**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 ENERGY
AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMITTEE, CONCERNING H.R. 3332 AND S. 2502, TO
PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEMORIAL WITHIN KALAUPAPA NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PARK TO HONOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE RELOCATED TO THE
KALAUPAPA PENINSULA FROM 1866 TO 1969.**

#  April 9, 2008

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the
Department of the Interior on H.R. 3332 and S. 2502, bills to provide
for the establishment of a memorial within Kalaupapa National Historical
Park, located on the island of Molokai, in the State of Hawaii, to honor
and perpetuate the memory of those individuals who were forcibly
relocated to the Kalaupapa Peninsula from 1866 to 1969.

The Department does not object to the concept of establishing a memorial
at Kalaupapa National Historical Park. The Department does, however,
prefer the language in H.R. 3332, with one minor amendment, as it
clarifies the fundraising requirements by Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa and the
Secretary's role in approving the final location for the memorial.

H.R. 3332 and S. 2502 direct the Secretary of Interior to authorize Ka
'Ohana O Kalaupapa, a non-profit organization, to establish a memorial
at either the Kalaupapa Settlement or Kalawao. The memorial would be
designed to display the names of the first 5,000 individuals sent to the
Kalaupapa Peninsula between 1866 and 1896, and to also display the names
of the approximately 3,000 individuals who arrived at Kalaupapa in the
second part of its history. Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa consists of patient
residents at Kalaupapa National Historical Park, and their family
members and friends.

Kalaupapa National Historical Park was established in 1980 to honor and
preserve two tragic histories: the removal of indigenous people from the
area in 1865 and 1895, and the forced relocation and isolation of
Hansen's Disease (leprosy) patients to the peninsula from 1866 until
1969. The park contains the physical setting for these stories,
including the Hansen's Disease settlements of Kalaupapa and Kalawao, and
the churches of Siloama and Saint Philomena associated with the work of
Father Damien and Mother Marianne Cope. Today the community of Kalaupapa
is still home for some Hansen Disease patients, whose memories and
experiences are of integral value to the Park.

The National Park Service works cooperatively with several organizations
to manage the site and preserve the stories of residents. Partners
include the State of Hawaii, Department of Health; the Catholic Diocese
of Honolulu; the United Church of Christ; State of Hawaii, Department of
Land and Natural Resources; and the Department of Transportation. The
land owner, State of Hawaii, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, maintains
a lease agreement (65 year) with the National Park Service. In addition,
the State of Hawaii, Department of Health would need to approve the
release of names of patients that are not already available to the
public for inclusion in a memorial. Each of these groups would need to
be consulted. The National Park Service is committed to working with the
patients, partners, and friends' groups to best honor the stories of
those for whom the park was founded.

The Department supports the concept of remembering all that has happened
at Kalaupapa and believes that the entire park is a memorial to the
history and injustice that has occurred on the peninsula. Still, we
recognize that the remaining patients and other interested parties
support a memorial to the Hansen's Disease patients.

We recommend the legislation be amended to clarify that the memorial be
located in the Kalaupapa Settlement, where patients continue to live
today, and not at Kalawao. Kalawao is a beautiful and remote location on
the peninsula where few structures exist. Few visitors see this area
other than in the distance. The Kalaupapa Settlement is a fitting area
for such a memorial -- it is where patients and visitors will have a
lasting reminder of what occurred at Kalaupapa. The proposed amendment
is attached to this testimony.

That concludes my testimony. I would be happy 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 SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING H.R. 3998, AMERICA'S HISTORICAL AND NATURAL LEGACY STUDY ACT.

## April 9, 2008

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the
Department of the Interior on H.R. 3998, a bill that authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to conduct nine special resources
studies of certain lands and structures to determine the appropriate
means for their preservation, use and management, including possible
inclusion within the National Park System or the National Trails System.

