[House Report 108-361]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    108-361

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               ST. CROIX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY ACT

                                _______
                                

 November 17, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1594]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 1594) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the 
St. Croix National Heritage Area in St. Croix, United States 
Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, 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. ST. CROIX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY.

  (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``St. Croix 
National Heritage Area Study Act''.
  (b) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with 
appropriate State historic preservation officers, States historical 
societies, and other appropriate organizations, shall conduct a study 
regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating the island of 
St. Croix as the St. Croix National Heritage Area. The study shall 
include analysis, documentation, and determination regarding whether 
the island of St. Croix--
          (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
        resources that together represent distinctive aspects of 
        American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, 
        interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed 
        through partnerships among public and private entities and by 
        combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and 
        active communities;
          (2) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
        historic, cultural, or scenic features;
          (3) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
        opportunities;
          (4) contains resources important to the identified theme or 
        themes of the island of St. Croix that retain a degree of 
        integrity capable of supporting interpretation;
          (5) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
        organizations, and local and State governments that are 
        involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual financial 
        plan that outlines the roles of all participants (including the 
        Federal Government), and have demonstrated support for the 
        concept of a national heritage area;
          (6) has a potential management entity to work in partnership 
        with residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, 
        and local and State governments to develop a national heritage 
        area consistent with continued local and State economic 
        activity; and
          (7) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
        public.
  (c) Private Property.--In conducting the study required by this 
section, the Secretary of the Interior shall analyze the potential 
impact that designation of the area as a national heritage area is 
likely to have on land within the proposed area or bordering the 
proposed area that is privately owned at the time that the study is 
conducted.
  (d) Report.--Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which 
funds are first made available for this section, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a report on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations 
as the Secretary deems appropriate.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 1594 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility 
of establishing the St. Croix National Heritage Area in St. 
Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Of the three islands that comprise the United States Virgin 
Islands, St. Croix is the largest with a total area of 82 
square miles. It is also the most remote. It is where Columbus 
first arrived in the Virgin Islands on his second voyage to the 
New World in November 1493, and was the home of the first 
Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Today, the 
island has two distinct towns--Christiansted built in 1734 and 
Frederiksted built in 1752. Christiansted is the onetime Danish 
West Indies capital and now a National Historic Site. Just off 
the coast of Christiansted is Buck Island, the only U.S. 
underwater National Monument. Frederiksted, is known for its 
shoreline, deep port, and famous palm trees. The island has 
become a popular tourist destination with its increasing number 
of historic and cultural resources.
    H.R. 1594 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in 
consultation with appropriate State historic preservation 
officers, historical societies, and other appropriate 
organizations, to conduct a study regarding the suitability and 
feasibility of designating the island of St. Croix as the St. 
Croix National Heritage Area. Elements of the study include 
analysis, documentation, and determinations regarding whether 
the island of St. Croix has natural, historic, and cultural 
resources that together are worthy of recognition. The study 
also requires determinations on traditions, customs, beliefs, 
and folklife that are a valuable part of the national story as 
well as any outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
historic, cultural, or scenic features. Finally, the study 
would determine whether St. Croix includes the necessary 
support and involvement from residents, business interests, 
nonprofit organizations, and local and State governments and 
that these entities have developed a conceptual financial plan 
that outlines the roles of all participants (including the 
Federal Government).

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 1594 was introduced on April 3, 2003, by Congresswoman 
Donna Christensen (D-VI). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands. 
On September 16, 2003, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the 
bill. On October 21, 2003, the Subcommittee met to mark up the 
bill. Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA) offered an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute that required the Secretary of 
the Interior to evaluate the impact a heritage area designation 
would have on private landowners. The amendment was agreed to 
by unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was then forwarded 
to the Full Committee by unanimous consent. On October 29, 
2003, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. No 
further amendments were offered. The bill, as amended, was then 
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by 
unanimous consent.

            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, November 10, 2003.
Hon. Richard W. Pombo,
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. 1594, the St. 
Croix National Heritage Area Study Act.
    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,
                                       Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1594--St. Croix National Heritage Area Study Act

    H.R. 1594 would direct the Department of the Interior to 
study the feasibility of designating the island of St. Croix as 
the St. Croix National Heritage Area. The proposed study would 
identify cultural and other resources on the island and would 
determine if there is a suitable entity to manage a national 
heritage area. The bill would require the department to report 
on its findings and recommendations within three years of 
receiving funds.
    Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO 
estimates that preparing the study and report required by H.R. 
1594 would cost the federal government about $300,000 over the 
next three years. The legislation would not affect direct 
spending or receipts.
    H.R. 1594 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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