59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–447 

TO FACILITATE THE ADDITION OF PARK ADMINISTRATION AT THE 

COLTSVILLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

MARCH 10, 2016.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. BISHOP of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2857] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 2857) to facilitate the addition of park administration at 

the Coltsville National Historical Park, and for other purposes, 

having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an 

amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO COLTSVILLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK DONATION SITE. 

Section 3032(b) of Public Law 113–291 (16 U.S.C. 410qqq) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘East Armory’’ and inserting ‘‘Colt Armory 

Complex’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE CONDITIONS.—No non-Federal property may 

be included in the park without the written consent of the owner. The establishment of the park or the management of the park shall not be construed to create buffer zones outside of the park. That activities or uses can be seen, heard 

or detected from areas within the park shall not preclude, limit, control, regulate, or determine the conduct or management of activities or uses outside of 

the park.’’. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 2857 is to facilitate the addition of park administration at the Coltsville National Historical Park. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Coltsville National Historical Park, located in Hartford, Connecticut, was authorized to be included as a unit of the National 

Park System (provided certain conditions are met) in 2014 by Public Law 113–291. The Coltsville site is approximately 260 acres and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
2 

holds structures and artifacts associated with the development of 

Colt Firearms, the Samuel Colt family, and their place in American 

history. Included in these facilities are the Colt home, industrial 

buildings, and a church. 

Public Law 113–291 specified that Coltsville will not become a 

unit of the National Park System until such time as the Secretary 

of the Interior ‘‘has acquired by donation sufficient land or an interest in land within the boundary of the park to constitute a manageable unit.’’ Additionally, the law requires that at least 10,000 

square feet of space in the East Armory be provided by the state 

of Connecticut, Hartford, or the private property owner, as appropriate, for park administration and visitor services. 

Since the passage of Public Law 113–291, discussions of where 

the National Park Service (NPS) would establish offices, a visitor’s 

center, and a place to display artifacts and exhibits related to 

Coltsville’s story have evolved. The NPS and a private developer 

who built apartments and office buildings in armories and factory 

buildings on the site identified two empty, dilapidated brownstone 

buildings adjacent to the East Armory that NPS feels more fully 

meet its needs. The NPS believes that the two brownstone buildings are better suited to welcome visitors because they are at street 

level and directly adjacent to parking. H.R. 2857 modifies the original requirement that 10,000 square feet of space in the East Armory be provided for park administration and visitors services. 

This change simply allows NPS to select an alternative location 

within the park boundary. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 2857 was introduced on June 23, 2015, by Congressman 

John B. Larson (D–CT). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 

on Federal Lands. On February 2, 2016, the Natural Resources 

Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. Congressman Tom McClintock (R– 

CA) offered an amendment designated #1. The amendment was 

adopted by unanimous consent. No other amendments were offered, 

and the bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the 

House of Representatives by unanimous consent on February 3, 

2016. 

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. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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)(2)(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 secVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:48 Mar 11, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR447.XXX HR447

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
3 

tion 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 

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

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 2857—A bill to facilitate the addition of park administration 

at the Coltsville National Historic Park, and for other purposes 

H.R. 2857 would revise the boundaries of the Coltsville National 

Historic Park in Connecticut. The Coltsville site is about 260 acres 

of land and structures that hold artifacts associated with Colt Firearms and the Samuel Colt family. H.R. 2857 would allow the National Park Service (NPS) to use space outside of the area stipulated under current law as the National Historic Park. 

Under H.R. 2857, NPS would relocate some existing facilities to 

the new area. CBO estimates that any costs to implement H.R. 

2857 would be insignificant and subject to the availability of appropriated funds. 

Because enacting H.R. 2857 would not affect direct spending or 

revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates 

that enacting H.R. 2857 would not increase net direct spending or 

on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. 

H.R. 2857 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Marin Burnett. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

2. Section 308(a) of 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. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 

any implementation costs ‘‘would be insignificant and subject to the 

availability of appropriated funds.’’ 

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 facilitate the addition of park administration at the 

Coltsville National Historical Park. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

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

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4 

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
4 

COMPLIANCE WITH H. RES. 5 

Directed Rule Making. The Chairman does not believe that this 

bill directs any executive branch official to conduct any specific 

rule-making proceedings. 

Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not establish or 

reauthorize a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was not included in 

any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 

pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111–139 or identified in the 

most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act (Public Law 95–220, 

as amended by Public Law 98–169) as relating to other programs. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

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

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

CARL LEVIN AND HOWARD P. BUCK MCKEON NATIONAL 

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 

* * * * * * * 

DIVISION B—MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 

AUTHORIZATIONS 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE XXX—NATURAL RESOURCES 

RELATED GENERAL PROVISIONS 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle C—National Park System Units 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 3032. COLTSVILLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) CITY.—The term ‘‘city’’ means the city of Hartford, Connecticut. 

