[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3131 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3131
To authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the
National Park System, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 18, 2013
Mr. Sablan (for himself, Ms. Gabbard, Ms. Hanabusa, Mr. Ben Ray Lujan
of New Mexico, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Norton, Mr.
David Scott of Georgia, Mr. Conyers, Ms. Speier, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Jackson
Lee, Mr. Honda, and Mr. Holt) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the
National Park System, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Park Service Study Act of
2013''.
SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDIES.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct special
resource studies of--
(1) the Kau coast, on the island of Hawaii;
(2) the prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites
on the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands;
(3) 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 the 5 relocation sites at Funter Bay, Burnett
Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake, and the Wrangell Institute;
(4) World War II Japanese American Relocation Center sites
including Gila River and Poston sites, State of Arizona;
Granada, State of Colorado; Heart Mountain, State of Wyoming;
Jerome and Rohwer sites, State of Arkansas; and Topaz, State of
Utah;
(5) Mahaulepu, on the island of Kauai, State of Hawaii;
(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, within Jacksonville, Florida, where
African-American casts and crews were used in the production of
silent films;
(9) the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in the State of Alabama;
(10) the Galveston Bay in the State of Texas;
(11) the Pullman site, State of Illinois;
(12) the northern coast of Maui, Hawaii; and
(13) historic sites on Midway Atoll.
(b) Contents.--In conducting the studies required under subsection
(a) of the sites identified under such subsection, the Secretary
shall--
(1) evaluate the national significance of the sites and the
areas surrounding such sites;
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of
designating one or more sites as units of the National Park
System;
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation,
protection, and interpretation of the sites by 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.
(c) Applicable Law.--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).
SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY UPDATES.
(a) Studies.--The Secretary of the Interior shall update the study,
``World War II Sites, Republic of Palau (upon the request of the
Government of the Republic of Palau)'' as authorized by section
326(b)(3)(N) of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2000, and the 1979 study ``Vermejo Ranch, New
Mexico/Colorado: Study of Management Options''.
(b) Contents.--In updating the studies under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) determine whether conditions have changed to warrant
that the site be designated as a unit of the National Park
System;
(2) consider other alternatives for the 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).
SEC. 4. BUFFALO SOLDIERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior 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) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) complete a historical assessment of the Buffalo
Soldiers who served in national parks in the years that
preceded 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 their post in the
Presidio of San Francisco to Sequoia and Yosemite National
Parks and to any other national parks where they may have
served;
(3) identify properties that could meet criteria for
listing in the National Register of Historic Places or criteria
for designation as national historic landmarks; and
(4) evaluate appropriate ways to enhance the historical
research, education, interpretation, and public awareness of
the story of the Buffalo Soldiers' stewardship role in the
national parks, including ways to link the story to both the
development of the national parks and the story of African-
American military service following the Civil War.
SEC. 5. RECONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a national
historic landmark study to identify sites and resources in the Southern
United States that are significant to the Reconstruction era.
(b) Contents.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall
include recommendations for commemorating and interpreting sites and
resources identified by the study, including--
(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.
SEC. 6. CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER BOUNDARY EXPANSION STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a study to
determine the suitability and feasibility of including in the boundary
of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area approximately 45
miles of the Chattahoochee River and lands along the river corridor
from the southern boundary of the Recreation Area south to the junction
of Coweta, Heard, and Carroll Counties.
(b) Contents.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall
include an analysis of--
(1) significant resources or opportunities for public
enjoyment within the study area related to purposes of the
Chattahoochee River National 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 Recreation Area's purposes;
(4) the feasibility of administering the study area as part
of the Recreation Area considering the study area's size,
configuration, ownership, costs, and other factors; and
(5) the adequacy of other alternatives for management and
protection of resources within the study area.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made
available to conduct each study under this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior 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 containing--
(1) the results of each such study; and
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary
based on such results.
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