89–010 

Calendar No. 304 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 111–154 

CAMP HALE STUDY ACT 

MARCH 2, 2010.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. BINGAMAN, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2330] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the Act (H.R. 2330) to direct the Secretary of the Interior 

to carry out a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of 

establishing Camp Hale as a unit of the National Park System, 

having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 

amendment and recommends that the Act, as amended, do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Camp Hale Study Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) CAMP HALE.—The term ‘‘Camp Hale’’ means the area comprising approximately 200,000 acres on the White River and San Isabel National Forests in 

west-central Colorado located within portions of Eagle, Lake, Pitkin, and Summit counties. 

(2) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means the Secretary of the Interior 

and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting jointly. 

SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall conduct a study of Camp Hale to determine— 

(1) the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Hale as a unit of the 

National Park System, in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 

U.S.C. 1a–5(c)); or 

(2) any other designation or management option that would provide for the 

protection of resources within Camp Hale, including continued management of 

Camp Hale by the Forest Service. 

(b) REQUIRED ANALYSIS.—The study under subsection (a) shall include an analysis 

of— 

(1) the significance of Camp Hale in relation to national security during 

World War II and the Cold War, including— 


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(A) the use of Camp Hale for training of the 10th Mountain Division and 

other elements of the United States Armed Forces; and 

(B) the use of Camp Hale for training by the Central Intelligence Agency 

of Tibetan refugees seeking to resist the Chinese occupation of Tibet; 

(2) opportunities for public enjoyment and recreation at Camp Hale; and 

(3) any operational, management, or private property issues relating to Camp 

Hale. 

(c) CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.—It is the intent of Congress that, in conducting the 

study under subsection (a), the Secretaries not propose any designation that would 

affect valid existing rights, including— 

(1) all interstate water compacts in existence on the date of enactment of this 

Act (including full development of any apportionment made in accordance with 

the compacts); 

(2) water rights— 

(A) decreed at Camp Hale; or 

(B) flowing within, below, or through Camp Hale; 

(3) water rights in the State of Colorado; 

(4) water rights held by the United States; and 

(5) the management and operation of any reservoir, including the storage, 

management, release, or transportation of water. 

SEC. 4. REPORT. 

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made to available to 

carry out this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 

Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 

House of Representatives— 

(1) the study conducted under section 3; and 

(2) any recommendations of the Secretaries relating to Camp Hale. 

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

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

this Act. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of H.R. 2330 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing Camp Hale in Colorado as a unit of the National Park System. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

Camp Hale was established during World War II as a training 

facility for the Army’s 10th Mountain Division and for other elements of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is located in the mountains of 

central Colorado, near Leadville, in Eagle County, along the Eagle 

River. The geography of the area was ideal for winter and high-altitude training, because of the region’s steep mountains and valley 

below, which was suitable for housing. 

From 1942 to 1965, the 10th Mountain Division and the 38th 

Regimental Combat Team, 99th Infantry Battalion, and soldiers 

from Fort Carson were trained at Camp Hale. Throughout this 

time, the Army tested a variety of weapons and equipment at 

Camp Hale. Between 1956 and 1965, the camp was also used by 

the Central Intelligence Agency as a secret center for training Tibetan refugees in guerilla warfare to resist the Chinese occupation 

of their mountainous country. 

In July 1965, Camp Hale was deactivated and control of the 

lands was returned to the Forest Service in 1966. Today the camp 

is part of the White River and San Isabel National Forests. The 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to clean up potentially 

hazardous munitions left over from weapons testing at the camp, 

particularly in the East Fork. Camp Hale was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. 


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H.R. 2330 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 

feasibility and suitability of establishing Camp Hale as a unit of 

the national park system. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

H.R. 2330, sponsored by Rep. Lamborn, passed the House of Representatives by a voice vote on June 2, 2009. The House of Representatives also passed similar legislation in the 110th Congress, 

H.R. 3336, by a voice vote on September 22, 2008. 

Companion legislation, S. 1418, was introduced by Senators 

Mark Udall and Bennet on July 8, 2009. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on both bills on July 22, 2009 (S. Hrg. 

111–129.) On December 16, 2009, the Committee on Energy and 

Natural Resources ordered H.R. 2330 favorably reported with an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on December 16, 2009, by a voice vote of a quorum 

present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 2330, if amended 

as described herein. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During its consideration of H.R. 2330, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment adds a 

section defining key terms in the bill, makes clarifying changes relating to the special resource study, and adds a section authorizing 

necessary appropriations. In addition, the amendment includes a 

provision that it is the intent of Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior not propose any designation that would affect valid existing rights when conducting the resource study. The amendment is explained in detail in the sectionby-section analysis, below. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 contains the short title for the bill, the ‘‘Camp Hale 

Study Act’’. 

Section 2 defines key terms used in the bill. 

