69–006

106TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 106–138

THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT

MAY 13, 1999.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of

the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources,

submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H.R. 658]

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill

(H.R. 658) to establish the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in

the State of New York as an affiliated area of the National Park

System, 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 out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof

the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Thomas Cole National Historic

Site Act’’.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

Sec. 3. Findings and purposes.

Sec. 4. Establishment of Thomas Cole National Historic Site.

Sec. 5. Retention of ownership and management of historic site by Greene County Historical Society.

Sec. 6. Administration of historic site.

Sec. 7. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Act:

(1) The term ‘‘historic site’’ means the Thomas Cole National Historic Site established by section 4 of this Act.

(2) The term ‘‘Hudson River artists’’ means artists who were associated with

the Hudson River school of landscape painting.

(3) The term ‘‘plan’’ means the general management plan developed pursuant

to section 6(d).

(4) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior.

(5) The term ‘‘Society’’ means the Greene County Historical Society of Greene

County, New York, which owns the Thomas Cole home, studio, and other property comprising the historic site.
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SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:

(1) The Hudson River school of landscape painting was inspired by Thomas

Cole and was characterized by a group of 19th century landscape artists who

recorded and celebrated the landscape and wilderness of America, particularly

in the Hudson River Valley region in the State of New York.

(2) Thomas Cole is recognized as America’s most prominent landscape and allegorical painter of the mid-19th century.

(3) Located in Greene County, New York, the Thomas Cole House, also known

as Thomas Cole’s Cedar Grove, is listed on the National Register of Historic

Places and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

(4) Within a 15 mile radius of the Thomas Cole House, an area that forms

a key part of the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Hudson River Valley

region, significant landscapes and scenes painted by Thomas Cole and other

Hudson River artists, such as Frederic Church, survive intact.

(5) The State of New York has established the Hudson River Valley Greenway

to promote the preservation, public use, and enjoyment of the natural and cultural resources of the Hudson River Valley region.

(6) Establishment of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site will provide opportunities for the illustration and interpretation of cultural themes of the heritage of the United States and unique opportunities for education, public use,

and enjoyment.

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

(1) to preserve and interpret the home and studio of Thomas Cole for the benefit, inspiration, and education of the people of the United States;

(2) to help maintain the integrity of the setting in the Hudson River Valley

region that inspired artistic expression;

(3) to coordinate the interpretive, preservation, and recreational efforts of

Federal, State, and other entities in the Hudson Valley region in order to enhance opportunities for education, public use, and enjoyment; and

(4) to broaden understanding of the Hudson River Valley region and its role

in American history and culture.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established, as an affiliated area of the National

Park System, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the State of New York.

(b) DESCRIPTION.—The historic site shall consist of the home and studio of Thomas Cole, comprising approximately 3.4 acres, located at 218 Spring Street, in the village of Catskill, New York, as generally depicted on the boundary map numbered

TCH/80002, and dated March 1992.

SEC. 5. RETENTION OF OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF HISTORIC SITE BY GREENE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Greene County Historical Society of Greene County, New York, shall continue

to own, administer, manage, and operate the historic site.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF HISTORIC SITE.

(a) APPLICABILITY OF NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM LAWS.—The historic site shall be

administered in a manner consistent with this Act and all laws generally applicable

to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (16

U.S.C. 1 et seq.; commonly known as the National Park Service Organic Act), and

the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.; commonly known as the Historic

Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act).

(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—

(1) ASSISTANCE TO SOCIETY.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the Society to preserve the Thomas Cole House and other structures

in the historic site and to assist with education programs and research and interpretation of the Thomas Cole House and associated landscapes.

(2) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—To further the purposes of this Act, the Secretary

may enter into cooperative agreements with the State of New York, the Society,

the Thomas Cole Foundation, and other public and private entities to facilitate

public understanding and enjoyment of the lives and works of the Hudson River

artists through the provision of assistance to develop, present, and fund art exhibits, resident artist programs, and other appropriate activities related to the

preservation, interpretation, and use of the historic site.

(c) ARTIFACTS AND PROPERTY.—The Secretary may acquire personal property associated with, and appropriate for, the interpretation of the historic site.

(d) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Within two complete fiscal years after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a general management
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plan for the historic site with the cooperation of the Society. Upon the completion

of the plan, the Secretary shall provide a copy of the plan to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the

House of Representatives. The plan shall include recommendations for regional wayside exhibits, to be carried out through cooperative agreements with the State of

New York and other public and private entities. The plan shall be prepared in accordance with section 12(b) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–1 et seq.; commonly

known as the National Park System General Authorities Act).

