**STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BUSINESS
SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND
NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 1182, TO AMEND THE QUINEBAUG AND
SHETUCKET RIVERS VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR ACT OF 1994 TO
INCREASE THE AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS AND MODIFY THE DATE ON
WHICH THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TERMINATES UNDER
THE ACT.**

**July 12, 2007**

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before your
committee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S.
1182, a bill to amend the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National
Heritage Corridor Act of 1994. S. 1182 would increase the ceiling on
appropriations to the heritage area from \$10,000,000 to \$15,000,000
and extend the termination date of the Secretary of the Interior's
financial commitment from September 30, 2009 to September 30, 2015.

The Department believes it is premature to consider S. 1182 based on the
fact that the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage
Corridor has two years remaining on its authorization and the Department
also would like time to review and make recommendations on the
evaluation recently completed by the Corridor that details its
accomplishments and provides a plan for its future. Therefore, the
Department opposes S. 1182 at this time.

Less than a year ago, there were 27 heritage areas. Today, there are 37.
Our understanding is that national heritage areas are locally driven
grassroots efforts to preserve resources that were intended to operate
independent of Federal funding at the end of the authorization period.
While the National Park Service would continue to support the heritage
areas through technical assistance, the heritage areas were to be
largely self-sufficient after an initial period of financial assistance
from NPS. This was the understanding, particularly for those heritage
areas created or reauthorized since 1996.

The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor,
also known as The Last Green Valley, was authorized in 1994 and
comprised 25 communities in northeastern Connecticut. It began receiving
federal funding in 1996 with appropriations through 2007 totaling
\$6,303,750. It became the first national heritage area to be managed by
a non-profit organization, the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor,
Inc. Its first plan, *Vision to Reality: A Management Plan*, was
completed in 1997.

In 1999, the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage
Corridor (QSHC) was expanded to include 10 additional communities in its
watershed in Connecticut and Massachusetts, making it the second
bi-state national heritage area in the country. At the same time, its
original seven-year authorization was extended through 2009 and a new
ceiling of \$10,000,000 was authorized with an annual amount not to
exceed \$1,000,000, in keeping with other similar national heritage
areas. At that time, *Vision 2010: A Plan for the Next Ten Years* was
completed, along with the *Interpretive Initiative for the Quinebaug and
Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor.* With the additional
federal investment and larger regional focus, many successful programs
were initiated.

The National Park System Advisory Board in its report entitled *Charting
a Future for National Heritage Areas* recognized the important role of
national heritage areas in expanding conservation stewardship and in
identifying and preserving significant historic resources. The report
also recognized that national heritage areas need a legislative
foundation that establishes a clear process for designation,
administration, and evaluation to become self-sufficient.

The Administration's proposal for national heritage area program
legislation, which was transmitted to Congress in July 2006, would
provide such a framework. Bills were introduced in the 109^th^ Congress
(S. 243, H.R. 760 and H.R. 6287) that incorporated the majority of the
provisions of the Administration's proposal, and S. 243 passed the
Senate. During the 110^th^ Congress, a similar heritage area program
bill, S. 278, has been introduced.

The proposed legislative framework recommended that, three years prior
to the cessation of Federal funding, the Secretary conduct an evaluation
and prepare a report on the accomplishments, sustainability, and
recommendations, if any, for the future of a designated national
heritage area. This evaluation would examine the accomplishments of the
heritage area in meeting the goals of the management plan; analyze the
leveraging and impact of investments to the heritage area; identify the
critical components of the management structure and sustainability of
the heritage area; and recommend what future role, if any, the NPS
should have with respect to the heritage area.

Under its existing authorization, the QSHC will continue to receive
annual federal funding for two more years. During last year's hearing on
another reauthorization bill for the area, the Department recommended
that the area begin to evaluate how it will sustain its efforts to
protect resources when federal funding ends in 2009. To this end, the
QSHC has recently completed an evaluation on the heritage area that
included extensive public input during the process, but the NPS has not
had a chance to officially review the study.

The nearly 1,100-square miles of The Last Green Valley provide a
challenge to cohesive and engaging regional interpretation of natural
and historical resources. Over the past several years, QSHC has
developed a number of interpretive strategies to educate residents and
visitors alike, while providing an entertaining base from which to
generate tourism. For example, Last Green Valley Ventures is a program
that (1) circulates people and information throughout the region; (2)
provides adequate visitor services, orientation to The Last Green Valley
and interpretation of the many regional themes; (3) assures quality,
consistency and hospitality; and (4) collects important statistical data
to inform future marketing and programming. The program combines current
assets of The Last Green Valley, the compendium of existing research and
support brochures, the complimenting businesses offering unique
experiences, and partners from public and private sectors into one
cohesive product.

