[Senate Report 114-333]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 606
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-333
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FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
_______
September 6, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 3020]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 3020) to update the map of, and modify
the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. MAP UPDATE; MAXIMUM ACREAGE AVAILABLE FOR INCLUSION IN THE
FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT.
The first section of Public Law 91-60 (83 Stat. 101) is amended--
(1) by striking ``entitled `Proposed Florissant Fossil Beds
National Monument', numbered NM-FFB-7100, and dated March 1967,
and more particularly described by metes and bounds in an
attachment to that map,'' and inserting ``entitled `Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment',
numbered 171/132,544, and dated May 3, 2016,''; and
(2) by striking ``six thousand acres'' and inserting ``6,300
acres''.
Purpose
The purpose of S. 3020 is to update the map of and modify
the maximum acreage available for inclusion in the Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument.
Background and Need
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is located in a
high mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak and 35 miles west
of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Monument was established as
a national monument in 1969 to preserve one of the most diverse
fossil deposits in the world and interpret its paleontological
resources and geologic significance. The National Park Service
(NPS) maintains a collection of over 12,000 fossil specimens,
conducts inventory and monitoring of the fossil sites, and, in
addition to climate research, has ongoing university
collaborations. A variety of recreational opportunities are
offered at the Monument, including sightseeing, interpretive
visitor center exhibits, hiking, and ranger-led experiences.
The Monument encompasses 5,998 acres and is legislatively
capped at 6,000 acres. The park has received local support to
expand the boundary, by a donation of 280 acres of private land
adjacent to the current northwestern boundary. The Palmer Land
Trust and Coalition for the Upper South Platte has offered to
hold the 280 acre parcel for the NPS until such time as it is
able to accept ownership of the property. This legislation
would allow for the modification of the maximum acreage
available for inclusion in the National Monument, as well as
updating of the official map.
Legislative History
Senator Gardner introduced S. 3020 in the Senate on June 6,
2016. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on S.
3020 on June 15, 2016.
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in open
business session on July 13, 2016, and ordered S. 3020
favorably reported as amended.
Committee Recommendation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on July 13, 2016, by a majority voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S.
3020, if amended as described herein.
Committee Amendment
During its consideration of S. 3020, the Committee adopted
an amendment in the nature of a substitute to update the
boundary map for the Monument and to make other clarifying
changes.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Map update
Section 1 updates the boundary map and modifies the acreage
available for inclusion in the Florissant Fossil Beds National
Monument.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The following cost estimate of the costs of this measure
has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, September 1, 2016.
Hon. Lisa Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 3020, a bill to
update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for
inclusion in, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall.
Enclosure.
S. 3020--A bill to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage
available for inclusion in, the Florissant Fossil Beds National
Monument
S. 3020 would revise the boundary of the Florissant Fossil
Beds National Monument in Colorado and increase, from 6,000 to
6,300, the maximum number of acres that could be included in
that monument. Enacting S. 3020 would enable the National Park
Service (NPS) to proceed with plans to acquire approximately
280 acres of land for inclusion within the monument. The
underlying legislation that established the monument authorizes
the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land by donation,
purchase, or exchange.
According to the NPS, the owner of the 280-acre parcel is
willing to donate the land for inclusion within the monument;
CBO estimates that the agency's administrative costs associated
with such a transaction would be negligible. Alternatively, if
the NPS were to purchase the parcel, CBO estimates that the
resulting costs would total about $1 million over the 2017-2021
period; such spending would be subject to the availability of
appropriated funds. That estimate is based on information from
the NPS and recent sale prices of comparable tracts of land in
the areas where land would be purchased. Total costs would
depend on the average price per acre which, according to local
property records, could range from $2,500 per acre to $4,000
per acre.
Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending
or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 3020 would not increase net
direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 3020 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 Jon Sperl. The
estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 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. 3020. 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 making the
adjustments provided for in the bill. Therefore, there would be
no impact on personal privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 3020, as ordered reported.
