[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4939-S4940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5570. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) 
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1077. PATUXENT RESEARCH REFUGE EXPANSION.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration.
       (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the 
     approximately 105 acres of Goddard Space Flight Center land 
     under the jurisdiction of the Administrator known as ``Area 
     400''.
       (3) Research refuge.--The term ``Research Refuge'' means 
     the Patuxent Research Refuge established by Executive Order 
     7514 of December 16, 1936.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United 
     States Fish and Wildlife Service.
       (b) Research Refuge Boundary Modification.--The acquisition 
     boundary of the Research Refuge is expanded to include the 
     land depicted as ``Area 400'' on the map entitled ``Patuxent 
     Research Refuge Acquisition Boundary Expansion'' and dated 
     July 28, 2022.
       (c) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction Over Certain 
     Goddard Space Flight Center Land.--
       (1) In general.--On a joint determination by the 
     Administrator and the Secretary that the Federal land has 
     been remediated and restored to the satisfaction of the 
     Administrator and the Secretary, in accordance with 
     paragraphs (2) and (3), the Administrator shall transfer to 
     the Secretary, at no cost, administrative jurisdiction over 
     the Federal land for inclusion in the Research Refuge.

[[Page S4940]]

       (2) Remediation.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare an 
     updated environmental evaluation of the Federal land, which 
     shall include--
       (i) a sampling and analysis of the soil;
       (ii) a sampling and analysis of the groundwater; and
       (iii) an assessment of the onsite septic system.
       (B) Consultation.--The Administrator shall consult with, 
     and incorporate input from, the Secretary relating to the 
     environmental evaluation prepared under subparagraph (A), 
     including for purposes of--
       (i) developing the sampling design;
       (ii) conducting the data review and analysis; and
       (iii) developing recommendations for the remediation of the 
     Federal land.
       (C) Remediation.--Any necessary remediation identified in 
     the environmental evaluation prepared under subparagraph (A) 
     shall be conducted and funded by the Administrator.
       (D) Monitoring.--Based on the findings of the environmental 
     evaluation prepared under subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
     and the Secretary shall jointly design and agree to an 
     ongoing monitoring plan for the Federal land, which shall be 
     conducted and funded by the Administrator.
       (3) Restoration.--Before the transfer of the Federal land 
     under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall restore the 
     Federal land, which shall include--
       (A) the demolition of any--
       (i) aboveground structures;
       (ii) concrete sidewalks;
       (iii) underground storage tanks;
       (iv) seismic isolation pads; and
       (v) abandoned in-place monitoring wells;
       (B) the decommissioning of the septic system;
       (C) the demolition of the perimeter fence and gate;
       (D) the decommissioning of electrical, sewer, and water 
     connections;
       (E) the removal of associated debris from the Federal land; 
     and
       (F) the stabilization of exposed soil.
       (4) Future liability.--The Administrator shall retain post-
     transfer responsibility, including for any ongoing monitoring 
     required under paragraph (2)(D), for any hazardous substances 
     that may be present on the Federal land as a result of 
     activities by the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration.
       (5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Administrator such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this subsection.

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