Last Green Valley Ventures also dovetails with an on-line educational
resources guide, *Valley Quest,* used by regional educators, parents and
youth group leaders to educate and inspire the future stewards of the
QSHC.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to comment. This concludes
my prepared remarks and I will be happy to answer any questions you or
other committee members might have.

STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BUSINESS
SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND
NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 488 AND H. R. 1100, BILLS TO REVISE THE
BOUNDARY OF THE CARL SANDBURG HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IN THE STATE
OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

# July 12, 2007

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the
opportunity to appear before you today to present the views of the
Department of the Interior on s. 488 & H.R. 1100, bills that would
expand the boundary of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
(site) in the State of North Carolina.

S. 488 and H.R. 1100 would authorize the acquisition, from willing
sellers, of interests in 115 acres of land for addition to the Carl
Sandburg Home National Historic Site. The bills would also authorize the
use of up to 5 of these 115 acres for a visitor center and parking
facilities.

The Department supports both of these bills, but would like to work with
the committee to amend S. 488 to make it identical to H.R. 1100. At a
hearing on April 17, 2007 in the House of Representatives, the
Department testified in support of H.R. 1100, and then worked with the
House subcommittee to make minor changes to make the bill more
consistent with the site's 2003 General Management Plan and other recent
boundary expansion bills. An amended version of H.R. 1100, containing
the changes the department had suggested, passed the House of
Representatives on May 23, 2007.

These bills would authorize acquiring lands or easements for the park
that are estimated to cost between \$300,000 and \$2.25 million.
Management of these new lands is estimated to cost less than \$10,000
annually. These acquired lands could be used for a visitor center,
estimated to cost about \$3 million, but that project, as well as the
costs for land acquisition, would be subject to the budget
prioritization process of the NPS. Annual operation of a visitor center
is expected to cost \$345,000. The costs of operating a shuttle are not
known at this time. No funding has yet been identified for any of these
costs.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site currently includes 264 acres
of Connemura Farm, an estate purchased by Sandburg in 1945 near the
pre-Civil War resort town of Flat Rock, North Carolina. Following
Sandburg's death in 1967, his wife deeded the estate to the Federal
government. The National Historic Site was authorized one year later, in
1968.

Sandburg, though perhaps best known for his poetry celebrating the lives
of common American people, was also a Pulitzer prize-winning biographer
of Abraham Lincoln, a children's author, and a collector of folk music.
Fellow author H.L. Mencken declared that Sandburg was \"indubitably an
American in every pulse-beat.\"

Acquisition of 110 of the 115 acres proposed in S. 488 and H.R. 1100
would protect the view that Carl Sandburg and his neighbors enjoyed from
Big Glassy Mountain. Big Glassy overlook is the highest point at the
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site and a popular stop for
visitors. Sandburg and his family often visited this granite outcrop to
enjoy its stunning views of surrounding mountains and valleys. The
majority of the overlook is within the authorized park boundary.
However, the overlook precipice as well as the view below it, lies on
private property outside the authorized boundary. Purchasing
conservation easements or fee simple property rights from willing
sellers would protect the overlook and views from the mountain in
perpetuity.

The National Park Service contacted each landowner that holds an
interest in the 110 acres proposed for acquisition during the planning
process for the site's 2003 General Management Plan. The State of North
Carolina purchased 22 acres within the proposed expansion to protect it
until the National Park Service can acquire it. All of the other owners
agreed to have their parcels included in the map and proposal to expand
the park.

The acquisition of 5 acres for a visitor center and parking lot would
help to solve traffic and safety problems along Little River Road, the
thoroughfare that forms the site's northern boundary and provides
excellent views of the site's pastures, barns, and Side Lake. When the
site's existing parking area is full, vehicles enter and exit from
Little River Road, searching for an open space. Some visitors park on
the shoulder of Little River Road and walk to the site. The presence of
park vehicles, pedestrians, and speeding traffic on Little River Road is
a hazard to all. The local community has expressed concern about this
issue, but there is no additional parking available in the community.

