[House Report 115-540]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


115th Congress     }                                  {        Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session        }                                  {        115-540
======================================================================



 
       STE. GENEVIEVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ESTABLISHMENT ACT

                                _______
                                

February 2, 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. 2888]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 2888) to establish the Ste. Genevieve National 
Historic Site in the State of Missouri, 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. 2888 is to establish the Ste. Genevieve 
National Historic Site in the State of Missouri.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Ste. Genevieve was founded circa 1750 by French Canadian 
settlers, most of whom came from earlier settlements just 
across the Mississippi in present-day Illinois. Though 
resources such as salt and lead attracted settlers to the west 
side of the Mississippi, the rich soil was the greatest draw. 
Ste. Genevieve was primarily an agricultural settlement, with 
free and enslaved residents working in the Grand Champ, or 
Common Field, a large area of privately held, long agricultural 
lots surrounded by one large fence.\1\
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    \1\National Park Service. Ste. Genevieve Final Special Resource 
Study and Environmental Assessment. 2016. 3. Accessed November 9, 2017. 
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsList.cfm?projectID=31496.
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    After a series of floods, the most severe of which occurred 
in 1785, the town was moved inland approximately three miles, 
to where it exists today. Residents continued to work the 
Common Field, which, though smaller, is still cultivated today. 
Ste. Genevieve became a hub of trade, and following the 
Revolutionary War there was an influx of British Americans that 
intensified following the Louisiana Purchase, expanding the 
village. Ste. Genevieve retains many of its historic buildings, 
landscapes, and community characteristics.\2\
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    \2\Ibid., 1.
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    Ste. Genevieve is one of the oldest National Historic 
Landmark districts in the country. When a portion of the 
district was initially designated as such in 1960, it was 
recognized for the unique concentration of French vertical log 
architecture--the largest extant collection of this 
architecture in North America. The most notable feature of 
French vernacular log architecture is the use of logs 
vertically, rather than horizontally, as seen in buildings in 
the frontier settlements of people of other ethnic European 
extractions. With new research and an expanded understanding of 
French settlement in the mid-Mississippi ``Illinois Country,'' 
additional resources have been identified. The nationally 
significant district now encompasses much of the City of Ste. 
Genevieve, and agricultural landscapes and archeological sites 
in Ste. Genevieve County.\3\
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    \3\Ibid., i.
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    In 2009, under Public Law 109-319, Congress authorized the 
Ste. Genevieve Special Resource Study and Environmental 
Assessment. The study concluded that the Ste. Genevieve 
district is nationally significant and suitable, and that 
certain resources within the district are feasible and have a 
need for direct National Park Service (NPS) management. The 
proposed historic site includes a mix of privately and 
publicly-owned parcels. The State of Missouri owns many of 
those properties and could transfer them to NPS ownership by 
donation. Private properties may be acquired over time through 
donation or purchase from willing sellers as funding allows.
    The special resource study estimated the annual cost to 
operate the site would be $800,000 to $1.2 million per year, 
which is comparable to other national historic sites and parks. 
This operational budget would primarily fund a NPS staff of 6-
12 Full Time Equivalents for interpretive and educational 
programs, and outreach. The additional facilities and 
properties will increase park operational and maintenance 
costs, but the amount will depend on the number of facilities 
acquired and their condition. Additional funds for maintenance, 
repairs and capital improvements would be awarded through the 
NPS competitive process, subject to service-wide priorities and 
the availability of appropriations.
    There is widespread support for the establishment of the 
Historical Park. Supporting organizations include:
    City of Ste. Genevieve
    County Commission of Ste. Genevieve
    Foundation for the Restoration of Ste. Genevieve
    Les Amis
    The Missouri Parks Association
    National Society Colonial Dames of America in the State of 
Missouri
    New Bourbon Regional Port Authority
    Sierra Club (Eastern Missouri Group)
    State Historical Society of Missouri
    Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce
    Ste. Genevieve Downtown Renewal Project
    Ste. Genevieve Museum
    Ste. Genevieve Tourism Tax Commission.
    U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) has introduced a Senate 
companion bill, S. 1335.

                            MAJOR PROVISIONS

     Establishes the Ste. Genevieve National Historical 
Park as a unit of the National Park System.
     Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
acquire lands located within the boundary of the Historical 
Park or any nationally significant property identified in the 
special resource within the Historic District by donation, 
purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
     Requires the Secretary of the Interior to revise 
the boundaries of the Historical Park whenever properties 
within the Historic District are acquired.
     Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
provide technical assistance and enter into cooperative 
agreements with the owner of a nationally significant property 
within the Historical Park or the Historic District, to 
identify, mark, interpret, improve, and restore the property.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 2888 was introduced on June 12, 2017, by Congressman 
Jason Smith (R-MO). The bill was referred to the Committee on 
Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 
on Federal Lands. On November 15, 2017, the Subcommittee held a 
hearing on the legislation. On December 12, 2017, 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 on December 13, 2017.

            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, December 15, 2017.
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. 2888, the Ste. 
Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act.
    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. 2888--Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act

    H.R. 2888 would establish the Ste. Genevieve National 
Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System in the 
state of Missouri. The bill would authorize the National Park 
Service (NPS) to acquire approximately 13 acres of land, 
including historic houses, for inclusion in the park by 
donation, exchange, or purchase.
    Once the necessary parcels of land are acquired, the NPS 
would be authorized to establish the park and would incur costs 
to operate and maintain the park's properties and facilities. 
The bill would require the agency to develop a management plan 
for the park and would authorize the agency to provide 
interpretive tours and educational programs within the park. 
Finally, H.R. 2888 would authorize the NPS to provide technical 
assistance and to enter into cooperative agreements with non-
federal entities to preserve historically significant property 
related to the park.
    Using information from the NPS and from local officials in 
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, about the properties in question, CBO 
estimates that acquiring the 13 acres of property would cost 
less than $500,000. CBO expects that the property owned by the 
state of Missouri would likely be donated to the NPS and 
property owned by private individuals would be purchased by the 
NPS with appropriated funds over the next five years.
    In addition, CBO estimates that the NPS would spend about 
$1 million per year on maintenance and operating costs for the 
park once the properties are acquired. CBO estimates that 
implementing H.R. 2888 would cost $6 million over the 2018-2022 
period; such spending would be subject to the availability of 
appropriated funds.
    Enacting H.R. 2888 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2888 would not increase 
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
    H.R. 2888 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 approved 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 establish the Ste. Genevieve 
National Historic Site in the State of Missouri.

                           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

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing 
law.

                                  [all]