[Senate Report 108-100]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 208
108th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 108-100
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ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT
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July 11, 2003.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Domenici, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1577]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the Act (H.R. 1577) to designate the visitor center in
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris
Eggle Visitor Center'', and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the Act do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE
The purpose of H.R. 1577 is to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to designate the visitor center at Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument, Arizona, as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor
Center,'' in honor of a park ranger killed in the line of duty
in August 2002.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
Kris Eggle, a 28-year-old park ranger at Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument in the State of Arizona, was killed in the
line of duty along the international border between the United
States and Mexico.
This bill dedicates the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument to Kris Eggle and promotes awareness of the
risks taken each day by public land management law enforcement
officers.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
H.R. 1577 was introduced by Representative Tancredo and
others on April 2, 2003 and was passed by the House of
Representatives on May 14, 2003. Companion legislation, S.
1060, was introduced by Senator McCain on May 14, 2003.
Senators Stabenow and Levin are cosponsors. The Subcommittee on
National Parks held a hearing on H.R. 1577 and S. 1060 on June
10, 2003.
At the business meeting on June 25, 2003, the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources ordered H.R. 1577 favorably
reported.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on June 25, 2003, by unanimous vote of a
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 1577
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1 designates the visitor center at Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center''
and directs the Secretary of the Interior to appropriately
memorialize Kris Eggle and promote awareness of the risks taken
each day by public land management law enforcement officers.
Section 2 authorizes the appropriations necessary to carry
out this Act.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 26, 2003.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
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 H.R. 1577, a bill to
designate the visitor center in Organ Pipe Cactus National
Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1577--A bill to designate the visitor center in Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor
Center''
H.R. 1577 would dedicate the visitor center at Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument to Kris Eggle, a park ranger at the
monument who was killed in the line of duty. The act would
designate the visitor center as the Kris Eggle Visitor Center
and direct the Secretary of the Interior to post interpretive
signs at the monument to explain the designation. For these
purposes, the act would authorize the appropriation of whatever
amounts are necessary.
Based on information provided by the National Park Service,
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1577 would cost less than
$50,000. Moreover, some of the cost of installing interpretive
signs may have been incurred even in the absence of
legislation.
H.R. 1577 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
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 H.R. 1577. 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 H.R. 1577, as ordered reported.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
On May 29, 2003, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of
the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting
forth Executive agency recommendations on H.R. 1577. These
reports had not been received at the time the report on H.R.
1577 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
National Park Service at the Subcommittee hearing follows:
Statement of D. Thomas Ross, Assistant Director, Recreation and
Conservation, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 1060 and H.R. 1577, to
designate the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus National
Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center''.
The Department supports the legislation and appreciates the
recognition by members of Congress for the work of all National
Park Service (NPS) employees, especially those involved in law
enforcement.
Both bills call for the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument to be named for Kris Eggle. Kris was an
outstanding young man, a dedicated NPS law enforcement officer,
who died in the line of duty nearly a year ago while assisting
in the arrest and capture of drug smugglers crossing into the
United States from Mexico.
The legislation also calls for installing an interpretive
sign at the visitor center and one at the Baker Mine-Milton
Mine Loop trailhead. The signs will help inform and educate the
public to the critical role law enforcement officers have in
protecting visitors and resources on public lands. The signs
will also dedicate the trail and center to Kris. The NPS has
determined that the costs to add the appropriate signage to the
visitor center and install the two exhibits will be
approximately $15,000. Further costs to change maps, documents
and other references to the visitor center will be incorporated
when reprints are needed. None of these costs are presently
part of the park's budget.
Much has been said and talked about Kris' death. The death
of anyone so young is tragic, and to lose someone under these
circumstances is even more so--for his family, friends, co-
workers and all who care for and about National Parks. By
helping the public understand the work and dedication of NPS
law enforcement rangers and all NPS employees--through well-
planned and designed educational exhibits and signs, perhaps we
can prevent or minimize some of the dangers we all face in
protecting these great American places and stories.
S. 1060 and H.R. 1577 are nearly identical. There are some
differences in style and format. S. 1060 does contain a
grammatical error that was corrected in the House bill. All
references to ``visitors' center'' should read ``visitor
center''. We look forward to working with this committee and
the House to reach consensus on the language that will allow us
to remember this fine young man.
That concludes my testimony. I would be glad to answer any
questions that you or the members of the subcommittee may have.
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 the Act H.R. 1577, as
ordered reported.