108TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 2129

AN ACT

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct

other purposes.as a unit of the National Park System, and forbuildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts,and feasibility of designating certain historica special resources study regarding the suitability

108TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 2129

AN ACT

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special

resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility

of designating certain historic buildings and areas in

Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park

System, and for other purposes.
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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taunton, Massachu5 setts Special Resources Study Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 Congress finds the following:

8 (1) The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is

9 home to 9 distinct historic districts, with more than

10 600 properties on the National Register of Historic

11 Places. Included among these districts are the

12 Church Green Historic District, the Courthouse His13 toric District, the Taunton Green Historic District,

14 and the Reed and Barton Historic District.

15 (2) All of these districts include buildings and

16 building facades of great historical, cultural, and ar17 chitectural value.

18 (3) Taunton Green is the site where the Sons

19 of Liberty first raised the Liberty and Union Flag

20 in 1774, an event that helped to spark a popular

21 movement, culminating in the American Revolution,

22 and Taunton citizens have been among the first to

23 volunteer for America’s subsequent wars.
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1 (4) Robert Treat Paine, a citizen of Taunton,

2 and the first Attorney General of Massachusetts,

3 was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

4 (5) Taunton was a leading community in the

5 Industrial Revolution, and its industrial area has

6 been the site of many innovations in such industries

7 as silver manufacture, paper manufacture, and ship

8 building.

9 (6) The landscaping of the Courthouse Green

10 was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also

11 left landscaping ideas and plans for other areas in

12 the city which have great value and interest as his13 torical archives and objects of future study.

14 (7) Main Street, which connects many of the

15 historic districts, is home to the Taunton City Hall

16 and the Leonard Block building, 2 outstanding ex17 amples of early 19th Century American architecture,

18 as well as many other historically and architecturally

19 significant structures.

20 (8) The city and people of Taunton have pre21 served many artifacts, gravesites, and important

22 documents dating back to 1638 when Taunton was

23 founded.

24 (9) Taunton was and continues to be an impor25 tant destination for immigrants from Europe and
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1 other parts of the world who have helped to give

2 Southeastern Massachusetts its unique ethnic char3 acter.

4 SEC. 3. STUDY.

5 The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate

6 State historic preservation officers, State historical soci7 eties, the city of Taunton, and other appropriate organiza8 tions, shall conduct a special resources study regarding the

9 suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic

10 buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit

11 of the National Park System. The study shall be con12 ducted and completed in accordance with section 8(c) of

13 Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)) and shall include

14 analysis, documentation, and determinations regarding

15 whether the historic areas in Taunton—

16 (1) can be managed, curated, interpreted, re17 stored, preserved, and presented as an organic whole

18 under management by the National Park Service or

19 under an alternative management structure;

20 (2) have an assemblage of natural, historic, and

21 cultural resources that together represent distinctive

22 aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition,

23 conservation, interpretation, and continuing use;
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1 (3) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and his2 torical events that are valuable parts of the national

3 story;

4 (4) provide outstanding opportunities to con5 serve natural, historic, cultural, architectural, or sce6 nic features;

7 (5) provide outstanding recreational and edu8 cational opportunities; and

9 (6) can be managed by the National Park Serv10 ice in partnership with residents, business interests,

11 nonprofit organizations, and State and local govern12 ments to develop a unit of the National Park System

13 consistent with State and local economic activity.

14 SEC. 4. REPORT.

15 Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which

16 funds are first made available for this Act, the Secretary

17 shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House

18 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and

19 Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the findings,

20 conclusions, and recommendations of the study required

21 under section 3.

22 SEC. 5. PRIVATE PROPERTY.

23 The recommendations in the report submitted pursu24 ant to section 4 shall discuss and consider the concerns

25 expressed by private landowners with respect to desig-
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1 nating the certain structures referred to in this Act as a

2 unit of the National Park System.

3 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

4 There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as

5 may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives October 4,

2004.

Attest:

Clerk.