29–010 

Calendar No. 174 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 113–96 

VALLES CALDERA NATIONAL PRESERVE MANAGEMENT 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. WYDEN, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 285] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 285) to designate the Valles Caldera National 

Preserve as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with 

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

The amendment are as follows: 

1. On page 5, line 21, before the period insert ‘‘in Jemez Springs, 

New Mexico’’. 

2. On page 5, line 22, strike ‘‘may’’ and insert ‘‘shall’’. 

3. On page 5, line 24, insert ‘‘at levels and locations determined 

by the Secretary to be appropriate,’’ before ‘‘consistent’’. 

4. On page 6, strike lines 4 through 16 and insert the following: 

(f) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 

Secretary shall permit hunting, fishing, and trapping on land 

and water within the Preserve in accordance with applicable 

Federal and State law. 

(2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXCEPTIONS.—The Secretary may designate areas in which, and establish limited periods during 

which, no hunting, fishing, or trapping shall be permitted 

under paragraph (1) for reasons of public safety, administration, or compliance with applicable law. 

(3) AGENCY AGREEMENT.—Except in an emergency, regulations closing areas within the Preserve to hunting, fishing, or 

trapping under this subsection shall be made in consultation 

with the appropriate agency of the State having responsibility 

for fish and wildlife administration. 


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(4) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act affects any jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with respect to fish and 

wildlife in the Preserve. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 285 is to designate the Valles Caldera National 

Preserve in New Mexico as a unit of the National Park system. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The Valles Caldera in northern New Mexico is one of only three 

supervolcanoes in the United States and one of six in the world. 

The Valles Caldera is the oldest of the three supervolcanoes (having formed 1.25 million years ago), and it also is the smallest. Yet 

the caldera rim spans more than 100,000 acres, and the eruption 

created a volcanic ash plume that stretched from what is now 

northern Utah to central Kansas. The Valles Caldera has been 

thoroughly studied, and it provides an excellent opportunity for 

both experts and the public to learn about large volcanic eruptions 

and their impacts on surrounding landscapes. 

The Valles Caldera’s expansive grassland valleys, meandering 

headwaters of the Jemez River, and forested mountains offer outstanding scenery and provide habitat to a variety of wildlife including peregrine falcons, bald eagles, trout, and a 3,000–strong elk 

herd. In 1975, the Valles Caldera received formal recognition as an 

outstanding and nationally significant geologic resource when it 

was designated a National Natural Landmark. 

In 2000 Congress passed the Valles Caldera Preservation Act 

(Public Law 106–248; 16 U.S.C. 698v et seq.), which authorized the 

United States to acquire the Baca Ranch (which includes the Valles 

Caldera) from its private owners. The legislation provided for the 

establishment of the Valles Caldera National Preserve and provided for it to be administered by the Valles Caldera Trust. The 

Trust operates under an experimental management framework in 

which a Presidentially-appointed Board of Trustees manages the 

National Preserve to protect and preserve the scientific, scenic, geologic, watershed, fish, wildlife, historic, cultural, and recreational 

values of the Preserve, and to provide for the use of its renewable 

resources. The legislation also directed the Trust to prepare a 

budget with a goal of becoming financially self-sustaining by 2015. 

The Valles Caldera Preservation Act also provided that the Trust 

would terminate at the end of the twentieth full fiscal year following acquisition of the Baca Ranch. The law further provided 

that ‘‘in the event of termination of the Trust, the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall assume all management and administrative functions over the Preserve, and it shall thereafter be managed as a 

part of the Santa Fe National Forest, subject to all laws applicable 

to the National Forest System.’’ Upon passage of the Act, the Federal Government acquired the property for approximately $100 million. 

In the years since the establishment of the National Preserve, 

there have been concerns that the management framework is not 

working and has resulted in limited public access. For example, in 

Fiscal Year 2011, the 89,000-acre Preserve received 97,552 visitors. 