(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the 

Coltsville National Historical Park Advisory Commission established by subsection (k)(1). 

(3) HISTORIC DISTRICT.—The term ‘‘Historic District’’ means 

the Coltsville Historic District. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
5 

(4) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map entitled 

‘‘Coltsville National Historical Park—Proposed Boundary’’, 

numbered T25/102087, and dated May 11, 2010. 

(5) PARK.—The term ‘‘park’’ means the Coltsville National 

Historical Park in the State of Connecticut. 

(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of the Interior. 

(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Connecticut. 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), there is established in the State a unit of the National Park System to be 

known as the ‘‘Coltsville National Historical Park’’. 

(2) CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENT.—The park shall not be 

established until the date on which the Secretary determines 

that— 

(A) the Secretary has acquired by donation sufficient 

land or an interest in land within the boundary of the park 

to constitute a manageable unit; 

(B) the State, city, or private property owner, as appropriate, has entered into a written agreement with the Secretary to donate at least 10,000 square feet of space in the 

øEast Armory¿ Colt Armory Complex which would include 

facilities for park administration and visitor services; and 

(C) the Secretary has entered into a written agreement 

with the State, city, or other public entity, as appropriate, 

providing that land owned by the State, city, or other public entity within the Coltsville Historic District shall be 

managed consistent with this section. 

(3) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which 

the Secretary makes a determination under paragraph (2), the 

Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the establishment of the park. 

(4) ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE CONDITIONS.—No non-Federal property may be included in the park without the written 

consent of the owner. The establishment of the park or the management of the park shall not be construed to create buffer 

zones outside of the park. That activities or uses can be seen, 

heard or detected from areas within the park shall not preclude, 

limit, control, regulate, or determine the conduct or management of activities or uses outside of the park. 

(c) BOUNDARIES.—The park shall include and provide appropriate 

interpretation and viewing of the following sites, as generally depicted on the map: 

(1) The East Armory. 

(2) The Church of the Good Shepherd. 

(3) The Caldwell/Colt Memorial Parish House. 

(4) Colt Park. 

(5) The Potsdam Cottages. 

(6) Armsmear. 

(7) The James Colt House. 

(d) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the National 

Park Service. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
6 

(e) COLLECTIONS.—The Secretary may enter into a written agreement with the State of Connecticut State Library, Wadsworth Atheneum, and the Colt Trust, or other public entities, as appropriate, 

to gain appropriate access to Colt-related artifacts for the purposes 

of having items routinely on display in the East Armory or within 

other areas of the park to enhance the visitor experience. 

(f) ADMINISTRATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall administer the park in 

accordance with— 

(A) this section; and 

(B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 

Park System, including— 

(i) the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 

1 et seq.); and 

(ii) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et 

seq.). 

(2) STATE AND LOCAL JURISDICTION.—Nothing in this section 

enlarges, diminishes, or modifies any authority of the State, or 

any political subdivision of the State (including the city)— 

(A) to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction; or 

(B) to carry out State laws (including regulations) and 

rules on non-Federal land located within the boundary of 

the park. 

(g) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—As the Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out this section, the Secretary may enter into 

cooperative agreements to carry out this section, under which 

the Secretary may identify, interpret, restore, rehabilitate, and 

provide technical assistance for the preservation of nationally 

significant properties within the boundary of the park. 

(2) RIGHT OF ACCESS.—A cooperative agreement entered into 

under paragraph (1) shall provide that the Secretary, acting 

through the Director of 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 purposes of— 

(A) conducting visitors through the properties; and 

(B) interpreting the properties for the public. 

(3) CHANGES OR ALTERATIONS.—No changes or alterations 

shall be made to any properties covered by a cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1) unless the Secretary 

and the other party to the agreement agree to the changes or 

alterations. 

(4) CONVERSION, USE, OR DISPOSAL.—Any payment by the 

Secretary under this subsection shall be subject to an agreement that the conversion, use, or disposal of a project for purposes contrary to the purposes of this section, as determined 

by the Secretary, shall entitle the United States to reimbursement in an amount equal to the greater of— 

(A) the amounts made available to the project by the 

United States; or 

(B) the portion of the increased value of the project attributable to the amounts made available under this subsection, as determined at the time of the conversion, use, 

or disposal. 

(5) MATCHING FUNDS.— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
7 

(A) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of the receipt of funds 

under this subsection, the Secretary shall require that any 

Federal funds made available under a cooperative agreement shall be matched on a 1-to-1 basis by non-Federal 

funds. 

