[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 16 (Thursday, February 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S548-S549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself and Mr. Bennet):
  S. 279. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a 
study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing Camp 
Hale as a unit of the National Park System; to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Camp 
Hale Study Act of 2011, which would direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to study the feasibility and suitability of establishing Camp 
Hale, near Leadville, CO, as a national historic district. Camp Hale is 
an important part of our Nation's proud national defense legacy, and it 
deserves to be recognized and protected.
  This bill concerns an important military legacy from the World War II 
and Cold War eras. Camp Hale, located in the mountains of central 
Colorado, was a training facility for combat in high alpine and 
mountainous conditions. Principally, it was a training venue for the 
Army's 10th Mountain Division and other elements of the U.S. Armed 
Forces. The geography of the area was ideal for winter and high-
altitude training, with steep mountains surrounding a level valley 
suitable for housing and other facilities. The facility itself was 
located in Eagle County along the Eagle River, and its training 
boundary included lands in Eagle, Summit, Lake, and Pitkin Counties.
  In addition to the 10th Mountain Division, the 38th Regimental Combat 
Team, 99th Infantry Battalion, and soldiers from Fort Carson were 
trained at Camp Hale from 1942 to 1965. Throughout this time, the Army 
tested a variety of weapons and equipment at Camp Hale.
  Between 1956 and 1965, the camp was also used by the Central 
Intelligence Agency as a secret center for training Tibetan refugees in 
guerilla warfare to resist the Chinese occupation of their mountainous 
country. Just last year, at my urging, the Forest Service put in place 
a plaque honoring these Tibetan Freedom Fighters. I joined many of 
those brave Tibetans, their CIA trainers, and their families in a 
moving ceremony to honor those who trained at Camp Hale.
  In July 1965, Camp Hale was deactivated, and in 1966, control of the 
lands was returned to the Forest Service. Today the site is part of the 
White River and San Isabel National Forests. The U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers is working to clean up potentially hazardous munitions left 
over from weapons testing at the site, particularly in the East Fork.
  Camp Hale was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 
1992, but this bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
complete a special resource study of Camp Hale to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Hale as a separate unit 
of the National Park System. That would include an analysis of the 
significance of Camp Hale in relation to the defense of our Nation 
during World War II and the Cold War, including the use of Camp Hale 
for training of the 10th Mountain Division and for training by the 
Central Intelligence Agency of Tibetan refugees seeking to resist the 
Chinese occupation of Tibet.
  I have worked with Representative Lamborn on this bill since he first 
introduced it in the House in the 110th Congress, when I proudly 
cosponsored it. I introduced this bill in the Senate in the last 
Congress and shepherded it through the Senate Energy and Natural 
Resources Committee. However, because of opposition from a few Senators 
to all public lands bills, we could not pass this bipartisan bill on 
the Senate floor.
  Camp Hale should be recognized for the role it played in our 
country's national security. The people who trained there are proud of 
their accomplishments, and I am proud to join Representative Lamborn in 
supporting this legislation. I am confident that we will have more 
success in passing this legislation in this Congress.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 279

       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 ``Camp Hale Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY OF THE SUITABILITY AND 
                   FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING CAMP HALE AS A UNIT 
                   OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Director of the National Park Service, 
     (hereinafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall complete 
     a special resource study of Camp Hale to determine--
       (1) the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp 
     Hale as a separate unit of the National Park System; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of Camp Hale by the National Park Service, 
     other Federal, State, or local government entities or private 
     or nonprofit organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

     SEC. 3. EFFECT OF STUDY.

       Nothing in this Act shall affect valid existing rights or 
     the exercise of such rights, including--
       (1) all interstate water compacts in existence on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act (including full development of 
     any apportionment made in accordance with the compacts);

[[Page S549]]

       (2) water rights decreed at the Camp Hale site or flowing 
     within, below, or through the Camp Hale site;
       (3) water rights in the State of Colorado;
       (4) water rights held by the United States;
       (5) the management and operation of any reservoir, 
     including the storage, management, release, or transportation 
     of water; and
       (6) the ability, subject to compliance with lawful existing 
     local, State, and Federal regulatory requirements, to 
     construct and operate that infrastructure determined 
     necessary by those with decreed water rights to develop and 
     place to beneficial use such rights.
                                 ______