The Department supports the authorization of six of the studies: for the
Battles of Matewan and Camden, the Mississippi River, Fort San Geronimo,
the Rim of the Valley, and the Butterfield Overland Trail. The
Department does not object to the authorization of two of the studies:
for the Harry S Truman Birthplace site and the Eastern Legacy Lewis and
Clark trail sites. The Department opposes the authorization of the study
of the Wolf House. However, the Department feels that priority should be
given to the 32 previously authorized studies for potential units of the
National Park System, potential new National Heritage Areas, and
potential additions to the National Trails System and National Wild and
Scenic River System that have not yet been transmitted to the Congress.

Title I of H.R. 3998 authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special
resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of adding
the Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site, located in Lamar,
Missouri, to the Harry S Truman National Historic Site or designating
the site as a separate unit of the National Park System. The study would
also determine the methods and means for protection and interpretation
of the site by federal, state or local government entities or private or
non-profit organizations.

The Department does not object to the enactment of Title I. President
Harry S Truman was born in the house in Lamar, Missouri, and lived there
with his family until he was approximately 11 months old. The birthplace
is currently a State Historic Site operated and maintained by the
Division of Parks and Recreation of the State of Missouri. Harry S
Truman National Historic Site operates two units, the Truman Home in
Independence and the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, from the operational
center in Independence. The birthplace site in Lamar is approximately
120 miles from the national historic site in Independence. Mr. Truman's
birth in Lamar is currently being included in interpretive programs at
both the Truman Home and the Truman Farm Home as part of the larger
Truman story.

Title II of H.R. 3998 authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special
resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of extending
the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail to include additional sites
associated with the preparation and return phases of the expedition.
These sites are commonly known as the "Eastern Legacy sites" and are
located in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana,
Missouri and Illinois. The study would also determine the methods and
means for the protection and interpretation of these sites by federal,
state or local government entities or private or non-profit
organizations. The Department testified on a similar bill, S. 1991,
earlier this Congress.

While we have some concerns about the need for the study, the Department
does not object to the enactment of Title II. There have been many
discussions in recent years between scholars and interested individuals
concerning whether the Eastern Legacy sites and routes merit inclusion
in the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Arguments against
extending the trail have focused on the common historical understanding
of where the expedition itself began. Additional concerns include what
impact the inclusion of the Eastern Legacy sites would have on those
sites and on tourist visitation to the western half of the trail, and
whether extending the trail would dilute attention to and importance of
the existing trail. The issue of whether this area is suitable and
feasible as an administrative unit of the National Trails System has not
been addressed. Title II would provide that authority.

Title III authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special resource study
of the sites associated with the "Battle of Matewan" in Matewan, West
Virginia to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating
these resources as a unit of the National Park System, and to determine
the methods and means for protection and interpretation by federal,
state or local government entities or private or non-profit
organizations.

The Department supports enactment of Title III. The "Battle of Matewan"
was a pivotal event in the eventual end of coal company control in the
southern Appalachians, and a seminal event in the history of organized
labor. The conflict was precipitated by striking coal miners who
demanded the company recognize the legitimacy of the United Mine Workers
of America. The coal companies retaliated by bringing in armed guards to
evict miners from local mines and their families from company housing,
sparking an armed confrontation on May 19, 1920 that left ten people
dead. Resources related to this period are still extant in the Town of
Matewan and its surrounding areas.

Title IV authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special resource study of
the site of the Battle of Camden and the site of Historic Camden in
South Carolina to determine the suitability and feasibility of
designating these sites as a unit or units of the National Park System,
and to determine the methods and means for protection and interpretation
by the federal, state or local government entities or private or
non-profit organizations.

The Department supports enactment of Title IV. The Battle of Camden,
fought on August 16, 1780, was a key battle in the southern campaign of
the American Revolutionary War. The battle decisively ended American
hopes of a quick victory in the south. A 2003 reconnaissance study of
the Camden battlefield recommended that a Special Resources Study be
completed. Historic Camden is a National Park System affiliated area
within the City of Camden, which is one of the oldest towns in South
Carolina.

