110 HR 3063 IH: Martin Van Buren National Historic U.S. House of Representatives 2007-07-17 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 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3063 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 17, 2007 Mrs. Gillibrand introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To revise the boundary of Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site Boundary Revision Act.

2.

Definitions

As used in this Act: (1)

Historic site

The term historic site means the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in the State of New York, as authorized by Public Law 93–486 on October 26, 1974. (2)

Map

The term map means the map entitled Boundary Map, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, numbered 460/80801 and dated January 2005. (3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Findings and purposes

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)the historic site was established to preserve and interpret the landscape, structures, and collections of Lindenwald, in Kinderhook, New York, owned by Martin Van Buren, the eighth President of the United States (1837–1841) from 1839 to his death in 1862; (2)the current boundary, encompassing about 39 acres of land, does not adequately protect natural and cultural resources that contribute to the significance of the historic site; (3)the conservation easements acquired to preserve the historic site's key agricultural views no longer offer adequate protection for those views; (4)administrative buildings and facilities required for future operations of the historic site may not be suitable to be developed within its current boundaries due to impacts on historic or scenic resources; and (5)a boundary study prepared by the National Park Service in 2003 identifies about 331 acres of lands that, if acquired, would help protect the agricultural character and the quality of the setting of the historic site and increase opportunities for interpretation and education. (b)

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are— (1)to protect the remaining contributing resources significant to the historic site; (2)to preserve a more accurate portrayal of Van Buren’s Lindenwald by reuniting remaining agricultural lands associated with the house through their acquisition from willing sellers; (3)to enhance the interpretation of Van Buren’s broader political and agrarian beliefs by enabling public access to key agricultural resources and to protect scenic values associated with the historic site; and (4)to enable the National Park Service to establish administrative facilities that do not intrude upon the historic site's resources or scenic values.

4.

Boundary adjustments to the historic site

(a)

Boundary adjustment

Effective on the date of enactment of this Act, the boundary of the historic site is adjusted to include approximately 261 acres of land identified as the PROPOSED PARK BOUNDARY, as generally depicted on the map. (b)

Acquisition authority

The Secretary may acquire the lands and interests in lands referred to in subsection (a) from a willing seller by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. (c)

Availability of map

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. (d)

Administration

Land acquired for the historic site by this section shall be administered as part of the historic site in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.