II 

Calendar No. 245 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1627 

[Report No. 109–153] 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources 

study to evaluate resources along the coastal region of the State of 

Delaware and to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing 

a unit of the National Park System in Delaware. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2005 

Mr. CARPER (for himself and Mr. BIDEN) introduced the following bill; which 

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

Resources 

OCTOBER 19, 2005 

Reported by Mr. DOMENICI, without amendment 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

special resources study to evaluate resources along the 

coastal region of the State of Delaware and to determine 

the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of 

the National Park System in Delaware. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
2 

•S 1627 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Delaware National 

3 Coastal Special Resources Study Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. STUDY. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (re6 ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a 

7 special resources study of the national significance, suit8 ability, and feasibility of including sites in the coastal re9 gion of the State of Delaware in the National Park Sys10 tem. 

11 (b) INCLUSION OF SITES IN THE NATIONAL PARK

12 SYSTEM.—The study under subsection (a) shall include an 

13 analysis and any recommendations of the Secretary con14 cerning the suitability and feasibility of designating 1 or 

15 more of the sites along the Delaware coast, including Fort 

16 Christina, as a unit of the National Park System that re17 lates to the themes described in section 3. 

18 (c) STUDY GUIDELINES.—In conducting the study 

19 authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use 

20 the criteria for the study of areas for potential inclusion 

21 in the National Park System contained in section 8 of 

22 Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5). 

23 (d) CONSULTATION.—In preparing and conducting 

24 the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult 

25 with— 

26 (1) the State of Delaware; 
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•S 1627 RS

1 (2) the coastal region communities; and 

2 (3) the general public. 

3 SEC. 3. THEMES. 

4 The study authorized under section 2 shall evaluate 

5 sites along the coastal region of the State of Delaware that 

6 relate to— 

7 (1) the history of indigenous peoples, which 

8 would explore the history of Native American tribes 

9 of Delaware, such as the Nanticoke and Lenni 

10 Lenape; 

11 (2) the colonization and establishment of the 

12 frontier, which would chronicle the first European 

13 settlers in the Delaware Valley who built fortifica14 tions for the protection of settlers, such as Fort 

15 Christina; 

16 (3) the founding of a nation, which would docu17 ment the contributions of Delaware to the develop18 ment of our constitutional republic; 

19 (4) industrial development, which would inves20 tigate the exploitation of water power in Delaware 

21 with the mill development on the Brandywine River; 

22 (5) transportation, which would explore how 

23 water served as the main transportation link, con24 necting Colonial Delaware with England, Europe, 

25 and other colonies; 
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•S 1627 RS

1 (6) coastal defense, which would document the 

2 collection of fortifications spaced along the river and 

3 bay from Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island to 

4 Fort Miles near Lewes; 

5 (7) the last stop to freedom, which would detail 

6 the role Delaware has played in the history of the 

7 Underground Railroad network; and 

8 (8) the coastal environment, which would exam9 ine natural resources of Delaware that provide re10 source-based recreational opportunities such as crab11 bing, fishing, swimming, and boating. 

12 SEC. 4. REPORT. 

13 Not later than 1 year after funds are made available 

14 to carry out this Act under section 5, the Secretary shall 

15 submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re16 sources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources 

17 of the House of Representatives a report containing the 

18 findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study 

19 conducted under section 2. 

20 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

21 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

22 as are necessary to carry out this Act. 

Calendar No. 245 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1627 

[Report No. 109–153] 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conPark System in Delaware. feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Delaware and to determine the suitability and sources along the coastal region of the State of duct a special resources study to evaluate reOCTOBER 19, 2005 

Reported without amendment