69–010 

Calendar No. 641 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 110–289 

WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE AMENDMENT 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. 1247] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 1247) to amend the Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990 to limit the development of 

any property acquired by the Secretary of the Interior for the development of visitor and administrative facilities for the Weir Farm 

National Historic Site, and for other purposes, having considered 

the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment 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 ‘‘Weir Farm National Historic Site Amendment Act’’. 

SEC. 2. LOCATION OF VISITOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES FOR WEIR FARM NATIONAL 

HISTORIC SITE. 

Section 4(d) of the Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990 

(16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘contiguous to’’ and all that follows and 

inserting ‘‘within Fairfield County.’’; 

(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT.— 

‘‘(A) MAINTAINING NATURAL CHARACTER.—The Secretary shall keep development of the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so that 

the character of the acquired property will be similar to the natural and 

undeveloped landscape of the property described in subsection (b). 

‘‘(B) TREATMENT OF PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED PROPERTY.—Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall either prevent the Secretary from acquiring property 

under paragraph (1) that, prior to the Secretary’s acquisition, was developed in a manner inconsistent with subparagraph (A), or require the Secretary to remediate such previously developed property to reflect the natural character described in subparagraph (A).’’; and 


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(3) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 

‘‘the appropriate zoning authority’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Wilton, Connecticut,’’ and inserting ‘‘the local governmental entity that, in accordance with 

applicable State law, has jurisdiction over any property acquired under paragraph (1)(A)’’. 

2. Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend the Weir Farm 

National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990, and for other 

purposes.’’. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 1247 is to amend the Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990 to limit the development of 

any property acquired by the Secretary of the Interior for the development of visitor and administrative facilities for the Weir Farm 

National Historic Site. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

Public Law 101–485 established the Weir Farm National Historic 

Site to preserve the historic structures and landscapes associated 

with American Impressionist artist J. Alden Weir, and maintain 

‘‘the integrity of a setting that inspired artistic expression.’’ The 

park’s 1995 General Management Plan determined that all administrative and operational support functions should be located in offsite facilities, and in 1998, Public Law 105–363 authorized a 

boundary expansion of 15 acres. Using this authority, the National 

Park Service purchased nine acres in the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, for the construction of the maintenance, curatorial and 

headquarters building. 

Public Law 105–363 required the National Park Service to reach 

agreement with the local communities of Ridgefield and Wilton, 

Connecticut, to coordinate the planning of the facility. Local concerns were raised about the construction of the 10,000 square foot 

‘‘support’’ facility in a residential neighborhood. In addition, cost estimates for construction of the facility had increased substantially. 

Currently, the park leases 5,000 square feet of curatorial and 

maintenance space at the Georgetown Wire Mill. The National 

Park Service would like to exchange all or part of the nine acres 

it currently owns for 12,000 square feet of finished space at the 

Wire Mill, thereby reducing the projected construction, operating 

and maintenance costs for a maintenance and administrative facility. Since the Park Service would use all or part of the nine acres 

currently owned to exchange for the space at Georgetown Wire 

Mill, no acquisition funds are required. If appraisals indicate that 

the space at the Georgetown Wire Mill exceeds the value of the National Park Service land, the owners, Georgetown Land Corporation, would donate the difference per agreement. 

S. 1247 amends the enabling legislation for the Weir Farm National Historic Site to expand the geographic area in which the National Park Service could develop the administrative and maintenance facility for the park. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 1247 was introduced by Senator Lieberman on April 26, 2007. 

The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on the bill on 


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September 11, 2007 (S. Hrg. 110–213). At its business meeting on 

September 11, 2007, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1247 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. 1247, if amended as 

described herein. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During its consideration of S. 1247, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment simplifies and clarifies the amendments to the underlying law establishing the Weir Farm National Historic Site. The amendment is 

explained in detail in the section-by-section analysis, below. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 contains the short title, the ‘‘Weir Farm National Historic Site Amendment Act.’’

Section 2 amends section 4(d) of the Weir Farm National Historic 

Site Establishment Act to allow development of an administrative 

and maintenance facility within Fairfield County, Connecticut. The 

original law required that the development be contiguous or in 

close proximity to the park. The section also adds language directing the Secretary of the Interior to keep development of the acquired property to a minimum, except that existing development of 

the acquired property is permitted. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 1247—Weir Farm National Historic Site Amendment Act 

S. 1247 would expand the area that the National Park Service 

(NPS) may consider to construct visitor and administrative facilities for the Weir Farm National Historic Site. Under current law, 

NPS may acquire up to 15 acres of land for such purpose; however, 

the land must be contiguous or close in proximity to the historic 

site. The bill would allow NPS to consider all potential sites in 

Fairfield County, Connecticut, including land that has been previously developed from its original state. 

Because the legislation would not authorize additional funds for 

the acquisition of land or for the construction of facilities, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1247 would have no significant effect 

on the federal budget. Furthermore, based on information from 

NPS, CBO expects that any land acquired under the bill would be 

done through exchange. 

The bill 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. 


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The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Daniel Hoople. 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. 1247. 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. 1247, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

S. 1247, 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 11, 2007 Subcommittee hearing on S. 1247 follows: 

STATEMENT OF DANIEL N. WENK, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank 

you for the opportunity to appear before Farm National 

Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990, and for other purposes. 

The Department supports S. 1247, but would like to 

work with the committee to simplify the language in the 

bill. 