Title V authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special resource study
along the route of the Mississippi River from its headwaters in the
state of Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico to evaluate the route for
potential addition to the National Trails System. The study would also
determine the methods and means for the protection and interpretation of
the route by federal, state or local government entities or private or
non-profit organizations. Title V gives the Secretary the authority to
conduct the study in accordance with the National Park System General
Authorities Act or the National Trails System Act, as appropriate.

The Department supports the enactment of Title V. The Mississippi River
corridor is one of the richest in America's history. It traverses along
the edges of 10 states, linking six National Park Service areas and up
to 40 federal properties. A special resource study would allow for an
analysis of current conditions, river issues and activities, historic
issues, current and potential partners, interested state agencies,
affected communities, related planning projects, and previous studies,
and would help determine the best designation and coordinating role for
this important set of resources.

Title VI authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special resource study to
determine the suitability and feasibility of including Fort San Gerónimo
in Puerto Rico as part of San Juan National Historic Site. The study
would also determine the methods and means for protection and
interpretation of the site by federal, state or local government
entities or private or non-profit organizations.

The Department supports enactment of Title VI. Fort San Gerónimo is one
of four forts surrounding the old, colonial portion of San Juan, Puerto
Rico that were built by Spanish troops beginning in 1539. Fort San
Gerónimo is the only one of the four forts in the original fortification
system that is not included in San Juan National Historic Site.

Title VII authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special resource study
of the Wolf House in Norfork, Arkansas, to determine the suitability and
feasibility of designating the house as a unit of the National Park
System. The study would also determine the methods and means for the
protection and interpretation of the house by federal, state or local
government entities or private or non-profit organizations. The
Department testified on a similar bill, S. 1941, earlier this Congress.

The Department opposes enactment of Title VII. The Wolf House is a
two-story dogtrot structure dating back to 1829 and the oldest
territorial courthouse west of the Mississippi River. While the Wolf
House is an impressive historical structure, it is not distinguished
beyond many other historical log structures in cities all over the
United States. Even though the Wolf House has significance for the
political history of the state of Arkansas, we believe it may be more
suited for inclusion in the State Park system.

Title VIII authorizes the Secretary conduct a special resource study of
the area known as the Rim of the Valley in southern California to
determine the suitability and feasibility of designating all or a
portion of the corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area. The study would also determine the methods and means
for the protection and interpretation of the corridor by federal, state
or local government entities or private or non-profit organizations.
Section 802 (b) requires the Secretary to document the process used to
develop the existing Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Fire Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, and to document
all activity conducted pursuant to the plan designed to protect lives
and property from wildfire.

The Department supports enactment of Title VIII. The proposed study
would explore ways to involve a wide range of Federal, state, local, and
private entities to protect and interpret important natural and cultural
resources, and to provide more access to outdoor recreational
opportunities for the diverse urban communities in the Greater Los
Angeles Metropolitan Area. While the Department does not object to the
language in Section 802 (b), the documentation that this section
requires is already a part of the public record and is not relevant to
the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study.

Title IX authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special resource study
and evaluation of the "Ox-Bow Route" of the Butterfield Overland Trail
in the states of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona and California for potential inclusion in the National
Trails System. The study would also determine the methods and means for
the protection and interpretation of the corridor by federal, state or
local government entities or private or non-profit organizations.

