[House Report 108-639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 108-639
======================================================================
CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION
ACT; CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT
OF 2004
_______
September 7, 2004.--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. 2457]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 2457) to authorize funds for an educational center for
the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, 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:
TITLE I--CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT PRESERVATION ACT
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Castillo de San Marcos National
Monument Preservation and Education Act''.
SEC. 102. VISITOR CENTER.
(a) Authorization.--Subject to the availability of appropriations and
the project being prioritized in the National Park Services 5-year,
line-item construction program, the Secretary of the Interior (referred
to in this section as the ``Secretary'') may design and construct a
Visitor Center for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
(referred to in this section as the ``Monument'').
(b) Preferred Alternative.--The Visitor Center authorized in
subsection (a) shall be located and constructed in accordance with the
Preferred Alternative identified in the Record of Decision for the
General Management Plan for the Monument, expected to be signed in
2005.
SEC. 103. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the City of
St. Augustine, Florida, the Colonial St. Augustine Preservation
Foundation, other Federal, State, and local departments or agencies,
academic institutions, and non-profit entities for the planning and
design, construction, management, and operation of the Visitor Center.
SEC. 104. BOUNDARY EXPANSION.
(a) Property Acquisition.--If the Preferred Alternative for the
Visitor Center authorized by section 102 is located outside the
boundary of the Monument, the Secretary is authorized to acquire the
site for the Visitor Center, from willing sellers, by donation,
purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or by exchange.
(b) Administration of Newly Acquired Land.--Land added to the
Monument pursuant to subsection (a) shall be administered by the
Secretary in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
(c) Boundary Modification.--The boundary of the Monument shall be
modified to reflect the acquisition of land authorized in subsection
(a) after completion of the acquisition.
SEC. 105. PROJECT APPROVAL.
Prior to initiating any planning, design, or construction on the
Visitor Center authorized by section 102, the project must be reviewed
and approved by the National Park Service consistent with partnership
construction guidelines established by that agency.
TITLE II--CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT BOUNDARY
MODIFICATION
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Castillo de San Marcos National
Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2004''.
SEC. 202. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The early defense lines for Fort Marion, Florida, today
known as the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, included
defenses extending in a line due west to the Sebastian River, a
distance of about one half mile.
(2) In the 1830's, during the Seminole Wars in Florida, these
defensive lines were maintained, but as Florida became more
settled they fell into disrepair and/or became obsolete.
(3) In 1908 the War Department deeded much of the property
running west to the Sebastian River to the St. Johns County
Board of Public Instruction. The portion of this property
remaining in federal ownership today is occupied by Orange
Street, a City of St. Augustine, Florida street.
(4) For nearly a century, the City of St. Augustine has
maintained and managed Orange Street, a modern city street, and
associated utilities in the Orange Street corridor.
(5) Any archeological remains that are still present on the
property overlaid by Orange Street are adequately protected by
the City's archeological ordinances, and by the City having an
archeologist on staff.
(6) Although the city currently operates Orange Street under
a right-of-way from the National Park Service, from a
management perspective it is appropriate for the City of St.
Augustine to own Orange Street.
SEC. 203. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
(a) Conveyance of Land.--The Secretary of the Interior shall convey,
without consideration, to the City of St. Augustine, Florida, all
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the lands
known as Orange Street, a portion of the Castillo de San Marcos
National Monument (Monument), consisting of approximately 3.1 acres, as
shown on the map entitled Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Boundary Adjustment and Correction, numbered 343/80060, and dated April
2003. Upon completion of the conveyance, the Secretary shall revise the
boundary of the Monument to exclude the land conveyed.
(b) Boundary Revision.--Effective on the date of the enactment of
this Act, the boundary of the Monument is revised to include an area of
approximately 0.45 acres, as shown on the map identified in subsection
(a). The Secretary shall administer the lands included in the boundary
as part of the national monument in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 2457 is to authorize funds for an
educational center for the Castillo de San Marcos National
Monument, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Located in St. Augustine, Florida, the Castillo de San
Marcos National Monument is the oldest existing permanent
seacoast fortification in the continental United States. The
star-shaped fort, surrounding moat, and earthworks were
constructed between 1672-1756 to protect Spanish territory in
Florida and the shipping routes along the Florida coast.