Section 3 directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 

of the Interior (the Secretaries) to conduct a study of Camp Hale 

to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the site 

as a unit of the National Park System or any other designation or 

management option that would protect the resources within Camp 

Hale. The study shall include analysis relating to the history of the 

area, opportunities for public enjoyment and any management 

issues. The section also provides that it is the intent of Congress, 

in conducting the study, that the Secretaries not propose any designation that would affect valid existing rights. 

Section 4 requires the Secretaries to submit the study and any 

recommendations relating to Camp Hale to the House and Senate 

authorizing committees no later than 3 years after the date funds 

are made available. 

Section 5 authorizes the necessary appropriations to carry out 

this Act. 


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COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office. 

H.R. 2330—Camp Hale Study Act 

H.R. 2330 would require the National Park Service (NPS) and 

U.S. Forest Service to conduct a study of Camp Hale, a former military training area in Colorado, to determine the feasibility and 

suitability of designating the site as a unit of the National Park 

System or using some other means of protecting the camp. Based 

on information provided by the NPS and assuming the availability 

of appropriations, CBO estimates that conducting the required 

study would cost less than $500,000 over the next three years. Enacting H.R. 2330 would not affect revenues or direct spending. 

H.R. 2330 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

H.R. 2330. 

The Act is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing 

Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of H.R. 2330. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

H.R. 2330, as ordered reported, does not contain any congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 

benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior was 

included in testimony received by the Committee at a hearing on 

S. 1418 and H.R. 2330 on July 22, 2009. 

STATEMENT OF DANIEL N. WENK, ACTING DIRECTOR, 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

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. 1418 

and H.R. 2330, the Camp Hale Study Act. The U.S. Forest 

Service (White River National Forest) currently manages 

Camp Hale as a part of the National Forest System. 


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The Department supports both S. 1418 and H.R. 2330, 

with an amendment to section two to include the U.S. Forest Service in a joint study with the National Park Service 

for the future management of Camp Hale and to delete 

section three. However, we feel that priority should be 

given to the 47 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 Congress. 

S. 1418 and H.R. 2330 are almost identical and both 

bills would authorize the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), to conduct a special resource study to determine 

the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Hale as 

a unit in the National Park System. The study would also 

determine the methods and means for protection and interpretation of the Camp Hale site by the National Park 

Service, other federal, State, or local government entities, 

or private or nonprofit organizations. Not later than three 

years after funds are made available, the Secretary is directed to submit the results and recommendations of the 

study to Congress. The bill includes language to assure the 

study would not impact valid existing water rights in place 

upon the date of enactment. S. 1418 also specifies that the 

study would not impact the ability to construct and operate infrastructure necessary to develop and use those 

water rights. We estimate that this study will cost approximately $300,000. 

Located in and managed by the White River National 

Forest, in west-central Colorado, Camp Hale was established in 1942 to provide winter and mountain warfare 

training during World War II, because of the natural setting of a large, flat valley bottom, surrounded by steep hillsides suitable for training in skiing, rock climbing and cold 

weather survival skills. The size of Camp Hale varied between 5,000 and 247,243 acres when it was an active military installation. 

Managed by the U.S. Forest Service (White River National Forest), The Camp Hale Formerly Used Defense 

Site, is now used year-round by the public as a recreation 

area and is included on the National Register of Historic 

Places. 

Since the time Camp Hale was used for military training, there have been numerous discoveries of unexploded 

ordinance (UXO) there. As recently as 2003, during efforts 

to contain a wildfire, UXO used during the training of U.S. 

troops in World War II was found on the site. 

Efforts to remediate public risk from any remaining 

UXO at Camp Hale continue. The funding for any response actions at Camp Hale will depend on how the UXO 

sites there rank nationally. Depending on that rank, and 

available federal dollars, the remedial investigations for 

some or all Camp Hale munitions may not occur for several years. The Colorado Department of Public Health and 

Environment has discussed evaluating the hazard liabilVerDate Nov 24 2008 13:53 Mar 04, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR154.XXX SR154

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ities and remediating the site with the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers prior to a transfer. 

The story of Camp Hale and the men and women who 

trained there reflects the adaptability our nation showed 

during the last World War. Many of those who trained 

there went on to develop alpine skiing as a recreational activity, significantly influencing the economy of Colorado 

and many other western States. Studying and determining 

how best to preserve and protect Camp Hale and to commemorate the sacrifice and heroism so many Americans 

exhibited as a result of their training is laudable. 

We suggest that both bills be amended in section two to 

include the U.S. Forest Service in the study to determine 

the future of Camp Hale and to remove section three, 

which includes language concerning water rights. The 

study recommended in both bills would examine the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Hale as a unit 

in the National Park System, including evaluating all current uses and rights associated with the land. Since the 

bill only authorizes a study of the site, there is no possibility of the study having any affect on any water rights. 

As such, we believe the water rights language in both bills 

is unnecessary and redundant and we recommend the section be deleted. 

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared remarks. I 

would be happy to answer any questions you or any other 

members of the subcommittee may have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the Act H.R. 2330, as ordered reported. 

Æ 


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