[Senate Report 105-324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 565
105th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     105-324
_______________________________________________________________________


 
  GRANT-KOHRS RANCH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 
                                  1998

                                _______
                                

               September 9, 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. 2272]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 2272) to amend the boundaries of Grant-
Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in the State of Montana, 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                         Purpose of the Measure

    The purpose of S. 2272 is to expand the boundaries of 
Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site in the State of Montana by 
approximately 120 acres.

                          Background and Need

    Grant-Kohrs Ranch was founded by Canadian trader John Grant 
in 1862. The ranch was purchased in 1866 by Conrad Kohrs, a 
legendary Western cattleman. Kohr's grandson carried on the 
legacy as a Hereford rancher from 1930 to 1972, when Congress 
authorized the establishment of Grant-Kohrs Ranch National 
Historic Site (Public Law 92-406).
    The enabling legislation restricted land acquisition to 
2,000 acres, of which 1,378 acres are within the current 
boundary. An additional 120 acres outside the site's southwest 
boundary was purchased as an uneconomic remnant in 1988 from 
Conrad Kohrs Warren under Public Law 91-646. S. 2272 would 
adjust the boundary to include the 120 acres within the 
National Historic Site's boundary.

                          Legislative History

    S. 2272 was introduced by Senator Burns on July 8, 1998 and 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation, and 
Recreation held a hearing on July 23, 1998.
    At its business meeting on July 29, 1998, the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2272 favorably 
reported.

            Committee Recommendation and Tabulation of Votes

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on July 29, 1998, by a unanimous voice vote of 
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 2272, as 
described herein.

                           Summary of S. 2272

    S. 2272 amends Public Law 92-406 to incorporate 120 acres 
of land already owned by the National Park Service into the 
boundaries of the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site.

                   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 12, 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. 2272, the Grant-
Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Boundary Adjustment Act of 
1998.
    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.

S. 2272--Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Boundary Adjustment 
        Act of 1998

    CBO estimates that enacting S. 2272 would have no 
significant impact on the federal budget. The bill would not 
affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures would not apply. S. 2272 contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets 
of state, local, or tribal governments.
    S. 2272 would adjust the boundary of the Grant-Kohrs 
National Historic Site to include an additional 120 acres. 
Because the federal government already owns the additional 
acreage, no land would have to be acquired to make the boundary 
adjustment. Based on information provided by the National Park 
Service, CBO expects that the agency would incur no additional 
development, operating, or other costs as a result of including 
this land within the park.
    The CBO staff contact is 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. 2272. The bill is not a regulatory measure in 
the sense of imposing Government-established standards of 
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. 2272, as ordered reported.

                        Executive Communications

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

Statement by Maureen Finnerty, Associate Director, Park Operations and 
                    Education, National Park Service

    Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for 
the opportunity to appear before you to address S. 2272, a bill 
to expand the boundary of Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic 
Site. The Administration transmitted this bill to Congress on 
March 5, 1998 as part of its legislative program. We strongly 
support the bill, and thank Senator Burns for introducing the 
legislation.
    S. 2272 would authorize the National Park Service to 
include 120 acres of land in the boundary of Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
National Historic Site. The land was purchased by the federal 
government as an uneconomic remnant in 1988. This parcel is a 
critical portion of the cultural landscape and a defining 
characteristic of the park. Already owned and managed by the 
National Park Service as an important cultural landscape 
component, it is in the public interest to officially 
incorporate this remnant into the boundary of Grant-Kohrs Ranch 
National Historic Site.
    Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site was established in 
1972. It is the only unit in the system to commemorate this 
nation's frontier cattle era. It is one of the best surviving 
examples of cattle industry development from the 1850s to the 
modern era. The site includes 88 original structures, over 
26,000 artifacts and an intact cultural landscape. The park 
manages an archive collection (over 100 linear feet) that 
details the property's ranching and living operations since 
1866. The collection provides original documentation for 
resource preservation and education.
    Before the area became a unit of the National Park System, 
it was headquarters for a 19th-century cattle empire. Founded 
by Canadian trader John Grant, the ranch was bought in 1866 by 
Conrad Kohrs, whose acumen made him one of the west's legendary 
cattlemen. Kohrs's grandson carried on the legacy as a Hereford 
rancher from 1930 to 1972.
    The proposed addition to the park boundary is a 120-acre 
parcel that was purchased in 1988 as an uneconomic remnant from 
then-owner Conrad Kohrs Warren. The authority of the Uniform 
Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act of 1970 
(P.L. 91-646) was used. Section 301(9) of this law states that: 
``If acquisition of only a part of the property would leave its 
owner with an uneconomic remnant, the head of the Federal 
agency concerned shall offer to acquire the entire property.'' 
While the property has been long-owned and managed by the 
National Park Service as part of the site, its preservation has 
not been institutionalized through formal incorporation.
    Because there has been little or no change to the character 
and use of the lands that formed the heart of the ranch, 
including this parcel, it is critical for the National Park 
Service to maintain that landscape. The rights to irrigation 
water for Grant Kohrs NHS on Taylor Creek is diverted to this 
120-acre parcel. The historic irrigation system and additional 
water delivered from the Clark Fork River via the West Side 
Ditch originate on the parcel and extends to adjoining 
hayfields on the ranch.
    Adjusting the boundary to incorporate this tract is 
recommended in the site's 1993 General Management Plan and 1995 
Management Assessment, both of which had extensive public 
involvement and review. Inclusion of the 120 acres is within 
the authorized boundary ceiling for Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS.
    The proposal benefits the National Park Service and Grant-
Kohrs Ranch NHS by ensuring continued protection of the 
property, the historic irrigation system, and a timeless 
cultural landscape that manifests that cowboy and cattleman's 
west, an important and popular time in this country's past.
    That completes my prepared remarks Mr. Chairman. I would be 
happy to answer any questions that you may have.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of the rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
the bill S. 2272, 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 92-406, August 25, 1972)

    Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Montana--Establishment

    [That, in order to provide an understanding of the frontier 
cattle era of the Nation's history, to preserve the Grant-Kohrs 
Ranch, and to interpret the nationally significant values 
thereof for the benefit and inspiration of present and future 
generations, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') is hereby authorized to 
designate not more than two thousand acres in Deer Lodge 
Valley, Powell County, Montana, for establishment as the Grant-
Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site.] The boundary of the 
National Historic Site shall be as generally described on a map 
entitled, ``Boundary Map, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic 
Site'', numbered 80030-B, and dated January, 1998, which shall 
be on file and available for public inspection in the local and 
Washington, District of Columbia, offices of the National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior.