[Senate Report 110-303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 655
110th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     110-303

======================================================================
 
                      WOLF HOUSE STUDY ACT OF 2008

                                _______
                                

                 April 10, 2008.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 1941]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 1941) to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of 
designating the Wolf House, located in Norfork, Arkansas, as a 
unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 
amendment and an amendment to the title and recommends that the 
bill, as amended, do pass.
    The amendments are as follows:
    1. Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in 
lieu thereof the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Wolf House Study Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        the Interior.
          (2) Wolf house.--The term ``Wolf House'' means the structure 
        known by that name located on Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas.

SEC. 3. WOLF HOUSE STUDY.

  (a) In General.--In accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary 
shall complete a special resource study of the Wolf House to 
determine--
          (1) the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf 
        House as a unit of the National Park System; and
          (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
        interpretation of the Wolf House by--
                  (A) the National Park Service;
                  (B) other entities of the Federal Government;
                  (C) State and local government entities; and
                  (D) private and nonprofit organizations.
  (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the study in 
accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)).
  (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are 
made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report 
containing--
          (1) the results of the study; and
          (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

    2. Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and 
feasibility of designating the Wolf House, located in Norfork, 
Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other 
purposes.''.

                                PURPOSE

    The purpose of S. 1941 is to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and 
feasibility of including the Wolf House, located in Norfork, 
Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    The Wolf House is a two-story log structure built in 1829 
in Baxter County, Arkansas. The structure dates to Arkansas' 
territorial period. It is the oldest public building in 
Arkansas and the oldest territorial courthouse west of the 
Mississippi River. The structure is named for its owner and 
builder, Major Jacob Wolf. It was originally built as the 
county courthouse and from 1836 to 1863 it served as the 
residence for Wolf and his family.
    Baxter County purchased the Wolf House and an extensive 
restoration of the structure was began in 1999 and completed in 
2001. Research was conducted relating to the structure's 
history and 1829 appearance. The restoration was funded by a 
County Courthouse Restoration Grant awarded by the Arkansas 
Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of 
Arkansas Heritage. The restored building reopened to the public 
in the spring of 2002 to coincide with Norfork's Pioneer Days 
festival.
    The site is operated by the Wolf House Memorial Foundation 
under an agreement with the county. The Wolf House was placed 
on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 1941 was introduced by Senators Lincoln and Pryor on 
August 2, 2007. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a 
hearing on the bill on November 8, 2007. (S. Hrg. 110-282.)
    At its business meeting on January 30, 2008, the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1941 favorably 
reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
    Similar legislation, was introduced in the 109th (S. 434) 
and the 108th (S. 3008) Congresses, but no action was taken on 
either bill.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on January 30, 2008, by a voice vote of a 
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1941, if 
amended as described herein.

                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

    During the consideration of S. 1941, the Committee adopted 
an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment 
deletes the finding section and makes other conforming 
amendment. The amendment is explained in detail in the section-
by-section analysis below.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

    Section 1 contains the short title, the ``Wolf House Study 
Act of 2008''.
    Section 2 defines the term ``Secretary'' to mean the 
Secretary of the Interior and ``Wolf House'' means the 
structure known by that name on Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas.
    Section 3(a) states the Secretary shall complete a special 
resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of 
designating the Wolf House as a unit of the National Park 
System and the methods and means for the protection and 
interpretation of the Wolf House by involved entities.
    Subsection (b) states the Secretary shall conduct the study 
in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 
19-5(c)), which provides criteria for National Park Service 
studies.
    Subsection (c) provides that the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives a report containing the results of the study 
and any recommendations of the Secretary.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The following estimate of costs of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:

S. 1941--Wolf House Study Act of 2008

    S. 1941 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to 
conduct a study to determine the feasibility and suitability of 
designating the Wolf House in Arkansas as a unit of the 
National Park System. The bill would require the NPS to report 
its findings and recommendations to the appropriate 
Congressional committees within three years of receiving 
funding for the study.
    Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO 
estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $300,000 
over the next three years. Enacting this legislation would not 
affect direct spending or revenues.
    S. 1941 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. 
The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, 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 S. 1941. 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 S. 1941, as ordered reported.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    S. 1941, as reported, does not contain any congressionally 
directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited 
tariff benefits as defined in Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules 
of the Senate.

                        EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

    The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the 
November 8, 2007 Subcommittee hearing on S. 1941 follows.

    Statement of Katherine H. Stevenson, Acting Assistant Director, 
  Business Services, National Park Service, Department of the Interior

    Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for 
the opportunity to appear before you today to present the 
Department of the Interior's views on S. 1941, a bill to direct 
the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and 
feasibility of designating the Wolf House, located in Norfork, 
Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System.
    The Department opposes S. 1941. While the Wolf House is an 
impressive historical structure, it is not distinguished beyond 
that of many other historical log structures in cities all over 
the United States. It is currently operated by the Wolf House 
Memorial Foundation, Inc., (Foundation) with the backing of 
Baxter County, Arkansas. Even though the Wolf House has 
significance for the political history of the state of 
Arkansas, we believe it may be more suited for inclusion in the 
State Park system, either separately or as part of the Bull 
Shoals-White River State Park. Finally, we believe that 
priority should be given to the 35 previously authorized 
studies for potential units of the National Park System, 
potential new National Heritage Areas, and potential additions 
to the National Trails System and National Wild and Scenic 
River System that have not yet been transmitted to the 
Congress.
    S. 1941 would authorize a study of the Wolf House, a two-
story dogtrot log structure dating back to 1829. It is a relic 
of the Arkansas territorial period, the oldest territorial 
courthouse west of the Mississippi River, and is located on 
Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas. It also would study the Wolf 
House property, several outbuildings, and portions of several 
city lots, all located within the city of Norfork. The study 
would be conducted in accordance with the criteria contained in 
Section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)). A report 
that includes the findings, conclusions, and recommendations 
for future management of the study area would be required to be 
transmitted by the Secretary to Congress no later than one year 
after enactment of this legislation. S. 1941 states that the 
Wolf House is located in the city of Norfolk; the correct 
location is the city of Norfork.
    The Wolf House became the property of the city of Norfork 
in the 1930s and was maintained and opened to the public by 
interested citizens who eventually formed the Foundation. The 
Wolf House was placed on the National Register of Historic 
Places on April 13, 1973. In the 1990s, controversies over 
management of the property led the Foundation to approach the 
Arkansas State Parks to assume responsibility for the property. 
They were told that the State Parks could not acquire new 
properties at the time. In 1999, the Foundation and the city of 
Norfork quit claimed their ownership of the property to Baxter 
County. At the same time, the Arkansas Historic Preservation 
Program acquired a historic preservation easement on the 
property.
    Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared testimony. I would 
be pleased to answer any questions you or 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 bill S. 1941, as 
ordered reported.

                                  
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