II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4216 

To establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in the State 

of Georgia, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 30, 2024 

Mr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mr. WARNOCK) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and 

Preserve in the State of Georgia, 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. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ocmulgee Mounds Na5 tional Park and Preserve Establishment Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 

9 Council’’ means the Ocmulgee Mounds National 


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1 Park and Preserve Advisory Council established 

2 under section 5(a). 

3 (2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en4 titled ‘‘Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Pre5 serve Proposed Boundary’’, numbered 363/193026, 

6 and dated April 2024. 

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

8 the Secretary of the Interior. 

9 (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

10 of Georgia. 

11 (5) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the 

12 Muscogee (Creek) Nation. 

13 SEC. 3. REDESIGNATION OF OCMULGEE MOUNDS NA14 TIONAL PARK AND ESTABLISHMENT OF 

15 OCMULGEE MOUNDS NATIONAL PRESERVE. 

16 (a) REDESIGNATION OF OCMULGEE MOUNDS NA17 TIONAL PARK; LAND ACQUISITION.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Ocmulgee Mounds Na19 tional Historical Park designated by section 

20 2102(b)(1)(A) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conserva21 tion, Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 

22 410yyy–3(b)(1)(A)) shall be known and designated 

23 as the ‘‘Ocmulgee Mounds National Park’’. 

24 (2) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, 

25 map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of 


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1 the United States to the ‘‘Ocmulgee Mounds Na2 tional Historical Park’’ shall be considered to be a 

3 reference to the ‘‘Ocmulgee Mounds National Park’’. 

4 (3) LAND ACQUISITION FOR OCMULGEE

5 MOUNDS NATIONAL PARK.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may ac7 quire land or any interest in land within the 

8 area depicted as ‘‘National Park Area’’ on the 

9 Map for inclusion in the Ocmulgee Mounds Na10 tional Park by purchase from a willing seller, 

11 donation, or exchange. 

12 (B) ADMINISTRATION.—Any land or inter13 est in land acquired under subparagraph (A) 

14 shall be— 

15 (i) incorporated into the Ocmulgee 

16 Mounds National Park; and 

17 (ii) administered by the Secretary in 

18 accordance with section 4. 

19 (C) PROHIBITION ON USE OF EMINENT

20 DOMAIN.—Nothing in this paragraph authorizes 

21 the use of eminent domain to acquire land or 

22 an interest in land. 

23 (D) BOUNDARIES.—The boundaries of the 

24 Ocmulgee Mounds National Park shall reflect 

25 the land and interests in land acquired for the 


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1 Ocmulgee Mounds National Park under sub2 paragraph (A). 

3 (b) ESTABLISHMENT OF OCMULGEE MOUNDS NA4 TIONAL PRESERVE.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Effective on the date on 

6 which the Secretary publishes in the Federal Reg7 ister a notice that the Secretary has determined that 

8 sufficient land within the area depicted as ‘‘National 

9 Preserve Area’’ on the Map has been acquired under 

10 paragraph (2) to constitute a manageable unit, there 

11 is established the Ocmulgee Mounds National Pre12 serve in the State as a unit of the National Park 

13 System. 

14 (2) LAND ACQUISITION FOR OCMULGEE

15 MOUNDS NATIONAL PRESERVE.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may ac17 quire land or any interest in land within the 

18 area depicted as ‘‘National Preserve Area’’ on 

19 the Map for inclusion in the Ocmulgee Mounds 

20 National Preserve by purchase from a willing 

21 seller, donation, or exchange. 

22 (B) ADMINISTRATION.—Any land or inter23 est in land acquired under subparagraph (A) 

24 shall be— 


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1 (i) incorporated into the Ocmulgee 

2 Mounds National Preserve; and 

3 (ii) administered by the Secretary in 

4 accordance with section 4. 

5 (C) PROHIBITION ON USE OF EMINENT

6 DOMAIN.—Nothing in this paragraph authorizes 

7 the use of eminent domain to acquire land or 

8 an interest in land. 

9 (3) BOUNDARIES.—The boundaries of the 

10 Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve shall reflect 

11 the land and interests in land acquired for the 

12 Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve under para13 graph (2)(A). 

14 (c) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall file with 

16 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 

17 the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources 

18 of the House of Representatives— 

19 (A) as soon as practicable after the date of 

20 enactment of this Act, a map and legal descrip21 tion of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park; 

22 and 

23 (B) as soon as practicable after the date of 

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1 tional Preserve, a map and legal description of 

2 the Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve. 

