A bill to authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the National Park System, and for other purposes.

Summary: National Park Service Study Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resource studies of: (1) the Kau coast, on the island of Hawaii; (2) on request, the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (3) sites in Alaska associated with the forced abandonment of the Aleut villages of Makushin, Kashega, and Biorka around Unalaska Island and Attu on Attu Island during World War II; (4) the five relocation sites in Alaska at Funter Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake and the Wrangell Institute; (5) specified World War II Japanese American Relocation Center sites; (6) American Latino sites in the San Luis Valley and Central Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico; (7) the town of Goldfield and outlying mining sites in Nevada; (8) the Hudson River Valley in New York; (9) the Norman Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, at which African-American casts and crews were used in the production of silent films; (10) the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in Alabama; and (11) Galveston Bay in Texas.

Requires updates of: (1) the study authorized by the National Park Service Studies Act of 1999 relating to World War II sites, Republic of Palau; and (2) the 1979 study entitled "Vermejo Ranch, New Mexico/Colorado: Study of Management Options."

Directs the Secretary to: (1) study alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the National Parks, (2) conduct a national historic landmark theme study to identify sites and resources in the southern United States that are significant to the Reconstruction era, and (3) study the feasibility of including 45 miles of the Chattahoochee River and land along the river corridor within the boundary of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area located in Georgia.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Park Service Study Act of 
2012''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDIES.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act 
as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct special resource studies of--
            (1) the Kau Coast, on the island of Hawaii;
            (2) on request of the Government of the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands, the island of Rota in the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
            (3)(A) sites in the State of Alaska associated with the 
        forced abandonment of the Aleut villages of Makushin, Kashega, 
        and Biorka around Unalaska Island, and Attu on Attu Island 
        during World War II; and
            (B) the 5 relocation sites in the State of Alaska at Funter 
        Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake, and the Wrangell 
        Institute;
            (4) World War II Japanese American Relocation Center sites, 
        including--
                    (A) Gila River and Poston sites in the State of 
                Arizona;
                    (B) Grenada in the State of Colorado;
                    (C) Heart Mountain in the State of Wyoming;
                    (D) Jerome and Rohwer sites in the State of 
                Arkansas; and
                    (E) Topaz in the State of Utah;
            (5) American Latino Sites in the San Luis Valley and 
        Central Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the States of Colorado 
        and New Mexico;
            (6) the town of Goldfield and outlying mining sites in the 
        State of Nevada;
            (7) the Hudson River Valley in the State of New York;
            (8) the Norman Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, at which 
        African-American casts and crews were used in the production of 
        silent films;
            (9) the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in the State of Alabama; 
        and
            (10) Galveston Bay in the State of Texas.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the studies under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) evaluate the national significance of--
                    (A) the sites; and
                    (B) the areas surrounding the sites;
            (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
        designating 1 or more of the sites as units of the National 
        Park System;
            (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
        protection, and interpretation of the sites by the Federal, 
        State or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit 
        organizations;
            (4) consult with interested Federal, State, or local 
        governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or 
        any other interested individuals; and
            (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
        development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
        associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph 
        (3).
    (c) Applicable Law.--The studies required under subsection (a) 
shall be conducted in accordance with section 8 of the National Park 
System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).

SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY UPDATES.

    (a) Studies.--The Secretary shall update the following studies:
            (1) The study authorized by section 326(b)(3)(N) of the 
        National Park Service Studies Act of 1999 (as enacted in title 
        III of Appendix C of Public Law 106-113; 113 Stat. 1501A-195) 
        relating to World War II Sites, Republic of Palau.
            (2) The 1979 study entitled ``Vermejo Ranch, New Mexico/
        Colorado: Study of Management Options''.
    (b) Contents.--In updating the studies under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) determine whether conditions have changed to justify 
        designation of the site as a unit of the National Park System;
            (2) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
        protection, and interpretation of the site by Federal, State, 
        or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit 
        organizations;
            (3) consult with other interested Federal, State, or local 
        governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or 
        any other interested individuals; and
            (4) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
        development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
        associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph 
        (2).

SEC. 4. BUFFALO SOLDIERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of alternatives for 
commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the 
early years of the National Parks.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) complete a historical assessment of the Buffalo 
        Soldiers that served in National Parks in the years before the 
        establishment of the National Park Service;
            (2) evaluate the suitability and feasibility of 
        establishing a national historic trail commemorating the route 
        traveled by the Buffalo Soldiers from the post of the Buffalo 
        Soldiers in the Presidio of San Francisco to Sequoia and 
        Yosemite National Parks and any other National Parks at which 
        the Buffalo Soldiers may have served;
            (3) identify properties relating to the Buffalo Soldiers 
        that could satisfy--
                    (A) the criteria for listing in the National 
                Register of Historic Places; or
                    (B) the criteria for designation as a National 
                Historic Landmark; and
            (4) evaluate appropriate ways to enhance historical 
        research, education, interpretation, and public awareness of 
        the story of the stewardship role of the Buffalo Soldiers in 
        the National Parks, including ways to link the story to the 
        development of National Parks and the story of African-American 
        military service following the Civil War.

SEC. 5. RECONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH STUDY THEME STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a national historic 
landmark theme study (referred to in this section as the ``theme 
study'') to identify sites and resources in the southern United States 
that are significant to the Reconstruction era.
    (b) Contents.--The theme study shall include recommendations for 
commemorating and interpreting sites and resources identified by the 
theme study, including recommendations for--
            (1) sites for which new national historic landmarks should 
        be nominated; and
            (2) sites for which further study for potential inclusion 
        in the National Park System is needed.

SEC. 6. CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER BOUNDARY EXPANSION STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of including in the boundary of the 
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (referred to in this 
section as the ``recreation area'') approximately 45 miles of the 
Chattahoochee River and land along the river corridor from the southern 
boundary of the recreation area south to the junction of Coweta, Heard, 
and Carroll Counties (referred to in this section as the ``study 
area'').
    (b) Contents.--The study authorized under this section shall 
include an analysis of--
            (1) significant resources or opportunities for public 
        enjoyment within the study area relating to the purposes of the 
        recreation area;
            (2) operational and management issues that need to be 
        considered if the study area is included within the recreation 
        area;
            (3) protection of resources within the study area critical 
        to fulfilling the purposes of the recreation area;
            (4) the feasibility of administering the study area as part 
        of the recreation area, taking into account--
                    (A) the size, configuration, and ownership of the 
                study area;
                    (B) costs relating to the administration of the 
                study area; and
                    (C) any other factors that the Secretary determines 
                to be appropriate; and
            (5) the adequacy of other alternatives for management and 
        protection of resources within the study area.

SEC. 7. REPORT.

    Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made 
available for each study authorized under this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a report that describes--
            (1) the results of the applicable study; and
            (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary 
        with respect to the area studied.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.