To solve these problems, the site's 2003 General Management Plan
proposes acquiring up to 5 acres to build a visitor center and parking
facility. In order to protect the historic character of the site, the
National Park Service would like this facility to be located outside
both the existing boundary and the 110 acres that are proposed to
protect the overlook and views from Big Glassy Mountain. A more
appropriate location would be near, but not necessarily contiguous with
the park's boundary, perhaps fronting Little River Road or Highway 225.
The Village of Flat Rock, North Carolina supports the proposal for a
visitor center and parking facility.

H.R. 1100 has been amended to allow the National Park Service to acquire
5 acres "adjacent to or in the general vicinity of" the site's boundary.
S. 488 requires that all lands required be "contiguous to" the park's
boundary. We would like to work with the committee to amend S. 488 to
make it consistent with H.R. 1100 and the park's 2003 General Management
Plan.

S. 488 applies boundary expansion criteria from the 1978 National Parks
and Recreation Act. In the 29 years since that Act was signed into law,
Congressional committees and the National Park Service have developed
and refined these criteria. These refined criteria are used in the
version of H.R. 1100 that is being considered by the subcommittee. We
would like to work with the subcommittee to amend S. 488 to make it
identical to H.R. 1100.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared testimony. I would be pleased
to answer any questions you or any members of the subcommittee might
have.

**STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, CONCERNING S. 824 AND H.R. 995, BILLS TO
AMEND PUBLIC LAW 106-348 TO EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION FOR ESTABLISHING A
MEMORIAL IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR ITS ENVIRONS TO HONOR VETERANS
WHO BECAME DISABLED WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED
STATES**

**July 12, 2007**

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the
opportunity to appear before you today to present the Department of the
Interior's views on S. 824 and H.R. 995, bills to amend Public Law
106-348 to extend the authorization for establishing a memorial in the
District of Columbia or its environs to honor veterans who became
disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. The
Department supports enactment of this legislation.

S. 824 and H.R. 995 would authorize an additional eight years for the
Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation (Foundation) to establish
the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in the District of
Columbia. This memorial was authorized on October 24, 2000 and the
extension would extend the authority to October 24, 2015. The authority
to establish the memorial will expire on October 24, 2007 if the
Foundation has not secured a permit to begin construction from the
National Park Service (NPS) before that date.

The Foundation has proceeded in a professional and responsible manner in
all aspects of the memorial process. The site was approved in 2001, the
design concept was approved in 2004, and the Foundation continues to
seek the direction and advice of the NPS, the National Capital Planning
Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts in developing the design of
the memorial. We look forward to productive meetings with both
commissions as the design nears completion.

The Foundation proposes to build the memorial on two acres across
Washington Avenue from the U.S. Botanic Gardens and just east of the
Department of Health and Human Services headquarters building. The
triangular-shaped site is bounded by Second Street to the west,
Washington Avenue to the east, and the I-395 tunnel portals on the
south. The property was managed by the District of Columbia until
December 15, 2006. The site was then transferred to the National Park
Service under the terms of the Federal and District of Columbia
Government Real Property Act of 2006.

In 2004, the Foundation proceeded to the point of developing its
approved design concept but could move no further until the management
of the property was determined. Valuable planning time for the memorial
was lost while this legislation was under consideration in the 109th
Congress. Given the legislative delay as well as the unique aspects of
this site and the need to revise traffic patterns in order to achieve
both a site worthy of this memorial and the proper urban design in the
context of both the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Botanic Gardens, we feel
it is fair to allow the Foundation additional time beyond the four
months that now remain available to the Foundation to continue
fundraising and complete the design development. We have every
expectation that groundbreaking for the memorial will occur within the
time period this proposed extension will allow.

There are four instances where similar extensions of time have been
granted for the completion of truly superior memorials that the
Department manages. They are the memorials to Women in Military Service
for America, George Mason, World War II, and Victims of Communism.
Extensions also have been granted for the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memorial, and we are currently working with the Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Memorial Foundation in the development of the design in consultation
with the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine
Arts.

The Department has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the
Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation and we are confident that
this extension is an appropriate action and worthy of your
consideration.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to comment. This concludes
my prepared remarks and I will be happy to answer any questions you or
other committee members might have.

**STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 1728, TO AMEND THE NATIONAL
PARKS AND RECREATION ACT OF 1978 TO REAUTHORIZE THE NA HOA PILI O
KALOKO-HONOKŌHAU ADVISORY COMMISSION**

**July 12, 2007**

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today
to present the Department of the Interior's views on S. 1728, a bill to
amend the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to reauthorize the
Na Hoa Pili o Kaloko-Honokōhau Advisory Commission.

