[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 152 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S13056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DELAWARE NATIONAL COASTAL SPECIAL RESOURCES STUDY ACT

  The bill (S. 1627) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a special resources study to evaluate resources along the 
coastal region of the State of Delaware and to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park 
System in Delaware, was read the third time and passed; as follows:

                                S. 1627

       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 ``Delaware National Coastal 
     Special Resources Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
     in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a special 
     resources study of the national significance, suitability, 
     and feasibility of including sites in the coastal region of 
     the State of Delaware in the National Park System.
       (b) Inclusion of Sites in the National Park System.--The 
     study under subsection (a) shall include an analysis and any 
     recommendations of the Secretary concerning the suitability 
     and feasibility of designating 1 or more of the sites along 
     the Delaware coast, including Fort Christina, as a unit of 
     the National Park System that relates to the themes described 
     in section 3.
       (c) Study Guidelines.--In conducting the study authorized 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use the criteria 
     for the study of areas for potential inclusion in the 
     National Park System contained in section 8 of Public Law 91-
     383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (d) Consultation.--In preparing and conducting the study 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (1) the State of Delaware;
       (2) the coastal region communities; and
       (3) the general public.

     SEC. 3. THEMES.

       The study authorized under section 2 shall evaluate sites 
     along the coastal region of the State of Delaware that relate 
     to--
       (1) the history of indigenous peoples, which would explore 
     the history of Native American tribes of Delaware, such as 
     the Nanticoke and Lenni Lenape;
       (2) the colonization and establishment of the frontier, 
     which would chronicle the first European settlers in the 
     Delaware Valley who built fortifications for the protection 
     of settlers, such as Fort Christina;
       (3) the founding of a nation, which would document the 
     contributions of Delaware to the development of our 
     constitutional republic;
       (4) industrial development, which would investigate the 
     exploitation of water power in Delaware with the mill 
     development on the Brandywine River;
       (5) transportation, which would explore how water served as 
     the main transportation link, connecting Colonial Delaware 
     with England, Europe, and other colonies;
       (6) coastal defense, which would document the collection of 
     fortifications spaced along the river and bay from Fort 
     Delaware on Pea Patch Island to Fort Miles near Lewes;
       (7) the last stop to freedom, which would detail the role 
     Delaware has played in the history of the Underground 
     Railroad network; and
       (8) the coastal environment, which would examine natural 
     resources of Delaware that provide resource-based 
     recreational opportunities such as crabbing, fishing, 
     swimming, and boating.

     SEC. 4. REPORT.

       Not later than 1 year after funds are made available to 
     carry out this Act under section 5, 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 a report containing the findings, 
     conclusions, and recommendations of the study conducted under 
     section 2.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

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