[Senate Report 105-302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 541
105th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     105-302
_______________________________________________________________________


 
                      COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL ROUTE

                                _______
                                

 September 8 (legislative day, August 31), 1998.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 1016]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 1016) to authorize appropriations for the 
Coastal Heritage Trail Route in New Jersey, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                         Purpose of the Measure

    The purpose of S. 1016 is to increase the appropriations 
ceiling authorized for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail 
Route from $1,000,000 to $4,000,000, and to extend the 
authority for National Park Service participation for five 
additional years.

                          Background and Need

    The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route (Trail) is a 
vehicular theme trail that links nationally and regionally 
significant natural and cultural resources along the Atlantic 
Coasts of New Jersey and Delaware.
    The Trail is managed jointly by three State agencies in 
partnership with the National Park Service and encompasses a 
275 mile route from Perth Amboy on Raritan Bay, around Cape May 
to Deepwater, north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The Trail 
is divided into five regions, each region will eventually have 
a welcome center to provide information and exhibits. Travelers 
can access the Trail at any point along the 275 mile route and 
follow signs bearing the Trail's coastal logo or visit one of 
the three new welcome centers developed under this program.
    The Trail was originally established in 1988 under Public 
Law 100-515 and was amended in 1994. Public Law 103-243 
authorized $1 million of additional funds and a five year 
sunset provision for activities carried out by the Secretary.
    Staff support is provided by the National Park Service; 
however, a lack of appropriations with which to leverage grants 
and State matching funds put the project behind schedule. S. 
1016 increases the Trail's funding ceiling to $4 million to 
cover development and technical assistance as outlined in the 
Trail's Implementation Plan. S. 1016 also authorizes a five-
year extension of the sunset provision for activities carried 
out by the Secretary.

                          Legislative History

    S. 1016 was introduced on July 14, 1997 by Senators 
Lautenberg and Torricelli and referred to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources. The Subcommittee on National 
Parks, Historic Preservation and Recreation held a hearing on 
S. 1016 on June 18, 1998.
    At its business meeting on July 29, 1998, the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1016 favorably 
reported.

            Committee Recommendation and Tabulation of Votes

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in an open 
business session on July 29, 1998, by a unanimous voice vote of 
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1016, as 
described herein.

                           Summary of S. 1016

    S. 1016 amends section 6 of Public Law 100-515 increasing 
the Trail's authorized funding ceiling from $1 million to $4 
million for development and technical assistance approved in 
the Trail's Implementation Plan. S. 1016 also provides for a 
five-year extension of the 1998 sunset provision, ending in 
fiscal year 2003.

                   Cost and Budgetary Considerations

    The following estimate of costs of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                   Washington, DC, August 14, 1998.
Hon. Frank H. Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, 
        Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1016, a bill to 
authorize appropriations for the Coastal Heritage Trail Route 
in New Jersey, and for other purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                         June E. O'Neill, Director.
    Enclosure.

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

S. 1016--A bill to authorize appropriations for the Coastal Heritage 
        Trail Route in New Jersey, and for other purposes

    S. 1016 would increase the existing authorization for 
developing the Coastal Heritage Trail Route from $1 million to 
$4 million. Other provisions of the bill would have no effect 
on the federal budget. Assuming appropriation of the authorized 
amounts, CBO estimates that the federal government would spend 
$3 million over the next five years to implement S. 1016. The 
bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, 
pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
    The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, and tribal governments. 
Any projects funded with appropriations authorized by this bill 
would require equal matching funds from nonfederal sources, 
which may include the state of New Jersey and local governments 
in the state. Such spending would be voluntary on the part of 
these governments.
    The CBO staff contact in Deborah Reis. This estimate was 
approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                      Regulatory Impact Evaluation

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out S. 1016. The bill is not a regulatory measure in 
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or 
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals 
and businesses.
    No personal information would be collected in administering 
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal 
privacy.
    Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from 
enactment of S. 1016, as ordered reported.

                        Executive Communications

    The testimony of the Department of the Interior at the 
Subcommittee hearing follows:

   Statement of Destry Jarvis, Associate Director, External Affairs, 
           National Park Service, Department of the Interior

    Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to provide your 
subcommittee with the views of the Department of the Interior 
on S. 1016, to authorize appropriations for the New Jersey 
Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
    This bill would increase the appropriations authorized for 
the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route from $1,000,000 to 
$4,000,000, and extend the authority for National Park Service 
participation in the trail for five years, from May 1999 to May 
2004. We support enactment of this bill.
    The Act of October 20, 1988, as amended in 1994, authorized 
the Secretary of the Interior to designate a vehicular tour 
route and to prepare an inventory of sites along the route. In 
addition the Secretary was authorized to prepare a coordinated 
interpretive program for the trail in order to provide for 
public appreciation, education, understanding and enjoyment of 
the nationally significant sites in coastal New Jersey.
    The National Park Service, in partnership with the State, 
local governments, and other public and private entities, has 
prepared and is implementing a comprehensive plan based on five 
interpretive themes that link natural and cultural resources 
spread over 300 miles of coastal New Jersey. The trail is 
demonstrating the potential of public/private partnerships, 
allowing the NPS to assist in resource preservation, 
interpretation and public education in a cost-efficient manner, 
primarily through the development of exhibits, audio-visual 
programs, and other technical assistance. Every federal dollar 
spent is matched by contributions from the partners. No federal 
funds are used for operation, maintenance, or repair of any 
road or related structure.
    The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail celebrated its 
opening on September 27th, 1993, with the introduction of the 
Maritime History theme trail. Other trail themes and sites 
relate to Coastal Habitats, Historic Settlements, Wildlife 
Migration, and Relaxation and Inspiration. It is projected 
that, when completed, the trail will include over 100 wayside 
exhibits, various local information centers, and five regional 
welcome centers all owned and operated by someone other than 
the National Park Service.
    This legislation would enable the National Park Service to 
continue implementation of the trail plan, as supported by the 
public and our partners in the Implementation Guide, a 
blueprint for overall trail development. Without additional 
time and funding, the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route 
will be left incomplete. The National Park Service supports 
this legislation, its passage would allow us to finish 
implementing the trail's plan.
    This concludes my prepared remarks.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
the bill S. 1016, as ordered reported, are shown as follows 
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black 
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in 
which no change is proposed is shown in roman);

(Public Law 100-515, as amended--October 20, 1988)

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (1) by striking ``There'' and inserting ``(a) There''; and
    (2) by adding at the end the following:
    (b)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), 
there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
to carry out the purposes of the Act [$1,000,000] $4,000,000, 
which is in addition to any sums appropriated for such purposes 
for use during fiscal years ending on or before September 30, 
1993.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (c) The authorities provided to the Secretary under this 
Act shall terminate [five] ten years after the date of 
enactment of this subsection.

                                
