89–006 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 111–597 

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA 

BOUNDARY STUDY ACT OF 2009 

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010.—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. 3785] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 3785) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 

a study of the suitability and feasibility of expanding the boundary 

of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and 

recommend that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 3785 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of expanding the boundary of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

H.R. 3785 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 

suitability and feasibility of adding approximately 45 miles of the 

Chattahoochee River and lands along the river corridor to the 

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Georgia. The current recreation area is a heavily visited park on the northwestern 

side of Atlanta. It was established in 1978, and the boundaries 

were expanded in 1999 to a total of 10,000 acres. The recreation 

area contains 16 park units and 50 miles of hiking trails along 48 

miles of the river. More than 3 million visitors a year come to float 

down the river, hike the trails along its banks, or fish for the 23 

species of game fish that live in its cold water. 


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The stretch of the river that would be studied under the bill extends from the southern boundary of the current recreation area to 

a spot where Coweta, Heard, and Carroll counties meet extending 

along the western side of Atlanta, and well to the southwest near 

the Alabama border. H.R. 3785 would direct the Secretary to complete the study within three years of the time funds are made 

available for the work. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 3785 was introduced by Representative David Scott (D–GA) 

on October 8, 2009. The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 

National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. At a June 10, 2010, 

hearing before the Subcommittee, a representative of the Department of the Interior testified that the Department supports the bill. 

On July 22, 2010, the Subcommittee was discharged from further 

consideration of H.R. 3785 and the full Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. 

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. 

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 authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 

a study of the suitability and feasibility of expanding the boundary 

of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. 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: 


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H.R. 3785—Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Boundary Study Act of 2009 

H.R. 3785 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a study of about 45 miles of the Chattahoochee River and surrounding lands, including the boundary of the Chattahoochee River 

National Recreation Area in Georgia. In the study, NPS would 

evaluate significant resources or recreational opportunities of the 

area and analyze related operating and resource protection issues. 

NPS would have three years to complete the study and report to 

the Congress on its results. 

Based on information provided by NPS and assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that carrying out the 

study required by H.R. 3785 would cost about $300,000 over the 

next three years. Enacting H.R. 3785 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

H.R. 3785 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 Deborah Reis. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

H.R. 3785 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 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. 

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