[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                           By Mr. MURKOWSKI:

  S. 2239. A bill to revise the boundary of Fort Matanzas Mounment and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


              fort matanzas national monument legislation

 Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, on behalf the Administration, 
today I introduce legislation to revise the boundary of Fort Matanzas 
National Monument, and for other purposes. I ask unanimous consent that 
the Administration's letter of transmittal and a section-by-section 
analysis of the legislation be printed in the Record for the 
information of my colleagues.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                           Department of Interior,


                                      Office of the Secretary,

                                Washington, DC, February 23, 1998.
     Hon. Albert Gore, Jr.,
     President of the Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Enclosed is a draft of a bill, ``to 
     revise the boundary of Fort Matanzas National Monument, and 
     for other purposes.'' Also enclosed is a section-by-section 
     analysis of the bill. We recommend that the bill be 
     introduced, referred to the appropriate committee for 
     consideration, and enacted.
       The enclosed bill would revise the boundary of Fort 
     Matanzas National Monument in Florida to clarify long-
     standing boundary and acquisition issues involving a total of 
     approximately 70 acres. The first issue involves two tracts 
     of land, 01-102 and 01-103 which are currently adjacent to 
     the park's boundary. These two tracts were donated to the 
     United States in 1963 and 1965. At the time of the donations, 
     no attempt was made to seek authority to include these tracts 
     within the park's boundary.
       The second issue involves Tract 01-107, which was 
     originally intended to be donated as part of Tract 01-102 on 
     January 1, 1965. However, a regional Solicitor's opinion of 
     September 14, 1984, indicated that an error in the legal 
     description omitted this tract and the United States does not 
     hold title to this parcel.
       The purpose of this bill is to include the three tracts 
     within the boundary of Fort Matanzas National Monument. This 
     would ensure that the National Park Service could legally 
     protect the resources on the tracts and ensure visitor 
     safety.
       The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there 
     is no objection to the enactment of the enclosed draft 
     legislation from the standpoint of the Administration's 
     program.
           Sincerely,

                                                 Donald Barry,

                                    Acting Assistant Secretary for
     Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
                                  ____


                      Section-by-Section Analysis

       Section 1 of this legislation revises the boundary of Fort 
     Matanzas National Monument in Florida by adding three small 
     tracts of land totaling approximately 70 acres. The boundary 
     adjustments are depicted on the map entitled ``Fort Matanzas 
     National Monument'', numbered 347/80004, and dated February 
     1991.
       Section 2 authorizes the Secretary to acquire the lands by 
     donation, purchase, transfer or exchange.
       Section 3 states that the lands will be administered as 
     part of Fort Matanzas National Monument and will be subject 
     to the laws that are applicable to the monument.
                                 ______