I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2715

To provide for necessary improvements to facilities at Yosemite National 

Park, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 14, 2003

Mr. RADANOVICH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To provide for necessary improvements to facilities at 

Yosemite National Park, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION FOR PARK FACILITIES TO BE 

4 LOCATED OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF YO5 SEMITE NATIONAL PARK. 

6 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—In order to facilitate the ad7 ministration of Yosemite National Park, the Secretary of 

8 the Interior is authorized, under such terms and condi9 tions as the Secretary may deem advisable, to expend do10 nated funds, funds collected from user fees, or appro-
2

•HR 2715 IH 

1 priated funds for the planning, design, construction of, 

2 and related activities for, essential facilities for Park and 

3 concessions administration and visitor use outside the 

4 boundaries, but within the vicinity, of the Park. Such fa5 cilities and the use thereof shall be in conformity with ap6 proved plans for the Park. Such facilities may only be con7 structed by the Secretary upon a finding that the facilities 

8 are necessary for Park operation, and that the location 

9 of such facilities would—

10 (1) avoid undue degradation of natural or cul11 tural resources within the Park; 

12 (2) enhance service to the public; or 

13 (3) provide a cost saving to the Federal Govern14 ment. 

15 (b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary 

16 may enter into cooperative agreements with local govern17 ments or private entities to undertake the activities grant18 ed under this section. The Secretary is encouraged to iden19 tify and use alternative funding sources to supplement any 

20 Federal funding used for these facilities. 

21 SEC. 2. PLANNING; TRANSPORTATION; VISITOR SERVICE 

22 PROJECTS. 

23 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary shall allocate 

24 amounts made available under section 1(a) to carry out 

25 the following activities: 
3

•HR 2715 IH 

1 (1) Planning and restoration of low-impact 

2 camping at upper and lower river campgrounds. The 

3 Secretary may use amounts appropriated to the Sec4 retary for flood recovery in the Yosemite Valley to 

5 carry out planning (including environmental docu6 mentation) and development related to the activities 

7 required under this paragraph. 

8 (2) Construction and maintenance of the max9 imum amount of parking available at Camp 6 and 

10 adjacent previously impacted lands. 

11 (3) Cooperation and participation (including the 

12 provision of technical and financial assistance) with 

13 governments of counties located in the vicinity of 

14 Park for the preparation of county general and spe15 cific plans related to determining the feasibility of 

16 locating park administrative facilities, visitor services 

17 and facilities, housing, or other facilities necessary 

18 for Park operations outside the boundaries of the 

19 Park. Not later than December 31, 2003, and annu20 ally thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 

21 Committee on Resources of the House of Represent22 atives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

23 Resources of the Senate a description of the actions 

24 that the Secretary has taken under this paragraph. 
4

•HR 2715 IH 

1 (4) Consistent with the projects described in 

2 paragraphs (1) through (3), development of traffic 

3 management and traveler information services, sign4 age, and circulation improvements. 

5 (5) Provision of housing for employees of the 

6 Federal Government and employees of conces7 sionaires related to the Park who are required as a 

8 condition of employment to reside in Yosemite Val9 ley. Notwithstanding the last sentence of section 

10 814(a)(8) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands 

11 Management Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 17o note; 110 

12 Stat. 4192), for employee housing requirements out13 side of Yosemite Valley, the Secretary shall use part14 nerships with private entities whenever practicable 

15 and cost effective, including through leases and lease 

16 agreements. Guarantees to carry out this paragraph 

17 shall not apply against the limitation in the last sen18 tence of such section 814(a)(8). 

19 (6) Entering into and carrying out cooperative 

20 agreements with the Yosemite Area Regional Trans21 portation System Joint Powers Authority to trans22 port employees of the Federal Government and em23 ployees of concessionaires related to the Park to and 

24 from the Park for the purposes of their employment. 
5

•HR 2715 IH 

1 (7) Removal of the Le Conte Memorial, a pri2 vate special use, from the Park and restoration of 

3 the grounds of that memorial to its natural state. 

4 (b) PROHIBITED PROJECTS.—The Secretary may not 

5 allocate amounts described in section 1(a) to implement 

6 a shuttle system which uses remote parking facilities or 

7 includes operations outside of the boundaries of Yosemite 

8 Valley. 

9 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

10 For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 

11 apply: 

12 (1) PARK.—The term ‘‘Park’’ means Yosemite 

13 National Park. 

14 (2) RECORD OF DECISION.—The term ‘‘Record 

15 of Decision’’ means the record of decision entitled 

16 ‘‘Final Yosemite Valley Plan Supplemental Environ17 mental Impact Statement’’ dated December 29, 

18 2000. 

19 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

20 the Secretary of the Interior.

Æ