I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2444 

To establish Fort San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n in Puerto Rico as an affiliated 

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

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 12, 2021 

Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish Fort San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n in Puerto 

Rico as an affiliated area of the National Park System, 

and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Fort San Gero ́nimo 

5 Preservation Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) FORT SAN GERO ́NIMO DEL BOQUERO ́N.— 

9 The term ‘‘Fort San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n’’ (also 

10 known as ‘‘Fortı ́n de San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n’’) 


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1 means the fort and grounds listed on the National 

2 Register of Historic Places and located near Old San 

3 Juan, Puerto Rico. 

4 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

5 the Secretary of the Interior. 

6 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF AFFILIATED AREA. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Fort San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n 

8 in Puerto Rico is established as an affiliated area of the 

9 National Park System. 

10 (b) DESCRIPTION OF AFFILIATED AREA.—The affili11 ated area shall consist of the fort and grounds listed on 

12 the National Register of Historic Places and located near 

13 Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

14 (c) ADMINISTRATION.—The affiliated area shall be 

15 managed in accordance with— 

16 (1) this Act; and 

17 (2) any law generally applicable to units of the 

18 National Park System. 

19 (d) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The Institute of Puerto 

20 Rican Culture shall be the management entity for the af21 filiated area. 

22 (e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary 

23 may provide technical assistance and enter into coopera24 tive agreements with the management entity for the pur25 pose of providing financial assistance for the marketing, 


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1 marking, interpretation, and preservation of the affiliated 

2 area. 

3 (f) LIMITED ROLE OF THE SECRETARY.—Nothing in 

4 this section authorizes the Secretary to acquire property 

5 at the affiliated area or to assume overall financial respon6 sibility for the operation, maintenance, or management of 

7 the affiliated area. 

8 (g) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta10 tion with the management entity, shall develop a 

11 management plan for the affiliated area. 

12 (2) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 3 years 

13 after the date on which funds are first made avail14 able to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 

15 submit the management plan developed under para16 graph (1) to the Committee on Natural Resources of 

17 the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

18 Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. 

19 (h) PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.—Nothing in 

20 this Act affects the land use rights of private property 

21 owners adjacent to Fort San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n. 

22 (i) NO BUFFER ZONES.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act shall be 

24 construed to create buffer zones outside of Fort San 

25 Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n. 


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1 (2) ACTIVITY OR USE OUTSIDE FORT SAN

2 GERO ́NIMO DEL BOQUERO ́N.—The fact that an activ3 ity or use can be seen, heard, or detected from with4 in Fort San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n shall not pre5 clude, limit, control, regulate, or determine the con6 duct or management of activities or uses outside of 

7 Fort San Gero ́nimo del Boquero ́n. 

Æ 


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