The Department supports enactment of S. 1728. This legislation, which
would reestablish the advisory commission for Kaloko-Honokōhau National
Historical Park for ten years, would enable the National Park Service to
benefit from the advice and counsel of Hawaiian residents who have
expertise in Native Hawaiian language, history, and cultural arts during
a period when the park will be engaged in projects critical to the
interpretation of traditional Native Hawaiian activities and culture.

"Na Hoa Pili o Kaloko-Honokōhau," which means "Friends of
Kaloko-Honokōhau," is the name of the advisory commission that was
authorized for ten years as part of the original 1978 authorization for
the park (Public Law 95-625), and that was reestablished for ten years,
after a lapse, in 1996 (Public Law 104-333). S. 1728 would authorize the
reestablishment of the commission effective upon the date of enactment,
to last until December 31, 2017. The composition, purpose, and
responsibilities of the commission would remain as provided for under
existing law.

From the beginning, the law has provided for the commission to advise
the National Park Service with respect to the historical, archeological,
cultural, and interpretive programs of the park, affording particular
emphasis to the quality of traditional Native Hawaiian culture
demonstrated in the park. It was helpful to have the commission's sound,
pragmatic, and critical advice on these matters during the initial
stages of establishing the park. It will be equally helpful to receive
such advice over the next decade, particularly on two major projects --
design and construction of traditional structures that will serve as a
cultural center, and completion of the restoration of the historic
Kaloko fishpond.

The advisory commission would provide advice in the planning and design
of the thatched structures made of local natural materials that will
house traditional Native Hawaiian cultural activities. Once the
structures are built, the commission would provide guidance in the
interpretation of cultural activities, make recommendations on the
preservation, interpretation, and perpetuation of traditional Native
Hawaiian culture, and facilitate the participation of Native Hawaiians,
especially the *kupuna*, or elders, in activities.

The commission would also continue to provide advice concerning the
reconstruction and interpretation of the centuries-old fishpond, an
enclosure contained by 30-foot-wide stone seawalls, where restorers are
practicing the native traditional masonry work under the guidance of
some of the finest masons in Hawaii. This impressive reconstruction
represents both the general cultural significance of fishponds and the
uniqueness of engineering and management skills of Native Hawaiians. The
commission would help ensure that the significance of the fishpond to
Native Hawaiian culture and history is fully and accurately interpreted.

The advisory commission has been instrumental in facilitating the
collaborative partnership that the National Park Service has developed
with the Native Hawaiian community. With enactment of S. 1728, we will
look forward to another decade of assistance from the commission in
fulfilling the mandate of the enabling legislation for the park\--the
preservation, interpretation, and perpetuation of traditional Native
Hawaiian activities and culture, the demonstration of historic land use
patterns, and the provision of education, enjoyment, and appreciation of
such traditional Native Hawaiian activities and culture by local
residents and visitors.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer
any questions you or other members of the subcommittee may have.

**STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 617, A BILL TO MAKE THE NATIONAL
PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS AVAILABLE AT A DISCOUNT TO
CERTAIN VETERANS.**

**JULY 12, 2007**

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of
the Interior's views on S. 617, the Veterans Eagle Parks Pass Act. The
legislation would require the Secretaries of the Interior and
Agriculture to make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands
Pass available at a cost of \$10 to any veteran separated from military
service under conditions other than dishonorable.

In the 108^th^ Congress, Congress enacted the Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act (Public Law 108-447) (REA), a major overhaul of the fee
system that governs the National Park System, the National Wildlife
Refuge System, the National Forest System, certain public lands
administered by the Bureau of Land Management, and recreational lands
administered by the Bureau of Reclamation.

 

Our federal lands provide Americans and visitors from around the world
special places for recreation, education, reflection, and solace. 
Public lands and waters managed by the Department of the Interior hosted
over 470 million recreation visits. Ensuring that the federal lands
continue to play this important role in American life and culture
requires that we maintain visitor facilities and services and enhance
visitor opportunities.  Such efforts require a source of funding with
which we can quickly respond to increases in visitor demand.  
Recreation fee revenues are a critical source of such supplemental
funding that significantly enhance our efforts to address the deferred
maintenance backlog at our National Parks, better manage other federal
lands, and respond quickly to changes in visitation levels and service
requirements. 

