[106th Congress Public Law 143]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ143.106]
[[Page 113 STAT. 1703]]
Public Law 106-143
106th Congress
An Act
To authorize an interpretive center and related visitor facilities
within the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 7, 1999 - [S. 28]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Four Corners
Interpretive Center Act.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Four Corners Interpretive Center
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the Four Corners Monument is nationally significant as
the only geographic location in the United States where 4 State
boundaries meet;
(2) <<NOTE: State listing.>> the States with boundaries
that meet at the Four Corners are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico,
and Utah;
(3) between 1868 and 1875 the boundary lines that created
the Four Corners were drawn, and in 1899 a monument was erected
at the site;
(4) a United States postal stamp will be issued in 1999 to
commemorate the centennial of the original boundary marker;
(5) the Four Corners area is distinct in character and
possesses important historical, cultural, and prehistoric values
and resources within the surrounding cultural landscape;
(6) although there are no permanent facilities or utilities
at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, each year the park
attracts approximately 250,000 visitors;
(7) the area of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park falls
entirely within the Navajo Nation or Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
reservations;
(8) the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have
entered into a memorandum of understanding governing the
planning and future development of the Four Corners Monument
Tribal Park;
(9) in 1992, through agreements executed by the Governors of
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, the Four Corners
Heritage Council was established as a coalition of State,
Federal, tribal, and private interests;
(10) the State of Arizona has obligated $45,000 for planning
efforts and $250,000 for construction of an interpretive center
at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park;
(11) numerous studies and extensive consultation with
American Indians have demonstrated that development at the
[[Page 113 STAT. 1704]]
Four Corners Monument Tribal Park would greatly benefit the
people of the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe;
(12) the Arizona Department of Transportation has completed
preliminary cost estimates that are based on field experience
with rest-area development for the construction of a Four
Corners Interpretive Center and surrounding infrastructure,
including restrooms, roadways, parking areas, and water,
electrical, telephone, and sewage facilities;
(13) an interpretive center would provide important
educational and enrichment opportunities for all Americans; and
(14) Federal financial assistance and technical expertise
are needed for the construction of an interpretive center.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to recognize the importance of the Four Corners Monument
and surrounding landscape as a distinct area in the heritage of
the United States that is worthy of interpretation and
preservation;
(2) to assist the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute
Tribe in establishing the Four Corners Interpretive Center and
related facilities to meet the needs of the general public;
(3) to highlight and showcase the collaborative resource
stewardship of private individuals, Indian tribes, universities,
Federal agencies, and the governments of States and political
subdivisions thereof (including counties); and
(4) to promote knowledge of the life, art, culture,
politics, and history of the culturally diverse groups of the
Four Corners region.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Four Corners
Interpretive Center established under section 4, including
restrooms, parking areas, vendor facilities, sidewalks,
utilities, exhibits, and other visitor facilities.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means the
States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, or any
consortium of 2 or more of those States.
(3) Four corners heritage council.--The term ``Four Corners
Heritage Council'' means the nonprofit coalition of Federal,
State, tribal, and private entities established in 1992 by
agreements of the Governors of the States of Arizona, Colorado,
New Mexico, and Utah.
(4) Four corners monument.--The term ``Four Corners
Monument'' means the physical monument where the boundaries of
the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.
(5) Four corners monument tribal park.--The term ``Four
Corners Monument Tribal Park'' means lands within the legally
defined boundaries of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 4. FOUR CORNERS INTERPRETIVE CENTER.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of appropriations,
the Secretary is authorized to establish within the boundaries of the
Four Corners Monument Tribal Park a center for the
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interpretation and commemoration of the Four Corners Monument, to be
known as the ``Four Corners Interpretive Center''.
(b) Land Designated and Made Available.--Land for the Center shall
be designated and made available by the Navajo Nation or the Ute
Mountain Ute Tribe within the boundaries of the Four Corners Monument
Tribal Park in consultation with the Four Corners Heritage Council and
in accordance with--
(1) the memorandum of understanding between the Navajo
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe that was entered into on
October 22, 1996; and
(2) applicable supplemental agreements with the Bureau of
Land Management, the National Park Service, and the United
States Forest Service.