By comparison, the adjacent 34,000-acre Bandelier National Monument, which is administered by the National Park Service, has anVerDate Mar 15 2010 11:36 Sep 12, 2013 Jkt 029010 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR096.XXX SR096

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nual visitation that has varied between 150,000–430,000 visitors 

annually. 

In October of 2009, the Government Accountability Office released a report (GAO–10–84) stating that the Preserve was at least 

five years behind schedule in the development of an effective management control system and that the goal of becoming financially 

self-sustaining by 2015 remained the Trust’s biggest challenge and 

would be difficult to achieve. The report noted that the Trust had 

failed to establish key elements of an effective management program, including that it lacked a strategic plan and had not met the 

requirements for performance planning, monitoring, or reporting as 

required by the Government Performance and Results Act. 

In December 2009, the National Park Service completed a reconnaissance study which updated the Park Service’s 1979 feasibility 

study regarding the designation of the Valles Caldera as a unit of 

the National Park System. The study found that the Valles Caldera 

possesses nationally significant geologic resources and meets the 

suitability and feasibility requirements necessary for inclusion in 

the National Park System. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 285 was introduced by Senators Udall of New Mexico and 

Heinrich on February 12, 2013. The Subcommittee on National 

Parks held a hearing on S. 285 on April 23, 2013. At its business 

meeting on June 18, 2013, the Committee ordered S. 285 favorably 

reported with amendments. 

In the 112th Congress, a Senators Bingaman and Udall of New 

Mexico introduced a similar measure, S. 564, on March 10, 2011. 

The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on S. 564 on 

May 11, 2011 (S. Hrg. 112–124). 

Senators Bingaman and Udall of New Mexico also introduced 

similar legislation in the 111th Congress, S. 3452. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on S. 3452 on June 

30, 2010 (S. Hrg. 111–321). At its business meeting on August 5, 

2010, the Committee ordered S. 3452 favorably reported, as amended (S. Rept. 111–321). 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 

open business session on June 18, 2013, by a voice vote of a 

quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 285 if 

amended as described herein. Senators Barrasso, Risch, Lee, Scott, 

and Portman asked to be recorded as voting no. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

During its consideration of S. 285, the Committee adopted four 

amendments. The first amendment provides that a science and 

education center authorized in section 3(d) to be established outside of the boundaries of the National Preserve, be located in 

Jemez Springs, New Mexico. 

The second and third amendments revise the grazing provisions 

in the bill to require that grazing be allowed to continue with the 

National Preserve at levels and locations determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be appropriate, to the extent the use furVerDate Mar 15 2010 11:36 Sep 12, 2013 Jkt 029010 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR096.XXX SR096

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thers scientific research or interpretation of the ranching history of 

the Preserve. 

The fourth amendment modifies the fish and wildlife language in 

section 3(f) to provide that the Secretary of the Interior to permit 

hunting, fishing, and trapping within the National Preserve in accordance with applicable Federal and State law. The Secretary is 

authorized to designate areas in which, and establish limited periods during which no hunting, fishing, or trapping shall be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, or compliance 

with applicable law. Except in an emergency, regulations closing 

areas of the Preserve to hunting, fishing, or trapping shall be made 

in consultation with the appropriate State agency. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 contains the short title, the ‘‘Valles Caldera National 

Preserve Management Act’’. 

Section 2 defines key terms in the bill. 

Section 3(a) designates the Valles Caldera National Preserve 

(National Preserve) as a unit of the National Park System. 

Subsection (b)(1) directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) 

to administer the National Preserve in accordance with this Act 

and the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park 

System including the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 

1 et seq.) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.). 

Paragraph (2) authorizes the Secretary to coordinate the management and operation of the National Preserve with the Bandalier 

National Monument. 

Paragraph (3) directs the Secretary to prepare a management 

plan for the National Preserve, in consultation with the Secretary 

of Agriculture, State and local governments, Indian tribes, and the 

public within 3 years after the date on which funding becomes 

available. 

