[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8186-S8187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               LOESS HILLS PRESERVATION STUDY ACT OF 1999

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 776) to authorize the 
National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study for the 
preservation of the Loess Hills in western Iowa, which had been 
reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with 
amendments as follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in italic.)

                                 S. 776

       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 ``Loess Hills Preservation 
     Study Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Loess Hills encompasses 600,000 acres in western 
     Iowa, having been formed by ancient glaciers and hundreds of 
     centuries of westerly winds blowing soil across the Missouri 
     River, which were then deposited in Iowa;
       (2) this area is the largest Loess formation in the United 
     States, and one of the two largest in the world, supporting 
     several species of rare native prairie grasses;
       (3) portions of the Loess Hills remain undeveloped and 
     provide an important opportunity to protect and preserve an 
     historic, rare and unique natural resource;

[[Page S8187]]

       (4) a program to study the Loess Hills can only be 
     successfully implemented with the cooperation and 
     participation of affected local governments and landowners;
       (5) in 1986, the Loess Hills area was designated as a 
     National Natural Landmark in recognition of the area's 
     nationally significant natural resources;
       (6) although significant natural resources remain in the 
     area, increasing development in the area has threatened the 
     future stability and integrity of the Loess Hills area; and
       (7) the Loess Hills area merits further study by the 
     National Park Service, in cooperation with the State of Iowa, 
     local governments, and affected landowners, to determine 
     appropriate means to better protect, preserve, and interpret 
     the significant resources in the area.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the 
     Secretary of the Interior to conduct a suitability and 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve the Loess Hills in western Iowa.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act--
       (1) the term ``Loess Hills'' means the natural geological 
     formation of soils in the State of Iowa located between 
     Waubansie State Park and Stone Park, and which includes 
     Plymouth, Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills, 
     and Fremont counties;
       (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
     Interior; and
       (3) the term ``State'' means the State of Iowa.

     SEC. 4. LOESS HILLS STUDY.

       (a) The Secretary shall undertake a study of the Loess 
     Hills area to review options for the protection and 
     interpretation of the area's natural, cultural, and 
     historical resources. The study shall include, but need not 
     be limited to, an analysis of the suitability and feasibility 
     of designating the area as--
       (1) a unit of the National Park System;
       (2) a National Heritage Area or Heritage Corridor; or
       (3) such other designation as may be appropriate.
       (b) The study shall examine the appropriateness and 
     feasibility of cooperative protection and interpretive 
     efforts between the United States, the State, its political 
     subdivisions, and non-profit groups or other interested 
     parties.
       (c) The Secretary shall consult in the preparation of the 
     study with State and local governmental entities, affected 
     landowners, and other interested public and private 
     organizations and individuals.
       (d) The study shall be completed within one year after the 
     date funds are made available. No later than 30 days after 
     its completion, the Secretary shall transmit a report of the 
     study, along with any recommendations, to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and 
     the Committee on Resources of the United States House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act not to exceed $275,000.

  The committee amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (S. 776), as amended, was considered read the third time and 
passed, as follows:

                                 S. 776

       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 ``Loess Hills Preservation 
     Study Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Loess Hills encompasses 600,000 acres in western 
     Iowa, having been formed by ancient glaciers and hundreds of 
     centuries of westerly winds blowing soil across the Missouri 
     River, which were then deposited in Iowa;
       (2) this area is the largest Loess formation in the United 
     States, and one of the two largest in the world, supporting 
     several species of rare native prairie grasses;
       (3) portions of the Loess Hills remain undeveloped and 
     provide an important opportunity to protect and preserve an 
     historic, rare and unique natural resource;
       (4) a program to study the Loess Hills can only be 
     successfully implemented with the cooperation and 
     participation of affected local governments and landowners;
       (5) in 1986, the Loess Hills area was designated as a 
     National Natural Landmark in recognition of the area's 
     nationally significant natural resources;
       (6) although significant natural resources remain in the 
     area, increasing development in the area has threatened the 
     future stability and integrity of the Loess Hills area; and
       (7) the Loess Hills area merits further study by the 
     National Park Service, in cooperation with the State of Iowa, 
     local governments, and affected landowners, to determine 
     appropriate means to better protect, preserve, and interpret 
     the significant resources in the area.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the 
     Secretary of the Interior to conduct a suitability and 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve the Loess Hills in western Iowa.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act--
       (1) the term ``Loess Hills'' means the natural geological 
     formation of soils in the State of Iowa located between 
     Waubansie State Park and Stone Park, and which includes 
     Plymouth, Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills, 
     and Fremont counties;
       (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
     Interior; and
       (3) the term ``State'' means the State of Iowa.

     SEC. 4. LOESS HILLS STUDY.

       (a) The Secretary shall undertake a study of the Loess 
     Hills area to review options for the protection and 
     interpretation of the area's natural, cultural, and 
     historical resources. The study shall include, but need not 
     be limited to, an analysis of the suitability and feasibility 
     of designating the area as--
       (1) a unit of the National Park System;
       (2) a National Heritage Area or Heritage Corridor; or
       (3) such other designation as may be appropriate.
       (b) The study shall examine the appropriateness and 
     feasibility of cooperative protection and interpretive 
     efforts between the United States, the State, its political 
     subdivisions, and non-profit groups or other interested 
     parties.
       (c) The Secretary shall consult in the preparation of the 
     study with State and local governmental entities, affected 
     landowners, and other interested public and private 
     organizations and individuals.
       (d) The study shall be completed within one year after the 
     date funds are made available. No later than 30 days after 
     its completion, the Secretary shall transmit a report of the 
     study, along with any recommendations, to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and 
     the Committee on Resources of the United States House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act not to exceed $275,000.

                          ____________________