[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 97 (Monday, July 12, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S8268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THOMAS:
  S. 1349. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
special resource studies to determine the national significance of 
specific sites as well as the suitability and feasibility of their 
inclusion as units of the National Park System; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.


            national park system new area study act of 2000

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the National 
Park System New Area Study Act of 2000.
  Mr. President, last year when we passed the National Parks Vision 20-
20 legislation, we made a number of revisions in the way we do business 
within the National Park System. One of those changes concerned the 
conduct of new park studies.
  Prior to the National Park Service undertaking any new area studies, 
and from this point forward, Congress must act affirmatively on a list 
submitted by the Secretary of the Interior for studies on potential new 
units of the System.
  Pursuant to Public Law 105-391, the Secretary has submitted a list 
and this legislation reflects the Secretary's request.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous request that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1349

       Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 Study Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES:

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that pursuant to Public Law 
     105-391, the Administration has submitted a list of areas 
     recommended for study for potential inclusion in the National 
     Park System in fiscal year 2000.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to direct the 
     Secretary of the Interior to direct special resource studies 
     to determine the national significance of the sites, and/or 
     areas, listed in Section 5 of this Act to determine the 
     national significance of each site, and/or area, as well as 
     the suitability and feasibility of their inclusion as units 
     of the National Park System.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 4. STUDIES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available for the purpose of this Act, 
     the Secretary, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Resources of the House of Representatives individual resource 
     studies of the sites, and/or areas, listed in Section 5 of 
     this Act.
       (b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) identify the location and the suitability and 
     feasibility of designating the sites, and/or areas, as units 
     of the National Park System; and
       (2) include cost estimates for any necessary acquisition, 
     development, operation and maintenance, and identification of 
     alternatives for the management, administration, and 
     protection of the area.

     SEC. 5. SITES AND/OR AREAS.

       (a) The areas recommended for study for potential inclusion 
     in the National Park System include the following:
       (1) Bioluminescent Bay, Mosquito Lagoon, Puerto Rico;
       (2) Brandywine and Paoli Battlefields, Pennsylvania;
       (3) Civil Rights Trail, Nationwide;
       (4) Gaviota Coast Seashore, California;
       (5) Kate Mullaney House, New York;
       (6) Low Country Gullah Culture, South Carolina, Georgia and 
     Florida;
       (7) Nan Madol, Northern Marianas;
       (8) Walden Pond and Woods, in Concord and Lincoln, 
     Massachusetts; and
       (9) World War II sites on Palau and Saipan.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.
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