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

this Act.

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 658 is to establish the Thomas Cole National

Historic Site in the State of New York as an affiliated area of the

National Park System.

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The purpose of the proposed Thomas Cole House National Historic Site is to preserve, protect, and interpret the historic landscape and home of an extremely important American artist, Thomas Cole. Thomas Cole (1801–1848) founded the Hudson River

School of art, an important cultural movement with great significance to the beginning of the conservation movement.

The proposed historic site includes the home and studio of Thomas Cole and is located on 3.4 acres of the original 88-acre property

in the village of Catskill, New York. They are largely unchanged

since his residence there. Within a 15-mile radius of this home

there are more than 20 sites which were painted by the Hudson

River School of artists, including 10 sites painted by Cole. Nearby

museums have many original Hudson School paintings. Together

these sites offer an excellent opportunity for interpreting the artists’ lives and work in conjunction with the Hudson River movement.

H.R. 658 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish the

Thomas Cole Site as an affiliated area of the National Park Service. The Greene County Historical Society shall continue to own,

manage, and operate the historic site and will administer the site

consistent with the laws applicable to the National Park System.

The Historical Society, with assistance from the Secretary, also will

develop a management plan within two fiscal years of enactment.

The Committee makes a note regarding H.R. 658. Although this

bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire personal

property associated with and appropriate for this historic site, the

Committee emphasizes that no federal appropriation made under

Section 7 of this Act is to be used for the purchase of paintings or

other artwork.

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 658 was introduced on February 9, 1999, by Congressman

John Sweeney (R–NY). The bill was referred to the Committee on

Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. On March 18, 1999, the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill where Congressman James V.

Hansen (R–UT) offered a minor amendment which was adopted by
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voice vote. The bill was then ordered favorably reported to the Full

Committee by voice vote. On April 28, 1999, the Full Resources

Committee met to consider the bill. No further amendments were

offered and the bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

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 Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in

the body of this report.

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution

of the United States grant 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. Government Reform Oversight Findings.—Under clause 3(c)(4)

of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee has received no report of oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform on this

bill.

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:

U.S. CONGRESS,

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE,

Washington, DC, May 6, 1999.

Hon. DON YOUNG,

Chairman, Committee on Resources,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 658, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site Act.
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If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased

to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Deborah Reis (for federal costs), and Keith Mattrick (for the private-sector impact).

Sincerely,

BARRY B. ANDERSON

(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).

Enclosure.

H.R. 568—Thomas Cole National Historic Site Act

Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 658 would cost the federal government about $5 million over the next five years. H.R. 658 would not

affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.

H.R. 658 would establish as an affiliated area of the National

Park System the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in New York.

The site, consisting of about three acres of land on which the

former home and studio of the artist are located, would continue

to be owned and operated by the Greene County Historical Society.

The bill would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to execute cooperative agreements with the society, a local nonprofit organization, to preserve the house and other on-site structures and

to assist with educational programs. The NPS may also enter into

such agreements with the society, the state, the Thomas Cole

Foundation, or other groups to assist them in developing and funding art exhibits, resident artist programs, and other activities. H.R.

658 would authorize the NPS to acquire personal property (other

than art work) associated with the historic site, and would require

the NPS to develop a general management plan for the site. Finally, the bill would authorize the appropriation of whatever sums

are necessary for these purposes.

Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that the NPS would spend about $5 million over the next

few years to develop an interpretive program for the new historic

site, restore and improve site structures, perform needed research

and studies, acquire personal property, and finally, to prepare the

general management plan. Routine operating and maintenance expenses of the historic site would remain the responsibility of the

historical society. The NPS could provide assistance to the society

for interpretive activities, but we estimate that the annual costs of

such assistance or assistance under other cooperative agreements

would not be significant. This estimate is based on information provided by the NPS and the historical society.

H.R. 658 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in

the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would have no

significant impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.

H.R. 658 would impose a new private-sector mandate on the

Greene County Historical Society. The bill would require the society to administer the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in a manner consistent with laws that apply to components of the National

Park System. Based on information provided by the society and the

National Park Service, CBO estimates that the direct costs of complying with this new mandate would fall well below the threshold
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for private-sector mandates ($100 million, adjusted annually for inflation) established in UMRA, in part because the society already

manages the site as a historic landmark.

The CBO staff contacts are Deborah Reis (for federal costs) and

Keith Mattrick (for the private-sector impact). This estimate was

approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for

Budget Analysis.

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

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

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