3 (2) CORRECTIONS.—The maps and legal de4 scriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall have the 

5 same force and effect as if included in this Act, ex6 cept that the Secretary may make technical correc7 tions to the maps and legal descriptions. 

8 (3) AVAILABILITY.—The maps and legal de9 scriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file 

10 and available for public inspection in the appropriate 

11 offices of the National Park Service. 

12 SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF OCMULGEE MOUNDS NA13 TIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Ocmulgee Mounds National 

15 Park and the Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve shall— 

16 (1) be administered as a single unit of the Na17 tional Park System in accordance with— 

18 (A) this section; 

19 (B) the laws generally applicable to units 

20 of the National Park System, including— 

21 (i) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, 

22 and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, 

23 and 102101 of title 54, United States 

24 Code; and 


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1 (ii) chapter 3201 of title 54, United 

2 States Code; and 

3 (C) any co-management agreement entered 

4 into under subsection (b); and 

5 (2) collectively be known and designated as the 

6 ‘‘Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve’’. 

7 (b) CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.—Not later than 

8 1 year after the date of receipt of the recommendations 

9 of the Advisory Council under section 5(b)(2), the Sec10 retary shall enter into an agreement with the Tribe to pro11 vide for the co-management of the Ocmulgee Mounds Na12 tional Park and Preserve by the Secretary and the Tribe. 

13 (c) HUNTING AND FISHING.— 

14 (1) HUNTING.—The Secretary shall allow hunt15 ing on lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 

16 within the boundaries of the Ocmulgee Mounds Na17 tional Preserve in accordance with applicable Fed18 eral and State laws. 

19 (2) FISHING.—The Secretary shall allow fishing 

20 on waters under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 

21 within the boundaries of the Ocmulgee Mounds Na22 tional Park and Preserve in accordance with applica23 ble Federal and State laws. 

24 (3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may designate 

25 zones in which, and establish periods during which, 


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1 no hunting, fishing, or both, shall be allowed for rea2 sons of public safety, administration, fish or wildlife 

3 management, or emergencies. 

4 (4) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall en5 sure any regulations prescribing such restrictions 

6 under this subsection shall be put into effect only 

7 after consultation with the State. 

8 (5) PRIVATE LAND.—Nothing in this subsection 

9 prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping on private 

10 land in accordance with applicable State and Federal 

11 laws. 

12 (6) CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.—Nothing in this 

13 Act is intended to affect the jurisdiction or respon14 sibilities of the State with respect to fish and wild15 life. 

16 (d) HIRING PREFERENCE.—The Secretary shall es17 tablish policies to provide a preference for hiring members 

18 of the Tribe for positions at the Ocmulgee Mounds Na19 tional Park and Preserve, consistent with the Indian pref20 erence policy established by the Secretary of the Interior 

21 under section 12 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly 

22 known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’) (48 Stat. 986, 

23 chapter 576; 25 U.S.C. 5116). 

24 (e) EFFECT ON ADMINISTRATION OF BOND SWAMP

25 NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para2 graph (2), nothing in this Act affects the continued 

3 administration of the Bond Swamp National Wildlife 

4 Refuge by the Director of the United States Fish 

5 and Wildlife Service as a unit of the National Wild6 life Refuge System. 

7 (2) CULTURAL INTERPRETATION ACTIVITIES.— 

8 The Director of the National Park Service shall con9 sult with the Tribe to provide cultural programs and 

10 related activities with respect to the Bond Swamp 

11 National Wildlife Refuge with the consent of the Di12 rector of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv13 ice. 

14 (f) TRIBAL USES.—Subject to any terms and condi15 tions that the Secretary determines to be necessary and 

16 in accordance with applicable law, the Secretary shall 

17 allow for the continued use of the Ocmulgee Mounds Na18 tional Park and Preserve by members of the Tribe for— 

19 (1) traditional ceremonies; and 

20 (2) hunting, fishing, and trapping. 

