69–010 

Calendar No. 639 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 110–287 

NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL AUTHORIZATION 

ACT 

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. 1039] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 1039) to extend the authorization for the Coastal Heritage Trail in the State of New Jersey, having considered the 

same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends 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. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION. 

Section 6 of Public Law 100–515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) is amended as follows: 

(1) Strike paragraph (1) of subsection (b) and insert the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts made available under subsection (a) shall be used 

only for— 

‘‘(A) technical assistance; 

‘‘(B) the design and fabrication of interpretive materials, devices, and 

signs; and 

‘‘(C) the preparation of the strategic plan.’’. 

(2) Paragraph (3) of subsection (b) is amended by inserting after subparagraph (B) a new subparagraph as follows: 

‘‘(C) Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(A), funds made available under subsection (a) for the preparation of the strategic plan shall not require a nonFederal match.’’. 

(3) Subsection (c) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2011’’. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 1039 is to extend the authorization for the New 

Jersey Coastal Heritage Route by four years, from 2007 through 

2011. 


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BACKGROUND AND NEED

In 1988 Congress enacted Public Law 100–515, which authorized 

the Secretary of the Interior to designate a vehicular tour route in 

coastal New Jersey and to prepare an inventory of sites along the 

route. An interpretive program was also mandated to provide for 

public appreciation, education, understanding and enjoyment of important fish and wildlife habitats, geologic and geographical 

landforms, cultural resources, and migration routes in coastal New 

Jersey. The trail links national wildlife refuges, national parklands, 

National Historic Landmarks, and National Register sites with important historic communities, state parks, natural areas, and other 

resources to tell the story of New Jersey’s role in shaping U.S. history and in providing internationally important habitats for bird 

and other migrations. 

The trail, an affiliated area of the National Park System, is a 

partnership among the National Park Service, the State of New 

Jersey, and many local government and private non-profit partners. Through interpretation of five themes (Maritime History, 

Coastal Habitats, Wildlife Migration, Relaxation & Inspiration, and 

Historic Settlements), the trail brings attention to important natural and cultural resources along coastal New Jersey. 

During the 109th Congress, Public Law 109–338 was enacted reauthorizing Federal funding for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage 

Trail Route until September 30, 2007, while also requiring a strategic plan to be prepared by the Secretary of the Interior three 

years after funds are made available. Because the sunset date has 

passed, an extension of authority is necessary to allow adequate 

time to complete the preparation of the strategic plan. The strategic plan is an important tool to help the trail develop a long-term 

management strategy that includes a variety of options for sustainability of the trail. In order to carry out this provision, S. 1039 extends the authorization for Federal funding for the trail to September 30, 2011, to match the time period for the completion and 

transmittal of the strategic plan. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 1039 was introduced by Senators Lautenberg and Menendez 

on March 29, 2007. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a 

hearing on the bill on September 27, 2007. (S. Hrg. 110–266.) 

During the 109th Congress, the Committee considered a similar 

measure, S. 48, except that it extended the authorization for Federal funding for the trail only through September 30, 2007. S. 48 

was ordered reported by the Committee on February 16, 2005 (S. 

Rept. 109–41). The text of the bill was incorporated as an amendment to S. 203, which became Public Law 109–338. 

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

Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1039 favorably reported, 

with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

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. 1039, if amended as 

described herein. 


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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During its consideration of S. 1039, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment incorporated recommendations made by the National Park Service to 

authorize the Secretary of the Interior to use Federal funding to 

complete the strategic plan for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage 

Trail Route. 

SUMMARY OF S. 1039 

S. 1039 amends section 6 of Public Law 100–515 to extend the 

authorization for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route 

from September 30, 2007 through September 30, 2011, and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to use appropriated funds to 

prepare a strategic plan for the route. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 1039—A bill to extend the authorization for the Coastal Heritage 

Trail in the state of New Jersey 

S. 1039 would reauthorize funding for the Coastal Heritage Trail 

in New Jersey. Specifically, the bill would authorize the appropriation of whatever amounts are necessary for interpretive activities 

through 2011. (That authorization expired in 2007.) Based on information provided by the National Park Service and assuming the 

availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that the federal 

government would spend $3 million over the 2009–2011 period to 

implement the bill. That spending would support strategic planning and other authorized activities for the trail. Enacting the bill 

would not affect direct spending or revenues. 

S. 1039 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. 

This 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. 1039. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense 

of imposing 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. 1039, as ordered reported. 


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CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

S. 1039, 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 September 27, 2007 subcommittee hearing on S. 1039 follows: 

STATEMENT OF DANIEL N. WENK, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear 

before your committee to present the Department of the 

Interior’s views on S. 1039 a bill to extend the authorization for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route for 

an additional four years. 

The Department supports enactment of this bill with 

two amendments. 