The Department supports the enactment of Title IX. The Butterfield
Overland Mail Route was the scene of biweekly stage coach and mail
service between St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee to San
Francisco, California between 1858 and 1861. When the category of
"national historic trail" was first added to the National Trails System
in 1978, the Department of the Interior developed a file of potential
trails, including the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, but a formal
study was never completed.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my testimony. I would be pleased to answer
any questions you or the 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 SENATE
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 1633 TO
AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL RESOURCE
STUDY TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF INCLUDING THE
BATTLEFIELD AND RELATED SITES OF THE BATTLE OF SHEPHERDSTOWN IN
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, AS PART OF HARPERS FERRY NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PARK OR ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD**

**April 9, 2008**

# 

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the
Department of the Interior on S. 1633, a bill to authorize the Secretary
of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the
suitability and feasibility of including the battlefields and related
sites of the Battle of Shepherdstown in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, as
part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or Antietam National
Battlefield in the National Park System.

The Department supports S. 1633. However, the Department feels that
priority should be given to the 32 previously authorized studies for
potential units of the National Park System, potential new National
Heritage Areas, and potential additions to the National Trails System
and National Wild and Scenic River System that have not yet been
transmitted to the Congress.

S. 1633 would authorize the Secretary to carry out a special resource
study to determine the national significance of the Shepherdstown
battlefield and related sites in Shepherdstown, West Virginia associated
with the Civil War. The study would examine whether the area could be
included in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or the Antietam
National Battlefield. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit a
report to Congress no later than 3 years after the date on which funds
are made available to carry out this study.

General Robert E. Lee invaded the North, with the intention of bringing
Maryland into the Confederacy. Lee had a number of strategic reasons for
the move. First, Lee's troops were in much need of military aid and
supplies and Maryland's lands were rich in crops and untouched by
battle. Second, Lee saw Maryland as a stepping stone to Pennsylvania,
where he could draw the Union Army into a battle on ground of his own
choosing. He could then threaten the cities of Washington, Baltimore,
and Philadelphia and perhaps end the war in a short time. Finally,
General Lee hoped that another Confederate victory, this time on Union
soil, might also persuade Great Britain and France to grant diplomatic
recognition to the South.

As he had done before, Lee divided his army and sent "Stonewall" Jackson
in to capture the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, with its huge store
of supplies. But the people of Maryland looked on the hungry troops as
invaders who had come to plunder their land. Another unfortunate thing
happened. A Union private was resting near Frederick, Maryland and
noticed an envelope in the grass. It was a copy of General Lee's order
to his generals outlining his plans. The paper was soon in the hands of
General George B. McClellan.

The Battle of Shepherdstown, also known as the Battle of Boteler's Ford,
was fought on September 19 and 20, 1862. There were over 600 casualties.
General Lee had moved most of his army back across the Potomac River
into Virginia leaving 44 cannons to form an artillery reserve to protect
the vital crossing point on the Potomac. General McClellan had given
orders to pursue the enemy across the Potomac. In the confusion of
battle, General Lee received an erroneous report that his cannons had
been captured. Reacting to this misinformation, the Confederates sent a
force back to recover the artillery. In the skirmish that followed on
the bluffs of the Potomac, a large number of inexperienced Union troops
with faulty equipment were killed. This convinced General McClellan that
the Confederate Army was still full of fight and he decided to delay any
further effort to pursue until reinforced. The battle was considered a
Confederate victory.

The Battle of Shepherdstown was the final engagement of the Maryland
Campaign of 1862 that included the battles of Harpers Ferry, South
Mountain, and Antietam and ended the Confederacy's first invasion of the
North. The National Park Service has provided information and
interpretation on the Shepherdstown site at Harpers Ferry National
Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield for over 20 years.

A special resource study would provide alternatives for the appropriate
way to preserve, to protect, and to interpret the Battle of
Shepherdstown sites and resources. We estimate that the costs of
completing this study would be approximately \$250,000 to \$300,000.

That concludes my testimony. I would be happy 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 SENATE
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 1993 AND H.R.
2197, TO MODIFY THE BOUNDARY OF HOPEWELL CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL
PARK IN THE STATE OF OHIO**

**April 9, 2008**

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

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the
opportunity to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S.
1993 and H.R. 2197, bills to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
modify the boundary of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (NHP)
at the Seip Earthworks unit to conform with recognizable property lines
and landscape features, and to add the Spruce Hill Works unit to the
park.

The Department supports S. 1993 and H.R. 2197 as passed by the House. S.
1993 and H.R. 2197 authorize the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary)
to modify the boundaries of Hopewell Culture NHP and acquire lands only
from willing sellers.

Spruce Hill is an interesting and unique monumental ceremonial
archeological site built approximately 2,000 years ago by the Ohio
Hopewell culture. The site encloses the top of a hill on the edge of the
Appalachian Plateau and overlooks Paint Creek near the town of
Bourneville in Ross County, Ohio. Of the forty or more large monumental
Hopewell culture earthworks, less than a dozen are hilltop enclosures.
Spruce Hill is one of the larger examples of a hilltop site; its walls
enclose 140 acres. It is one of three Hopewellian earthwork sites in the
Eastern Woodlands where stone is used to construct its enclosing walls.
It also is the only hilltop enclosure in the extensive complex of
Hopewell earthworks in the Scioto valley around modern-day Chillicothe.
All of the other sites in the vicinity are built on the valley floors.
The site also has "enigmatic iron pit furnaces," which continue to
generate ardent discussions among archeologists.

The interest in preserving the Spruce Hill Works dates back to the
1970s. In 1972, the site was added to the National Register of Historic
Places. In 1980, Public Law 96-607 added a threatened earthwork site to
the park and called on the Secretary to study other Ohio Hopewell
culture sites and recommend sites for inclusion in the park. Spruce Hill
was considered in this comprehensive study; however, since there had
been limited modern archeology done at the site, Spruce Hill was
recommended for further study. As a result, when Public Law 102-294
established Hopewell Culture National Historical Park by combining the
existing Mound City Group National Monument with three new units, it
directed the Secretary to study several other prehistoric Hopewell
culture sites as potential additions to the park, including Spruce Hill.

Between 1995 and 1998, NPS archeologists were allowed access to Spruce
Hill by the landowner. They conducted investigations and prepared
preliminary findings and a summary report by 1998. This report found the
site significant and suitable for addition to the park. The report
concluded that Spruce Hill is an outstanding example of a particular
type of Hopewell culture monumental architecture, the hilltop enclosure,
of which about a dozen are known and only one other, Fort Ancient State
Memorial, a National Historic Landmark, compares to it in size. The site
also is associated with early developments in American archeology and
specifically with discussions of the origin and builders of the
monumental earthworks in the eastern United States. The site has
important natural resources as well, including vernal pools, breeding
habitat for grassland birds whose populations are in decline in Ohio,
and will help preserve the watershed of Paint Creek, a stream designated
as Outstanding State Waters. The site offers outstanding opportunities
to yield important scientific information on Hopewell hilltop sites, a
type of feature that has not been well studied and is not represented in
the park.

The estimated land acquisition cost for the Spruce Hill site is
\$450,000 to \$600,000. The property was purchased on June 12, 2007 by a
coalition of local and national conservation groups headed by the Arc of
Appalachia Preserve and the Archaeological Conservancy. These partners
are willing sellers. One of the partners, the Arc of Appalachia
Preserve, is interested in holding the property outside of the
earthworks and managing the site cooperatively with the NPS. This would
reduce the acquisition cost for the government. Public facilities,
including parking, hiking trails, and wayside exhibits, would be
relatively inexpensive, with visitor center and museum needs being
served by the Seip Earthworks unit. The cost to develop these facilities
would be approximately \$250,000. The Ross County Parks Department has
expressed an interest in cooperating with the development of these
facilities. However, Federal funding for any new land acquisition and
development would be subject to the budget prioritization process of the
National Park Service.

