[House Report 110-593]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-593
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MORLEY NELSON SNAKE RIVER BIRDS OF PREY NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA ACT
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April 17, 2008.--Referred to the House calendar and ordered to be
printed
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Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3734]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 3734) to rename the Snake River Birds of Prey
National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the Morley
Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in
honor of the late Morley Nelson, an international authority on
birds of prey, who was instrumental in the establishment of
this National Conservation Area, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment
and recommend that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 3734 is to rename the Snake River Birds
of Prey National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation
Area in honor of the late Morley Nelson, an international
authority on birds of prey, who was instrumental in the
establishment of this National Conservation Area, and for other
purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
was established in 1993 during the 103rd Congress (P.L. 103-
64). The National Conservation Area includes approximately 500
acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The area
contains one of the densest known nesting populations of
eagles, falcons, owls, hawks and other birds of prey in North
America.
Morley Nelson (1917-2005) was an ardent advocate for birds
of prey. Mr. Nelson was instrumental in establishing the Snake
River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Mr. Nelson
starred in and developed seven wildlife films for Walt Disney
and was also largely responsible for facilitating the location
of the Peregrine Fund's headquarters in Boise, Idaho. He lived
in the foothills of Boise.
H.R. 3734 amends P.L. 103-64 to rename the Snake River
Birds of Prey National Conservation Area as the Morley Nelson
Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. The
legislation also makes minor technical corrections to P.L. 103-
64.
Committee Action
H.R. 3734 was introduced on by Representative Mike Simpson
(R-ID). The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. On March 6, 2008,
the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill.
On April 2, 2008, the Full Natural Resources Committee met
to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further
consideration of the bill. The bill was ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.
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 Natural 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. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to rename the Snake River Birds of
Prey National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation
Area in honor of the late Morley Nelson, an international
authority on birds of prey, who was instrumental in the
establishment of this National Conservation Area.
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. 3734--Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National
Conservation Area Act
H.R. 3734 would redesignate the Snake River Birds of Prey
National Conservation Area as the Morley Nelson Snake River
Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. CBO estimates that
implementing this legislation would have no significant effect
on the operating budget of the conservation area, which is
administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). We expect
that one-time costs to revise BLM brochures, maps, and signs
would be minimal because most such revisions would take place
in conjunction with scheduled reprinting and other routine
maintenance. Enacting H.R. 3734 would not affect direct
spending or revenues.
H.R. 3734 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in 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, Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Earmark Statement
H.R. 3734 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
ACT OF AUGUST 4, 1993
(Public Law 103-64)
AN ACT To establish the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation
Area in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) * * *
(2) The term ``conservation area'' means the Morley
Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation
Area established by section 3.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA.
(a) Establishment and Purposes.--(1) There is hereby
established the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey
National Conservation Area [(hereafter referred to as the
``conservation area'')].
* * * * * * *
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT AND USE.
(a) In General.--(1) * * *
(2) Except as otherwise specifically provided in section 3(d)
and subsections (d), (e), and (f) of this section, the
Secretary shall allow only such uses of lands in the
conservation area as the Secretary determines will further the
purposes for which the [Conservation Area] conservation area is
established.
* * * * * * *
(d) Visitors Use of Area.--In addition to the [Visitors
Center] visitors center, the Secretary may provide for visitor
use of the public lands in the conservation area to such extent
and in such manner as the Secretary considers consistent with
the protection of raptors and raptor habitat, public safety,
and the purposes for which the conservation area is
established. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall
make available to visitors and other members of the public a
map of the conservation area and such other educational and
interpretive materials as may be appropriate.
* * * * * * *