(c) Concurrence.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
no such center shall be established without the consent of the Navajo
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
(d) Components of Center.--The Center shall include--
(1) a location for permanent and temporary exhibits
depicting the archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage of
the Four Corners region;
(2) a venue for public education programs;
(3) a location to highlight the importance of efforts to
preserve southwestern archaeological sites and museum
collections;
(4) a location to provide information to the general public
about cultural and natural resources, parks, museums, and travel
in the Four Corners region; and
(5) visitor amenities including restrooms, public
telephones, and other basic facilities.
SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION GRANT.
(a) Grant.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award a
grant to an eligible entity for the construction of the Center
in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the cost of
construction of the Center.
(2) Assurances.--To be eligible for the grant, the eligible
entity that is selected to receive the grant shall provide
assurances that--
(A) the non-Federal share of the costs of
construction is paid from non-Federal sources (which may
include contributions made by States, private sources,
the Navajo Nation, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for
planning, design, construction, furnishing, startup, and
operational expenses); and
(B) the aggregate amount of non-Federal funds
contributed by the States used to carry out the
activities specified in subparagraph (A) will not be
less than $2,000,000, of which each of the States that
is party to the grant will contribute equally in cash or
in kind.
(3) Funds from private sources.--A State may use funds from
private sources to meet the requirements of paragraph (2)(B).
(4) Funds of state of arizona.--The State of Arizona may
apply $45,000 authorized by the State of Arizona during fiscal
year 1998 for planning and $250,000 that is held in reserve by
the State for construction toward the Arizona share.
[[Page 113 STAT. 1706]]
(b) Grant Requirements.--In order to receive a grant under this Act,
the eligible entity selected to receive the grant shall--
(1) submit to the Secretary a proposal <<NOTE: Proposal.>>
that--
(A) meets all applicable--
(i) laws, including building codes and
regulations; and
(ii) requirements under the memorandum of
understanding described in paragraph (2); and
(B) provides such information and assurances as the
Secretary may require; and
(2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
Secretary providing--
(A) a timetable for completion of construction and
opening of the Center;
(B) assurances that design, architectural, and
construction contracts will be competitively awarded;
(C) specifications meeting all applicable Federal,
State, and local building codes and laws;
(D) arrangements for operations and maintenance upon
completion of construction;
(E) a description of the Center collections and
educational programming;
(F) a plan for design of exhibits including, but not
limited to, the selection of collections to be
exhibited, and the providing of security, preservation,
protection, environmental controls, and presentations in
accordance with professional museum standards;
(G) an agreement with the Navajo Nation and the Ute
Mountain Ute Tribe relative to site selection and public
access to the facilities; and
(H) a financing plan developed jointly by the Navajo
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe outlining the
long-term management of the Center, including--
(i) the acceptance and use of funds derived
from public and private sources to minimize the
use of appropriated or borrowed funds;
(ii) the payment of the operating costs of the
Center through the assessment of fees or other
income generated by the Center;
(iii) a strategy for achieving financial self-
sufficiency with respect to the Center by not
later than 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(iv) appropriate vendor standards and business
activities at the Four Corners Monument Tribal
Park.
SEC. 6. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENT.
The Four Corners Heritage Council may make recommendations to the
Secretary on grant proposals regarding the design of facilities at the
Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorizations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of the Interior to carry out this Act--
(1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
(2) $50,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 for
maintenance and operation of the Center, program development, or
staffing in a manner consistent with the requirements of section
5(b).
[[Page 113 STAT. 1707]]
(b) Carryover.--Funds made available under subsection (a)(1) that
are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year for which those funds are
appropriated, may be used by the Secretary through fiscal year 2002 for
the purposes for which those funds are made available.
(c) Reservation of Funds.--The Secretary may reserve funds
appropriated pursuant to this Act until a grant proposal meeting the
requirements of this Act is submitted, but no later than September 30,
2001.
SEC. 8. DONATIONS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of the
planning, construction, and operation of the Center, the Secretary may
accept, retain, and expend donations of funds, and use property or
services donated, from private persons and entities or from public
entities.
SEC. 9. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, modify, or impair any
right or claim of the Navajo Nation or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, that
is based on any law (including any treaty, Executive order, agreement,
or Act of Congress).
Approved December 7, 1999.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 28:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-144 (Comm. on Indian Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999):
Sept. 9, considered and passed Senate.
Nov. 18, considered and passed House.
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