S. 1247 would amend the Weir Farm National Historic 

Site Establishment Act of 1990 (as amended by Public Law 

105–363) to expand the geographic area in which the park 

could acquire up to 15 acres to develop visitor and administrative facilities. Public Law 105–363 required that the 

acquisition be ‘‘in close proximity or contiguous to the 

park.’’ Furthermore, by requiring a planning agreement 

with the towns of Ridgefield and Wilton, Connecticut before building a facility, Public Law 105–363 appears to authorize land acquisition only within these two towns. S. 

1247 would expand the National Park Service’s authority 

so that it can consider the acquisition of property in all of 

Fairfield County, Connecticut, including a building in 

nearby Redding, Connecticut, that the park has leased for 

over 13 years for park curatorial and maintenance functions. This expanded authority would reduce the cost of 

building support facilities and would address concerns that 

local towns have expressed about the location of administrative facilities in residential neighborhoods. 


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Weir Farm National Historic Site was established on October 31, 1990 to preserve the historic structures and landscapes associated with American Impressionist artist Julian Alden Weir. The park’s authorizing legislation identifies one of the park’s purposes as ‘‘to maintain the integrity of a setting that inspired artistic expression.’’ In keeping with this purpose, the park’s 1995 General Management Plan determined that all administrative and operational support functions should be located in off-site facilities. In 1998, Public Law 105–363 authorized a boundary expansion of up to 15 acres, and in 2000, the National 

Park Service purchased nine acres in the town of 

Ridgefield, Connecticut under this authority. 

Public Law 105–363 required the National Park Service 

to enter into agreement with the towns of Ridgefield and 

Wilton, Connecticut, prior to building a facility. During 

discussions, concerns were raised about locating a 10,000 

square foot facility in a residential neighborhood. In addition, cost estimates for building a facility on the newly acquired property had increased from $3.4 million to $5.9 

million. 

To address local concerns and rising costs, the National 

Park Service would like to consider alternative sites, including space at the Georgetown Wire Mill (Mill), a 55-acre 

brownfield development site listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located less than 2 miles from 

the park, in the town of Redding, Connecticut. Currently, 

the park leases 5,000 square feet of curatorial and maintenance space at the Mill. S. 1247 would allow the park to 

acquire 12,000 square feet of finished space at the Wire 

Mill in exchange for all or part of the nine acres acquired 

by the park in Ridgefield, Connecticut. This acquisition 

would reduce construction, operating, and maintenance 

costs for the park. Since the National Park Service would 

use all or part of the nine acres currently owned to exchange for the space at Georgetown Wire Mill, no acquisition funds are required. If appraisals indicate that the 

Georgetown Land Corporation (Corporation) building exceeds the value of the National Park Service land, the Corporation has agreed to donate the difference to the National Park Service. 

Environmental sustainability would be another benefit 

of the Mill site. Within the next two years, the Mill is expected to be certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) village center with residential 

and commercial services and subsidies for artist housing. 

The language in S. 1247 that amends paragraph 2 of 

section 4(d) of Public Law 101–485 is complex. Without 

changing the substance of the bill, the Department would 

like to work with the committee to make the language simpler and clearer. 

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

happy to answer any questions you or other members of 

the subcommittee might have. 


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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. 

1247 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 101–485 

AN ACT To establish the Weir Farm National Historic Site in the State of 

Connecticut 

(Approved October 31, 1990; 104 Stat. 1171) 

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

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Weir Farm National Historic Site 

Establishment Act of 1990’’. 

* * * * * * * 

(d) ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR VISITOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES; LIMITATIONS.—

(1) ACQUISITION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—To preserve and maintain the historic 

setting and character of the historic site, the Secretary 

may acquire not more than 15 additional acres for the development of visitor and administrative facilities for the 

historic site. 

(B) PROXIMITY.—The property acquired under this subsection shall be øcontiguous to or in close proximity to the 

property described in subsection (b)¿ within Fairfield 

County. 

(C) MANAGEMENT.—The acquired property shall be included within the boundary of the historic site and shall 

be managed and maintained as part of the historic site. 

ø(2) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary shall keep development 

of the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so 

that the character of the acquired property will be similar to 

the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in subsection (b).¿ 

(2) DEVELOPMENT.—

(A) MAINTAINING NATURAL CHARACTER.—The Secretary 

shall keep development of the property acquired under 

paragraph (1) to a minimum so that the character of the 

acquired property will be similar to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in subsection 

(b). 

(B) TREATMENT OF PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED PROPERTY.—

Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall either prevent the Secretary from acquiring property under paragraph (1) that, 

prior to the Secretary’s acquisition, was developed in a 

manner inconsistent with subparagraph (A), or require the 

Secretary to remediate such previously developed property 


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to reflect the natural character described in subparagraph 

(A). 

(3) AGREEMENTS.—Prior to and as a prerequisite to any development of visitor and administrative facilities on the property acquired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enter 

into one or more agreements with øthe appropriate zoning authority of the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and the town of 

Wilton, Connecticut,¿ the local governmental entity that, in accordance with applicable State law, has jurisdiction over any 

property acquired under paragraph (1)(A) for the purposes of— (A) developing the parking, visitor, and administrative 

facilities for the historic site; and 

(B) managing bus traffic to the historic site and limiting 

parking for large tour buses to an offsite location. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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