[Senate Report 106-455]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 901
106th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 106-455
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INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND MUSEUM IN THE VICINITY OF THE DIAMOND VALLEY
LAKE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
_______
October 2 (legislative day, September 22), 2000.--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. 2977]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2977) to assist in the establishment of
an interpretive center and museum in the vicinity of the
Diamond Valley Lake in southern California to ensure the
protection and interpretation of the paleontology discoveries
made at the lake and to develop a trail system for the lake for
use by pedestrians and non motorized vehicles, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE
The purpose of S. 2977 is to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to assist in the design, construction and operation of
an interpretive center and museum in the vicinity of the
Diamond Valley Lake in southern California to ensure the
protection and interpretation of the paleontological
discoveries made at the lake and to develop a trail system for
the lake for use by pedestrians and nonmotorized vehicles.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
The Diamond Valley Lake facility, near Hemet, California,
was constructed by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of
Southern California to provide drinking water to the 17 million
people of southern California. In accordance with State law,
MWD performed substantial environmental and cultural resources
preservation prior to and during construction of the Diamond
Lake facility. During the excavation and construction of the
project, significant paleontological and archeological
resources were uncovered. Hundreds of thousands of prehistoric
and historic artifacts were discovered, including dozens of
habitation sites, milling stations, three complex village
sites, petroglyphs, pictographs, and stone and bone tools. The
paleontological resources include a mastodon skeleton, a
mammoth skeleton, a 7-foot long tusk, and bones from the horned
bison and North American Lion.
To mitigate for the impacts to plant and animal habitats,
MWD acquired extensive lands surrounding the new reservoir to
preserve some of the finest natural settings remaining in
southern California. These lands are now available for public
recreational use, including a system of non-motorized trails.
MWD and its partners, including the State of California,
have proposed the establishment of a museum and cultural and
educational facility to provide for the long term care and
interpretation of the significant paleontological and
archeological resources found around Diamond Lake and seek a
partnership with the Federal Government to establish the museum
facility and trail system around the lake.
S. 2977 directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into
an agreement for the purposes of sharing costs incurred to
design, construct, furnish and operate an interpretive center
and museum on land under the jurisdiction of the MWD to
preserve, display, and interpret the paleontological
discoveries made at and in the vicinity of Diamond Valley Lake.
The bill also directs the Secretary to enter into agreements
with State and local public agencies to share costs to design,
construct and maintain a system of trails around the perimeter
of the Diamond Valley Lake for use by pedestrians and non-
motorized vehicles.
Estimated costs for the trail system are $16 million and
$40 million for the center. MWD and its partners desire Federal
involvement in the project consistent with section 2 of the
National Historic Preservation Act, which establishes the
policy of the Federal Government, entering into partnerships
with the States, local governments, Indian tribes, and private
organizations to contribute to the preservation of nonfederally
owned historic and prehistoric resources. Additionally, MWD
proposes to make the center available to Federal agencies to
house collections of Federal archeological collections.
The legislation is needed to ensure these important
artifacts are appropriately made available for scientific study
and public education and to enable the public to fully enjoy
the lands made available on MWD property for recreational use.
Without the assistance, cooperation and support of the Federal
Government, the value of these significant historic and pre-
historic resources to students, scientists, visitors and the
American public would be significantly diminished and the
opportunity for these lands to contribute to the region's
growing demand for outdoor recreation would be seriously
reduced.
Legislative History
S. 2977 was introduced on July 27, 2000 by Senator
Feinstein and referred to the Committee on Energy on Natural
Resources. The Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land
Management held a hearing on S. 2977 on September 13, 2000. At
the business meeting on September 20, 2000 the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2977 favorably
reported.
Committee Recommendations
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on September 20, 2000, by a voice vote of
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 2977.
Section-By-Section Analysis
Section 1(a) directs the Secretary of Interior to enter
into agreements with appropriate entities to share in the costs
incurred to design, construct, furnish and operate an
interpretive center and museum on land of the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California in the vicinity of
Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet, California to preserve and
interpret paleontological discoveries.
Subsection 1(b) directs the Secretary to enter into
agreements with the State of California and others to share in
the costs to design, construct and maintain a system of trails
around the perimeter of the Diamond Valley Lake.
Subsection 1(c) directs the Secretary to require the
parties to these agreements to secure funds from non-Federal
sources that is at least equal to the amount provided by the
Secretary.
