[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 107 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H6912-H6913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM NEW AREA STUDIES ACT
Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1728) to provide for the development of a plan and a management
review of the National Park System and to reform the process by which
areas are considered for addition to the National Park System, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1728
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 System New
Area Studies Act''.
SEC. 2. STUDY OF NEW PARK SYSTEM AREAS.
Section 8 of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5; popularly
known as the National Park System General Authorities Act) is
amended as follows:
(1) By inserting ``General Authority.--'' after ``(a)''.
(2) By striking the second through the seventh sentences of
subsection (a).
(3) By designating the last two sentences of subsection (a)
as subsection (e) and inserting in the first of such
sentences before the words ``For the purposes of carrying''
the following: ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--''.
[[Page H6913]]
(4) By inserting the following after subsection (a):
``(b) Studies of Areas for Potential Addition.--(1) At the
beginning of each calendar year, along with the annual budget
submission, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United
States Senate a list of areas recommended for study for
potential inclusion in the National Park System.
``(2) In developing the list to be submitted under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give consideration to those
areas that have the greatest potential to meet the
established criteria of national significance, suitability,
and feasibility. The Secretary shall give special
consideration to themes, sites, and resources not already
adequately represented in the National Park System.
``(3) No study of the potential of an area for inclusion in
the National Park System may be initiated after the date of
enactment of this subsection, except as provided by specific
authorization of an Act of Congress.
``(4) Nothing in this Act shall limit the authority of the
National Park Service to conduct preliminary resource
assessments, gather data on potential study areas, provide
technical and planning assistance, prepare or process
nominations for administrative designations, update previous
studies, or complete reconnaissance surveys of individual
areas requiring a total expenditure of less than $25,000.
``(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply
to or to affect or alter the study of any river segment for
potential addition to the national wild and scenic rivers
system or to apply to or to affect or alter the study of any
trail for potential addition to the national trails system.
``(c) Report.--(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall
complete the study for each area for potential inclusion in
the National Park System within 3 complete fiscal years
following the date of enactment of specific legislation
providing for the study of such area. Each study under this
section shall be prepared with appropriate opportunity for
public involvement, including at least one public meeting in
the vicinity of the area under study, and after reasonable
efforts to notify potentially affected landowners and State
and local governments.
``(2) In conducting the study, the Secretary shall consider
whether the area under study--
``(A) possesses nationally significant natural or cultural
resources and represents one of the most important examples
of a particular resource type in the country; and
``(B) is a suitable and feasible addition to the system.
``(3) Each study--
``(A) shall consider the following factors with regard to
the area being studied--
``(i) the rarity and integrity of the resources;
``(ii) the threats to those resources;
``(iii) similar resources are already protected in the
National Park System or in other public or private ownership;
``(iv) the public use potential;
``(v) the interpretive and educational potential;
``(vi) costs associated with acquisition, development and
operation;
``(vii) the socioeconomic impacts of any designation;
``(viii) the level of local and general public support, and
``(ix) whether the area is of appropriate configuration to
ensure long-term resource protection and visitor use;
``(B) shall consider whether direct National Park Service
management or alternative protection by other public agencies
or the private sector is appropriate for the area;
``(C) shall identify what alternative or combination of
alternatives would in the professional judgment of the
Director of the National Park Service be most effective and
efficient in protecting significant resources and providing
for public enjoyment; and
``(D) may include any other information which the Secretary
deems to be relevant.
``(4) Each study shall be completed in compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
``(5) The letter transmitting each completed study to
Congress shall contain a recommendation regarding the
Secretary's preferred management option for the area.
``(d) List of Areas.--At the beginning of each calendar
year, along with the annual budget submission, the Secretary
of the Interior shall submit to the Committee on Resources of
the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the United States Senate a list of
areas which have been previously studied which contain
primarily historical resources, and a list of areas which
have been previously studied which contain primarily natural
resources, in numerical order of priority for addition to the
National Park System. In developing the lists, the Secretary
should consider threats to resource values, cost escalation
factors, and other factors listed in subsection (c) of this
section. The Secretary should only include on the lists areas
for which the supporting data is current and accurate.''.
(5) By adding at the end of subsection (e) (as designated
by paragraph (3) of this section) the following: ``For
carrying out subsections (b) through (d) there are authorized
to be appropriated $2,000,000.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Jones) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr.
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones).
Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. JONES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1728 is a bill introduced by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley). The gentleman from Colorado is to
be commended for the hard work he has done to craft a bill that
addresses needed changes in current law dealing with how new units are
added to the National Park System.
H.R. 1728 provides for the development of a plan and a management
review of the National Park System to reform the current process by
which areas are considered for addition to the National Park System.
The bill would assist the National Park Service in planning for the
future of the National Park System and provide a structured process to
ensure that the Congress considers only the most worthy nationally
important sites for inclusion in any expansion of the National Park
System.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill, and H.R. 1728 provides a
better way to include worthy areas into the park system. I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 1728.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1728 establishes new procedures
by which potential new additions to the National Park System are
studied. The bill is identical to the language in title II of H.R. 260
from the 104th Congress.
The administration and other interested parties are in general
support of putting in place new procedures for the study of potential
additions to the National Park System. These new procedures make a lot
of sense to me. They will improve the quality of information we have on
potential additions to the National Park System, as well as help
prioritize our consideration of such additions.
With the minor changes to the bill that were made by the Committee on
Resources, I think the House should give the bill its unqualified
support. I urge my colleagues to adopt this proposed bill.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1728, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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