59–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–310 

PATERSON GREAT FALLS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 

ACT OF 2007 

AUGUST 4, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. RAHALL, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 189] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 189) to establish the Paterson Great Falls National Park 

in the State of New Jersey, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as 

amended do pass. 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act 

of 2007’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) The Great Falls Historic District in Paterson, New Jersey, is the site that 

Alexander Hamilton selected to implement his vision of American economic 

independence and transform a rural agrarian society based on slavery into a 

global economy based on freedom. 

(2) The Great Falls Historic District was designated as a National Historic 

Landmark in 1976 and President Gerald Ford declared it ‘‘a symbol of the industrial might which helps to make America the most powerful nation in the 

world’’. 

(3) Section 510 of Public Law 104–333 established the Great Falls Historic 

District to recognize the contribution to our national heritage of certain historical, cultural, and natural resources of the historic district. 

(4) Exceptional natural and cultural resources make the Great Falls Historic 

District America’s only National Historic District that contains both a National 

Historic Landmark and a National Natural Landmark. 

(5) Pierre L’Enfant’s water power system at the Great Falls and the buildings 

erected around it over two centuries constitute the finest and most extensive 


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remaining example of engineering, planning and architectural works that span 

the entire period of America’s growth into an industrial power. 

(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are—

(1) to establish a unit of the National Park System in Paterson, New Jersey, 

consisting of the Great Falls Historic District; and 

(2) to foster activities among Federal, State, and local governments, non-profit 

organizations, and private donors to preserve, enhance, interpret, and promote 

the cultural sites, historic structures, and natural beauty of the Great Falls Historic District for the benefit of present and future generations. 

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply: 

(1) PARK.—The term ‘‘park’’ means the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park established in section 4. 

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

(3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Paterson Great Falls 

National Historical Park Commission established in section 7. 

SEC. 4. PATERSON GREAT FALLS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—In order to preserve and interpret for the benefit of present 

and future generations certain historical, cultural, and natural resources associated 

with the Great Falls National Historic District, there is established in the city of 

Paterson in the county of Passaic in the State of New Jersey the Paterson Great 

Falls National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System. 

(b) BOUNDARIES.—The park shall consist of approximately 109 acres as generally 

depicted on the map titled ‘‘Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park—Proposed Boundary’’, numbered T03/80,000, and dated June 2007. The map shall be on 

file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National 

Park Service and the city of Paterson. 

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The park shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance 

with this Act and the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National 

Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1–4) and the Act of 

August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461–467). 

(b) STATE AND LOCAL JURISDICTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed 

to diminish, enlarge, or modify any right of the State of New Jersey or any political 

subdivision thereof, to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction or to carry out State 

laws, rules, and regulations within the park. 

(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the Secretary is 

authorized, after consultation with the Commission, to enter into cooperative 

agreements with the owners of properties of natural, historical, or cultural significance within the park, pursuant to which agreements the Secretary may 

mark, interpret, restore, and provide technical assistance for the preservation 

of such properties and pursuant to which the Secretary may provide assistance, 

including management services and program implementation. 

(2) RIGHT OF ACCESS.—Each cooperative agreement shall provide that the Secretary, through the National Park Service, shall have the right of access at all 

reasonable times to all public portions of the property covered by the agreement 

for the purpose of conducting visitors through such properties and interpreting 

them to the public. 

(3) ALTERATION OF PROPERTIES.—Each cooperative agreement shall provide 

that no changes or alterations shall be made in the property covered by the 

agreement except by mutual agreement between the Secretary and the other 

party to the agreement. 

(d) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.—

(1) CONVERSION, USE, OR DISPOSAL OF PROJECTS.—Any payment made by the 

Secretary pursuant to a cooperative agreement under this section shall be subject to an agreement that conversion, use, or disposal of a project so assisted 

for purposes contrary to the purposes of this Act, as determined by the Secretary, shall result in the right of the United States to reimbursement of all 

funds made available to the project or the portion of the increased value of the 

project attributable to such funds as determined at the time of such conversion, 

use, or disposal, whichever is greater. 

(2) MATCHING FUNDS.—As a condition of expending any funds appropriated to 

the Secretary for the purposes of cooperative agreements under this section, the 

Secretary shall require that such expenditure must be matched by expenditure 

of an equal amount of funds provided by non-Federal sources. 


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(3) DONATIONS.—With the approval of the Secretary, any donation of property, goods, or services from a non-Federal source may be considered as a contribution of funds from a non-federal source for purposes of this section. 

SEC. 6. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

Not later than 3 complete fiscal years after the date funds are made available for 

this purpose, the Secretary shall prepare, in consultation with the Commission, and 

transmit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 

and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a general management plan for the park in accordance with the provisions of section 12(b) of the 

Act of August 18, 1970 (16 U.S.C. 1a–7(b)), popularly known as the National Park 

System General Authorities Act, and other applicable law. 

SEC. 7. PATERSON GREAT FALLS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK COMMISSION. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Commission whose purpose shall be to assist and advise the 

Secretary in the development and implementation of the general management plan 

for the park. 

