[Senate Report 105-400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 628
105th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 105-400
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HYDE PARK, NEW YORK
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October 9 (legislative day, October 2), 1998.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2241]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2241) to provide for the acquisition of
lands formerly occupied by the Franklin D. Roosevelt family at
Hyde Park, New York, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and
recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
purpose of the measure
The purpose of S. 2241 is to allow the Secretary of the
Interior to acquire, with appropriated or donated funds, or by
donation, lands that were formerly owned by Franklin D.
Roosevelt or his family in Hyde Park, New York for addition to
the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site or the Eleanor
Roosevelt National Historic Site.
background and need
The estate home of Franklin D. Roosevelt formerly
encompassed approximately 1,200 acres in Hyde Park, New York.
The National Park Service administers portions of the estate as
the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, which
encompasses 290 acres, and the Eleanor Roosevelt National
Historic Site, which encompasses 180 acres. The National Park
Service has identified additional parcels of land important to
the preservation and restoration of the historic and scenic
views around the two historic sites.
Current authority for land acquisition at the park is
limited to the acceptance of donated lands only. S. 2241 would
expand the acquisition authority to allow the National Park
Service to acquire lands with appropriated or donated funds.
legislative history
S. 2241 was introduced June 26, 1998 by Senator Murkowski,
at the request of the administration, and referred to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Subcommittee on
National Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation held a
hearing on S. 2241 on September 17, 1998.
At its business meeting on September 24, 1998, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2241,
favorably reported.
committee recommendation
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on September 24, 1998, by a unanimous voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S.
2241, as described herein.
summary of s. 2241
S. 2241 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire
lands located in Hyde Park, New York, owned by Franklin Delano
Roosevelt or his family at the time of his death as depicted on
the map entitled ``F.D. Roosevelt Property Entire Park'' dated
July 26, 1962, and numbered FDR-NHS 3008. Any land acquired
would be administered as part of the Home of Franklin D.
Roosevelt National Historic Site or as part of the Eleanor
Roosevelt National Historic Site. S. 2214 authorizes the
necessary appropriations to carry out this Act.
cost and budgetary considerations
The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the costs of
this measure has been requested but was not received at the
time the report was filed. When the report is available, the
Chairman will request it to be printed in the Congressional
Record for the advice of the Senate.
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. 2241. 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. 2241, as ordered reported.
executive communications
S. 2241 was introduced at the request of the
Administration. On March 11, 1998, the Department of the
Interior transmitted a letter to the Energy and Natural
Resources Committee requesting that the bill be introduced and
passed. A copy of the letter, and the testimony of the National
Park Service follows:
U.S. Department of the Interior,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, DC, May 26, 1998.
Hon. Albert Gore, Jr.,
President of the Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. President. Enclosed is a draft bill ``To provide
for the acquisition of lands formerly occupied by the Franklin
D. Roosevelt family at Hyde Park, New York, and for other
purposes.''
We recommend the bill be introduced referred to the
appropriate committee, and enacted.
The purpose of the legislation is to allow the Secretary of
the Interior to acquire lands and interests therein that were
owned by Franklin Delano Roosevelt or his family at the time of
his death, as depicted on the map referenced in the bill, by
means of purchase using appropriated or donated funds, by
donation, or exchange. The lands would be added to and managed
as part of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic
Site or the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site.
This would expand the current acquisition authority at the
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Currently
the Secretary's authority to acquire land owned by FDR or his
family at the time of his death is by means of donation only.
The National Park Service's priority at the site would continue
to be land acquisition by donation. With regard to the property
where Roosevelt's Top Cottage is situated, the National Park
Service would acquire such property by donation only. This
bill, upon enactment, would allow the use of appropriated funds
for purchase of lands where donation is infeasible.
The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there
is no obligation to the enactment of the enclosed draft
legislation from the standpoint of the Administration's
program.
Sincerely,
Donald Barry,
Acting Assistant Secretary for
Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
------
Statement of Destry Jarvis, Assistant Director for External Affairs,
National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear
before the Subcommittee today to present the Department of the
Interior's views on S. 2241, a bill to provide for the
acquisition of certain lands formerly occupied by the Franklin
D. Roosevelt Family. The Department supports this legislation
as currently written.
S. 2241 would authorize the National Park Service to
acquire, by purchase with donated or appropriated funds,
donation, or otherwise, lands or interests in lands in the
properties located at Hyde Park, New York, that were owned by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt or his family at the time of
his death.
The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
preserves the estate and memorial gravesite of the only four-
term president of the United States and one of the pivotal
figures of the 20th Century. Here and at the Eleanor Roosevelt
National Historic Site, which the National Park Service also
administers and manages in Hyde Park, New York, the National
Park Service seeks to enhance public understanding of the life
and work of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. The
estate, named ``Springwood'' by the family, held a special spot
in the heart and mind of the President. Both he and Eleanor
chose the family rose garden as their final resting place and
personal memorial. The preservation of the cultural landscape
and viewshed that so influenced President Roosevelt is as
important as the preservation of the structures and
collections.
The lands of Franklin D. Roosevelt formerly encompassed
approximately 1200 acres in the Town of Hyde Park, Dutchess
County, New York. The National Park Service currently
administers portions of this estate as the Home of Franklin D.
Roosevelt National Historic Site (290 acres) and Eleanor
Roosevelt National Historic Site (180 acres). The National Park
Service in its 1989 land protection plan identified additional
lands as important to preserving the character of the historic
sites as well as for the preservation and restoration of
historic and scenic viewsheds to and from the sites. The land
protection plan is consistent with the park's 1977 approved
master plan.
President Roosevelt's 1948 deed of property to the United
States stipulates that views of the Hudson River will be
maintained. These views are currently obscured by vegetation on
such tracts as the open park Hodhome Tract--a 57-acre parcel
located between the Roosevelt home and the Hudson River, which
has been the subject of a large commercial development proposal
and is not fully protected from similar proposals in the
future. In addition, several adjacent former Roosevelt
properties are vulnerable to development. Development of these
properties, under existing zoning policies, would seriously
impact both historic sites. Under existing law, the park can
only acquire property by donation. The owners of the
properties, however, have not indicated a willingness to donate
these lands. Where lands can be acquired through donation, such
as the Top Cottage property (approximately 36 acres), the
national park will strive to acquire them using appropriated
funds. Land acquisition would be subject to the availability of
funding for NPS priorities.
Enactment of this legislation would give the National Park
Service greater acquisition authority and would enable the
Service to further its mission to preserve these historic
resources and viewsheds.
This concludes my remarks, I would be happy to answer any
questions.
changes in existing law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by S. 2241, as ordered
reported.