Subsection (c) authorizes the Secretary to acquire land and interests in land within the boundaries of the National Preserve by purchase with donated or appropriated funds, donation, or transfer 

from a another Federal agency and directs the Secretary to administer the acquired lands or interests in land as part of the National 

Preserve. 

Subsection (d) directs the Secretary to carry out the science and 

education program for the National Preserve established by the 

Trust, until the management plan required under subsection (b)(3) 

is completed. Upon completion of the management plan, the Secretary is directed to establish a science and education program for 

the National Preserve. The Secretary is authorized to establish a 

science and education center outside the boundaries of the National 

Preserve in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. 

Subsection (e) directs the Secretary to allow the grazing of livestock within the National Preserve consistent with this Act and at 

levels and locations determined by the Secretary to be appropriate 

and to the extent the use furthers scientific research or interpretation of the ranching history of the preserve. 

Subsection (f)(1) directs the Secretary to permit hunting, fishing, 

and trapping within the Preserve in accordance with applicable 

Federal and State law. 


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Paragraph (2) authorizes the Secretary to designate areas and 

establish limited periods during which no hunting, fishing, trapping shall be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, 

or compliance with applicable law. 

Paragraph (3) requires that, except in an emergency, all regulations closing areas within the Preserve to hunting, fishing, or trapping shall be made in consultation with the appropriate State of 

New Mexico agency having responsibility for fish and wildlife administration. 

Paragraph (4) provides that noting in this Act affects the jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with respect to fish and wildlife in the National Preserve. 

Subsection (g)(1) directs the Secretary to undertake activities to 

improve the health of the forest, grassland, and riparian areas 

within the National Preserve, including activities carried out in accordance with title IV of the Omnibus Public Land Management 

Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.), relating to forest landscape 

restoration. 

Paragraph (2) authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative 

agreements with adjacent pueblos to coordinate activities carried 

out under paragraph (1) on the Preserve and adjacent pueblo land. 

Subsection (h) withdraws all land and interests in land within 

the boundaries of the Preserve, subject to valid existing rights, 

from entry, disposal, or appropriation under the public land laws; 

from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and from 

operation of the mineral leasing laws, geothermal leasing laws, and 

mineral material laws. 

Subsection (i)(1) restricts motorized access, and the building of 

roads or buildings within the area above 9,600 feet in elevation or 

250–feet below the top, whichever is lower, of the domes and peaks 

described in paragraph (2). 

Paragraph (2) provides a list of all the domes and other peaks 

referred to in paragraph (1). 

Paragraph (3) provides an exception where motorized access is 

necessary for administrative purposes or measures required in 

emergencies to protect the health and safety of persons in the area. 

Subsection (j)(1) directs the Secretary to ensure the protection of 

traditional cultural and religious sites in the National Preserve in 

consultation with the Indian tribes and pueblos. 

Paragraph (2) requires that the Secretary provide access to the 

sites described in paragraph (1) by members of Indian tribes or 

pueblos for traditional cultural and customary uses and may, on request of an Indian tribe or pueblo, temporarily close specific areas 

of the National Preserve to general public access in order to protect 

traditional cultural and customary uses in the area by members of 

the Indian tribe or pueblo. 

Paragraph (3) directs the Secretary to maintain prohibitions on 

the use of motorized or mechanical travel on preserve land located 

adjacent to the Santa Clara Indian Reservation to the extent the 

prohibition was in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Subsection (k) requires the Secretary, in consultation with the 

Secretary of Agriculture, to study the feasibility of establishing a 

hiking trail along the rim of the Valles Caldera on land within the 

National Preserve, and National Forest System land that is adjacent to the Preserve, within 3 years after the date of enactment of 


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this Act. Upon the request of an affected Indian tribe or pueblo, the 

Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture are directed to seek to 

enter into an agreement with the Indian tribe or pueblo that provides for the protection of cultural and religious sites in the vicinity 

of the trail and the privacy of adjacent pueblo land. 

