[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 10 (Thursday, February 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON (for himself and Mr. Thune):
  S. 276. A bill to revise the boundary of the Wind Cave National Park 
in the State of South Dakota; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to re-introduce legislation 
from the previous Congress that will revise and expand the boundary to 
the Wind Cave National Park in Custer and Fall River County South 
Dakota. I am pleased that my colleague, Senator John Thune, has joined 
me today in introducing this important bill.
  Wind Cave National Park is one of the Nation's first national parks, 
containing in its boundaries one of the greatest expanses of 
underground cave complexes in North America. Established in 1903, Wind 
Cave National Park protects one of the world's oldest known cave 
formations with hundreds of miles of underground compartments. 
Amazingly, scientific measurements indicate that only five percent of 
the total cave has been discovered.
  With the option to acquire approximately 5,500 acres of land from 
willing sellers, Wind Cave National Park has a once-in-a-generation 
opportunity to significantly enhance one of the last remaining mixed-
grass prairie ecosystems in the world. The acquisition of this land 
adjacent to the southern boundary of the park will preserve a key 
archaeological site described as one of the only existing buffalo jumps 
used by Native Americans as they hunted the giant animal.
  I believe that the local park officials and the willing-seller 
landowner have done a good job in reaching out to the community and 
working to modify their original proposal to conform to the interests 
of adjacent landowners and the State of South Dakota. As with any land 
acquisition initiative the question of compensating local government's 
for the lost tax revenue is extremely important. The matter is 
particularly acute in western South Dakota, where large tracts of 
federal land result in particular challenges. To that end, I call on 
Congress to fully fund the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program and provide 
a dedicated revenue source to compensate local communities that have 
significant amounts of federal lands in the counties.
  The Wind Cave National Park is a South Dakota treasure shared with 
the entire world through the stewardship of the National Park Service. 
Some four million visitors come to the Black Hills each year and 
tourism is one of South Dakota's leading economic engines. It is my 
strong desire that the Congress will quickly take the appropriate steps 
necessary and demonstrate positive action in the consideration of this 
bill.
  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. 276

       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 ``Wind Cave National Park 
     Boundary Revision Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Wind 
     Cave National Park Boundary Revision'', numbered 108/80,030, 
     and dated June 2002.
       (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Wind Cave National 
     Park in the State.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of South 
     Dakota.

     SEC. 3. LAND ACQUISITION.

       (a) Authority.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire the land or 
     interest in land described in subsection (b)(1) for addition 
     to the Park.
       (2) Means.--An acquisition of land under paragraph (1) may 
     be made by donation, purchase from a willing seller with 
     donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
       (b) Boundary.--
       (1) Map and acreage.--The land referred to in subsection 
     (a)(1) shall consist of approximately 5,675 acres, as 
     generally depicted on the map.
       (2) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (3) Revision.--The boundary of the Park shall be adjusted 
     to reflect the acquisition of land under subsection (a)(1).

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer any land 
     acquired under section 3(a)(1) as part of the Park in 
     accordance with laws (including regulations) applicable to 
     the Park.
       (b) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall transfer from the 
     Director of the Bureau of Land Management to the Director of 
     the National Park Service administrative jurisdiction over 
     the land described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Map and acreage.--The land referred to in paragraph (1) 
     consists of the approximately 80 acres of land identified on 
     the map as ``Bureau of Land Management land''.

     SEC. 5. GRAZING.

       (a) Grazing Permitted.--Subject to any permits or leases in 
     existence as of the date of acquisition, the Secretary may 
     permit the continuation of livestock grazing on land acquired 
     under section 3(a)(1).
       (b) Limitation.--Grazing under subsection (a) shall be at 
     not more than the level existing on the date on which the 
     land is acquired under section 3(a)(1).
       (c) Purchase of Permit or Lease.--The Secretary may 
     purchase the outstanding portion of a grazing permit or lease 
     on any land acquired under section 3(a)(1).
       (d) Termination of Leases or Permits.--The Secretary may 
     accept the voluntary termination of a permit or lease for 
     grazing on any acquired land.
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