[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 13, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3563-S3564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SARBANES:
  S. 777. A bill to designate Catoctin Mountain Park in the State of 
Maryland as the ``Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area'', and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing legislation to 
re-designate Catoctin Mountain Park as the Catoctin Mountain National 
Recreation Area. This measure was unanimously approved by the full 
Senate during the 108th Congress, but unfortunately, was not considered 
in the House.
  I spoke during the 108th Congress about the need to enact this 
legislation and I want to underscore some of the key reasons today. 
Catoctin Mountain Park is a hidden gem in our National Park System. 
Home to Camp David, the Presidential retreat, it has been aptly 
described as ``America's most famous unknown park.'' Comprising nearly 
6000 acres of the eastern reach of the Appalachian Mountains in 
Maryland, the park is rich in history as well as outdoor recreation 
opportunities. Visitors can enjoy camping, picnicking, cross-country 
skiing, fishing, as well as the solitude and beauty of the woodland 
mountain and streams in the park.
  Catoctin Mountain Park had its origins during the Great Depression as 
one of 46 Recreational Demonstration Areas (RDA) established under the 
authority of the National Industrial Recovery Act. The Federal 
Government purchased more than 10,000 acres of mountain land that had 
been heavily logged and was no longer productive to demonstrate how 
sub-marginal land could be turned into a productive recreational area 
and help put people back to work. From 1936 through 1941, hundreds of 
workers under the Works Progress Administration and later the Civilian 
Conservation Corps were employed in reforestation activities and in the 
construction of a number of camps, roads and other facilities, 
including the camp now known as Camp David, and one of the earliest--if 
not the oldest--camp for disabled individuals. In November 1936, 
administrative authority for the Catoctin RDA was transferred to the 
National Park Service by Executive Order.
  In 1942, concern about President Roosevelt's health and safety led to 
the selection of Catoctin Mountain, and specifically Camp Hi-Catoctin 
as the location for the President's new retreat. Subsequently 
approximately 5,000 acres of the area was transferred to the State of 
Maryland, becoming Cunningham Falls State Park in 1954. The remaining 
5,770 acres of the Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area was renamed 
Catoctin Mountain Park by the Director of the National Park Service in 
1954. Unfortunately, the Director failed to include the term 
``National'' in the title and the park today remains one of eleven 
units in the National Park System--all in the National Capital Region--
that do not have this designation.
  The proximity of Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp David, and Cunningham 
Falls State Park, and the differences between national and state park 
management, has caused longstanding confusion for visitors to the area. 
Catoctin Mountain Park is continually misidentified by the public as 
containing lake and beach areas associated with Cunningham Falls State 
Park, being operated by the State of Maryland, or being closed to the 
public because of the presence of Camp David. National Park employees 
spend countless hours explaining, assisting and redirecting visitors to 
their desired destinations.
  My legislation would help to address this situation and clearly 
identify this park as a unit of the National Park System by renaming it 
the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area. The Maryland State 
Highway Administration, perhaps in anticipation of the enactment of 
this bill, has already changed some of the signs leading to the Park. 
This bill would make the name change official within the National Park 
Service and on official National Park Service maps. Moreover, the 
mission and characteristics of this park--which include the 
preservation of significant historic resources and important natural 
areas in locations that provide outdoor recreation for large numbers of 
people--make this designation appropriate. This measure would not 
change access requirements

[[Page S3564]]

or current recreational uses occurring within the park. But it would 
assist the visiting public in distinguishing between the many units of 
the State and Federal systems. It will also, in my judgment, help 
promote tourism by enhancing public awareness of the National Park 
unit.
  I urge approval of this legislation and ask unanimous consent that 
the full text of the legislation be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 777

       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 ``Catoctin Mountain National 
     Recreation Area Designation Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area, in 
     Frederick County, Maryland--
       (A) was established in 1933; and
       (B) was transferred to the National Park Service by 
     executive order in 1936;
       (2) in 1942, the presidential retreat known as ``Camp 
     David'' was established in the Catoctin Recreation 
     Demonstration Area;
       (3) in 1952, approximately 5,000 acres of land in the 
     Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area was transferred to the 
     State of Maryland and designated as Cunningham Falls State 
     Park;
       (4) in 1954, the Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area was 
     renamed ``Catoctin Mountain Park'';
       (5) the proximity of Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp David, 
     and Cunningham Falls State Park and the difference between 
     management of the parks by the Federal and State government 
     has caused longstanding confusion to visitors to the parks;
       (6) Catoctin Mountain Park is 1 of 17 units in the National 
     Park System and 1 of 9 units in the National Capital Region 
     that does not have the word ``National'' in the title; and
       (7) the history, uses, and resources of Catoctin Mountain 
     Park make the park appropriate for designation as a national 
     recreation area.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to designate 
     Catoctin Mountain Park as a national recreation area to--
       (1) clearly identify the park as a unit of the National 
     Park System; and
       (2) distinguish the park from Cunningham Falls State Park.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled 
     ``Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area'', numbered 841/
     80444, and dated August 14, 2002.
       (b) Recreation Area.--The term ``recreation area'' means 
     the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area designated by 
     section 4(a).
       (c) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

       (a) Designation.--Catoctin Mountain Park in the State of 
     Maryland shall be known and designated as the ``Catoctin 
     Mountain National Recreation Area''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to 
     Catoctin Mountain Park shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area.
       (c) Boundary.--
       (1) In general.--The recreation area shall consist of land 
     within the boundary 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) Adjustments.--The Secretary may make minor adjustments 
     in the boundary of the recreation area consistent with 
     section 7(c) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 
     1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-9(c)).
       (d) Acquisition Authority.--The Secretary may acquire any 
     land, interest in land, or improvement to land within the 
     boundary of the recreation area by donation, purchase with 
     donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
       (e) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the 
     recreation area--
       (1) in accordance with this Act and the laws generally 
     applicable to units of the National Park System, including--
       (A) the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and
       (B) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.); and
       (2) in a manner that protects and enhances the scenic, 
     natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources of 
     the recreation area.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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