REA established a new multi-agency America the Beautiful-National Parks
and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (the new pass) to cover entrance
fees for NPS and FWS and standard amenity recreation fees for BLM,
Forest Service, and BOR, generally for a period of 12 months.  Sales of
the new passes began in January 2007 after an extensive interagency
planning process. The new passes are more convenient to purchase, are
more durable, and are designed with a collectible image of public lands.
All new passes are now available to the public at thousands of
interagency field sites. Annual passes, brochures, hangtags and decals
also are available via the internet, by calling a toll free phone number
and through select third-party vendors. Revenue from the sale of the new
passes is used to improve visitor services and protect resources.

As the Congress considered establishing the new pass, discussion
occurred about which groups of people might be eligible for discounted
passes. At one time, legislation was introduced to provide free passes
to all September 11, 2001 responders and their families. Other groups
have also been suggested as potential groups to be considered for
discounts. However, at that time, a decision was made ultimately by
Congress to offer a discounted pass to senior citizens and a free
lifetime pass to U.S. citizens or persons who permanently reside in the
United States and who have a medical determination and documentation of
blindness or permanent disability, including disabled veterans. We agree
with this approach.

Veterans have made tremendous contributions to this country, and we
honor their service. Many National Park System units, including all of
the memorials within the District of Columbia and the USS Arizona
Memorial in Hawaii do not charge fees as required by law. Many other
parks and National Wildlife Refuges, as well as most BLM and U. S.
Forest Service locations do not charge fees.

In 2006, in lieu of establishing a discount pass for Veterans, the
Department of the Interior established an entrance fee-free day for all
veterans and their accompanying family members on Veterans Day each
year. We would like to extend the entrance fee- free day to all active
duty military personnel and their family members, effective November 11,
2007, and on each subsequent Veterans Day as an additional way to
recognize them and thank them for their service. We understand the
Secretary of Agriculture supports adopting this same policy with regard
to standard amenity recreation fee sites managed by the U.S. Forest
Service. We believe this is an appropriate way to honor all those who
have served and are currently providing military service to our country
without creating a precedent for carving out exceptions to the Federal
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which was carefully developed to
provide a comprehensive approach to fee management.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement.  I would be pleased to answer
any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may have.

**STATEMENT OF STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR, BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, CONCERNING S. 955, A BILL TO ESTABLISH
THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA**

**July 12, 2007**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before your
committee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S.
955, a bill to establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in
the State of Illinois.

In 1998, the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Project, a grassroots
organization in central Illinois, coordinated a community effort to
promote tourism, using the various aspects of Abraham Lincoln's life. It
initially focused on single projects and strategic planning with a
variety of public and private resources to help local communities
research their connections to Lincoln and his times. However, as they
moved forward, the scope of the project broadened to identify and
promote the various natural, social, and cultural landscapes that made
up Lincoln's life. As a result, work toward developing a National
Heritage Area (NHA) began with the idea that the National Park Service's
Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the future Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum would serve as the central core.

The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition submitted a feasibility study
to designate the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area to the National
Park Service for review. The study concluded that the region met all of
the criteria for designation as a NHA. Nevertheless, we recommend that
the committee defer action on S. 955 and all other proposed heritage
area designations until program legislation is enacted that establishes
guidelines and a process for the designation of NHAs.

Last year, the Administration sent to Congress a legislative proposal to
establish guidelines and a process for designation. Bills were
introduced in the 109th Congress (S. 243, H.R. 760 and H.R. 6287) that
incorporated the majority of the provisions of the Administration's
proposal, and S. 243 passed the Senate. During the 110th Congress, a
similar heritage area program bill, S. 278, has been introduced, and we
look forward to continuing to work with Congress on this very important
issue.

With 37 national heritage areas designated across 27 states, and more
heritage area legislative proposals in the pipeline, the Administration
believes it is critical at this juncture for Congress to enact NHA
program legislation. This legislation would provide a much-needed
framework for evaluating proposed NHAs, offering guidelines for
successful planning and management, clarifying the roles and
responsibilities of all parties, and standardizing timeframes and
funding for designated areas. Program legislation also would clarify the
expectation that heritage areas work toward self-sufficiency by
outlining the necessary steps, including appropriate planning, to
achieve that shared goal.

S. 955 establishes the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in a core
area defined by 42 counties in central Illinois. We expect that the
final boundary may be a more manageable size. The area includes rich
opportunities where visitors may experience the physical environment of
rivers, woodlands, and prairies familiar to Abraham Lincoln and his
generation. There are many cultural and historic sites, including the
Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, the Lincoln Home National Historic
Site, the Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum, the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library & Museum, and a broad diversity of folklife
throughout the "Land of Lincoln."

