[House Report 117-616]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                  {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                  {       117-616

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

 
          VALLEY FORGE PARK REALIGNMENT PERMIT AND PROMISE ACT

                                _______
                                

 December 12, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 7952]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 7952) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a natural gas 
distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National Historical 
Park, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon with an amendment 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. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Valley Forge Park Realignment Permit 
and Promise Act''.

SEC. 2. RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMIT FOR NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION MAIN SEGMENT 
                    AT VALLEY FORGE NHP.

  (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary may issue a right-of-way permit pursuant to part 14 of title 
36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act), for the covered main segment if the covered 
main segment is relocated to a proposed realignment of Valley Forge 
Park Road and North Gulph Road within the Park.
  (b) Scope of Authority.--The authority to grant a right-of-way permit 
under subsection (a) shall apply only to the covered main segment and 
shall not apply to any other part of the natural gas distribution main 
system or any other pipeline system within the Park.
  (c) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Covered main segment.--The term ``covered main segment'' 
        means the portions of the natural gas distribution main 
        (including all appurtenances used in the operation of such 
        main) within the Park--
                  (A) existing on the date of the enactment of this 
                Act; and
                  (B) that are located under, along, or adjacent to the 
                segments of North Gulph Road and Valley Forge Park Road 
                (SR3039 and SR0023 respectively, as those roads were 
                aligned on January 21, 2022) that are between--
                          (i) the intersection of North Gulph Road with 
                        Richards Road; and
                          (ii) a point on Valley Forge Park Road 
                        located 500 feet northwest of its intersection 
                        with County Line Road.
          (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means Valley Forge National 
        Historical Park.
          (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        the Interior.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 7952 is to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a 
natural gas distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National 
Historical Park.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    H.R. 7952 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue 
a right-of-way permit to allow the movement of the natural gas 
pipeline segment from its current position to one currently 
proposed under a new roadbed being constructed east of the 
current road. Specifically, the areas of pipeline permitted to 
be moved include the stretch starting at the intersection of 
North Gulph Road with Richards Road and the point on Valley 
Forge Park Road located 500 feet northwest of its intersection 
with County Line Road.
    The right-of-way permit will not allow for the expansion, 
upgrade, or improvement of the covered pipeline segment except 
for the safe operation and maintenance of the pipeline as may 
be required by law.
    As part of a broader effort to develop and enhance the area 
around Valley Forge National Historic Park, the Pennsylvania 
Department of Transportation is working to realign and repave a 
road that runs through the Park's entrance. Part of the project 
involves moving the current utilities under the current roadbed 
to the new roadbed. While the National Park Service (NPS) can 
permit the movement of other utilities--like electric or 
broadband--they are barred by statute from permitting the 
movement of the segment of the natural gas pipeline also under 
the current roadbed. If not rectified and permitted to move, 
the project could be further delayed, costing time and 
resources.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 7952 was introduced on June 7, 2022, by Representative 
Madeleine Dean (D-PA). The bill was referred solely to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. On 
June 14, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On 
December 8, 2022, the Natural Resources Committee met to 
consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous 
consent. Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute. The amendment in the nature of a 
substitute was agreed to by unanimous consent. The bill, as 
amended, was adopted and ordered favorably reported to the 
House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the 
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure: 
hearing by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and 
Public Lands held on June 14, 2022.

            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, as well as clause 3(d) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee has received the 
following materials for the bill from the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office:

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules

    The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives 
announces bills that will be considered under suspension of the 
rules in that chamber. Under suspension, floor debate is 
limited, all floor amendments are prohibited, points of order 
against the bill are waived, and final passage requires a two-
thirds majority vote.
    At the request of the Majority Leader and the House 
Committee on the Budget, CBO estimates the effects of those 
bills on direct spending and revenues. CBO has limited time to 
review the legislation before consideration. Although it is 
possible in most cases to determine whether the legislation 
would affect direct spending or revenues, time may be 
insufficient to estimate the magnitude of those effects. If CBO 
has prepared estimates for similar or identical legislation, a 
more detailed assessment of budgetary effects, including 
effects on spending subject to appropriation, may be included.

	  [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    The Committee adopts as its own any finalized additional 
materials of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
regarding the bill, should such materials be made available 
before House passage of the bill.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a 
natural gas distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National 
Historical Park.

                           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.

                 UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT

    An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of 
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such 
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget 
Office website.

                           EXISTING PROGRAMS

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

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

        SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS

    None.

                                  [all]