[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2780 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2780

 To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
  study to evaluate the significance of the Mill Springs Battlefield 
located in Pulaski and Wayne Counties, Kentucky, and the feasibility of 
   its inclusion in the National Park System, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 9, 2014

 Mr. McConnell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
  study to evaluate the significance of the Mill Springs Battlefield 
located in Pulaski and Wayne Counties, Kentucky, and the feasibility of 
   its 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. BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS STUDY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
            (1) In 1994, the Mills Springs Battlefield in Pulaski and 
        Wayne Counties in Kentucky was designated as a National 
        Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior.
            (2) The Battle of Mill Springs was the first significant 
        Union victory in the western theater of the Civil War.
            (3) The outcome of the Battle of Mill Springs, along with 
        Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson paved the way 
        for a major battle at Shiloh, Tennessee.
            (4) In 1991, the National Park Service placed the Mill 
        Springs Battlefield on a list of endangered battlefields, 
        noting the impact of this battle to the course of the Civil 
        War.
            (5) In 1992, the Mill Springs Battlefield Association 
        formed, and utilizing Federal, State, and local support has 
        managed to preserve important tracts of the battlefield, 
        construct an interactive visitor center, and educate the public 
        about this historic event.
            (6) There is strong community interest in incorporating the 
        Mill Springs Battlefield into the National Park Service.
            (7) The Mill Springs Battlefield Association has expressed 
        its desire to give the preserved battlefield as a gift to the 
        United States.
    (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Mill springs battlefield.--The term ``Mill Springs 
        Battlefield'' means the area encompassed by the National 
        Historic Landmark designations relating to the 1862 Battle of 
        Mill Springs located in the counties of Pulaski and Wayne in 
        Kentucky.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (c) Study.--Not later than 3 years from the date funds are made 
available, the Secretary shall conduct a special resource study to 
evaluate the significance of the Mill Springs Battlefield in Kentucky, 
and the feasibility of its inclusion in the National Park System.
    (d) Criteria for Study.--The Secretary shall conduct the study 
authorized by this Act in accordance with section 8(b) of Public Law 
91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(b)).
    (e) Content of Study.--The study shall include an analysis of the 
following:
            (1) The significance of the Battle of Mill Springs to the 
        outcome of the Civil War.
            (2) Opportunities for public education about the Civil War 
        in Kentucky.
            (3) Operational issues that should be considered if the 
        National Park System were to incorporate the Mill Springs 
        Battlefield.
            (4) The feasibility of administering the Mill Springs 
        Battlefield considering its size, configuration, and other 
        factors, to include an annual cost estimate.
            (5) The economic, educational, and other impacts the 
        inclusion of Mill Springs Battlefield into the National Park 
        System would have on the surrounding communities in Pulaski and 
        Wayne Counties.
            (6) The effect of the designation of the Mill Springs 
        Battlefield as a unit of the National Park System on--
                    (A) existing commercial and recreational 
                activities, including but not limited to hunting, 
                fishing, and recreational shooting, and on the 
                authorization, construction, operation, maintenance, or 
                improvement of energy production and transmission 
                infrastructure; and
                    (B) the authority of State and local governments to 
                manage those activities.
            (7) The identification of any authorities, including 
        condemnation, that will compel or permit the Secretary to 
        influence or participate in local land use decisions (such as 
        zoning) or place restrictions on non-Federal lands if the Mill 
        Springs Battlefield is designated as a unit of the National 
        Park System.
    (f) Notification of Private Property Owners.--Upon commencement of 
the study, owners of private property adjacent to the battlefield will 
be notified of the study's commencement and scope.
    (g) Submission of Report.--Upon completion of the study, the 
Secretary shall submit a report on the findings of the study to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
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