S. 955 designates the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition as the
management entity and outlines its duties. The bill also authorizes the
development of a management plan within three years of enactment and
authorizes the use of federal funds to develop and implement that plan.
If the plan is not submitted within three years of enactment of this
Act, the NHA becomes ineligible for federal funding until a plan is
submitted to the Secretary. Additionally, the Secretary may, at the
request of the management entity, provide technical assistance and enter
into cooperative agreements with other public and private entities.

S. 955 also contains safeguards to protect private property, including a
prohibition on the use of federal funds to acquire real property. The
bill proposes no new restrictions with regard to public use and access
to private property.

Abraham Lincoln was an itinerate lawyer who traveled extensively through
a large region in central Illinois. Hours spent riding through the area,
mostly by horseback, bonded the man and the landscape together. The
region tells the comprehensive story of this important man, lawyer,
husband, father, and our nation's 16^th^ President. It is here that
Abraham Lincoln pondered this nation, formed his convictions, and even
created his debate platform for the now famous Lincoln-Douglas debates
still resounding across this region through continued dialog of the same
themes.

Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd, owned only one home in the
heart of Illinois, and it is here that he returned for his permanent
rest. The home itself and the neighborhood describe an emotional Abraham
Lincoln, who opened his farewell remarks to the citizens of Springfield,
Illinois on February 11, 1861 with these words: "My friends -- No one,
not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this
parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe
everything." He might very well have been speaking to friends and
neighbors he had met with and represented as their lawyer throughout the
24 years he had ridden throughout the region. Lincoln left the home he
and his family had lived in for 17 years to serve as president of a
nation on the verge of a civil war.

While the proposed Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area contains
significant natural, historical, and cultural resources, we would again
request that the committee defer action until national heritage area
program legislation is enacted.

If the Committee chooses to move forward with this bill, the Department
would recommend that the bill be amended to include an additional
requirement for an evaluation to be conducted by the Secretary, three
years prior to the cessation of federal funding under this act. The
evaluation would examine the accomplishments of the heritage area in
meeting the goals of the management plan; analyze the leveraging and
impact of investments to the heritage area; identify the critical
components of the management structure and sustainability of the
heritage area; and recommend what future role, if any, the National Park
Service should have with respect to the heritage area.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared remarks. I would be pleased to
answer any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may have.

STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BUSINESS
SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND
NATURAL RESOURCES, ON S. 1148, A BILL TO ESTABLISH THE CHAMPLAIN
QUADRICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION COMMISSION AND THE HUDSON-FULTON 400^TH^
COMMEMORATION COMMISSION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

July 12, 2007

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the
Department of the Interior on S. 1148, a bill to provide for the
establishment of the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission
and the Hudson-Fulton 400^th^ Commemoration Commission.

The Department supports this bill. The Department of Justice has advised
us that it has constitutional concerns about certain appointment
provisions in sections 102(b) and 202(b) of the bill and will transmit
amendments at a later date to resolve these concerns.

S. 1148 provides for the establishment of two separate commissions to
undertake activities celebrating the contributions of Samuel de
Champlain, and those of Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton to the history of
our nation. The French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, was the first
European to discover and explore what is now called Lake Champlain in
1609. Henry Hudson, as the master of the vessel Half Moon, was the first
European to sail up the river that now bears his name, also in 1609. In
1807, Robert Fulton navigated up the same river between New York City
and Albany in the steamboat Claremont, revolutionizing the method of
waterborne transportation and influencing forever commerce, the world's
navies, and transoceanic travel and trade.

Title I would establish the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration
Commission, composed of 11 members, who would be appointed by the
Secretary of the Interior. Four of the members would be from among
individuals serving on the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commission of the
State of New York and residents of the Champlain Valley, and four
members would be from among individuals serving on the Champlain
Quadricentennial Commission of the State of Vermont and residents of
Vermont.

Title II would establish the Hudson-Fulton 400^th^ Commemoration
Commission, composed of 16 members, would be appointed by the Secretary,
six of whom would be after consideration of nominations from members of
the House of Representatives whose districts encompass the Hudson River
Valley, two after consideration of nominations submitted by members of
the U.S. Senate from the State of New York, and two after consideration
of the recommendations of the Mayor of the City of New York and
consultation with members of the House of Representatives whose
districts encompass the City of New York.

