Four Corners Interpretive Center Act

Summary: Authorizes the Secretary, under specified conditions, to award a grant to an eligible entity (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, or any consortium of two or more of those States) for the construction of the Center in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the construction cost.
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Four Corners Interpretive Center 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
        (1) the Four Corners Monument is nationally significant as the 
    only geographic location in the United States where 4 State 
    boundaries meet;
        (2) the States with boundaries that meet at the Four Corners 
    are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah;
        (3) between 1868 and 1875 the boundary lines that created the 
    Four Corners were drawn, and in 1899 a monument was erected at the 
    site;
        (4) a United States postal stamp will be issued in 1999 to 
    commemorate the centennial of the original boundary marker;
        (5) the Four Corners area is distinct in character and 
    possesses important historical, cultural, and prehistoric values 
    and resources within the surrounding cultural landscape;
        (6) although there are no permanent facilities or utilities at 
    the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, each year the park attracts 
    approximately 250,000 visitors;
        (7) the area of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park falls 
    entirely within the Navajo Nation or Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 
    reservations;
        (8) the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have 
    entered into a memorandum of understanding governing the planning 
    and future development of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park;
        (9) in 1992, through agreements executed by the Governors of 
    Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, the Four Corners Heritage 
    Council was established as a coalition of State, Federal, tribal, 
    and private interests;
        (10) the State of Arizona has obligated $45,000 for planning 
    efforts and $250,000 for construction of an interpretive center at 
    the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park;
        (11) numerous studies and extensive consultation with American 
    Indians have demonstrated that development at the Four Corners 
    Monument Tribal Park would greatly benefit the people of the Navajo 
    Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe;
        (12) the Arizona Department of Transportation has completed 
    preliminary cost estimates that are based on field experience with 
    rest-area development for the construction of a Four Corners 
    Interpretive Center and surrounding infrastructure, including 
    restrooms, roadways, parking areas, and water, electrical, 
    telephone, and sewage facilities;
        (13) an interpretive center would provide important educational 
    and enrichment opportunities for all Americans; and
        (14) Federal financial assistance and technical expertise are 
    needed for the construction of an interpretive center.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
        (1) to recognize the importance of the Four Corners Monument 
    and surrounding landscape as a distinct area in the heritage of the 
    United States that is worthy of interpretation and preservation;
        (2) to assist the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 
    in establishing the Four Corners Interpretive Center and related 
    facilities to meet the needs of the general public;
        (3) to highlight and showcase the collaborative resource 
    stewardship of private individuals, Indian tribes, universities, 
    Federal agencies, and the governments of States and political 
    subdivisions thereof (including counties); and
        (4) to promote knowledge of the life, art, culture, politics, 
    and history of the culturally diverse groups of the Four Corners 
    region.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
        (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Four Corners 
    Interpretive Center established under section 4, including 
    restrooms, parking areas, vendor facilities, sidewalks, utilities, 
    exhibits, and other visitor facilities.
        (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means the 
    States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, or any consortium 
    of 2 or more of those States.
        (3) Four corners heritage council.--The term ``Four Corners 
    Heritage Council'' means the nonprofit coalition of Federal, State, 
    tribal, and private entities established in 1992 by agreements of 
    the Governors of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and 
    Utah.
        (4) Four corners monument.--The term ``Four Corners Monument'' 
    means the physical monument where the boundaries of the States of 
    Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.
        (5) Four corners monument tribal park.--The term ``Four Corners 
    Monument Tribal Park'' means lands within the legally defined 
    boundaries of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.
        (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the Interior.

SEC. 4. FOUR CORNERS INTERPRETIVE CENTER.

    (a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the Secretary is authorized to establish within the boundaries of the 
Four Corners Monument Tribal Park a center for the interpretation and 
commemoration of the Four Corners Monument, to be known as the ``Four 
Corners Interpretive Center''.
    (b) Land Designated and Made Available.--Land for the Center shall 
be designated and made available by the Navajo Nation or the Ute 
Mountain Ute Tribe within the boundaries of the Four Corners Monument 
Tribal Park in consultation with the Four Corners Heritage Council and 
in accordance with--
        (1) the memorandum of understanding between the Navajo Nation 
    and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe that was entered into on October 22, 
    1996; and
        (2) applicable supplemental agreements with the Bureau of Land 
    Management, the National Park Service, and the United States Forest 
    Service.
    (c) Concurrence.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
no such center shall be established without the consent of the Navajo 
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
    (d) Components of Center.--The Center shall include--
        (1) a location for permanent and temporary exhibits depicting 
    the archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage of the Four 
    Corners region;
        (2) a venue for public education programs;
        (3) a location to highlight the importance of efforts to 
    preserve southwestern archaeological sites and museum collections;
        (4) a location to provide information to the general public 
    about cultural and natural resources, parks, museums, and travel in 
    the Four Corners region; and
        (5) visitor amenities including restrooms, public telephones, 
    and other basic facilities.

SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION GRANT.

    (a) Grant.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award a grant 
    to an eligible entity for the construction of the Center in an 
    amount not to exceed 50 percent of the cost of construction of the 
    Center.
        (2) Assurances.--To be eligible for the grant, the eligible 
    entity that is selected to receive the grant shall provide 
    assurances that--
            (A) the non-Federal share of the costs of construction is 
        paid from non-Federal sources (which may include contributions 
        made by States, private sources, the Navajo Nation, and the Ute 
        Mountain Ute Tribe for planning, design, construction, 
        furnishing, startup, and operational expenses); and
            (B) the aggregate amount of non-Federal funds contributed 
        by the States used to carry out the activities specified in 
        subparagraph (A) will not be less than $2,000,000, of which 
        each of the States that is party to the grant will contribute 
        equally in cash or in kind.
        (3) Funds from private sources.--A State may use funds from 
    private sources to meet the requirements of paragraph (2)(B).
        (4) Funds of state of arizona.--The State of Arizona may apply 
    $45,000 authorized by the State of Arizona during fiscal year 1998 
    for planning and $250,000 that is held in reserve by the State for 
    construction toward the Arizona share.
    (b) Grant Requirements.--In order to receive a grant under this 
Act, the eligible entity selected to receive the grant shall--
        (1) submit to the Secretary a proposal that--
            (A) meets all applicable--
                (i) laws, including building codes and regulations; and
                (ii) requirements under the memorandum of understanding 
            described in paragraph (2); and
            (B) provides such information and assurances as the 
        Secretary may require; and
        (2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary 
    providing--
            (A) a timetable for completion of construction and opening 
        of the Center;
            (B) assurances that design, architectural, and construction 
        contracts will be competitively awarded;
            (C) specifications meeting all applicable Federal, State, 
        and local building codes and laws;
            (D) arrangements for operations and maintenance upon 
        completion of construction;
            (E) a description of the Center collections and educational 
        programming;
            (F) a plan for design of exhibits including, but not 
        limited to, the selection of collections to be exhibited, and 
        the providing of security, preservation, protection, 
        environmental controls, and presentations in accordance with 
        professional museum standards;
            (G) an agreement with the Navajo Nation and the Ute 
        Mountain Ute Tribe relative to site selection and public access 
        to the facilities; and
            (H) a financing plan developed jointly by the Navajo Nation 
        and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe outlining the long-term 
        management of the Center, including--
                (i) the acceptance and use of funds derived from public 
            and private sources to minimize the use of appropriated or 
            borrowed funds;
                (ii) the payment of the operating costs of the Center 
            through the assessment of fees or other income generated by 
            the Center;
                (iii) a strategy for achieving financial self-
            sufficiency with respect to the Center by not later than 5 
            years after the date of enactment of this Act; and
                (iv) appropriate vendor standards and business 
            activities at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.

SEC. 6. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENT.

    The Four Corners Heritage Council may make recommendations to the 
Secretary on grant proposals regarding the design of facilities at the 
Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Authorizations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Department of the Interior to carry out this Act--
        (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
        (2) $50,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 for 
    maintenance and operation of the Center, program development, or 
    staffing in a manner consistent with the requirements of section 
    5(b).
    (b) Carryover.--Funds made available under subsection (a)(1) that 
are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year for which those funds are 
appropriated, may be used by the Secretary through fiscal year 2002 for 
the purposes for which those funds are made available.
    (c) Reservation of Funds.--The Secretary may reserve funds 
appropriated pursuant to this Act until a grant proposal meeting the 
requirements of this Act is submitted, but no later than September 30, 
2001.

SEC. 8. DONATIONS.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of the 
planning, construction, and operation of the Center, the Secretary may 
accept, retain, and expend donations of funds, and use property or 
services donated, from private persons and entities or from public 
entities.

SEC. 9. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, modify, or impair any 
right or claim of the Navajo Nation or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, that 
is based on any law (including any treaty, Executive order, agreement, 
or Act of Congress).

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.