[House Report 115-1061]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


115th Congress   }                                    {         Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session      }                                    {       115-1061

======================================================================



 
  TO REAUTHORIZE THE NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL ROUTE, AND FOR 
                             OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

December 3, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Bishop of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted 
                             the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 6602]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 6602) to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal 
Heritage Trail Route, 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. 6602 is to reauthorize the New Jersey 
Coastal Heritage Trail Route.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route was authorized 
by Congress in 1988 and runs along the entire coast of New 
Jersey.\1\ The Route was established for public appreciation, 
education, understanding, and enjoyment of significant natural 
and cultural sites associated with the coastal area of New 
Jersey.\2\ Five themes define different aspects of coastal life 
along the Route: Maritime History, Coastal Habitats, Wildlife 
Migration, Historic Settlements, and Relaxation and 
Inspiration.\3\
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    \1\Public Law 100-515. 100th Congress. ``An Act to Provide for the 
Establishment of the Coastal Heritage Trail Route in the State of New 
Jersey, and for other purposes.'' October 20, 1988.
    \2\Id.
    \3\``Trail Themes''. New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. 
National Park Service website. https://www.nps.gov/neje/planyourvisit/
trailthemes.htm.
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    The National Park Service (NPS), the State of New Jersey, 
the Pinelands Commission, and other local organizations 
partnered to promote recreation and appreciation of New 
Jersey's coastal areas.\4\ The partners developed a strategic 
plan which called for an initial implementation period with the 
NPS and New Jersey cooperatively managing the Route for five 
years, followed by a diminished role by NPS and an expanded 
role by New Jersey.\5\ The Secretary of the Interior was given 
authority to enter into cooperative agreements and provide 
technical assistance in the establishment and development of 
the Route. The Route was eligible to receive federal funds for 
certain projects provided those funds did not exceed 50% of 
total project costs and were matched with non-federal 
dollars.\6\
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    \4\``New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route--Description''. NYNJ 
Trail Conference website. https://www.nynjtc.org/park/new-jersey-
coastal-heritage-trail#dialog-park-description.
    \5\1993. ``Implementation Guide, New Jersey Coastal Heritage 
Route''. Included as ``Appendix B'' in ``2011 Strategic Plan: New 
Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route--Part 2 of 2, Appendices''. 
National Park Service. file:///C:/Users/hbaker1/Downloads/
NJCHTR%202011%20Strategic%20 Plan%202%20of%202%20Appendices.pdf.
    \6\16 USC 1244 note.
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    A sunset provision for the Secretary's authority, and thus 
the NPS's participation in managing the Trail, was enacted in 
1994.\7\ Subsequent laws extended this timeframe and authorized 
increased appropriations in 1999, 2006, and 2008.\8\ The 
Secretary's authorities related to the Route expired on 
September 30, 2011.
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    \7\Public Law 103-243.
    \8\Public Law 106-18, Public Law 109-338, Public Law 110-229.
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    H.R. 6602 will reauthorize the Secretary of the Interior's 
authority and the NPS's ability to co-manage the New Jersey 
Coastal Heritage Trail Route through 2025. The bill removes the 
unlimited authorization of appropriations for the Route that 
was enacted in 2006. It also requires the Secretary of the 
Interior to complete a strategic plan for the Trail.
    Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has introduced a companion 
bill (S. 3291) in the Senate.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 6602 was introduced on July 26, 2018, by Congressman 
Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On November 15, 2018, the 
Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The 
Subcommittee 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 and Congressional 
                               Budget Act

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the 
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                 Washington, DC, November 19, 2018.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6602, a bill to 
reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, and 
for other purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani 
Shankaran.
            Sincerely,
                                                Keith Hall,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 6602--A bill to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail 
        Route, and for other purposes

    H.R. 6602 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) 
to co-manage the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route and 
provide technical assistance to state and local partners 
through 2025.
    The NPS's previous authority to co-manage the route and 
provide assistance expired in 2011. Based on the previous costs 
for those activities, CBO estimates that the agency would spend 
about $400,000 annually under the bill for two full-time 
employees, one part-time employee, and materials and signage. 
H.R. 6602 also would direct the NPS to develop a strategic plan 
for the route. Based on the costs of similar tasks, CBO 
estimates completing that plan would cost less than $500,000. 
In total, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost 
about $2 million over the 2019-2023 period; such spending would 
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
    Enacting H.R. 6602 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6602 would not increase 
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
    H.R. 6602 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani 
Shankaran. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
    2. 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 reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal 
Heritage Trail Route.

