[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6992-S6996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Ms. Collins):
  S. 1108. A bill to authorize the transfer and conveyance of real 
property at the Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor, Maine, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President. I rise today with my colleague from Maine 
to introduce legislation facilitating the land conveyance at Winter 
Harbor, ME.
  First, may I note that this bill is the product of countless hours of 
hard work and deliberation by the communities it affects--Winter Harbor 
and Gouldsboro--the State of Maine, and the Maine Delegation. I would 
like to thank those involved: Chairmen Stan Torrey and Tom Mayor and 
members of the Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor Base Reuse Committees; Jean 
Marshall, the Defense Conversion Coordinator for Eastern Maine 
Development; Linda Pagels and Roger Barto, Town Managers for Gouldsboro 
and Winter Harbor; and Commander Edwin Williamson, Commanding Officer 
of Naval Security Group Activity Winter Harbor, for their efforts in 
crafting legislation that all concerned can support.
  The Navy has been a strong and supportive presence in the Winter 
Harbor region since the establishment of their facility over 80 years 
ago. What started as one man's patriotic efforts in World War I to 
establish a radio station for transatlantic communications developed 
into a complex network of sophisticated equipment that became Winter 
Harbor Naval Security Group Activity. Throughout the two World Wars and 
subsequent Cold War, the men and women stationed at Winter Harbor 
provided invaluable services in our Nation's defense.

[[Page S6995]]

  Maine and the Navy have always had a special relationship, and that 
relationship extended to Winter Harbor. The base and community embraced 
one another and developed a good neighbor relationship seldom seen 
between a military installation and the surrounding community. For both 
sides, it was truly a win-win situation. The sailors and their families 
enjoyed the hospitality of Maine while the towns of Winter harbor and 
Gouldsboro economically benefited from the Navy's presence.
  Unfortunately, the advent of new technology has made the equipment 
and mission of Winter Harbor obsolete. With the announcement that the 
Winter Harbor Naval Activity would close in June 2002, the communities 
began the laborious process of planning for life without the good 
neighbors of Winter Harbor NSGA.
  With this base closing, Maine will lose an economic base it has 
depended on for over 80 years. At its high point, Winter Harbor had 
approximately 250 sailors, 140 civilian employees, and their family 
members in residence and the base became an economic focal point for 
the region with an estimated $11 to $15 million being contributed to 
the local economy on an annual basis.
  To offset this impending loss, the towns applied for and received a 
small Economic Development Administration Defense Conversion Planning 
Grant in the amount of $200,000. While these funds proved crucial to 
the start of the reuse process, many needs still remain unmet. This 
legislation is intended to address some of those needs and to minimize 
the financial consequences of the base closure.
  The towns of Winter Harbor and Gouldsboro are not looking for 
charity. As you will see, this legislation's intent is to reimburse the 
towns for infrastructure improvements made at the Navy's behest and to 
provide the means for the region to restore its economic viability.
  As I mentioned earlier, the Maine Delegation has been working with 
the local communities, the State, Navy, and National Park Service to 
develop a comprehensive plan for reuse of the property and facilities. 
The primary facilities at Winter Harbor are located on a beautiful and 
breathtaking portion of the Maine coastline known as Schoodic Point. 
Once the base closes, this legislation dictates that the Schoodic Point 
property will shift to the Department of the Interior's jurisdiction 
for inclusion in Acadia National Park.
  In preparation for this property transfer, the National Park Service 
has initiated a plan to establish a Research and Education Center at 
the site. This center will host educational programs and private and 
public research facilities, becoming a source for meaningful employment 
and economic generation for the communities. However, the National Park 
Service effort will not be achieved overnight and, like all programs, 
requires adequate funding.
  As such, this legislation was drafted to include financial provisions 
to ease and expedite this transition as well as to reimburse the 
community for local services and infrastructure improvements.
  In closing, I would like to thank all of those in the local 
communities, the State of Maine, the Navy, and the National Park 
Service and, of course, my colleagues from the Maine Delegation for 
their assistance in crafting this legislation. I urge my colleagues to 
support this initiative and allow the good people of Winter Harbor and 
Gouldsboro to make the most of this unique base reuse opportunity.
  I ask unanimous consent the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1108

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. LAND TRANSFER AND CONVEYANCE, NAVAL SECURITY GROUP 
                   ACTIVITY, WINTER HARBOR, MAINE.