Subsection (l) provides that nothing in this Act affects valid existing rights. 

Section 4(a) transfers administrative jurisdiction over the National Preserve from the Secretary of Agriculture and the Trust to 

the Secretary to be administer as a unit of the National Park Service 

Subsection (b) modifies the boundaries of the Santa Fe National 

Forest to exclude the National Preserve. 

Subsection (c)(1) directs the Secretary and the Trust to enter into 

a memorandum of agreement within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act to facilitate the orderly transfer of the administration of the National Preserve to the Secretary. 

Paragraph (2) allows the Secretary to administer the National 

Preserve in accordance with any management activities of plans 

adopted by the Trust until the date on which the Secretary completes a management plan for the Preserve under section 3(b)(1). 

Paragraph (3) requires that the National Preserve remain open 

to the public during the interim management period. 

Subsection (d)(1) terminates the Trust 180 days after the enactment of this Act unless the Secretary determines that the termination date should be extended in order to facilitate the transitional management of the National Preserve. 

Paragraph (2)(A) requires that all assets of the Trust be transferred to the Secretary and that any amounts appropriated for the 

Trust be available to the Secretary for the administration of the 

National Preserve. 

Subparagraph (B) requires the Secretary, upon termination of 

the Trust, to assume all contracts, obligations, and other liabilities 

of the Trust and that the Secretary and the Trust prepare a budget 

for the interim management of the National Preserve within 90 

days after the enactment of this Act. The Trust must obtain the 

written concurrence of the Secretary before entering into any new 

liabilities not authorized in the budget prepared under the subclause (I). 

Paragraph (3)(A) authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of 

Agriculture to hire employees of the Trust on a non-competitive 

basis. 

Subparagraph (B) requires that any employees hired under subparagraph (A) be subject to the provisions of chapter 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53, title 5, United States Code, relating to 

Federal agency employment. 

Subparagraph (C) requires that employees of the Trust be retained for 180 days beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, 

and shall be considered to be placed on detail to the Secretary. 

Subparagraph (d) provides that nothing in this paragraph precludes the termination of employment of an eligible employee for 

cause. 

Paragraph (4) requires that the Secretary have access to all 

records of the Trust pertaining to the management of the National 

Preserve. 


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Paragraph (5) transfers power over the Valles Calera Fund from 

the Trust to the Secretary and makes available to the Secretary, 

for the management of the National Preserve, any amounts in the 

Fund without further appropriation. 

Section 5(a) repeals the Valles Caldera Preservation Act (16 

U.S.C. 698v et seq.) on termination of the Trust. 

Subsection (b) clarifies that notwithstanding the repeal of that 

Act, the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire mineral interests under section 104(e) of the Valles Caldera Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 698v et seq.) is transferred to the Secretary to 

the Secretary and provides that any proceeding for the condemnation of, or payment of compensation for, an outstanding mineral interest shall continue. 

Paragraph (2) requires that the provisions of section 104(g) of the 

Valles Caldera Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 698v et seq.) relating to 

the Pueblo of Santa Clara remain in effect. 

Paragraph (3) requires that the Valles Caldera Fund not be terminated until all amounts in the Fund have been expended. 

Subsection (c) provides that the boundaries of the Preserve, the 

Santa Fe National Forrest (other than the modification made by 

section 4(b)), the Bandalier National Monument, and any land conveyed to the Pueblo of Santa Clara not be affected by the repeal 

of the of the Valles Caldera Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 698v et 

seq.). 