(b) MEMBERSHIP.—

(1) APPOINTMENTS.—The Commission shall be composed of 9 members appointed by the Secretary, of whom—

(A) 4 members shall be from nominees submitted by the Governor of the 

State of New Jersey; 

(B) 2 members shall be from nominees submitted by the City Council of 

Paterson; 

(C) 1 member shall be from nominees submitted by the Board of Chosen 

Freeholders of Passaic County, New Jersey; and 

(D) 2 members shall be qualified to serve on the Commission because of 

their familiarity with national parks and historic preservation. 

(2) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall elect one of its 

members as Chairperson and one as Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson 

shall serve as chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson. 

(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same 

manner in which the original appointment was made. 

(4) TERMS.—Terms of service are as follows: 

(A) The term of office of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be 

one year. 

(B) Members of the Commission shall serve for terms of 3 years and may 

be reappointed not more than once. 

(C) A member may serve after the expiration of his or her term until a 

successor has been appointed. 

(5) TIMELINE FOR APPOINTMENTS.—The Secretary shall appoint the first members of the Commission not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary has received all of the recommendations for appointment pursuant to 

paragraph (1). 

(c) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission shall serve without pay, but 

while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of 

services for the Commission, members shall be allowed travel expenses, including 

per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 

5, United States Code. 

(d) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a 

majority of its members. 

(e) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 

(f) STAFF.—The Secretary shall provide the Commission with such staff and technical assistance as the Secretary, after consultation with the Commission, considers 

appropriate to enable the Commission to carry out its duties. The Secretary may 

accept the services of personnel detailed from the State of New Jersey, any political 

subdivision of the State or any entity represented on the Commission. 

(g) EXEMPTION.—Section 14(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

App.) shall not apply to the Commission. 

(h) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 10 years after the date of the 

enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 8. ACQUISITION OF LAND. 

(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may acquire land or interests in land 

within the boundaries of the park from willing sellers only by donation, purchase 

with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. 

(b) STATE PROPERTY.—Land or interests in land owned by the State of New Jersey 

or any political subdivision of the State may be acquired only by donation. 


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SEC. 9. HINCHLIFFE STADIUM. 

Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a study regarding the preservation and interpretation of 

Hinchliffe Stadium as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The study 

shall include an assessment of the potential for listing as a National Historic Landmark as well as options for maintaining the historic integrity of the stadium. 

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

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

out this Act. 

Amend the title so as to read: 

A bill to establish the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in the State 

of New Jersey and for other purposes. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 189, as ordered reported, is to establish the 

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in the State of New 

Jersey and for other purposes. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Soon after the Revolutionary War, Alexander Hamilton selected 

the area around the Great Falls of the Passaic River as the site for 

the first planned industrial center in America. Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, invited Pierre L’Enfant to design the city 

in 1791. Hamilton’s vision was to harness the power of the falls to 

develop manufacturing capabilities in the United States to free the 

country from reliance on imported goods. The result of Hamilton’s 

plan was the city of Paterson, New Jersey which became one of the 

most important manufacturing centers in America during the industrial revolution. The story of Hamilton’s vision that America 

could develop an industrial economy that would free the nation not 

only from its reliance on Great Britain but also from its use of slavery is one of national significance. 

President Gerald Ford designated the Great Falls Historic District as a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Sec. 510 of Public 

Law 104–333 legislatively established the historic district and authorized a restoration, preservation and interpretive program for 

the area. The Great Falls Historic District is the only Congressionally established historic district which includes both a National 

Historic landmark and a National Natural Landmark. 

The 107th Congress approved legislation (Public Law 107–59) 

authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability 

and feasibility of designating the district as a unit of the National 

Park System. The National Park Service completed the study in 

2006 and concluded that the area was not suitable for such a designation. However, this determination has been disputed by numerous historians and the Committee has received testimony and letters that make a strong case for a national designation. 

H.R. 189 was introduced by Representative Bill Pascrell (D–NJ) 

and is cosponsored by the entire New Jersey delegation. Both New 

Jersey Senators and the State’s Governor, as well as the National 

Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Parks Conservation 

Association, and academic experts from Harvard, Yale, New York 

University, and numerous other institutions support a national 

designation. 


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COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 189 was introduced on January 4, 2007 by Representative 

Bill Pascrell (D–NJ). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 

on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. The Subcommittee 

held a hearing on the bill on March 29, 2007. On June 28, 2007, 

the Subcommittee was discharged from further consideration of the 

bill and the full Natural Resources Committee met to consider H.R. 

189. 

National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Grijalva (D–AZ) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute making extensive changes to the bill. 

The Grijalva substitute designates the area as the ‘‘Paterson 

Great Falls National Historical Park’’ and provides a map reference 

delineating the park boundary as only encompassing the existing 

historic district. The Grijalva substitute also changes several management provisions of the bill to conform the legislation to other 

National Historical Park designations. 