The Act of October 20, 1988 authorized the Secretary to 

designate a vehicular tour route in coastal New Jersey and 

to prepare an inventory of sites along the route. An interpretive program was also mandated to provide for public 

appreciation, education, understanding and enjoyment of 

important fish and wildlife habitats, geologic and geographical landforms, cultural resources, and migration 

routes in coastal New Jersey. The Secretary was authorized to provide technical assistance, prepare and distribute 

information, and erect signs along the route. The trail 

links national wildlife refuges, national parklands, National Historic Landmarks, and National Register sites 

with important historic communities, state parks, natural 

areas, and other resources to tell the story of New Jersey’s 

role in shaping U.S. history and in providing internationally important habitats for bird and other migrations. 

The trail, an affiliated area of the National Park System, 

is a partnership among the National Park Service, the 

State of New Jersey, and many local government and private non-profit partners. Through interpretation of five 

themes (Maritime History, Coastal Habitats, Wildlife Migration, Relaxation & Inspiration, and Historic Settlements), the trail brings attention to important natural and 

cultural resources along coastal New Jersey. The trail 

demonstrates the potential of new public/private partnerships that allow the National Park Service to meet its core 

mission of natural and cultural resource preservation 

along with interpretation and public education in a cost-efficient manner through technical assistance while reducing 

operational responsibilities. No federal funds are used for 

operations, maintenance, or repair of any road or related 

structure. 

Extending the authorization of the trail would enable 

the National Park Service to complete implementation of 

the trail plan, as supported by the public and our partners. 

Without additional time and funding, the New Jersey 


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Coastal Heritage Trail Route will be left incomplete. Implementation of the plan is also critical in building a base 

of sustainable partners and developing a strategy for the 

long-term management of the trail. Additionally, commitments to trail partners would go unfulfilled, and many additional natural and cultural resources would not receive 

the partnership assistance leveraged by the trail. 

Public Law 109–338, the National Heritage Areas Act of 

2006, reauthorized federal funding for the New Jersey 

Coastal Heritage Trail Route until September 30, 2007, 

while also requiring a strategic plan to be prepared by the 

Secretary three years after funds are made available. The 

current sunset date of September 30, 2007 does not provide adequate time to complete the preparation of the strategic plan. The strategic plan is an important tool to help 

the trail develop a long-term management strategy that includes a variety of options for sustainability of the trail. In 

order to carry out this provision, the authorization for federal funding for the trail should be extended to September 

30, 2011, to match the time period for the completion and 

transmittal of the strategic plan. 

The Department recommends two amendments to the 

bill. First, we recommend that the long title of the bill be 

amended to use the generally accepted name of the trail, 

which is the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. 

Second, the current authorization of appropriations for the 

New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route is limited to the 

Secretary providing technical assistance and funds for the 

design and fabrication of interpretive materials, devices 

and signs. All federals funds under the enabling legislation 

require a non-federal, one-to-one match. We recommend 

that S. 1039 be amended to authorize the Secretary to use 

federal funding to complete the strategic plan since the 

current authorization does not allow for funds to be used 

for this purpose. 

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I would be 

pleased to answer any questions you or other members of 

the committee may have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill S. 

1039 as ordered reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is 

printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is 

shown in roman): 

Public Law 100–515 

An Act To Provide for the Establishment of the Coastal Trail Route in the State 

of New Jersey, and for Other Purposes 

(Approved October 20, 1988) 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 

United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL 

ROUTE. 

In order to provide for public appreciation, education, understanding, and enjoyment, through a coordinated interpretive program of certain nationally significant natural and cultural sites associated with the coastal area of the State of New Jersey that are 

accessible generally by public road, the Secretary of the Interior 

(hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), acting through the Director of the National Park Service, with the concurrence of the 

agency having jurisdiction over such roads, is authorized to designate, by publication of a map or other description thereof in the 

Federal Register, a vehicular tour route along existing public roads 

linking such natural and cultural sites in New Jersey. Such route 

shall be known as the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route 

(hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘route’’). 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act. 

(b) USE OF FUNDS.—

ø(1) IN GENERAL.— Amounts made available under subsection (a) shall be used only for—

(A) technical assistance; and 

(B) the design and fabrication of interpretive materials, 

devices, and signs.¿ 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts made available under subsection 

(a) shall be used only for—

(A) technical assistance; 

(B) the design and fabrication of interpretive materials, 

devices, and signs; and 

(C) the preparation of the strategic management plan. 

(2) LIMITATIONS.—No funds made available under subsection 

(a) shall be used for—

(A) operation, repair, or construction costs, except for the 

costs of constructing interpretive exhibits; or 

(B) operation, maintenance, or repair costs for any road 

or related structure. 

(3) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—

(A) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of any project 

carried out with amounts made available under subsection 

(a)—

(i) may not exceed 50 percent of the total project 

costs; and 

(ii) shall be provided on a matching basis. 

(B) FORM OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non-Federal 

share of carrying out a project with amounts made available under subsection (a) may be in the form of cash, materials, or in-kind services, the value of which shall be determined by the Secretary. 


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(c) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authorities provided to the 

Secretary under this Act shall terminate on September 30, ø2007¿ 

2011. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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