[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8691-S8692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Ensign):
  S. 2716. A bill to provide for the acquisition of land for 
administrative and visitor facilities for Death Valley National Park, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Death Valley 
National Park Administrative and Visitor Facilities Act of 2004.
  This is a simple common sense bill. It allows the Death Valley 
National Park to accept a donation of about 15 acres of land and 
buildings near Beatty, NV.
  This small parcel of land and the buildings on it will be used by the 
park as a maintenance and administrative station. These facilities are 
needed to consolidate and improve maintenance operations and other 
administrative functions of the park.
  The station would be donated by the Barrick Gold Corporation to the 
Park Service at no cost and is superior to the Park Service's current 
facilities in the area. This is an easy way for us to improve 
maintenance and administrative functions at Death Valley National park 
at absolutely no cost to the government. This legislation has long been 
advocated by Nye County and would benefit the nearby community of 
Beatty, NV.
  The current owners have already completed a Phase One Environmental 
Assessment that concluded there were no ``hazardous substances'' or 
``pollutant or contaminants'' associated with the land parcels or the 
structures. We should take advantage of this opportunity to improve 
park operations while we can.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation as an easy, 
efficient way to improve one of America's great national parks.
  I ask unanimous consent that 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. 2716

       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 ``Death Valley National Park 
     Administrative and Visitor Facilities Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Death Valley 
     National Park.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 3. DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK ADMINISTRATIVE AND VISITOR 
                   FACILITIES.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary 
     may acquire by donation all right, title, and interest in and 
     to the parcel of land (including improvements to the land) 
     described in subsection (b) for inclusion in the Park.
       (b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in 
     subsection (a) is the parcel of land in Nye County, Nevada--
       (1) consisting of not more than 15 acres;
       (2) comprising a portion of Tract 37 located north of the 
     center line of Nevada State Highway 374; and
       (3) located in the E\1/2\NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\ sec. 22, 
     T. 12 S., R. 46 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

[[Page S8692]]

       (c) Conditions.--Before accepting a donation of land under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall obtain a phase I 
     environmental assessment prepared by an independent party 
     that--
       (1) evaluates the condition of the land (including any 
     structures on the land); and
       (2) determines that the land or structure, or a portion of 
     the land or structure, is not contaminated with--
       (A) hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants, as 
     defined in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
     Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 
     9601); or
       (B) any petroleum substance, fraction, or derivative.
       (d) Boundary Revision.--On acquisition of the land under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall revise the boundary of 
     the Park to reflect the acquisition.
       (e) Administration.--Any land acquired under subsection (a) 
     shall be administered by the Secretary as part of the Park.
       (f) Use of Land.--The parcel of land acquired under 
     subsection (a) shall be used by the Secretary for the 
     development, operation, and maintenance of administrative and 
     visitor facilities for the Park.
                                 ______