(B) FORM.—With the approval of the Secretary, the nonFederal share required under subparagraph (A) may be in 

the form of donated property, goods, or services from a 

non-Federal source, fairly valued. 

(h) ACQUISITION OF LAND.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to acquire land 

and interests in land by donation, purchase with donated or 

appropriated funds, or exchange, except that land or interests 

in land owned by the State or any political subdivision of the 

State may be acquired only by donation. 

(2) NO CONDEMNATION.—The Secretary may not acquire any 

land or interest in land for the purposes of this section by condemnation. 

(i) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC INTERPRETATION.—The 

Secretary may provide technical assistance and public interpretation of related historic and cultural resources within the boundary 

of the historic district. 

(j) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date 

on which funds are made available to carry out this section, 

the Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, shall complete a management plan for the park in accordance with— 

(A) section 12(b) of Public Law 91–383 (commonly known 

as the ‘‘National Park Service General Authorities Act’’) 

(16 U.S.C. 1a–7(b)); and 

(B) other applicable laws. 

(2) COST SHARE.—The management plan shall include provisions that identify costs to be shared by the Federal Government, the State, and the city, and other public or private entities or individuals for necessary capital improvements to, and 

maintenance and operations of, the park. 

(3) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—On completion of the management plan, the Secretary shall submit the management 

plan to— 

(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 

Representatives; and 

(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 

the Senate. 

(k) COLTSVILLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ADVISORY COMMISSION.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Commission to 

be known as the ‘‘Coltsville National Historical Park Advisory 

Commission’’. 

(2) DUTY.—The Commission shall advise the Secretary in the 

development and implementation of the management plan. 

(3) MEMBERSHIP.— 

(A) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be composed 

of 11 members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of 

whom— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
8 

(i) 2 members shall be appointed after consideration 

of recommendations submitted by the Governor of the 

State; 

(ii) 1 member shall be appointed after consideration 

of recommendations submitted by the State Senate 

President; 

(iii) 1 member shall be appointed after consideration 

of recommendations submitted by the Speaker of the 

State House of Representatives; 

(iv) 2 members shall be appointed after consideration of recommendations submitted by the Mayor of 

Hartford, Connecticut; 

(v) 2 members shall be appointed after consideration 

of recommendations submitted by Connecticut’s 2 

United States Senators; 

(vi) 1 member shall be appointed after consideration 

of recommendations submitted by Connecticut’s First 

Congressional District Representative; 

(vii) 2 members shall have experience with national 

parks and historic preservation; 

(viii) all appointments must have significant experience with and knowledge of the Coltsville Historic District; and 

(ix) 1 member of the Commission must live in the 

Sheldon/Charter Oak neighborhood within the 

Coltsville Historic District. 

(B) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The Secretary shall appoint 

the initial members of the Commission not later than the 

earlier of— 

(i) the date that is 30 days after the date on which 

the Secretary has received all of the recommendations 

for appointments under subparagraph (A); or 

(ii) the date that is 30 days after the park is established. 

(4) TERM; VACANCIES.— 

(A) TERM.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—A member shall be appointed for a 

term of 3 years. 

(ii) REAPPOINTMENT.—A member may be reappointed for not more than 1 additional term. 

(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission shall be 

filled in the same manner as the original appointment was 

made. 

(5) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the call of— 

(A) the Chairperson; or 

(B) a majority of the members of the Commission. 

(6) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commission shall constitute 

a quorum. 

(7) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of 

the Commission. 

(B) VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Vice Chairperson shall 

serve as Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
9 

(C) TERM.—A member may serve as Chairperson or Vice 

Chairperson for not more than 1 year in each office. 

(8) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— (A) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission shall 

serve without compensation. 

(ii) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Commission 

shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 

lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 

of title 5, United States Code, while away from the 

home or regular place of business of the member in 

the performance of the duty of the Commission. 

(B) STAFF.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide the 

Commission with any staff members and technical assistance that the Secretary, after consultation with the 

Commission, determines to be appropriate to enable 

the Commission to carry out the duty of the Commission. 

(ii) DETAIL OF EMPLOYEES.—The Secretary may accept the services of personnel detailed from the State 

or any political subdivision of the State. 

(9) FACA NONAPPLICABILITY.—Section 14(b) of the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 

Commission. 

(10) TERMINATION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Unless extended under subparagraph 

(B), the Commission shall terminate on the date that is 10 

years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(B) EXTENSION.— (i) RECOMMENDATION.—Eight years after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall make 

a recommendation to the Secretary if a body of its nature is still necessary to advise on the development of 

the park. 

(ii) TERM OF EXTENSION.—If, based on a recommendation under clause (i), the Secretary determines that the Commission is still necessary, the Secretary may extend the life of the Commission for not 

more than 10 years. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS