1.This Act may be cited as
the National Park Service Study Act of
2012
.
2.
(a)The
Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the
Secretary
) shall conduct special resource studies of—
(1)the Kau Coast, on
the island of Hawaii;
(2)on request of the
Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the island of
Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
(3)(A)sites in the State of
Alaska associated with the forced abandonment of the Aleut villages of
Makushin, Kashega, and Biorka around Unalaska Island, and Attu on Attu Island
during World War II; and
(B)the 5 relocation sites in the State of
Alaska at Funter Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake, and the Wrangell
Institute;
(4)World War II
Japanese American Relocation Center sites, including—
(A)Gila River and
Poston sites in the State of Arizona;
(B)Grenada in the
State of Colorado;
(C)Heart Mountain in
the State of Wyoming;
(D)Jerome and Rohwer
sites in the State of Arkansas; and
(E)Topaz in the
State of Utah;
(5)American Latino
Sites in the San Luis Valley and Central Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the
States of Colorado and New Mexico;
(6)the town of
Goldfield and outlying mining sites in the State of Nevada;
(7)the Hudson River
Valley in the State of New York;
(8)the Norman
Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, at which African-American casts and crews
were used in the production of silent films;
(9)the Mobile-Tensaw
River Delta in the State of Alabama; and
(10)Galveston Bay in
the State of Texas.
(b)In
conducting the studies under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1)evaluate the
national significance of—
(A)the sites;
and
(B)the areas
surrounding the sites;
(2)determine the
suitability and feasibility of designating 1 or more of the sites as units of
the National Park System;
(3)consider other
alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the sites by
the Federal, State or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit
organizations;
(4)consult with
interested Federal, State, or local governmental entities, private and
nonprofit organizations, or any other interested individuals; and
(5)identify cost
estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation,
and maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph
(3).
(c)The studies required under subsection (a) shall be conducted
in accordance with section 8 of the National Park System General Authorities
Act (16 U.S.C. 1a–5).
3.Special resource
study updates
(a)The
Secretary shall update the following studies:
(1)The study
authorized by section 326(b)(3)(N) of the National Park Service Studies Act of
1999 (as enacted in title III of Appendix C of Public Law 106–113; 113 Stat.
1501A–195) relating to World War II Sites, Republic of Palau.
(2)The 1979 study
entitled Vermejo Ranch, New Mexico/Colorado: Study of Management
Options
.
(b)In
updating the studies under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1)determine whether
conditions have changed to justify designation of the site as a unit of the
National Park System;
(2)consider other
alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the site by
Federal, State, or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit
organizations;
(3)consult with
other interested Federal, State, or local governmental entities, private and
nonprofit organizations, or any other interested individuals; and
(4)identify cost
estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation,
and maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph
(2).
4.Buffalo soldiers
in the national parks study
(a)The
Secretary shall conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and
interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the
National Parks.
(b)In
conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1)complete a
historical assessment of the Buffalo Soldiers that served in National Parks in
the years before the establishment of the National Park Service;
(2)evaluate the
suitability and feasibility of establishing a national historic trail
commemorating the route traveled by the Buffalo Soldiers from the post of the
Buffalo Soldiers in the Presidio of San Francisco to Sequoia and Yosemite
National Parks and any other National Parks at which the Buffalo Soldiers may
have served;
(3)identify
properties relating to the Buffalo Soldiers that could satisfy—
(A)the criteria for
listing in the National Register of Historic Places; or
(B)the criteria for
designation as a National Historic Landmark; and
(4)evaluate
appropriate ways to enhance historical research, education, interpretation, and
public awareness of the story of the stewardship role of the Buffalo Soldiers
in the National Parks, including ways to link the story to the development of
National Parks and the story of African-American military service following the
Civil War.
5.Reconstruction
in the south study theme study
(a)The
Secretary shall conduct a national historic landmark theme study (referred to
in this section as the theme study
) to identify sites and
resources in the southern United States that are significant to the
Reconstruction era.
(b)The
theme study shall include recommendations for commemorating and interpreting
sites and resources identified by the theme study, including recommendations
for—
(1)sites for which
new national historic landmarks should be nominated; and
(2)sites for which
further study for potential inclusion in the National Park System is
needed.
6.Chattahoochee
river boundary expansion study
(a)The
Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of
including in the boundary of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
(referred to in this section as the recreation area
)
approximately 45 miles of the Chattahoochee River and land along the river
corridor from the southern boundary of the recreation area south to the
junction of Coweta, Heard, and Carroll Counties (referred to in this section as
the study area
).
(b)The
study authorized under this section shall include an analysis of—
(1)significant
resources or opportunities for public enjoyment within the study area relating
to the purposes of the recreation area;
(2)operational and
management issues that need to be considered if the study area is included
within the recreation area;
(3)protection of
resources within the study area critical to fulfilling the purposes of the
recreation area;
(4)the feasibility
of administering the study area as part of the recreation area, taking into
account—
(A)the size,
configuration, and ownership of the study area;
(B)costs relating to
the administration of the study area; and
(C)any other factors
that the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
(5)the adequacy of
other alternatives for management and protection of resources within the study
area.
7.Not later than 3 years after the date on
which funds are first made available for each study authorized under this Act,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate a report that describes—
(1)the results of the applicable study;
and
(2)any conclusions and recommendations of the
Secretary with respect to the area studied.
8.Authorization of
appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
Act.