S. 1993 and H.R. 2197 authorize boundary adjustments at the Seip
Earthworks unit, allowing for alignment of the boundaries with features
that are readily recognizable such as streams and fence lines. The
boundary changes also would help preserve additional riparian habitat
along Paint Creek, and forestall the need to surplus excess lands and
provide easements across or near the principle resource of the park.
Most of the land in the proposed boundary modification at the Seip
earthwork has already been purchased by the Federal government as
uneconomical remnants or is owned by the Ohio Historical Society. These
changes would provide more opportunities for research into habitation
and craft production archeological sites and provide the earthwork
remains with a greater buffer. Also, inclusion of all of the Ohio
Historical Society-owned land at Seip Mound State Memorial would
facilitate joint management agreements with the Society. The estimated
cost to purchase the remaining private properties is \$250,000 to
\$300,000. These properties would be purchased from willing sellers.

Passage of S. 1993 and H.R. 2197 would allow the National Park Service
to preserve these unique earthworks, a distinctive form of ceremonialism
and monumental architecture that involved constructing long earthen
walls to enclose very large spaces. These earthworks, developed by an
American Indian culture in the Ohio River valley around 200 B.C. to A.D.
500, form a significant example of our nation's heritage.

That concludes my statement. I would be glad to answer any questions
that you or other members of the subcommittee 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. 2207, TO
AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO STUDY THE SUITABILITY AND
FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNATING THE GREEN MCADOO SCHOOL IN CLINTON,
TENNESSEE, AS A UNIT OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.**

#  April 9, 2008

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the
Department of the Interior on S. 2207, a bill to authorize the Secretary
of the Interior (Secretary) to conduct a study to evaluate the national
significance and the suitability and feasibility of designating the
Green McAdoo School in Clinton, Tennessee, as a unit of the National
Park System.

The Department supports S. 2207 with two technical amendments described
later in this testimony. However, the Department feels that priority
should be given to the 32 previously authorized studies for potential
units of the National Park System, potential new National Heritage
Areas, and potential additions to the National Trails System and
National Wild and Scenic River System that have not yet been transmitted
to the Congress.

The Secretary would use the criteria for the study under section 8 of
Public Law 91-383. Studies of this type typically cost approximately
\$250,000 and take three years to complete after funds are made
available.

S. 2207 would direct the Secretary to carry out a study of the formerly
segregated African-American Green McAdoo School. The Green McAdoo School
and the nearby all-white Clinton High School played an important role in
school desegregation that preceded and followed the Supreme Court\'s
decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

The Federal District Court in Tennessee issued an order on January 4,
1956, requiring desegregation of Anderson County schools no later than
the fall term, 1956. On Aug. 25, 1956, 12 students from the Green McAdoo
School, later dubbed the \"Clinton 12\" became the first
African-American students to effect the integration of a southern,
state-operated school. On September 1, 1956, Clinton was the first
southern town to be occupied by National Guard troops in an effort to
suppress violence sparked by protestors that were opposed to school
integration. In 1958, the newly integrated Clinton High School was
destroyed by explosives.

Anderson County rebuilt Clinton High School. Green McAdoo and Clinton
High are the only remaining schools associated with the historic Clinton
desegregation crisis. After closing as a segregated school, the Green
McAdoo School was reopened as a museum and cultural center in 2006. The
Green McAdoo School is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places.

We recommend amending the short title of the bill on page 1 line 5 by
striking "National Historic Site" and inserting "Special Resource"
before "Study" in order to not appear to have already determined the
outcome of the study. We also recommend making a similar amendment on
page 4 line 8 by inserting "special resource" before "study" to use the
term for the proposed study that is normally used.

That concludes my testimony. I would be happy 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 SENATE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 2254, A BILL TO ESTABLISH
THE MISSISSIPPI HILLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA IN THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

# April 9, 2008

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. 2254, a bill to establish the
Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi.

The Department cannot support S. 2254 unless the bill is amended to be a
feasibility study for a Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in the
State of Mississippi. The Department believes that a feasibility study
should be required for every proposed national heritage area and the
study should be evaluated against our interim criteria before
designation. The standards for evaluating areas proposed for national
designation are an essential element prior to establishing a national
heritage area. A study should be prepared that demonstrates evidence of
place-based resources that tell a nationally important story, which has
the support and involvement of the local community.