Subsection 1(d) requires the Secretary to enter into the
agreements no later than 180 days after the date on which funds
are made available to carry out the provisions of the Act.
Subsection 1(e) authorizes $14,000,000 to be appropriated
to carry out this Act.
Cost And Budgetary Considerations
The following estimate of the costs of this measure has
been provided by the Congressional Budget Office.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, September 28, 2000.
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. 2977, a bill to
assist in the establishment of an interpretive center and
museum in the vicinity of the Diamond Valley Lake in southern
California to ensure the protection and interpretation of the
paleontology discoveries made at the lake and to develop a
trail system for the lake for use by pedestrians and
nonmotorized vehicles.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Megan
Carroll (for federal costs) and Victoria Heid Hall (for the
state and local costs).
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
S. 2977--A bill to assist in the establishment of an interpretive
center and museum in the vicinity of the Diamond Valley Lake in
southern California to ensure the protection and interpretation
of the paleontology discoveries made at the lake and to develop
a trail system for the lake for use by pedestrians and
nonmotorized vehicles
CBO estimates that implementing S. 2977 would cost $14
million over the 2001-2005 period, assuming appropriation of
the authorized amounts. The bill would not affect direct
spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would
not apply. S. 2977 contains no intergovernmental or private-
sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
S. 2977 would authorize the appropriation of up to $14
million for the federal government's share of the costs of
establishing and operating an interpretive center, museum, and
trail system on nonfederal lands near Diamond Valley Lake,
California. Under the bill, any federal funds provided for the
projects must be matched with funds from nonfederal sources,
which may include the state of California and local governments
in the state. Such spending would be voluntary on the part of
those governments. The bill would have no other significant
impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, federal
assistance provided under S. 2977 would take the form of grants
to a local museum foundation and a local water district in the
amounts estimated to be necessary for the proposed projects
each year. Based on information from the water district, CBO
estimates that outlays for those grants would total about $1
million in 2002, $3 million in 2003, $5 million in 2004, and $5
million in 2005, assuming appropriation of the necessary
amounts.
On September 28, 2000, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for
H.R. 4187. similar legislation ordered reported by the House
Committee on Resources on September 20, 2000. The two bills are
very similar, and our cost estimates are the same.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Megan Carroll
(for federal costs), and Victoria Heid Hall (for the state and
local costs). This estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine,
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. 2977. 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 the enactment of S. 2977, as ordered reported.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
On September 20, 2000, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of
Interior and the Office of management and Budget setting forth
executive views on the bill. These reports had not been
received at the time the report on S. 2977 was filed. When the
reports become available, the Chairman will request that they
be printed in the Congressional Record for the advice of the
Senate.
The testimony provided by the Department of Interior at the
Subcommittee hearing follows:
Statement of the Department of the Interior
This statement for the Record sets forth the views of the
Department of the Interior regarding S. 2977, a bill to assist
in the establishment of an interpretive center and museum in
the vicinity of the Diamond Valley Lake in southern California
to ensure the protection and interpretation of the paleontology
discoveries made at the lake and to develop a trail system for
the lake for use by pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles.
The Department of the Interior does not support S. 2977.
S. 2977 requires the Secretary of the Interior to enter
into an agreement with an appropriate entity for the purpose of
sharing costs incurred in the design, construction, furnishing
and operation of an interpretive center and a museum on lands
under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California. The intent of the center and museum is to
preserve, display, and interpret the paleontology discoveries
made at an in the vicinity of the Diamond Valley Lake, near
Hemet, California. In addition, the Secretary is required under
the bill to enter into an agreement with the State of
California, or a combination of State and local entities, to
design, construct, and maintain a system of trails around the
perimeter of the Diamond Valley Lake for use by pedestrians and
non-motorized vehicles. Finally, while authorizing
appropriations not to exceed $14 million, the bill states that
the Secretary shall require other parties to these agreements
to secure funds from non-Federal sources that is at least equal
to the amount provided by the Secretary.
The Department has no Federal lands at Diamond Valley Lake.
There is no Federal connection, nor any compelling Federal
interest or mission to be served or advanced by requiring the
Department to participate in the design, construction,
furnishing or operation of the proposed interpretive center and
museum.
The Department does not support the addition of funds for
any program or project that would result in the reduction in
funding for other programs or projects in the President's
budget. In addition, the Department does not support the
addition of funds for any program or project that is non-
Federal.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In accordance 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. 2977, as ordered
reported.