Section 6 authorizes the appropriation of such sums as are necessary to carry out the Act. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 285—Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act 

Summary: S. 285 would transfer administrative jurisdiction of 

the Valles Caldera Preserve in New Mexico from the Forest Service 

to the National Park Service (NPS). Assuming appropriation of the 

necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 285 

would cost $27 million over the 2014–2018 period. Enacting the 

legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, 

pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

S. 285 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates 

as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and 

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

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 285 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014– 

2018 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization Level ...................................................... 3 6 7 7 7 30 

Estimated Outlays ........................................................................ 2 5 7 7 7 27 


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Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted near the end of 2013 and that the necessary 

amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Estimated outlays are based on the historical spending patterns for similar land 

management activities. 

Under S. 285, the Valles Caldera National Preserve would become a unit of the National Park System rather than the National 

Forest System. The preserve would be managed by the NPS rather 

than the Valles Caldera Trust—a wholly owned, government-sponsored corporation. (The 89,000-acre preserve was established in 

2000.) Assets and liabilities of the Valles Caldera Trust Fund 

would be transferred to the NPS along with authority to spend 

amounts in the trust fund without an appropriation. Under the bill, 

the NPS could continue to allow grazing on preserve lands as well 

as hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities. 

Based on information provided by the Forest Service and the 

NPS, CBO estimates that the cost of administering the preserve 

would increase by about $1 million annually. (The Forest Service 

currently spends $3 million a year to administer the preserve.) The 

additional costs would result initially from required management 

planning and studies and later from improved operations and 

maintenance activities. In addition, assuming appropriation of the 

necessary amounts, CBO estimates that the NPS would spend $22 

million over the 2014–2018 period to construct facilities for maintenance operations, administrative activities, and educational purposes. 

CBO expects that offsetting receipts and associated direct spending under the bill would be about the same as under current law. 

The NPS would collect receipts currently collected by the trust (primarily recreation fees amounting to less than $1 million annually) 

and would spend those amounts to benefit the preserve. Spending 

of balances in the Valles Caldera Trust Fund also would be unchanged under the bill. Finally, we estimate that withdrawing land 

within the preserve from some commercial activities such as mining would not reduce offsetting receipts because that land is not expected to generate any receipts in future years. 

Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 285 contains no 

intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA 

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

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Martin von Gnechten; Impact on state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; Impact on the private sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate 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. 285. 

The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing 

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


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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. 285, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

S. 285, 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 April 

23, 2013, Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on S. 285 follows: 

STATEMENT OF PEGGY O’DELL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF

THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, thank 

you for the opportunity to appear before you today to 

present the Department of the Interior’s views on S. 285, 

to designate the Valles Caldera National Preserve as a 

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

The Department supports S. 285 with an amendment 

described later in this statement. The Valles Caldera National Preserve (Preserve) has been found to meet the National Park Service’s criteria for inclusion in the National 

Park System, and this legislation would provide a feasible 

plan for transferring management responsibility for the 

Preserve from the Valles Caldera Trust (Trust) to the National Park Service. 

S. 285 would designate the Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico as a unit of the National Park System and would transfer administrative jurisdiction of the 

Preserve to the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) for administration by the National Park Service (NPS). The bill 

would terminate the Trust 180 days after enactment unless the Secretary determines that the termination date 

should be extended to facilitate the transitional management of the Preserve. All assets and liabilities of the Trust 

would be transferred to the Secretary. The bill would also 

authorize the Secretary to coordinate management and operations of the Preserve with Bandelier National Monument and produce a management plan no later than three 

fiscal years after funds are made available. If S. 285 is enacted, we look forward to working with the Trust, the Secretary of Agriculture, Indian Tribes and Pueblos, State 

and local governments, and the public to develop a management plan and capitalize on the proximity of Bandelier 

National Monument for efficiency of operations, while applying Service First principles of sharing resources as appropriate with the surrounding Santa Fe National Forest. 

