69–010 

Calendar No. 655 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 110–303 

WOLF HOUSE STUDY ACT OF 2008 

APRIL 10, 2008.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. BINGAMAN, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1941] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 1941) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 

study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House, 

located in Norfork, Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports 

favorably thereon with an amendment and an amendment to the 

title and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. 

The amendments are as follows: 

1. Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 

thereof the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wolf House Study Act of 2008’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

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

(2) WOLF HOUSE.—The term ‘‘Wolf House’’ means the structure known by that 

name located on Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas. 

SEC. 3. WOLF HOUSE STUDY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary shall complete 

a special resource study of the Wolf House to determine— 

(1) the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House as a unit of 

the National Park System; and 

(2) the methods and means for the protection and interpretation of the Wolf 

House by— 

(A) the National Park Service; 

(B) other entities of the Federal Government; 

(C) State and local government entities; and 

(D) private and nonprofit organizations. 

(b) STUDY REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall conduct the study in accordance 

with section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)). 


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(c) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources 

of the House of Representatives a report containing—

(1) the results of the study; and 

(2) any recommendations of the Secretary. 

2. Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House, located in Norfork, Arkansas, as a unit 

of the National Park System, and for other purposes.’’. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 1941 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of 

including the Wolf House, located in Norfork, Arkansas, as a unit 

of the National Park System. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The Wolf House is a two-story log structure built in 1829 in Baxter County, Arkansas. The structure dates to Arkansas’ territorial 

period. It is the oldest public building in Arkansas and the oldest 

territorial courthouse west of the Mississippi River. The structure 

is named for its owner and builder, Major Jacob Wolf. It was originally built as the county courthouse and from 1836 to 1863 it 

served as the residence for Wolf and his family. 

Baxter County purchased the Wolf House and an extensive restoration of the structure was began in 1999 and completed in 2001. 

Research was conducted relating to the structure’s history and 

1829 appearance. The restoration was funded by a County Courthouse Restoration Grant awarded by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. The restored building reopened to the public in the spring of 

2002 to coincide with Norfork’s Pioneer Days festival. 

The site is operated by the Wolf House Memorial Foundation 

under an agreement with the county. The Wolf House was placed 

on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 1941 was introduced by Senators Lincoln and Pryor on August 

2, 2007. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on 

the bill on November 8, 2007. (S. Hrg. 110–282.) 

At its business meeting on January 30, 2008, the Committee on 

Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1941 favorably reported 

with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

Similar legislation, was introduced in the 109th (S. 434) and the 

108th (S. 3008) Congresses, but no action was taken on either bill. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on January 30, 2008, by a voice vote of a quorum 

present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1941, if amended as 

described herein. 


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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During the consideration of S. 1941, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment deletes 

the finding section and makes other conforming amendment. The 

amendment is explained in detail in the section-by-section analysis 

below. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 contains the short title, the ‘‘Wolf House Study Act of 

2008’’. Section 2 defines the term ‘‘Secretary’’ to mean the Secretary of 

the Interior and ‘‘Wolf House’’ means the structure known by that 

name on Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas. 

Section 3(a) states the Secretary shall complete a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House as a unit of the National Park System and 

the methods and means for the protection and interpretation of the 

Wolf House by involved entities. 

Subsection (b) states the Secretary shall conduct the study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 19– 5(c)), which provides criteria for National Park Service studies. 

Subsection (c) provides that the Secretary shall submit to the 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 

Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 

a report containing the results of the study and any recommendations of the Secretary. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 1941—Wolf House Study Act of 2008 

S. 1941 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a study to determine the feasibility and suitability of designating the Wolf House in Arkansas as a unit of the National Park 

System. The bill would require the NPS to report its findings and 

recommendations to the appropriate Congressional committees 

within three years of receiving funding for the study. 

Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $300,000 over the 

next three years. Enacting this legislation would not affect direct 

spending or revenues. 

S. 1941 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. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 1941. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposVerDate Aug 31 2005 07:37 Apr 12, 2008 Jkt 069010 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR303.XXX SR303

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ing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 1941, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

S. 1941, as reported, does not contain any congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the November 8, 2007 Subcommittee hearing on S. 1941 follows. 

STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK

SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank 

you for the opportunity to appear before you today to 

present the Department of the Interior’s views on S. 1941, 

a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 

suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House, 

located in Norfork, Arkansas, as a unit of the National 

Park System. 

The Department opposes S. 1941. While the Wolf House 

is an impressive historical structure, it is not distinguished 

beyond that of many other historical log structures in cities all over the United States. It is currently operated by 

the Wolf House Memorial Foundation, Inc., (Foundation) 

with the backing of Baxter County, Arkansas. Even though 

the Wolf House has significance for the political history of 

the state of Arkansas, we believe it may be more suited for 

inclusion in the State Park system, either separately or as 

part of the Bull Shoals–White River State Park. Finally, 

we believe that priority should be given to the 35 previously authorized studies for potential units of the National Park System, potential new National Heritage 

Areas, and potential additions to the National Trails System and National Wild and Scenic River System that have 

not yet been transmitted to the Congress. 

S. 1941 would authorize a study of the Wolf House, a 

two-story dogtrot log structure dating back to 1829. It is 

a relic of the Arkansas territorial period, the oldest territorial courthouse west of the Mississippi River, and is located on Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas. It also would 

study the Wolf House property, several outbuildings, and 

portions of several city lots, all located within the city of 

Norfork. The study would be conducted in accordance with 

the criteria contained in Section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 

(16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)). A report that includes the findings, 

conclusions, and recommendations for future management 

of the study area would be required to be transmitted by 


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the Secretary to Congress no later than one year after enactment of this legislation. S. 1941 states that the Wolf 

House is located in the city of Norfolk; the correct location 

is the city of Norfork. 

The Wolf House became the property of the city of 

Norfork in the 1930s and was maintained and opened to 

the public by interested citizens who eventually formed the 

Foundation. The Wolf House was placed on the National 

Register of Historic Places on April 13, 1973. In the 1990s, 

controversies over management of the property led the 

Foundation to approach the Arkansas State Parks to assume responsibility for the property. They were told that 

the State Parks could not acquire new properties at the 

time. In 1999, the Foundation and the city of Norfork quit 

claimed their ownership of the property to Baxter County. 

At the same time, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program acquired a historic preservation easement on the 

property. 

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared testimony. I 

would be pleased to answer any questions you or the subcommittee may have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of Rule XXVI of the 

Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no 

changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 1941, as 

ordered reported. 

Æ 


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