I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1207 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 17, 2011 Mr. Sablan (for himself, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Honda, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Kildee, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. George Miller of California, Mrs. Capps, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Boren, Mr. Al Green of Texas, and Mr. Pierluisi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish and operate a visitor facility to fulfill the purposes of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Visitor Facility Authorization Act of 2011.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)The terms Marine National Monument or monument mean the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument established by the President by a proclamation dated January 6, 2009. (2)The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Visitor Facility

(a)

Visitor facility authorization

The Secretary is authorized to construct a multipurpose visitor facility in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for the interpretation and public education and enjoyment of the marine environment within the boundaries of the Marine National Monument. (b)

Visitor facility location and description

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall locate the visitor facility authorized under subsection (a) in the Northern Mariana Islands at a location that is— (A)on land that is under the control of the Federal Government on the date of enactment of this Act and available for such use, or that is made available to the Federal Government after such date for such use, at no additional lease cost to the Federal Government; and (B)suitable to fulfill the purposes of this Act. (2)

Components of visitor facility

The facility authorized under subsection (a) shall include— (A)adequate space for permanent and temporary exhibits depicting the biological, geological, archaeological, cultural, and recreational heritage of the monument; (B)a venue for public education and interpretive programs relevant to the natural, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the monument, including formal classroom space to provide opportunities for research, training, and formal education regarding the monument; (C)a location to highlight the importance of the marine environment and the resources of the monument to the people and culture of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and other indigenous people and cultures of the Western Pacific Ocean Basin; (D)a location to provide information to the general public about natural resources, parks, museums, cultural resources, opportunities for wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation, and travel within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that provide opportunities for the visiting public to actively or passively experience the monument and to gain greater awareness and appreciation of the resources therein; (E)sufficient visitor amenities including restrooms, public telephones, drinking water, and other basic facilities; and (F)administrative office space sufficient to fulfill the management obligations and responsibilities of the Secretary and other Federal agencies as specified in the monument’s enabling proclamation.

4.

Donations

For the purposes of the planning, construction, and operation of the visitor facility authorized under section 3 of this Act, the Secretary may accept, retain, and expend donations of funds, and use property or services donated from private persons and entities or from public entities.