[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10534-S10535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FOUR CORNERS INTERPRETIVE CENTER ACT

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 563, S. 1998.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1998) to authorize an interpretive center and 
     related visitor facilities within the Four Corners Monument 
     Tribal Park, and for other purposes.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read a third time and passed; that the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating to the bill 
appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1998) was considered read the third time and passed, as 
follows:

                                S. 1998

       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 ``Four Corners Interpretive 
     Center Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Four Corners Monument is nationally significant as 
     the only geographic location in the United States where 4 
     State boundaries meet;
       (2) the States with boundaries that meet at the Four 
     Corners area are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah;
       (3) between 1868 and 1875 the boundary lines that created 
     the Four Corners were drawn, and in 1899 a monument was 
     erected at the site;
       (4) a United States postal stamp will be issued in 1999 to 
     commemorate the centennial of the original boundary marker;
       (5) the Four Corners area is distinct in character and 
     possesses important historical, cultural, and prehistoric 
     values and resources within the surrounding cultural 
     landscape;
       (6) although there are no permanent facilities or utilities 
     at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, each year the park 
     attracts approximately 250,000 visitors;
       (7) the area of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park falls 
     entirely within the Navajo Nation or Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 
     reservations;
       (8) the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have 
     entered into a Memorandum of Understanding governing the 
     planning and future development of the Four Corners Monument 
     Tribal Park;
       (9) in 1992, through agreements executed by the governors 
     of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, the Four Corners 
     Heritage Council was established as a coalition of Federal, 
     State, tribal, and private interests;
       (10) the State of Arizona has obligated $45,000 for 
     planning efforts and $250,000 for construction of an 
     interpretive center at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park;
       (11) numerous studies and extensive consultation with 
     American Indians have demonstrated that development at the 
     Four Corners Monument Tribal Park would greatly benefit the 
     people of the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe;
       (12) the Arizona Department of Transportation has completed 
     preliminary cost estimates that are based on field experience 
     with rest-area development for the construction for a Four 
     Corners Monument Interpretive Center and 
     surrounding infrastructure, including restrooms, roadways, 
     parking, water, electrical, telephone, and sewage 
     facilities;
       (13) an interpretive center would provide important 
     educational and enrichment opportunities for all Americans; 
     and
       (14) Federal financial assistance and technical expertise 
     are needed for the construction of an interpretive center.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to recognize the importance of the Four Corners 
     Monument and surrounding landscape as a distinct area in the 
     heritage of the United States that is worthy of 
     interpretation and preservation;
       (2) to assist the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute 
     Tribe in establishing the Four Corners Interpretive Center 
     and related facilities to meet the needs of the general 
     public;
       (3) to highlight and showcase the collaborative resource 
     stewardship of private individuals, Indian tribes, 
     universities, Federal agencies, and the governments of States 
     and political subdivisions thereof (including counties); and
       (4) to promote knowledge of the life, art, culture, 
     politics, and history of the culturally diverse groups of the 
     Four Corners region.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Four Corners 
     Interpretive Center established under section 4, including 
     restrooms, parking areas, vendor facilities, sidewalks, 
     utilities, exhibits, and other visitor facilities.
       (2) Four corners heritage council.--The term ``Four Corners 
     Heritage Council'' means the nonprofit coalition of Federal, 
     State, and tribal entities established in 1992 by agreements 
     of the Governors of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New 
     Mexico, and Utah.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) Recipient.--The term ``recipient'' means the State of 
     Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, or any consortium of 
     2 or more of these States.
       (5) Four corners monument.--The term ``Four Corners 
     Monument'' means the physical monument where the boundaries 
     of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
       (6) Four corners monument tribal park.--The term ``Four 
     Corners Monument Tribal Park'' means lands within the legally 
     defined boundary of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.

     SEC. 4. FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT INTERPRETIVE CENTER.

       (a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Secretary is authorized to establish 
     within the boundaries of the Four Corners Monument Tribal 
     Park a center for the interpretation and commemoration of the 
     Four Corners Monument, to be known as the ``Four Corners 
     Interpretive Center''.
       (b) Land.--Land for the Center shall be designated and made 
     available by the Navajo Nation or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 
     within the boundary of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park 
     in consultation with the Four Corners Heritage Council and in 
     accordance with--
       (1) the memorandum of understanding between the Navajo 
     Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe that was entered into 
     on October 22, 1996; and
       (2) applicable supplemental agreements with the Bureau of 
     Land Management, the National Park Service, the United States 
     Forest Service.
       (c) Concurrence.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     this Act, no such center shall be established without the 
     consent of the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
       (d) Components of Center.--The Center shall include--
       (1) a location for permanent and temporary exhibits 
     depicting the archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage 
     of the Four Corners region;
       (2) a venue for public education programs;
       (3) a location to highlight the importance of efforts to 
     preserve southwestern archaeological sites and museum 
     collections;
       (4) a location to provide information to the general public 
     about cultural and natural resources, parks, museums, and 
     travel in the Four Corners region; and
       (5) visitor amenities including restrooms, public 
     telephones, and other basic facilities.

     SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION GRANT.

       (a) Grant.--The Secretary is authorized to award a Federal 
     grant to the recipient described in section 3(4) for up to 50 
     percent of the cost to construct the Center. To be eligible 
     for the grant, the recipient shall provide assurances that--
       (1) the non-Federal share of the costs of construction is 
     paid from non-Federal sources. The non-Federal sources may 
     include contributions made by States, private sources, the 
     Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for planning, 
     design, construction, furnishing, startup, and operational 
     expenses;
       (2) the aggregate amount of non-Federal funds contributed 
     by the States used to carry out the activities specified in 
     subparagraph (A) will not be less than $2,000,000, of which 
     each of the States that is party to the grant will contribute 
     equally in cash or in kind;
       (3) States may use private funds to meet the requirements 
     of paragraph (2); and
       (4) the State of Arizona may apply $45,000 authorized by 
     the State of Arizona during fiscal year 1998 for planning and 
     $250,000 that is held in reserve by that State for 
     construction toward the Arizona share.
       (b) Grant Requirements.--In order to receive a grant under 
     this Act, the recipient shall--
       (1) submit to the Secretary a proposal that meets all 
     applicable--
       (A) laws, including building codes and regulations;
       (B) requirements under the Memorandum of Understanding 
     described in paragraph (2) of this subsection; and

[[Page S10535]]

       (C) provides such information and assurances as the 
     Secretary may require; and
       (2) the recipient shall enter into a Memorandum of 
     Understanding (MOU) with the Secretary providing--
       (A) a timetable for completion of construction and opening 
     of the Center;
       (B) assurances that design, architectural and construction 
     contracts will be competitively awarded;
       (C) specifications meeting all applicable Federal, State, 
     and local building codes and laws;
       (D) arrangements for operations and maintenance upon 
     completion of construction;
       (E) a description of center collections and educational 
     programing;
       (F) a plan for design of exhibits including, but not 
     limited to, collections to be exhibited, security, 
     preservation, protection, environmental controls, and 
     presentations in accordance with professional museum 
     standards;
       (G) an agreement with the Navajo Nation and the Ute 
     Mountain Ute Tribe relative to site selection and public 
     access to the facilities; and
       (H) a financing plan developed jointly by the Navajo Nation 
     and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe outlining the long-term 
     management of the Center, including but not limited to--
       (i) the acceptance and use of funds derived from public and 
     private sources to minimize the use of appropriated or 
     borrowed funds;
       (ii) the payment of the operating costs of the Center 
     through the assessment of fees or other income generated by 
     the Center;
       (iii) a strategy for achieving financial self-sufficiency 
     with respect to the Center by not later than 5 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (iv) defining appropriate vendor standards and business 
     activities at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.

     SEC. 6. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENT.

       The Secretary is authorized to award a grant in accordance 
     with the provisions of this Act. The Four Corners Heritage 
     Council may make recommendations to the Secretary on grant 
     proposals regarding the design of facilities at the Four 
     Corners Monument Tribal Park.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       In General.--
       (1) Authorizations.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out this Act--
       (A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
       (B) $50,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004 for 
     maintenance and operation of the center, program development, 
     or staffing in a manner consistent with the requirements of 
     section 5(b).
       (2) Carryover.--Any funds made available under this section 
     that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year for which 
     those funds are appropriated may be used by the Secretary 
     through fiscal year 2001 for the purposes for which those 
     funds were made available.
       (3) Reservation of funds.--The Secretary may reserve funds 
     appropriated pursuant to this Act until a proposal meeting 
     the requirements of this Act is submitted, but no later than 
     September 30, 2000.

     SEC. 8. DONATIONS.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of 
     the planning, construction, and operation of the Center, the 
     Secretary may accept, retain, and expand donations of funds, 
     and use property or services donated from private persons and 
     entities or from public entities.

     SEC. 9. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, modify, or 
     impair any right or claim of the Navajo Nation or the Ute 
     Mountain Ute Tribe, that is based on any law (including any 
     treaty, Executive order, agreement, or Act of Congress).

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