       (a) Transfer of Jurisdiction of Schoodic Point Property 
     Authorized.--(1) The Secretary of the Navy may transfer, 
     without consideration, to the Secretary of the Interior 
     administrative jurisdiction of a parcel of real property, 
     including any improvements thereon and appurtenances thereto, 
     consisting of approximately 26 acres as generally depicted as 
     Tract 15-116 on the map entitled ``Acadia National Park 
     Schoodic Point Area'', numbered 123/80,418 and dated May 
     2001. The map shall be on file and available for inspection 
     in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
       (2) The transfer authorized by this subsection shall occur, 
     if at all, concurrently with the reversion of administrative 
     jurisdiction of a parcel of real property consisting of 
     approximately 71 acres, as depicted as Tract 15-115 on the 
     map referred to in paragraph (1), from the Secretary of the 
     Navy to the Secretary of the Interior as authorized by Public 
     Law 80-260 (61 Stat. 519) and to be executed on or about June 
     30, 2002.
       (b) Conveyance of Corea and Winter Harbor Properties 
     Authorized.--The Secretary of the Navy may convey, without 
     consideration, to the State of Maine, any political 
     subdivision of the State of Maine, or any tax-supported 
     agency in the State of Maine, all right, title, and interest 
     of the United States in and to any of the parcels of real 
     property, including any improvements thereon and 
     appurtenances thereto, consisting of approximately 485 acres 
     and comprising the former facilities of the Naval Security 
     Group Activity, Winter Harbor, Maine, located in Hancock 
     County, Maine, except for the real property described in 
     subsection (a)(1).
       (c) Transfer of Personal Property.--The Secretary of the 
     Navy shall transfer, without consideration, to the Secretary 
     of the Interior in the case of the real property transferred 
     under subsection (a), or to any recipient of such real 
     property in the case of real property conveyed under 
     subsection (b), any or all personal property associated with 
     such real property so transferred or conveyed, including--
       (1) the ambulances and any fire trucks or other 
     firefighting equipment; and
       (2) any personal property required to continue the 
     maintenance of the infrastructure of such real property, 
     including the generators and an uninterrupted power supply in 
     building 154 at the Corea site.
       (d) Maintenance of Property Pending Conveyance.--The 
     Secretary of the Navy shall maintain any real property, 
     including any improvements thereon, appurtenances thereto, 
     and supporting infrastructure, to be conveyed under 
     subsection (b) in accordance with the protection and 
     maintenance standards specified in section 101-47.4913 of 
     title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, until the earlier of--
       (1) the date of the conveyance of such real property under 
     subsection (b); or
       (2) September 30, 2003.
       (e) Interim Lease.--(1) Until such time as any parcel of 
     real property to be conveyed under subsection (b) is conveyed 
     by deed under that subsection, the Secretary of the Navy may 
     lease such parcel to any person or entity determined by the 
     Secretary to be an appropriate lessee of such parcel.
       (2) The amount of rent for a lease under paragraph (1) 
     shall be the amount determined by the Secretary to be 
     appropriate, and may be an amount less than the fair market 
     value of the lease.
       (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary shall credit any amount received for a lease of 
     real property under paragraph (1) to the appropriation or 
     account providing funds for the operation and maintenance of 
     such property or for the procurement of utility services for 
     such property. Amounts so credited shall be merged with funds 
     in the appropriation or account to which credited, and shall 
     be available for the same purposes, and subject to the same 
     conditions and limitations, as the funds with which merged.
       (f) Reimbursement for Environmental and Other 
     Assessments.--(1) The Secretary of the Navy may require each 
     recipient of real property conveyed under subsection (b) to 
     reimburse the Secretary for the costs incurred by the 
     Secretary for any environmental assessment, study, or 
     analysis carried out by the Secretary with respect to such 
     property before completing the conveyance under that 
     subsection.
       (2) The amount of any reimbursement required under 
     paragraph (1) shall be determined by the Secretary, but may 
     not exceed the cost of the assessment, study, or analysis for 
     which reimbursement is required.
       (3) Section 2695(c) of title 10, United States Code, shall 
     apply to any amount received by the Secretary under this 
     subsection.
       (g) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property transferred under subsection 
     (a), and each parcel of real property conveyed under 
     subsection (b), shall be determined by a survey satisfactory 
     to the Secretary of the Navy. The cost of any survey under 
     the preceding sentence for real property conveyed under 
     subsection (b) shall be borne by the recipient of the real 
     property.
       (h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the 
     Navy may require such additional terms and conditions in 
     connection with any conveyance under subsection (b), and any 
     lease under subsection (e), as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

     SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

       The Secretary of Defense shall transfer to the Secretary of 
     the Interior amounts as follows:
       (1) $5,000,000 for purposes of capital investments for the 
     development of a research and education center at Acadia 
     National Park, Maine.
       (2) $1,400,000 for purposes of operation and maintenance 
     activities at Acadia National Park Maine.

