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