Although the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance has completed a
"Three-Year Strategic Plan for the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area" and
an impressive array of partners and potential funders has been
assembled, fundamental questions have yet to be formally addressed
regarding the region's eligibility for designation as a national
heritage area.

The Department is willing to provide advice or assistance in the
completion of a study that meets applicable standards and provides
Congress with the necessary information and assessment upon which to
base its decision regarding designation in the future.

With 37 national heritage areas designated across 27 states, and more
heritage area legislative proposals forthcoming, the Administration
believes it is critical for Congress to enact national heritage area
program legislation. This legislation would provide a much-needed
framework for evaluating proposed national heritage areas, 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 would also clarify the
expectation that heritage areas would work toward self-sufficiency by
outlining the necessary steps, including appropriate planning, to
achieve that goal.

S. 2254 would establish the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in
northeast Mississippi. The area would encompass all or part of 30
counties. It would also include the Delta National Forest. The bill
designates the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance as the
management entity. The Alliance is a non-profit organization registered
by the State of Mississippi, with the cooperation and support of the
University of Mississippi. The bill provides for the development of a
management plan that would inventory resources of the area, recommend
conservation measures, identify sources of funding, and consider public
involvement mechanisms.

The bill would authorize Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area to
promote and help conserve a number of important natural and cultural
resources. Included within its proposed boundaries are the sites of
important Civil War battles, the birthplaces of a number of noteworthy
Americans, the first public college for women in the United States, the
Mississippi University for Women, and Rust College, founded in 1866,
which is one of the oldest black colleges in the United States. The
proposed Mississippi National Heritage Area would encompass the Natchez
Trace Parkway; the Holly Springs and Tombigbee National Forests; the
Sardis, Enid, and Grenada Lakes; the Strawberry Plains State Audubon
Center; the Tishomingo State Park; and the Noxubee National Wildlife
Refuge.

Mr. Chairman, the Department is prepared to work with the subcommittee
on amending S. 2254 to authorize a feasibility study for a Mississippi
Hills National Heritage Area, in the State of Mississippi.

This concludes my prepared remarks. I would be pleased to answer any
questions you or any 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, REGARDING S. 2329 AND H.R. 2627, BILLS TO
ESTABLISH THE THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN THE STATE OF NEW
JERSEY AS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE EDISON NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.**

# April 9, 2008

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity
to appear before you to present the views of the Department of the
Interior on S. 2329 and H.R. 2627, bills to establish the Thomas Edison
National Historical Park as the successor to the Edison National
Historic Site.

The Department supports enactment of these bills.

Thomas Alva Edison was a prodigious inventor who revolutionized how the
Nation communicated, harnessed and distributed power, and translated
pure technology into commercial products. Edison National Historic Site,
located in West Orange, New Jersey, was Thomas Edison's second research
and development facility. After closing his first operation in Menlo
Park, Edison established the West Orange laboratory in 1887. The hub of
Edison's manufacturing operations until his death in 1931, the
laboratory was the most productive of all in terms of sheer quantity of
inventions. In fact, more than half of Edison's 1,093 U.S. patents were
developed at this location including his improved phonograph, the
nickel-iron-alkaline battery, and a fluoroscope used in the first x-ray
operation in America. It was here, too, that Edison established his
motion picture studio, the "Black Maria", in 1893.

In 1962, Congress designated the Edison Laboratory National Monument and
Edison Home National Historic Site as the Edison National Historic Site.
Glenmont, the home Edison purchased in 1886, and lived in with his
second wife, Mina Miller Edison, is located in nearby Llewellyn Park.
The 29-room mansion is built of wood, brick and stone and typifies the
eclectic Queen Anne style popular in the 1880s and 1890s. Both Edison
and his second wife are buried behind Glenmont.