S. 285 would authorize grazing, hunting, and fishing to 

continue within the Preserve. It would also require the 


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Secretary to ensure the protection of traditional cultural 

and religious sites, including providing tribal access to the 

sites and temporarily closing specific areas of the Preserve 

to protect traditional uses, in accordance with applicable 

law. The NPS has a long history of consultation with Native Americans in the preservation and continuation of traditional practices. 

Finally, S. 285 would require that eligible Trust employees be retained for at least 180 days from the date of enactment. The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture 

would be authorized to hire Trust employees on a noncompetitive basis for comparable positions at the Preserve 

or other areas or offices under the jurisdiction of the two 

Secretaries. 

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is an 88,900 acre 

unit of the National Forest System located in the Jemez 

Mountains of north central New Mexico. The Preserve was 

established by Public Law 106–248, the Valles Caldera 

Preservation Act of 2000, and is managed by the Valles 

Caldera Trust, a wholly owned goverment corporation established under the Act. The Trust is charged with mixing 

elements of both private and public administration while 

working to achieve resource protection, public enjoyment, 

and financial self sufficiency goals. 

The Valles Caldera is considered to be one of the world’s 

best intact examples of a resurgent caldera (the remains of 

a huge and ancient volcano with a prominent uplift at its 

center, in this case present-day Redondo Peak) and is of 

sufficient size and configuration to allow for long-term sustainable resource protection and visitor enjoyment. The 

geologic features of the Preserve retain a high degree of integrity and the Preserve’s unique setting of expansive 

grasslands and montane forests provides outstanding scenic values and an array of opportunities for public recreation, reflection, education, and scientific study. The Preserve also would expand and enhance the diversity of volcanic sites represented within the National Park System. 

The national significance of the geological resources of 

the Valles Caldera was formally recognized in 1975 when 

the area was designated a National Natural Landmark. 

Moreover, Valles Caldera offers the opportunity to illustrate the connection of human history in the region that is 

showcased at Bandelier National Monument with the geologic history that shaped the surrounding mesa and canyon landscape. 

As early as 1899, the area around Valles Caldera was 

studied for national park designation, and the resulting report proposed that 153,620 acres be set aside for ‘‘Pajarito 

National Park.’’ A portion of this area later became Bandelier National Monument, established in 1906. Additionally, the Valles Caldera was the subject of site investigations and new area studies that were completed by the 

NPS in 1939, 1964, 1977, and 1979. An Update Report on 

the NPS 1979 New Area Study was completed by the NPS 

in December 2009, at the request of Senator Tom Udall 


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and former Senator Jeff Bingaman. All of these studies 

found that the Valles Caldera was nationally significant, 

suitable and feasible for designation as a unit of the National Park System, and the 2009 Update Report reaffirmed the results of the prior studies. 

Under S. 285, Valles Caldera would be managed in accordance with the 1916 Organic Act and other Acts that 

have guided the NPS for nearly one hundred years ‘‘to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by 

such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations’’, with recognition that the bill 

allows for continued, sustainable grazing, hunting, and 

fishing. The NPS has experience with these activities in 

our other nineteen designated preserves. 

Based on current expenses for Valles Caldera and the 

cost to operate park units comparable in size and assets, 

we anticipate the annual cost to operate and manage the 

park would be approximately $22 million for developmental costs and $4 million for annual operational costs, 

although more complete cost estimates would be developed 

through the general management plan. In addition, our 

2009 Update Report identifies five parcels of private property within the proposed park boundaries, totaling 40 

acres. Although appraisals have not been completed, the 

expected costs to acquire this private property and any 

transfer costs are not expected to be great. Funds would 

be subject to the availability of appropriations and NPS 

priorities. 

We recommend that the bill be amended to reference a 

map, which would provide certainty about the boundary 

and make the bill consistent with most other laws and 

pending bills designating new units of the National Park 

System. The NPS would be pleased to provide the committee with language for that amendment. 

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my prepared remarks. I 

would be happy to answer any questions that you or any 

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, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by S. 285, as ordered reported. 

Æ 


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