The duties of the respective Commissions are to plan, develop, and
execute appropriate commemorative actions, coordinate with federal and
state entities, promote scholarly research, and encourage a wide range
of organizations to participate in activities and expand understanding
and appreciation of the significance of the voyages of these three men.
They are granted broad powers to accomplish these tasks. Both are also
to coordinate their respective efforts with each other to ensure that
the commemorations conducted pursuant to the legislation are consistent
with the plans of the commemorative commissions established by the
States of New York and Vermont.

The bill provides annual funding authorizations of \$500,000 for each
commission to be available until expended. Specific allocations of funds
to be expended by the commissions are also included. The Champlain
Commission's authorized appropriations between fiscal years 2008 and
2011 shall be expended with 45% going to activities in New York; 45% for
activities in Vermont; and 10% for other activities in accordance with
purposes of the legislation. The Commission will terminate on December
31, 2010. The Hudson-Fulton Commission's authorized appropriations, also
between fiscal year 2008 and 2011, shall be expended with 80% for
activities in the Hudson River Valley; 10% for activities in the City of
New York; and 10% for other activities in accordance with the purposes
of the legislation. This Commission will also terminate on December 31,
2010.

Both commissions are authorized to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of
gifts, bequests, or devises of real money or other real or personal
property for use in aiding or facilitating their work. Both are also
authorized to appoint advisory committees as they determine necessary
for carrying out the purposes of the legislation.

Back in the 108^th^ Congress, the Department testified on a similar bill
to establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commission. During that
hearing, the Department raised three concerns we had with the bill.
First, we were concerned about size of the commission that numbered 31
members. Second, we recommended that the bill clearly state that the
commission was authorized to accept monetary donations to accomplish its
purposes. And third, we recommended that the authorization of
appropriations to the commission be capped. S. 1148 integrates all three
of our recommended amendments.

The persons and events associated with the explorations of Lake
Champlain and the Hudson River, and the inauguration of steam powered
water-borne transportation form significant elements in our nation's
history. As we commemorate the contributions of Samuel de Champlain,
Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton, citizens of the United States and those
abroad will come to have a better understanding of their impacts on
early exploration, navigation, our national heritage, and the
development of the United States.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I would be pleased to answer
any questions you or other members of the committee may have.

**STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS OF THE
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 1380, TO
DESIGNATE AS WILDERNESS CERTAIN LAND WITHIN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL
PARK AND TO ADJUST THE BOUNDARIES OF THE INDIAN PEAKS WILDERNESS AND THE
ARAPAHO NATIONAL RECREATION AREA OF THE ARAPAHO NATIONAL FOREST IN THE
STATE OF COLORADO.**

**JULY 12, 2007**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the
opportunity to present the Administration's views on S. 1380, a bill to
designate as wilderness certain land within the Rocky Mountain National
Park and to adjust the boundaries of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the
Arapaho National Recreation Area of the Arapaho National Forest in the
State of Colorado.

The Administration cannot support S. 1380 unless amended to address our
concerns regarding the provisions related to the Grand River Ditch as
described in this testimony. The Department of the Interior testified in
support of a similar bill, S. 1510, at a hearing held before this
subcommittee on April 6, 2006. That bill did not contain the Grand River
Ditch provisions.

S. 1380 would designate approximately 249,339 acres of Rocky Mountain
National Park's backcountry in the National Wilderness Preservation
System. This represents approximately 95% of the park's total acreage,
lands that currently are managed as wilderness. In addition, S. 1380
would exclude lands occupied by the Grand River Ditch from wilderness,
change the liability standard for future damage to park resources
resulting from operation and maintenance of the ditch, enable the Water
Supply and Storage Company to convert its Grand River Ditch water rights
to other uses, make adjustments to the Indian Peaks Wilderness and
Arapaho National Recreation Area, both administered by the U.S. Forest
Service, and give the National Park Service (NPS) the authority to lease
the Lieffer tract.

In 1964, Congress designated Rocky Mountain National Park as a
wilderness study area. In 1974, President Nixon recommended to Congress
239,835 acres for immediate designation and 5,169 acres for potential
designation as wilderness in the park. The increased acreage amount
included in S. 1380 is based on modifications brought about by land
acquisition and boundary adjustments since 1974.

Present road, water, and utility corridors, and all developed areas, are
excluded from recommended wilderness. Wilderness designation would not
alter any current visitor activities or access within the park, and
would allow visitors to utilize the park in the same ways and locations
that they presently enjoy.

