[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 89 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7678-S7679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS:
  S. 2272. A bill to amend the boundaries of Grant-Kohrs Ranch National 
Historic Site in the State of Montana; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.


                GRANT-KOHRS RANCH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today and introduce 
legislation which will amend the boundaries of the Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
National Historic Site in the State of Montana.
  Congress authorized the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site on 
August 25, 1972 to preserve the Grant-Kohrs Ranch that operated from 
1860-1972. Preserving the ranch also preserved a historic reminder of 
our Nation's frontier cattle era. The ranch's

[[Page S7679]]

intact 120-year archive, 26,000 artifacts, and 88 historic structures 
capture the heritage of the American cowboy and cattlemen.
  Today the area is the hub of a thriving tourism industry and also 
provides unique educational opportunities. Tourists are constantly in 
search of a feel for the true American West. The Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
offers a vivid recollection of life on the frontier while providing a 
great experience for visitors and jobs for local residents. The ranch 
has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is a true asset to 
Montana.
  The legislation that I am proposing will incorporate an additional 
120 acres of land into the authorized boundary of the Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
National Historic Site. The 120 acres that will be included in the new 
boundary of the ranch are already owned by the National Park Service 
and their inclusion in the ranch's boundary is recommended as a means 
of conserving the property of the original ranch from future 
development.
  I ask unanimous consent that the administration's letter of 
transmittal, the bill, 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 items were ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2272

       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 ``Grant-Kohrs Ranch National 
     Historic Site Boundary Adjustment Act of 1997.''

     SEC. 2 ADDITIONS TO GRANT-KOHRS RANCH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

       The Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the establishment of 
     the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in the State of 
     Montana, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 1972 
     (86 Stat. 632) is amended by striking the last sentence in 
     the first section and inserting:
       ``The boundary of the National Historic Site shall be as 
     generally described on a map entitled, ``Boundary Map, Grant-
     Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site'', numbered 80030-B, and 
     dated January, 1998, which shall be on file and available for 
     public inspection in the local and Washington, District of 
     Columbia, offices of the National Park Service, Department of 
     the Interior.''.
                                  ____


 Section by Section Analysis--Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site 
                    Boundary Adjustment Act of 1997

       Section 1: Short title.
       Section 2: Amends the Historic Site's enabling Act by 
     incorporating 120 acres of land already owned by the National 
     Park Service into the boundaries of Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
     National Historic Site.
                                  ____

                                  U.S. Department of the Interior,


                                      Office of the Secretary,

                                    Washington, DC, March 5, 1998.
     Hon. Albert Gore, Jr.,
     President of the Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Enclosed is a draft bill ``to amend the 
     boundaries of Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in the 
     State of Montana.''
       We recommend the bill be introduced, referred to the 
     appropriate committee for consideration, and enacted.
       The enclosed draft bill would incorporate 120 acres of 
     land, purchased by the Federal government as an uneconomic 
     remnant in 1988 and administered by the National Park 
     Service, into the authorized boundary of Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
     National Historic Site. Adjusting the boundary to incorporate 
     this tract is recommended by the site's 1993 General 
     Management Plan and 1995 Management Assessment, both of which 
     had extensive public involvement and review.
       This parcel is a critical component of the cultural 
     landscape and a defining character of Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
     implicit in its National Register designations as a National 
     Historic Landmark and Agricultural Historic District. The 
     property also augments the Ranch in conserving open space 
     amid the continued growth of Deer Lodge and Powell County, 
     Montana.
       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,

                                                 ------ ------

                                    Acting Assistant Secretary for
                                      Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
       Enclosures.
                                 ______