     SEC. 3. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Grant Assistance for Town of Winter Harbor.--(1) The 
     Secretary of the Navy

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     shall, by grant, provide financial assistance to the Town of 
     Winter Harbor, Maine (in this subsection referred to as the 
     ``Town''), in each of fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004, for 
     the purpose of reimbursing the Town for costs incurred in 
     making improvements to the water and sewer systems of the 
     Town for the benefit of the Naval Security Group Activity, 
     Winter Harbor, Maine, located in Hancock County, Maine.
       (2) The amount of the grant under paragraph (1) in fiscal 
     year 2002 shall be $68,000.
       (3) The amount of the grant under paragraph (1) in each of 
     fiscal years 2003 and 2004 shall be the amount, not to exceed 
     $68,000, jointly determined by the Secretary and the Town to 
     be appropriate to reimburse the Town as described in that 
     paragraph in the applicable fiscal year.
       (b) Grant Assistance for School Administrative District.--
     (1) The Secretary shall, by grant, provide financial 
     assistance to the School Administrative District (SAD) 
     operating Sumner High School, Sullivan, Maine.
       (2) The purpose of the grant is to offset the loss of 
     impact aid under title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 that the local educational agency 
     experienced for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 as a result of the 
     closure of the Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor, 
     Maine.
       (3) The amount of the grant under paragraph (1) shall be 
     $86,000.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Transfers of Funds to Department of Interior.--There is 
     hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
     Defense for fiscal year 2002, $6,400,000 for purposes of the 
     transfers of funds required by section 2.
       (b) Grants.--There is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
     for the Department of the Navy for purposes of the grants 
     required by section 3, amounts as follows:
       (1) For fiscal year 2002, $154,000.
       (2) For each of fiscal years 2003 and 2004, such amounts as 
     may be necessary.
       (c) Supplement Not Supplant.--The amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated by this section for the Department of Defense, 
     or for the Department of the Navy, for a fiscal year are in 
     addition to any other amounts authorized to be appropriated 
     for such Department for such fiscal year under any other 
     provision of law.
       (d) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
     this section for a fiscal year shall remain available until 
     expended, without fiscal year limitation.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joining my 
distinguished colleague, Senator Snowe, today in introducing this 
legislation, the Naval Security Group Activity at Winter Harbor 
Conveyance Act. This conveyance legislation will authorize the transfer 
of land, which has been under the control of the Naval Security Group 
for some seventy plus years back to the Department of the Interior, and 
to the State, ultimately to be put to good use by our local 
communities.
  Over the past seven decades, the Navy has performed a key national 
security mission called Classic Wizard at Winter Harbor. The Navy has 
played a significant role in the economic development of the local 
communities as Maine residents and Navy personnel have supported this 
mission. As the requirement for the Classic Wizard mission at Winter 
Harbor is coming to an end, and as technology advances, this naval 
activity will be ending its ties to the base in the summer of 2002.
  While the Navy will be missed, it has worked hand-in-hand with me and 
the other members of the Maine delegation, the Department of Interior, 
National Park Service, and our local communities in creating a viable 
economic development and reuse plan for the naval base and its 
associated property.
  As part of its reuse plan for the site, the National Park Service has 
proposed developing a research and education center at the Schoodic 
Point. The center would accommodate and promote a variety of research 
activities including wildlife genetics and serve as a base for 
permanent and visiting scientists to conduct interdisciplinary 
research.
  I worked with the National Park Service in the development of its 
proposal, and I have offered to help make the concept a reality. Maine 
Governor Angus King shares my support for the proposed research and 
learning center and has expressed the State's willingness to work as a 
partner in the effort to establish a wildlife genetics laboratory at 
the center. We believe that such a laboratory would generate good jobs 
and promote the region's economy. The work done at Schoodic Point also 
would compliment the world class research underway at other area 
facilities in the area such as The Jackson Laboratory, the Mount Desert 
Island Biological Laboratory, and the University of Maine's Cooperative 
Aquaculture Research Center.
  The National Park Service's proposed reuse of the peninsula also 
includes an educational component that would promote the public's 
understanding of the important natural and cultural resources that are 
a part of our national park system. Moreover, those who have visited 
Schoodic would agree that the remarkably beautiful 100 acres are worthy 
of being a part of Acadia National Park, one of our Nation's greatest 
natural treasures.
  It is important for the Federal Government to lend a hand to 
communities that are struggling to cope with the adverse effects of a 
base closure. Our legislation, which was developed in consultation with 
the local communities, the State, the Department of the Interior and 
the Navy, provides the options and opportunities that the region needs 
to move beyond the loss of the Naval Security Group Activity at Winter 
Harbor. I will work to secure approval of this bill by the Senate Armed 
Services committee and the full Senate.
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