I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1627 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2005 

Referred to the Committee on Resources 

AN ACT 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

5 Coastal Special Resources Study Act’’. 
2 

S 1627 RFH 

1 SEC. 2. STUDY. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (re3 ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a 

4 special resources study of the national significance, suit5 ability, and feasibility of including sites in the coastal re6 gion of the State of Delaware in the National Park Sys7 tem. 

8 (b) INCLUSION OF SITES IN THE NATIONAL PARK

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

10 analysis and any recommendations of the Secretary con11 cerning the suitability and feasibility of designating 1 or 

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

13 Christina, as a unit of the National Park System that re14 lates to the themes described in section 3. 

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

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

17 the criteria for the study of areas for potential inclusion 

18 in the National Park System contained in section 8 of 

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

20 (d) CONSULTATION.—In preparing and conducting 

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

22 with— 

23 (1) the State of Delaware; 

24 (2) the coastal region communities; and 

25 (3) the general public. 
3 

S 1627 RFH 

1 SEC. 3. THEMES. 

2 The study authorized under section 2 shall evaluate 

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

4 relate to— 

5 (1) the history of indigenous peoples, which 

6 would explore the history of Native American tribes 

7 of Delaware, such as the Nanticoke and Lenni 

8 Lenape; 

9 (2) the colonization and establishment of the 

10 frontier, which would chronicle the first European 

11 settlers in the Delaware Valley who built fortifica12 tions for the protection of settlers, such as Fort 

13 Christina; 

14 (3) the founding of a nation, which would docu15 ment the contributions of Delaware to the develop16 ment of our constitutional republic; 

17 (4) industrial development, which would inves18 tigate the exploitation of water power in Delaware 

19 with the mill development on the Brandywine River; 

20 (5) transportation, which would explore how 

21 water served as the main transportation link, con22 necting Colonial Delaware with England, Europe, 

23 and other colonies; 

24 (6) coastal defense, which would document the 

25 collection of fortifications spaced along the river and 
4 

S 1627 RFH 

1 bay from Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island to 

2 Fort Miles near Lewes; 

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

4 the role Delaware has played in the history of the 

5 Underground Railroad network; and 

6 (8) the coastal environment, which would exam7 ine natural resources of Delaware that provide re8 source-based recreational opportunities such as crab9 bing, fishing, swimming, and boating. 

10 SEC. 4. REPORT. 

11 Not later than 1 year after funds are made available 

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

13 submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re14 sources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources 

15 of the House of Representatives a report containing the 

16 findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study 

17 conducted under section 2. 

18 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

19 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

20 as are necessary to carry out this Act. 

Passed the Senate November 16, 2005. 

Attest: EMILY J. REYNOLDS, 

Secretary.