Age floods
through the collaborative efforts of public and private entities.
3.In this Act:
(1)The term Ice Age
floods or floods means the cataclysmic floods that occurred
in what is now the northwestern United States during the last Ice Age from
massive, rapid and recurring drainage of Glacial Lake in Missoula,
Montana.
(2)The
term plan means the cooperative management and interpretation plan
authorized under section 5(f).
(3)The term Secretary means the
Secretary of the Interior.
(4)The
term Trail means the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
designated by section 4(a).
4.Ice Age Floods
National Geologic Trail
(a)In
order to provide for public appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of the
nationally significant natural and cultural features of the Ice Age floods and
to promote collaborative efforts for interpretation and education among public
and private entities located along the pathways of the floods, there is
designated the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail.
(b)
(1)The
route of the Trail shall be generally depicted on the map entitled Ice
Age Floods National Geologic Trail,
numbered _____, and dated
_____.
(2)The
route shall generally follow public roads and highways_
(A)from the vicinity
of Missoula in western Montana;
(B)across northern
Idaho;
(C)through eastern
and southern sections of Washington;
(D)across northern
Oregon in the vicinity of the Willamette Valley and the Columbia River;
and
(E)to the Pacific
Ocean.
(3)The
Secretary may revise the map by publication in the Federal Register of a notice
of availability of a new map as part of the plan.
(c)Any map referred to in subsection (b) shall be on
file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
National Park Service.
5.
(a)The Secretary, acting through the Director of the
National Park Service, shall administer the Trail in accordance with this
Act.
(b)In order for the National Park Service to
manage the Trail and coordinate Trail activities with other public agencies and
private entities, the Secretary may establish and operate a trail management
office within the vicinity of the Trail.
(c)
(1)If the acquisition is consistent with the plan, the
Secretary may acquire land, in a quantity not to exceed 25 acres, for
administrative and public information purposes to facilitate the geographic
diversity of the Trail throughout the States of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and
Oregon.
(2)
(A)Private land may be acquired from a willing seller under
this Act only by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or
exchange.
(B)Non-Federal public land may be acquired from a
willing seller under this Act—
(i)only by donation
or exchange; and
(ii)after
consultation with the affected unit of local government.
(d)The Secretary may plan, design, and construct
interpretive facilities for sites associated with the Trail if the facilities
are constructed in partnership with State, local, tribal, or non-profit
entities and are consistent with the plan.
(e)Interagency
technical committee
(1)The Secretary shall establish an interagency technical
committee to advise the trail management office on the technical planning for
the development of the plan.
(2)The
committee—
(A)shall
include—
(i)representatives
from Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies with interests in the floods;
and
(ii)representatives
from the Ice Age Floods Institute; and
(B)may include
private property owners, business owners, and nonprofit organizations.
(f)
(1)Not later than 3 years after funds are made available to
carry out this Act under section 6, the Secretary shall prepare a cooperative
management and interpretation plan for the Trail.
(2)The
Secretary shall prepare the plan in consultation with—
(A)State, local, and
tribal governments;
(B)the Ice Age
Floods Institute;
(C)private property
owners; and
(D)other interested
parties.
(3)The
plan shall—
(A)confirm and, if
appropriate, expand on the inventory of features of the floods contained in the
National Park Service study entitled “Ice Age Floods, Study of Alternatives and
Environmental Assessment” (February 2001) by—
(i)locating features
more accurately;
(ii)improving the
description of features; and
(iii)reevaluating
the features in terms of their interpretive potential;
(B)review and, if
appropriate, modify the map of the Trail referred to in section 4(b);
(C)describe
strategies for the coordinated development of the Trail, including an
interpretive plan for facilities, waysides, roadside pullouts, exhibits, media,
and programs that present the story of the floods to the public effectively;
and
(D)identify
potential partnering opportunities in the development of interpretive
facilities and educational programs to educate the public about the story of
the floods.
(g)
(1)In order to facilitate the development of coordinated
interpretation, education, resource stewardship, visitor facility development
and operation, and scientific research associated with the Trail and to promote
more efficient administration of the sites associated with the Trail, the
Secretary may enter into cooperative management agreements with appropriate
officials in the States of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon in accordance
with the authority provided for units of the National Park System under section
3(l) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–2(l)).
(2)Unit of
National Park SystemFor purposes of this subsection, the Trail
shall be considered a unit of the National Park System.
(h)The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements
with public or private entities to carry out this Act.
(i)Effect on
private property rightsNothing in this Act—
(1)requires any
private property owner to allow public access (including Federal, State, or
local government access) to private property; or
(2)modifies any
provision of Federal, State, or local law with respect to public access to or
use of private land.
(j)Designation
of the Trail by section 4(a) does not create any liability for, or affect any
liability under any law of, any private property owner with respect to any
person injured on the private property.
6.Authorization of
appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act,
of which not more than $500,000 may be used for each fiscal year for the
administration of the Trail.