Castillo de San Marcos replaced an earlier series of earth and
wood fortifications and was the northernmost outpost of the
Spanish Caribbean. It was the focus of struggle between Great
Britain and Spain for regional supremacy during the 17th and
18th centuries. In addition, the Castillo was the site of a
British Garrison during the American Revolution and was last
employed for defensive purposes in 1898 during the Spanish-
American War.
The City of St. Augustine recently launched a restoration
initiative in conjunction with both public and private entities
in the community to preserve and enhance the Castillo de San
Marcos National Monument. This project consists of two phases.
The first phase includes the acquisition of properties which
border the west region of the National Monument, and the design
and planning stage of a visitors' educational resource center.
The second phase involves the construction of the educational
center which will complete the restoration project.
H.R. 2457 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
grant funds for an educational center for the Castillo de San
Marcos National Monument. Two million dollars will remain
available until expended for land acquisition for the Center
from willing owners only and for design and planning of the
Center. In addition to these funds, the Secretary of the
Interior will also set aside $2 million to remain available
until expended for construction of the Center.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 2457 was introduced by Congressman John Mica (R-FL) on
June 12, 2003. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On July 22, 2003,
the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On July 8, 2004,
the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. An amendment in the
nature of a substitute was offered by Chairman George
Radanovich (R-CA) which added to the underlying legislation
Title II, Castillo de San Marcos National Boundary
Modification. Title II removed 3.1 acres located within the
boundary of the Monument and conveyed it to the City of St.
Augustine. It also added .45 acres of private land to the
Monument. The amendment was agreed to by unanimous consent, and
the bill as amended was forwarded to the Full Resources
Committee by unanimous consent. On July 14, 2004, the Full
Resources Committee met to mark up the bill. Chairman Richard
Pombo (R-CA) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute
that followed recommendations made by the Administration with
respect to Title I of the bill. Chiefly, the Pombo amendment
deferred action on the construction of a visitor's education
center for the Monument pending the completion of the General
Management Plan (GMP) for the Monument. The visitor's center
will be constructed in a manner consistent with the GMP's
preferred alternative. In addition, the amendment authorized
the acquisition of property, as necessary, to meet the needs of
the alternative. The amendment was agreed to by unanimous
consent. The bill as amended, was 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 and Article IV, section 3 of the
Constitution of the United States grant 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, credit
authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax
expenditures. According to the Congressional Budget office,
enactment of this bill could affect direct spending, but any
effects would be negligible.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to authorize funds for an educational
center for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and
for other purposes.
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:
H.R. 2457--Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Preservation and
Education Act
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2457 would cost about
$5 million over the 2006-2009 period, assuming the availability
of appropriated funds. Enacting the bill could affect direct
spending, but we estimate that any such effects would be
negligible. H.R. 2457 would not affect revenues. The bill
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impost no
costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
H.R. 2457 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS)
to design and build a visitor center for the Castillo de San
Marcos National Monument in Florida. The center would be
located and constructed as specified in a new plan for the
monument that, under current law, is expected to be completed
in 2005. Because details on alternative designs and locations
for the proposed visitor enter being considered under that plan
are not available at the present time, CBO cannot estimate the
cost of building that center with precision. However, based on
information from the NPS about the average cost of other
visitor centers, we estimate that the new center would cost $5
million, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. (The
cost could be greater if a more-complex design for the project
is chosen.) We also estimate that construction would begin in
2006 and last at least two years.
H.R. 2457 also would direct the Secretary of the Interior
to convey, for no consideration, 3.1 acres of land within the
monument to the city of St. Augustine. According to the NPS,
the land to be conveyed currently generates no significant
receipts and is not expected to do so over the next 10 years.
Hence we estimate that conveying it would not significantly
affect offsetting receipts (a credit against direct spending).
We also estimate that the agency would spend less than $50,000
to complete the conveyance, assuming the availability of
appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Megan Carroll.
This 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 to existing
law.