I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4108 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 18, 2009 Mr. McClintock introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California, was the location of the founding of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony in 1869; (2)the Ranch is— (A)the oldest property in North America to be associated with Japanese immigration; and (B)the only property associated with the immigration of samurai following the Meiji Restoration; (3)the Ranch includes— (A)an 1860s home that was occupied by the Wakamatsu settlers; (B)mulberry trees planted by the silk farmers; and (C)the grave stone of Okei Ito, which is the oldest Japanese immigrant grave in the United States; and (4)a variety of non-Federal funds have been obligated with respect to the acquisition and restoration of the Ranch, including— (A)$485,000 from the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and $515,000 from private donations to be applied toward acquisition of the Ranch; and (B)$483,750 from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment to be applied toward restoration of the Graner farmhouse.

3.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Map

The term map means the map entitled Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Site and dated May 7, 2009. (2)

Ranch

(A)

In general

The term Ranch means the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California (El Dorado County Assessor’s Parcel No. 089–010–06), comprising approximately 272 acres, which is more particularly described as the SW¼ and the SW ½ of the SE ¼ of Sec. 29 and the N½NE¼ of Sec. 32, T. 11 N., R. 10 E., of El Dorado County, California. (B)

Exclusion

The term Ranch excludes the small inholding of the Gold Trail School District, as depicted on the map. (3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

4.

Acquisition of Gold Hill Ranch, Coloma, California

(a)

In general

Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may acquire the Ranch in exchange for consideration in an amount not to exceed $3,290,000. (b)

Limitation on acquisition

The acquisition of the Ranch under subsection (a) shall only be from willing sellers and not through eminent domain. (c)

Non-Federal contributions

For the consideration required under subsection (a), the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation shall contribute any private funds or State or Federal grants received by the Conservancy and the Foundation for the acquisition of the Ranch. (d)

Visitor center

(1)

In general

On acquisition of the Wakamatsu Colony site, the Secretary may work with the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation to design and develop a visitor center that provides for the interpretation of— (A)the Wakamatsu Colony; (B)early pioneer history; and (C)the contribution of traditional Japanese crops and practices to the extensive agricultural economy of the State of California. (2)

Costs

To the maximum extent practicable, the costs of constructing the visitor center and conducting restoration activities at the Ranch shall be leveraged by amounts received by the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation in the form of private funds and State or Federal grants provided for those purposes. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

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