Federal reserved water rights for park purposes are not an issue related
to wilderness designation as water rights for the park have been
adjudicated through the State of Colorado water courts. Consequently, no
water rights claims for wilderness purposes are needed or desired by the
NPS.

After holding public meetings on the proposed designation in June 2005,
the gateway communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake, and the counties
of Grand and Larimer, endorsed wilderness designation for Rocky Mountain
National Park, subject to specific boundary modifications on the west
boundary of the park. These modifications, which have been incorporated
in S. 1380, would provide an area of non-wilderness around the Town of
Grand Lake in order to ensure that the park could continue to actively
manage hazardous fuels and other uses that might affect the Town. The
proposed modifications would also reserve a corridor along the east
shore of Shadow Mountain and Granby reservoirs for the possible
construction of a non-motorized hike/bike trail, which would be subject
to normal NPS planning processes including analysis under the National
Environmental Policy Act.

In addition to excluding lands occupied by the Grand River Ditch from
wilderness, S. 1380 would allow for a change in the liability standard
for future damage to park resources resulting from operation and
maintenance of the ditch, as long as the ditch is operated and
maintained in accordance with an operations and maintenance agreement
between the NPS and the ditch's owners. This provision would alter the
protections to park resources under the Park System Resource Protection
Act (16 U.S.C 19jj) which holds any person who causes injury to park
resources liable to the United States for response costs and damages,
except in certain circumstances such as an act of God or actions by a
third party.

In 1907, and again in 2000, the owners of the ditch, the Water Supply
and Storage Company, agreed to a stipulation, in return for a valuable
right-of-way across public land and a stipulated water rights agreement,
that requires them to pay the United States for any and all damage
sustained by use of the right-of-way regardless of the cause and
circumstances.

Altering these protections to a more lenient negligence standard for the
Grand River Ditch, as proposed by S. 1310, could have serious
implications for future damage causing events resulting from the
operation of the Grand Ditch within park boundaries. Changing that
standard to a general liability standard would require the NPS to expend
scarce financial resources to prove negligence. In cases where
negligence could not be proven, the United States would pay for response
and repair costs associated with damage caused by operation of the
ditch. This could set a dangerous precedent for all national parks and
other public lands with implications far beyond the boundaries of Rocky
Mountain National Park. Also, to retroactively change the 1907
stipulation would negate a century-old agreement that the ditch's owners
have twice agreed to in exchange for valuable consideration it has
received, the right-of-way itself and the 2000 stipulated water rights
agreement.

As proposed in S. 1380, an operations and maintenance plan for the ditch
is clearly needed. However, it must be comprehensive in scope and
enforceable and should not be tied to a change in the liability standard
for the ditch. We believe that an effective plan must contain provisions
that reduce the risk of catastrophic failure of the ditch (as occurred
in 2003) that could injure park visitors and staff and harm critical
park resources. The plan should also establish clear expectations
regarding maintenance and operational issues that impact park
operations. Such a plan, if fully implemented by the operators of the
ditch, should reduce the likelihood of future breaches or damage causing
events, which we believe is in the interest of all parties and should
negate the perceived need for a change in liability protection for the
park.

S. 1380 also proposes to grant an exemption to the Water Supply and
Storage Company from the requirement in its original right-of-way grant
that the primary purpose of the ditch is for irrigation or drainage.
This proposed change would enable the Company to convert its Grand River
Ditch water rights to other uses, such as municipal use, without risking
forfeiture of the ditch right-of-way, which could represent a
significant increase in the value of the water rights for the
shareholders of the Water Supply and Storage Company.

The provisions of S. 1380 related to the Grand Ditch go beyond ensuring
that ditch operations are not affected by the designation of wilderness
and grant the owners of the ditch significant privileges and exemptions
from existing law and prior agreements with the United States and a
potential windfall by allowing a change in use of the water. We would be
happy to work with the Committee on amendments to the bill to address
our concerns related to the operations of the Grand Ditch.

The legislation would also remove 1,000 acres of the Arapaho National
Recreation Area in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest and designate
the land as an addition to the existing Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.
The Administration supports the designation of the 1,000 acre addition
to the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Finally, S. 1380 would give the NPS the authority to lease the Lieffer
tract. This 12 acre tract is located outside the boundary of Rocky
Mountain National Park, was donated to the park, and lends itself to
leasing to educational institutions or other similar entities.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be happy to answer
any questions that you or other members of the subcommittee might have.