109 HR 5763 IH: George Washington Memorial Parkway U.S. House of Representatives 2006-07-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5763 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 11, 2006 Mr. Wolf introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To authorize the exchange, between the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Transportation, of administrative jurisdiction of Federal land at the George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean, Virginia, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the George Washington Memorial Parkway Boundary Revision Act.

2.

Findings and purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)The Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center is adjacent to the George Washington Memorial Parkway and national park lands associated with the parkway that are owned by the United States. (2)Therefore, a new access road was constructed to allow unrestricted access to the Farm’s administrative and maintenance area and to support the Research Center’s security measures. (3)The heightened security at the Research Center and at the Central Intelligence Agency, which is in immediate proximity to the Research Center, put new restrictions on unauthorized entry onto controlled property that affects employees, visitors, volunteers, and others seeking access to the administrative and maintenance area of the Claude Moore Colonial Farm. (4)The Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service have each selected a parcel of adjacent land to be transferred related to the new access road to the Farm and to provide for a visible buffer outside the perimeter fence of the Research Center for needed security. (5)The National Park Service has placed use restrictions on another parcel of land for the benefit of the Research Center. (6)The Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service have signed an agreement to effect the transfer of administrative jurisdiction of the land and the use restriction between the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Research Center. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to authorize, direct, facilitate, and expedite the transfer of administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal land in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Act.

3.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply: (1)

Agreement

The term Agreement means the agreement titled Agreement Between the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration-Turner Fairbanks Research Center dated September 11, 2002. (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (3)

Research center

The term Research Center means the Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center. (4)

Farm

The term Farm means the Claude Moore Colonial Farm. (5)

Map

The term Map means the map titled, GWMP - Claude Moore Proposed Boundary Adjustment, numbered 850,82003, and dated April 2004, which the Secretary shall make available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

4.

Administrative jurisdiction transfer

(a)

Transfer of jurisdiction

The Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation are authorized to exchange administrative jurisdiction over the approximately 0.342 acre of land under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior within the boundary of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, generally depicted as B on the Map, and the approximately 0.479 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation within the boundary of the Research Center and adjacent to the boundary of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, generally depicted as A on the Map. (b)

Use restriction

The Secretary shall restrict the use of 0.139 acre of land within the boundary of the George Washington Memorial Parkway immediately adjacent to part of the north perimeter fence of the Research Center, generally depicted as C on the Map, by prohibiting the storage, construction, or installation of any item that may obstruct the view from the Research Center into the George Washington Memorial Parkway. (c)

Reimbursement or consideration

The transfer of administrative jurisdiction under subsection (a) shall occur without reimbursement or consideration. (d)

Compliance with agreement

(1)

In general

The National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration shall comply with all terms and conditions of the Agreement regarding the transfer of administrative jurisdiction, management, and maintenance of the lands discussed in the Agreement. (2)

Access to restricted land

The Secretary shall allow the Research Center access to the land restricted by the Secretary under subsection (b) for the purpose of complying with the Research Center’s responsibilities under the Agreement referenced in paragraph (1). All such responsibilities shall be carried out in compliance with the Agreement, including the provisions that the Research Center may take the following actions on the land only after receiving written approval for such activity from the Secretary: (A)Pruning or removal of any tree 6 inches or more in diameter. (B)Application or use of any pesticide.

5.

Management of transferred lands

(a)

Interior land

The land administrative jurisdiction over which is transferred to the Secretary under section 4(a) shall be included in the boundaries of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and shall be administered by the National Park Service as part of the parkway subject to applicable laws and regulations. (b)

Transportation land

The land administrative jurisdiction over which is transferred to the Secretary of Transportation under section 4(a) shall be included in the boundary of the Research Center. (c)

Restricted-use land

The land the Secretary has designated for restricted use under section 4(b) shall be maintained by the Research Center.