                           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.

                       Compliance With H. Res. 5

    Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any 
directed rule makings.
    Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not 
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government 
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was 
not included in any report from the Government Accountability 
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program 
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law 
98-169) as relating to other programs.

                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, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                           PUBLIC LAW 100-515


 AN ACT To provide for the establishment of the Coastal Heritage Trail 
       Route in the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes.



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  [(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
  [(b)] (a) Use of Funds.--
          (1) In general.--Amounts made available [under 
        subsection (a)] to carry out this Act shall be used 
        only for--
                  (A) technical assistance;
                  (B) the design and fabrication of 
                interpretive materials, devices, and signs; and
                  (C) the preparation of the strategic plan.
          (2) Limitations.--No funds made available [under 
        subsection (a)] to carry out this Act shall be used 
        for--
                  (A) operation, repair, or construction costs, 
                except for the costs of constructing 
                interpretative exhibits; or
                  (B) operation, maintenance, or repair costs 
                for any road or related structure.
          (3) Cost-sharing requirement.--
                  (A) Federal share.--The Federal share of any 
                project carried out with amounts made available 
                [under subsection (a)] to carry out this Act--
                          (i) may not exceed 50 percent of the 
                        total project costs; and
                          (ii) shall be provided on a matching 
                        basis.
                  (B) Form of non-federal share.--The non-
                Federal share of carrying out a project with 
                amounts made available [under subsection (a)] 
                to carry out this Act may be in the form of 
                cash, materials, or in-kind services, the value 
                of which shall be determined by the Secretary.
                  (C) Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(A), funds 
                made available [under subsection (a)] to carry 
                out this Act for the preparation of the 
                strategic plan shall not require a non-Federal 
                match.
  [(c)] (b) Termination of Authority.--The authorities provided 
to the Secretary under this Act shall terminate on September 
30, [2011] 2025.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                  NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS ACT OF 2006




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
  TITLE VII--JOHN H. CHAFEE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE 
CORRIDOR REAUTHORIZATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 703. NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL ROUTE.

  (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Public Law 100-515 (16 
U.S.C. 1244 note) is amended by striking section 6 and 
inserting the following:

``SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
  ``(b) Use of Funds.--
          ``(1) In general.--Amounts made available under 
        subsection (a) shall be used only for--
                  ``(A) technical assistance; and
                  ``(B) the design and fabrication of 
                interpretative materials, devices, and signs.
          ``(2) Limitations.--No funds made available under 
        subsection (a) shall be used for--
                  ``(A) operation, repair, or construction 
                costs, except for the costs of constructing 
                interpretative exhibits; or
                  ``(B) operation, maintenance, or repair costs 
                for any road or related structure.
          ``(3) Cost-sharing requirement.--
                  ``(A) Federal share.--The Federal share of 
                any project carried out with amounts made 
                available under subsection (a)--
                          ``(i) may not exceed 50 percent of 
                        the total project costs; and
                          ``(ii) shall be provided on a 
                        matching basis.
                  ``(B) Form of non-federal share.--The non-
                Federal share of carrying out a project with 
                amounts made available under subsection (a) may 
                be in the form of cash, materials, or in-kind 
                services, the value of which shall be 
                determined by the Secretary.
  ``(c) Termination of Authority.--The authorities provided to 
the Secretary under this Act shall terminate on September 30, 
2007.''.
  [(b) Strategic Plan.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
        date on which funds are made available, the Secretary 
        of the Interior shall prepare a strategic plan for the 
        New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
          [(2) Contents.--The strategic plan shall describe--
                  [(A) opportunities to increase participation 
                by national and local private and public 
                interests in the planning, development, and 
                administration of the New Jersey Coastal 
                Heritage Trail Route; and
                  [(B) organizational options for sustaining 
                the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.]

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