21 (g) MILITARY ACTIVITIES.—Nothing in this Act pre22 cludes— 

23 (1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over 

24 the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve; 


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1 (2) the designation of new units of special use 

2 airspace over the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park 

3 and Preserve; 

4 (3) the use or establishment of military flight 

5 training routes over the Ocmulgee Mounds National 

6 Park and Preserve; 

7 (4) access to electronic tracking and commu8 nications sites associated with special use airspace or 

9 military flight training routes over the Ocmulgee 

10 Mounds National Park and Preserve; 

11 (5) ground access to respond to emergency or 

12 accident locations relating to special use airspace or 

13 military flight training routes over the Ocmulgee 

14 Mounds National Park and Preserve; 

15 (6) continued use of the Ocmulgee Mounds Na16 tional Park and Preserve by tactical ground parties 

17 or the maintenance of existing associated ground in18 strumentation, in accordance with any applicable 

19 interagency agreements in effect on the date of en20 actment of this Act; or 

21 (7) the Secretary of Defense from entering into 

22 new or renewed agreements with the Secretary relat23 ing to the use by military aircraft of airspace over 

24 the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve 


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1 or the maintenance of associated ground instrumen2 tation or tactical ground parties— 

3 (A) that will not interfere with the man4 agement of the Ocmulgee Mounds National 

5 Park and Preserve for the purposes for which 

6 the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Pre7 serve was established; and 

8 (B) in accordance with applicable laws. 

9 SEC. 5. ADVISORY COUNCIL. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

11 an advisory council, to be known as the ‘‘Ocmulgee 

12 Mounds National Park and Preserve Advisory Council’’. 

13 (b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Council shall— 

14 (1) advise the Secretary with respect to the 

15 preparation and implementation of a management 

16 plan for the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and 

17 Preserve; and 

18 (2) not later than 3 years after the date of en19 actment of this Act, submit to the Secretary rec20 ommendations relating to the management of the 

21 Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve, in22 cluding the role of the Tribe with respect to the del23 egation of any aspects of Federal decisionmaking, 

24 including land management, species management, 

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1 sources of the Tribe at the Ocmulgee Mounds Na2 tional Park and Preserve. 

3 (c) MEMBERS.—The Advisory Council shall consist of 

4 9 members, to be appointed by the Secretary, as follows: 

5 (1) 1 member, who shall be the superintendent 

6 of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Pre7 serve. 

8 (2) 1 member, who shall be the Secretary of 

9 Culture and Humanities of the Tribe. 

10 (3) 1 member, who shall be the Secretary of In11 terior Affairs of the Tribe. 

12 (4) 1 member, who shall be the Principal Chief 

13 of the Tribe. 

14 (5) 1 member, who shall be a representative of 

15 the applicable National Park Service regional office 

16 for the State. 

17 (6) 1 member, who shall be a representative of 

18 the applicable United States Fish and Wildlife Serv19 ice regional office for the State. 

20 (7) 1 member, who shall be the United States 

21 Fish and Wildlife Service project leader of the Bond 

22 Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. 

23 (8) 1 member, who shall be a representative of 

24 the State Department of Natural Resources. 


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1 (9) 1 member, who shall be a representative of 

2 the Middle Georgia Regional Commission. 

3 (d) APPLICABLE LAW.—The Advisory Council shall 

4 be subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code 

5 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Com6 mittee Act’’) and other applicable laws. 

7 (e) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Advisory Council 

8 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint9 ment. 

10 (f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Ad11 visory Council (including not fewer than 1 member who 

12 is a designated representative of the Tribe) shall con13 stitute a quorum. 

14 (g) CHAIRPERSON.—The Advisory Council shall— 

15 (1) elect a chairperson of the Advisory Council 

16 from among the members of the Advisory Council; 

17 and 

18 (2) establish any rules and procedures for the 

19 Advisory Council that the Advisory Council deter20 mines to be appropriate. 

21 (h) NO COMPENSATION.—Members of the Advisory 

22 Council shall serve without compensation. 

23 (i) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Council shall ter24 minate on the date on which the Advisory Council comVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 May 21, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4216.IS S4216

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1 pletes the management plan for the Ocmulgee Mounds 

2 National Park and Preserve. 

3 SEC. 6. LAND TO BE HELD IN TRUST. 

4 All right, title, and interest of the United States in 

5 and to the approximately 126 acres of land in the 

6 Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve owned in 

7 fee by the Tribe are hereby taken into trust for the benefit 

8 of the Tribe. Such land— 

9 (1) is part of Indian country (as defined in sec10 tion 1151 of title 18, United States Code) of the 

11 Tribe; and 

12 (2) shall be administered in accordance with the 

13 laws and regulations generally applicable to property 

14 held in trust by the United States for the benefit of 

15 an Indian Tribe. 

16 SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

17 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

18 as are necessary to carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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