Congressionally Directed Spending
S. 3020, as ordered 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
June 15, 2016, Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on S.
3020 follows:
Statement of Dr. Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural
Resouces, Partnerships, and Science, National Park Service, U.S.
Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for
the opportunity to present the views of the Department of the
Interior on S. 3020, to increase the acreage limit and update
the boundary map of Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in
the State of Colorado.
The Department supports S. 3020, with a technical
correction described later in this statement.
This bill would increase the acreage limit and update the
boundary map, which would allow the National Park Service to
accept donation of 280 acres of land from a private landowner
to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Teller County,
Colorado. Including this land within the boundary of the
monument would allow for enhanced wildfire protection as well
as additional habitat for wildlife and recreational
opportunities for visitors.
Public Law 91-60 limited the size of the monument to 6,000
acres. The current monument boundary includes 5,992 acres,
leaving the National Park Service unable to accept the 280-acre
donation. This 280-acre parcel would provide critical access to
the park's western boundary for wildland fire protection,
including improving opportunities for completing future
hazardous fuel mitigation projects. Teller County Road 1 runs
through the center of the monument and is currently the only
main road that exists. The county also manages two other roads
on the east side of the monument. As a result, fuels mitigation
work on the monument's western boundary is limited because fire
crews can only access the western boundary by foot. If the
donation is approved, fire and emergency vehicles will have
direct access to the western boundary of the park via a private
road.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is located in a
high-mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak and 35 miles west
of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The park was established as a
national monument in 1969 to preserve one of the most diverse
fossil deposits in the world and interpret its paleontological
resources and geologic significance. The park maintains a
collection of more than 12,000 fossil specimens, conducts
inventory and monitoring of the fossil sites, has ongoing
university collaborations and continues to be the subject of
scientific publications.
Today, the park also offers a variety of recreational
experiences to a growing community, including sightseeing,
interpretive visitor center exhibits, hiking, picnicking, daily
ranger-guided programs during the summer, Junior Ranger
programs, and curriculum-based education programs for visiting
school groups. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
provides opportunities for exploration and discovery, as well
as trails that offer easy day-hiking experiences for visitors.
The park does not anticipate additional staff or resources
will be needed to support inclusion of the 280-acre donation as
there are no plans to build or install any facilities there.
The park superintendent provided local outreach to the
community regarding the proposal and did not receive opposition
from the local, county and adjacent landowners to accept the
donation.
The department recommends a technical correction to the
bill. On page 2, line 2, strike ``numbered'' and insert
``entitled `Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Proposed
Boundary Adjustment', numbered'' to include the name of the
revised map in addition to the number and date. This correction
will ensure the language is consistent with the standards for
identifying maps in public laws related to the National Park
Service.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I would be happy
to answer any questions you or other 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, changes in existing law made by
the original 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):
PUBLIC LAW 91-60
AN ACT To provide for the establishment of the Florissant Fossil Beds
National Monument in the State of Colorado.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in
order to preserve and interpret for the benefit and enjoyment
of present and future generations the excellently preserved
insect and leaf fossils and related geologic sites and objects
at the Florissant lakebeds, the Secretary of the Interior may
acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated
funds, or exchange such land and interests in land in Teller
County, Colorado, as he may designate from the lands shown on
the map [entitled ``Proposed Florissant Fossil Beds National
Monument'', numbered NM-FFB-7100, and dated March 1967, and
more particularly described by metes and bounds in an
attachment to that map,] entitled `Florissant Fossil Beds
National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment', numbered 171/
132,544, and dated May 3, 2016, not exceeding, however, [six
thousand acres] 6,300 acres thereof, for the purpose of
establishing the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Interior shall administer the
properts acquired pursuant to section 1 of this Act as the
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in accordance with the
Ace entitled ``An Act to establish a National Park Service, and
for other purposes,'' approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535;
16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.
Sec. 3. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums,
but not more than $3,727,000, as may be necessary for the
acquisition of lands and interests in land for the Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument and for necessary development
expenses in connection therewith.
[all]