[House Report 107-391]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



107th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     107-391

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TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO STUDY THE SUITABILITY AND 
  FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING HIGHWAY 49 IN CALIFORNIA, KNOWN AS THE 
  ``GOLDEN CHAIN HIGHWAY'', AS A NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

                                _______
                                

 April 9, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3425]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 3425) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study 
the suitability and feasibility of establishing Highway 49 in 
California, known as the ``Golden Chain Highway'', as a 
National Heritage Corridor, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill 
as amended do pass.

  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. STUDY; REPORT.

  (a) Study.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date that 
        funds are first made available for this section, the Secretary 
        of the Interior, in consultation with the affected local 
        governments, the State government, State and local historic 
        preservation offices, community organizations, and the Golden 
        Chain Council, shall complete a special resource study of the 
        national significance, suitability, and feasibility of 
        establishing Highway 49 in California, known as the ``Golden 
        Chain Highway'', as a National Heritage Corridor.
          (2) Contents.--The study shall include an analysis of--
                  (A) the significance of Highway 49 in American 
                history;
                  (B) options for preservation and use of the highway;
                  (C) options for interpretation of significant 
                features associated with the highway; and
                  (D) private sector preservation alternatives.
          (3) Boundaries of study area.--The area studied under this 
        section shall be comprised of Highway 49 in California 
        extending from the city of Oakhurst in Madera County to the 
        city of Vinton in Plumas County, and lands, structures, and 
        cultural resources within the immediate vicinity of the 
        highway.
  (b) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completion of the study 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a report 
describing the results of the study to the Committee on Resources of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 3425 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of 
establishing Highway 49 in California, known as the ``Golden 
Chain Highway,'' as a National Heritage Corridor.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The Golden Chain Highway played a significant role in the 
history of California and in the settlement of the West 
resulting from the California Gold Rush. Today, the California 
State Mining and Mineral Museum, Sutter's Mill in Coloma State 
Park, and numerous other historic buildings remain along 
Highway 49 from the Gold Rush era. H.R. 3245 authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior to complete a special recourse study 
to determine the national significance, suitability, and 
feasibility of establishing Highway 49 from the city of 
Oakhurst, California to the city of Vinton, California, as a 
National Heritage Corridor. The study will consider only those 
lands, structures and cultural resources within the immediate 
vicinity of the highway.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 3425 was introduced on December 6, 2001, by 
Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA). The bill was referred to 
the Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands. 
On December 13, 2001, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the 
bill. On March 7, 2002, the Subcommittee met to mark up the 
bill. Mr. Radanovich offered an amendment to clarify that the 
city of Vinton, California, is in Plumas County, not Sierra 
County, California. It was adopted by voice vote. The bill was 
then ordered favorably reported to the Full Committee. On March 
20, 2002, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the 
bill. No amendments were offered and the bill as amended was 
ordered favorably reported by unanimous consent to the House of 
Representatives.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations 
are reflected in the body of this report.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) 
of that Rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does 
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not 
apply.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate 
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, March 28, 2002.
Hon. James V. Hansen,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3425, a bill to 
direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability 
and feasibility of establishing Highway 49 in California, known 
as the ``Golden Chain Highway,'' as a National Heritage 
Corridor.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact for this 
estimate is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                                    Dan L. Crippen.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 3425--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
        suitability and feasibility of establishing Highway 49 in 
        California, known as the ``Golden Chain Highway,'' as a 
        National Heritage Corridor

    H.R. 3425 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to 
prepare a special resource study of Highway 49 in California. 
The study would determine the suitability and feasibility of 
establishing the highway as a National Heritage Corridor and 
would explore options for preserving it and interpreting 
significant features. The legislation would require the agency 
to complete the study within one year of receiving funding and 
to report to the Congress on its findings 30 days later.
    Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming 
appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that 
completing the required study and report would cost the federal 
government $200,000, mostly over the next fiscal year. H.R. 
3425 would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, 
pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.R. 3425 contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on 
state, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. 
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                  
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