II

Calendar No. 608

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1844

To amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to direct a study

of the opportunities for enhanced water based recreation and for other

purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 5, 1996

Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself, Mr. CAMPBELL, and Mr. PRYOR) introduced the

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

SEPTEMBER 16, 1996

Reported by Mr. MURKOWSKI, with an amendment

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

A BILL

To amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to

direct a study of the opportunities for enhanced water

based recreation 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 ‘‘National Recreation

5 Lakes Study Act of 1996’’.
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S 1844 RS

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

2 The Congress finds that the Federal Government,

3 under the authority of the Reclamation Act and other stat4 utes, has developed man-made lakes and reservoirs that

5 have become a powerful magnet for diverse recreational

6 activities and that such activities contribute to the well7 being of families and individuals and the economic viability

8 of local communities. The Congress further finds that in

9 order to further the purposes of the Land and Water Con10 servation Fund, the President should appoint an advisory

11 commission to review the current and anticipated demand

12 for recreational opportunities at federally-managed man13 made lakes and reservoirs through creative partnerships

14 involving Federal, State, and local governments and the

15 private sector and to develop alternatives for enhanced

16 recreational use of such facilities.

17 SEC. 3. COMMISSION.

18 The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965

19 (Public Law 88–578, 78 Stat. 897), as amended, is fur20 ther amended by adding the following new section 13:

21 ‘‘SEC. 13. (a) The President shall appoint an advisory

22 commission to review the opportunities for enhanced op23 portunities for water based recreation which shall submit

24 a report to the President and to the Committee on Energy

25 and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee
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S 1844 RS

1 on Resources of the House of Representatives within one

2 year from the date of enactment of this section.

3 ‘‘(b) The members of the Commission shall include—

4 ‘‘(1) the Secretary of the Interior, or his des5 ignee;

6 ‘‘(2) the Secretary of the Army, or his designee;

7 ‘‘(3) the Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Au8 thority, or his designee;

9 ‘‘(4) the Secretary of Agriculture, or his des10 ignee;

11 ‘‘(5) a person nominated by the National Gov12 ernors’ Association; and

13 ‘‘(6) four persons familiar with the recreation

14 and tourism industry, at least one of whom shall be

15 familiar with the economics and financing of recre16 ation related infrastructure.

17 ‘‘(6) four persons familiar with the interests of

18 the recreation and tourism industry, conservation

19 and recreation use, Indian tribes, and local govern20 ments, at least one of whom shall be familiar with the

21 economics and financing of recreation related infra22 structure.

23 ‘‘(c) The President shall appoint one member to serve

24 as Chairman. Any vacancy on the Commission shall be

25 filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
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S 1844 RS

1 Members of the Commission shall serve without compensa2 tion but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and

3 other necessary expenses incurred by them in the perform4 ance of their duties. The Secretary of the Interior shall

5 provide all financial, administrative, and staffing require6 ments for the Commission, including office space, furnish7 ings, and equipment. The heads of other Federal agencies

8 are authorized, at the request of the Commission, to pro9 vide such information or personnel, to the extent per10 mitted by law and within the limits of available funds, to

11 the Commission as may be useful to accomplish the pur12 poses of this section.

13 ‘‘(d) The Commission may hold such hearings, sit

14 and act at such times and places, take such testimony,

15 and receive such evidence as it deems advisable: Provided,

16 That, to the maximum extent possible, the Commission

17 shall use existing data and research. The Commission is

18 authorized to use the United States mail in the same man19 ner and upon the same conditions as other departments

20 and agencies of the United States.

21 ‘‘(e) The report shall review the extent of water relat22 ed recreation at Federal man-made lakes and reservoirs

23 and shall develop alternatives to enhance the opportunities

24 for such use by the public. In developing the report, the

25 Commission shall—
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S 1844 RS

1 ‘‘(1) review the extent to which recreation com2 ponents identified in specific authorizations associ3 ated with individual Federal man-made lakes and

4 reservoirs have been accomplished;

5 ‘‘(2) evaluate the feasibility of enhancing recre6 ation opportunities at federally-managed lakes and

7 reservoirs under existing statutes;

8 ‘‘(3) consider legislative changes that would en9 hance recreation opportunities consistent with and

10 subject to the achievement of the authorized pur11 poses of Federal water projects; and

12 ‘‘(4) make recommendations on alternatives for

13 enhanced recreation opportunities including, but not

14 limited to, the establishment of a National Recre15 ation Lake System under which specific lakes would

16 receive national designation and which would be

17 managed through innovative partnership-based

18 agreements between Federal agencies, State and

19 local units of government, and the private sector.

20 Any such alternatives shall be consistent with and

21 subject to the authorized purposes for any man22 made lakes and reservoirs and shall emphasize pri23 vate sector initiatives in concert with State and local

24 units of government.’’.

Calendar No. 608

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1844

A BILL

To amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund

poses.hanced water based recreation and for other purAct to direct a study of the opportunities for enSEPTEMBER 16, 1996

Reported with an amendment