[House Report 112-167]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


112th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    112-167

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             ROTA CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES STUDY ACT

                                _______
                                

 July 20, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Hastings of Washington, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1141]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1141) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to study the suitability and feasibility of designating 
prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the 
National Park System, 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. 1141 is to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of 
designating prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites 
on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a 
unit of the National Park System.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands contains cultural and natural resources 
including caves with pictographs, other prehistoric relics and 
sites from the 20th Century Japanese occupation. Additionally, 
Rota has a natural limestone forest that serves as a habitat 
for endangered species endemic to the island. H.R. 1141 
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
suitability and feasibility of designating prehistoric, 
historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the National Park 
System.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 1141 was introduced on March 16, 2011, by Delegate 
Gregorio Sablan (D-MP). 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 
May 4, 2011, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and 
Public Lands held a hearing on the bill. On June 15, 2011, the 
Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was 
discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered and 
the bill 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 Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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)(2)(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. 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. 1141--Rota Cultural and Natural Resources Study Act

    H.R. 1141 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to 
conduct a study of the island of Rota, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, to determine the suitability and 
feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park 
System. The NPS would have three years to complete the study 
and report to the Congress on its results.
    Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming the 
availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that carrying 
out the study required by H.R. 1141 would cost about $200,000 
over the next three years. Enacting the legislation would not 
affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures do not apply.
    H.R. 1141 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 Martin von 
Gnechten. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
    2. Section 308(a) of 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. CBO estimates that 
carrying out the study required by H.R. 1141 would cost about 
$200,000 over the next three years. Enacting the legislation 
would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-
as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    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.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                    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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