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103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 793

To provide for the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the historical, cultural, and architectural values of the Town of Bramwell, West

Virginia, for the educational and inspirational benefit of present and

future generations.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 3, 1993

Mr. RAHALL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To provide for the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the historical, cultural, and architectural values

of the Town of Bramwell, West Virginia, for the educational and inspirational benefit of present and future

generations.

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 ‘‘Bramwell National

5 Historical Park Act of 1993’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that:
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1 (1) The coal mining heritage of southern West

2 Virginia is of national historical and cultural signifi3 cance.

4 (2) The Town of Bramwell, West Virginia, pos5 sesses remarkable and outstanding historical, cul6 tural, and architectural values relating to the coal

7 mining heritage of southern West Virginia.

8 (3) It is in the national interest to preserve the

9 unique character of the Town of Bramwell, West

10 Virginia, and to enhance the historical, cultural, and

11 architectural values associated with its coal mining

12 heritage.

13 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to provide

14 for the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the

15 historical, cultural, and architectural values of the Town

16 of Bramwell, West Virginia, for the educational and inspi17 rational benefit of present and future generations.

18 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—In order to preserve, restore, and

20 interpret the unique historical, cultural, and architectural

21 values of Bramwell, West Virginia, there is hereby estab22 lished the Bramwell National Historical Park (hereinafter

23 referred to as the ‘‘Park’’).
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1 (b) AREA INCLUDED.—The Park shall consist of the

2 lands and interests in lands within the corporate boundary

3 of the Town of Bramwell.

4 SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall administer

6 the Park in accordance with this Act and with the provi7 sions of law generally applicable to units of the national

8 park system, including the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to estab9 lish a National Park Service, and for other purposes’’, ap10 proved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 461–

11 467).

12 (b) DONATIONS.—Notwithstanding any other provi13 sion of law, the Secretary may accept and retain donations

14 of funds, property, or services from individuals, founda15 tions, corporations, or public entities for the purpose of

16 providing services and facilities which he deems consistent

17 with the purposes of the Act.

18 (c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In administering

19 the Park, the Secretary is authorized to enter into cooper20 ative agreements with the State of West Virginia, or any

21 political subdivision thereof, for carrying out the purposes

22 of this Act.

23 SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LAND.

24 (a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may ac25 quire land or interests in land within the boundaries of
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1 the Park only by donation, exchange, or purchase from

2 willing sellers with donated or appropriated funds.

3 (b) STATE LANDS.—Lands or interest in lands, with4 in the boundaries of the Park which are owned by the

5 State of West Virginia or any political subdivision thereof,

6 may be acquired only by donation.

7 SEC. 6. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

8 The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative

9 agreements with the owners of properties of historical or

10 cultural significance within the Park pursuant to which

11 the Secretary may mark, interpret, restore, and provide

12 technical assistance for the preservation and interpreta13 tion of such properties.

14 SEC. 7. PROPERTY OWNER RIGHTS.

15 Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing

16 the Secretary to have access to private residential property

17 within the Park for the purpose of conducting visitors

18 through such property, or for any other purpose, without

19 the advice and consent of the owner of such property.

20 SEC. 8. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation

22 with the committee referred to in section 9, shall prepare

23 a plan for the restoration, preservation, interpretation,

24 and development of the historical, cultural, and architec25 tural resources of the Park.
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1 (b) RESTORATION MEASURES.—The plan referred to

2 in this section shall provide for such measures as may be

3 deemed appropriate for the restoration of public areas

4 within the Park, including but not limited to each of the

5 following:

6 (1) The restoration of a brick surface to such

7 segments of North River Street, Main Street, Rose

8 Street, South River Street, and Bloch Street as

9 deemed necessary to restore the historical and archi10 tectural character of the Park.

11 (2) Measures to mitigate the visual impact of

12 public utility facilities such as phone and electrical

13 lines on the historical and architectural character of

14 the Park.

15 (c) DEVELOPMENT MEASURES.—The plan referred

16 to in this section shall provide for such measures as may

17 be deemed appropriate for the development of public areas

18 within the Park, including but not limited to each of the

19 following:

20 (1) The reconstruction of the Bramwell Rail21 road Depot.

22 (2) The restoration of an edifice or edifices

23 suitable to provide for the interpretation and visitor

24 appreciation of the historical, cultural, and architec25 tural features of the Park.
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1 SEC. 9. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established

3 the Bramwell National Historical Park Advisory Commit4 tee (hereinafter in this Act referred to as ‘‘Advisory Com5 mittee’’). The Advisory Committee shall be composed of

6 thirteen members appointed by the Secretary to serve for

7 terms of two years, except for the Governor of the State

8 of West Virginia and the Mayor of the Town of Bramwell

9 who shall serve without limitation of terms. Any member

10 of the Advisory Committee may serve after the expiration

11 of his term until a successor is appointed. Any member

12 of the Advisory Committee may be appointed to serve

13 more than one term. The Secretary or his designee shall

14 serve as Chairman.

15 (b) MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.—

16 The Secretary, or his designees, shall meet on a regular

17 basis and consult with the Advisory Committee on matters

18 relating to the development of a management plan for the

19 Park and on the implementation of such plan.

20 (c) EXPENSES.—Members of the Advisory Committee

21 shall serve without compensation as such, but the Sec22 retary may pay expenses reasonably incurred in carrying

23 out their responsibilities under this Act on vouchers signed

24 by the Chairman.

25 (d) MEMBERSHIP.—The Secretary shall appoint

26 members to the Advisory Committee as follows:
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1 (1) the Governor of the State of West Virginia

2 or his delegate;

3 (2) one member to represent the West Virginia

4 Division of Culture and History to be appointed

5 from among persons nominated by the Governor of

6 the State of West Virginia;

7 (3) the Mayor of the Town of Bramwell;

8 (4) one member to represent the Mercer County

9 Commission;

10 (5) one member to represent the Mercer County

11 Historical Society;

12 (6) two members to represent the Bramwell

13 Historic Landmark Commission;

14 (7) two members to represent the Bramwell

15 Millionaire Garden Club;

16 (8) one member to represent the West Virginia

17 Preservation Alliance, Inc.;

18 (9) one member to represent Coalways, Inc.;

19 (10) one member to represent the West Virginia

20 Association of Museums; and

21 (11) one member to represent the Pinnacle

22 Rock State Park Foundation, Inc.

23 (e) TERMINATION; CHARTER.—The Advisory Com24 mittee shall terminate on the date ten years after the en25 actment of this Act notwithstanding the Federal Advisory
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1 Committee Act (Act of October 6, 1972; 86 Stat. 776).

2 The provisions of section 14(b) of such Act (relating to

3 the charter of the Committee) are hereby waived with re4 spect to this Advisory Committee.

5 SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

6 There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such

7 sums as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this

8 Act.

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