I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2384 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 13, 2009 Mr. Fleming introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to construct a curatorial center for the use of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, and the University, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Park Service and Northwestern State University Collections Conservation Center Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)Cane River Creole National Historical Park has a nationally significant museum collection of more than 1,000,000 objects that is housed in leased space that fails to meet National Park Service museum standards; (2)there is no land within the boundary of the historical park in Natchitoches Parish that is above the 500-year floodplain, which is the level required for constructing curatorial facilities under National Park Service policies; (3)the historical park has a longstanding partnership with Northwestern State University, with which the historical park is required under the enabling legislation for the historical park to coordinate a Cane River region comprehensive research program, including a program for curation methods; (4)in 1992, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, which is administered by the National Park Service, was established at Northwestern University under section 403 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470x–2); (5)the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training requires additional space to house equipment and workspace connected with the development and dissemination of preservation and conservation skills and technologies; and (6)contingent on the approval by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, Northwestern State University is willing to make available land suitable for the National Park Service to construct a facility for curatorial and workspace needs of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training if the University is able to use space in the facility for educational purposes relating to the Williamson Museum collection of the University.

3.

Collections conservation center

Section 304 of the Cane River Creole National Historical Park and National Heritage Area Act (16 U.S.C. 410ccc–2) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f)

Collections conservation center

(1)

In general

The Secretary may enter into an agreement with Northwestern State University (referred to in this subsection as the University) to construct a facility on land owned by the University to be used— (A)to house the museum collection of the historical park; (B)to provide additional space for use by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training; and (C)to provide space to the University for educational purposes relating to the Williamson Museum collection, if the University pays an appropriate rental fee to the National Park Service, as determined in the agreement entered into under this paragraph. (2)

Use of fee

Proceeds from the rental fees collected under paragraph (1)(C) shall be available, without further appropriation, for the historical park. .

4.

Technical corrections

The Cane River Creole National Historical Park and National Heritage Area Act (16 U.S.C. 410ccc et seq.) is amended— (1)in the third sentence of section 304(e) (16 U.S.C. 410ccc–2(e)), by striking of Technology and inserting Technology; and (2)in section 305(a) (16 U.S.C. 41ccc–3(a)), by striking interest and inserting interests.