S. 2329 and H.R. 2627 would redesignate the Edison National Historic
Site as the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. We believe this
redesignation to be appropriate for two main reasons. First, the term
"National Historical Park" generally applies to parks that extend beyond
single properties or buildings. This unit of the National Park System
includes both the laboratory in West Orange and the separate home
established by Edison in nearby Llewellyn Park, one mile away. They are
two distinct units with different interpretive themes, resource
management issues, and operational challenges.

Second, with completion of the current rehabilitation project at the
laboratory complex, the unit's complexity will increase and the term
"National Historic Site" no longer adequately reflects the nature of the
various themes that will be interpreted to serve the expected increase
in visitation. Educational and interpretive programs linking the
laboratory and the Edison home will become more sophisticated and are
better represented by the term "National Historical Park" to reflect
these non-contiguous parcels with a shared link to Thomas Edison.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement and I will be happy to answer
any questions that you or 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 SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING S. 2512, A BILL TO ESTABLISH
THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA IN THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

# April 9, 2008

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. 2512, a bill to establish the
Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi.

The Department cannot support S. 2512 unless the bill is amended to be a
feasibility study for a Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area. The
Department believes that a feasibility study should be required for
every proposed national heritage area and the study should be evaluated
against our interim criteria before designation. The standards for
evaluating areas proposed for national designation are an essential
element prior to establishing a national heritage area. A study should
be prepared that demonstrates evidence of place-based resources that
tell a nationally important story, which has the support and involvement
of the local community.

Various congressionally mandated studies have previously gathered
information on the Mississippi Delta region, including the Lower
Mississippi Delta Region Heritage Study and the Mississippi River
Corridor Study. While these studies have confirmed the importance and
significance of the Mississippi Delta region, they were undertaken
before generally accepted criteria for designating heritage areas had
been established, and were directed at a much larger region than the
area encompassed by this bill.

The Department is willing to provide advice or assistance in the
completion of a study that meets applicable standards and provides
Congress with the necessary information and assessment upon which to
base its decision regarding designation in the future.

With 37 national heritage areas designated across 27 states, and more
heritage area legislative proposals forthcoming, the Administration
believes it is critical for Congress to enact national heritage area
program legislation. This legislation would provide a much-needed
framework for evaluating proposed national heritage areas, 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 would also clarify the
expectation that heritage areas would work toward self-sufficiency by
outlining the necessary steps, including appropriate planning, to
achieve that goal.

The Mississippi River's role as a major transporter of goods and people
has long influenced the Delta's history and character. Since the
earliest days of human habitation, the Mississippi River has been
essential for transportation, communication, and commerce. The river and
associated ecosystems are part of North America's largest wetland area
and provide habitat for a wide variety of flora, fauna, and aquatic
species. Archeological sites across the Delta attest to the thousands of
years of human occupation. The Mississippi Delta's cultural traditions
are rich and diverse; it is a land of converging cultures. The Delta has
also been the site of a number of important historic events, such as the
Great Flood of 1927 and the Civil Rights Movement.

S. 2512 would establish a Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area along
the lines outlined in the Lower Mississippi Delta Region Heritage Study,
but covering a substantially smaller area, located entirely in the State
of Mississippi. It would include some 18 counties in the State located
within the alluvial floodplain of the Mississippi River. It would also
encompass the Delta National Forest.

The bill designates the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area
Partnership as the coordinating entity of the heritage area. The
Partnership is to be governed by a board of directors composed of 15
members. The members are to be appointed by various entities, including
the Governor; various universities, councils, and commissions; and
County boards from the heritage area.

Mr. Chairman, the Department is prepared to work with the subcommittee
on amending S. 2512 to authorize a feasibility study for a Mississippi
Delta National Heritage Area.

This concludes my prepared remarks. I would be pleased to answer any
questions you or any members of the Subcommittee may have.