A substitute to the Grijalva substitute, offered by Subcommittee 

Ranking Member Bishop (R–UT), would have designated Paterson 

as an affiliated area, rather than a unit, of the National Park System. The Bishop substitute to the Grijalva substitute was not 

agreed to by a roll call vote of 11 yeas and 25 nays, as follows: 


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Representative Bishop also offered an amendment to the Grijalva 

substitute proposing to cap federal funding for the Historical Park 

but failed to indicate a specific limit. The Bishop amendment was 

not agreed to by voice vote. The Grijalva substitute was then 

adopted by voice vote. H.R. 189 was then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 entitles the bill the, ‘‘Paterson Great Falls National 

Historical Park Act of 2007.’’

Section 2. Findings and purposes 

Section 2 contains the bill’s findings and purposes, which include 

fostering activities among various parties to ‘‘preserve, enhance, interpret, and promote the cultural sites, historic structures and natural beauty of the Great Falls Historic District for the benefit of 

present and future generations.’’

Section 3. Definitions 

Section 3 defines terms relevant to the legislation. 

Section 4. Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park 

Section 4(a) establishes the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System. Section 4(b) 

specifies the boundaries of the unit by means of a map reference. 

Section 5. Administration 

Section 5(a) requires the Historical Park to be managed according to this Act and other laws generally applicable to units of the 

National Park System. Section 5(b) clarifies that nothing in this 

Act enlarges or diminishes existing authority of the State of New 

Jersey or its political subdivisions to exercise civil or criminal jurisdiction or carry out state laws, rules or regulations within the 

Park. Section 5(c) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter 

into cooperative agreements with owners of property within the 

Historical Park and specifies the terms and requirements of those 

agreements. 

Section 6. General management plan 

Section 6 requires the Secretary to prepare, in consultation with 

the Commission authorized in Section 7, a general management 

plan for the Historical Park within three years after the date funds 

are made available for that purpose. 

Section 7. Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Commission 

Section 7(a) establishes the Commission whose purpose shall be 

to ‘‘assist and advise the Secretary in development and implementation of the general management plan for the park.’’ Sections 7(b) 

through 7(h) outline the membership, responsibilities and requirements of the Commission. 


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Section 8. Acquisition of land 

Section 8 authorizes the Secretary to acquire land or interests in 

land within the boundaries of the park, from willing sellers only, 

by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. State lands are to be acquired by donation only. 

Section 9. Hinchliffe Stadium 

Section 9 requires the Secretary to study options for the preservation and interpretation of Hinchliffe Stadium, as listed on the 

National Register of Historic Places. The study must be completed 

within three years of the date of enactment of the legislation. 

Section 10. Authorization of appropriations 

This section authorizes such sums as may be necessary to carry 

out the purposes of this Act. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

The functions of the proposed advisory committee authorized in 

the bill are not currently being nor could they be performed by one 

or more agencies, an advisory committee already in existence or by 

enlarging the mandate of an existing advisory committee. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States 

grants Congress the authority to enact this bill. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that Rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule 

XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not 

contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill is to establish the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in the State of New Jersey and for other purposes. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

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mittee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 189—Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act of 

2007 

Summary: H.R. 189 would establish the Paterson Great Falls 

National Historical Park on 109 acres of land in Paterson, New 

Jersey. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 189 would cost the National Park 

Service (NPS) $22 million over the 2008–2012 period and $1 million a year thereafter. We estimate that enacting the legislation 

would not affect direct spending or revenues. 

H.R. 189 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

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

Estimated costs to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 189 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization Level ................................................................................ 1 1 4 8 8 

Estimated Outlays ................................................................................................... 1 1 4 8 8 

Basis of estimate: H.R. 189 would establish the Paterson Great 

Falls National Historical Park at the site of the Great Falls Historic District, a National Historic Landmark in Paterson, New Jersey. Although the bill would authorize the NPS to acquire the 109- 

acre park site, CBO expects that most of this acreage would continue to be owned by the state, local nonprofit organizations, and 

private landowners. Under the bill, the park would be managed by 

the NPS under cooperative agreements with those entities and in 

consultation with a Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park 

Commission, also to be established by the bill. In addition to operating the historical park, the NPS would restore and preserve historic structures, provide technical assistance to landowners, and 

create interpretive programs and materials such as signs and wayside exhibits. 

Based on information provided by NPS and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that the agency 

would spend $22 million over the 2008–2012 period to implement 

this legislation. Of this amount, we estimate that $1 million a year 

would be spent to manage and operate the new historical park. In 

the first three years after enactment, the annual cost would include 

expenses to prepare a general management plan for the park and 

to complete a required study on preserving and interpreting the 

Hinchcliffe Stadium. We estimate that the agency would spend an 

additional $5 million to construct administrative and visitor facilities and to install park exhibits over the 2010–2012 period. We estimate that $12 million would be provided to local landowners over 

that same period for the preservation of historic properties within 

the park. 


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Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 189 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis and David 

Reynolds; Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Leo 

Lex; Impact on the Private Sector: Craig Cammarata. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

H.R. 189 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e) 

or 9(f) of rule XXI. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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