II

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 589

To require the National Park Service to undertake a study of the Loess

Hills area in western Iowa to review options for the protection and

interpretation of the area’s natural, cultural, and historical resources.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MARCH 11, 1999

Mr. HARKIN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To require the National Park Service to undertake a study

of the Loess Hills area in western Iowa to review options

for the protection and interpretation of the area’s natural, cultural, and historical resources.

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 ‘‘Loess Hills Preserva5 tion Act of 1999’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds that—
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S 589 IS

1 (1) the Loess Hills area in western Iowa,

2 formed by ancient glaciers and hundreds of centuries

3 of westerly winds blowing across the Missouri River,

4 has resulted in the largest loess formation in the

5 United States, and one of the two largest in the

6 world;

7 (2) portions of the Loess Hills remain undevel8 oped and provide an important opportunity to pro9 tect an historic and unique natural resource;

10 (3) a program to study the Loess Hills can only

11 be successfully implemented with the cooperation

12 and participation of affected local governments and

13 landowners;

14 (4) in 1986, the Loess Hills area was des15 ignated as a National Natural Landmark in recogni16 tion of the area’s nationally significant natural re17 sources;

18 (5) although significant natural resources re19 main in the area, increasing development in the area

20 has threatened the future stability and integrity of

21 the Loess Hills area; and

22 (6) the Loess Hills area merits further study by

23 the National Park Service, in cooperation with the

24 State of Iowa, local governments, and affected land25 owners, to determine appropriate means to better
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1 protect, preserve, and interpret the significant re2 sources in the area.

3 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

4 As used in this Act:

5 (1) The term ‘‘Loess Hills’’ means the area in

6 the State of Iowa located between Waubansie State

7 Park and Stone Park, and which includes Plymouth,

8 Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills,

9 and Fremont counties.

10 (2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

11 of the Interior.

12 (3) The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Iowa.

13 SEC. 4. LOESS HILLS STUDY.

14 (a) The Secretary shall undertake a study of the

15 Loess Hills area to review options for the protection and

16 interpretation of the area’s natural, cultural, and histori17 cal resources. The study shall include, but need not be

18 limited to an analysis of the suitability and feasibility of

19 designating the area as—

20 (1) a unit of the National Park System;

21 (2) a National Heritage Area or Heritage Cor22 ridor; or

23 (3) such other designation as may be appro24 priate.
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1 (b) The study shall examine the appropriateness and

2 feasibility of cooperative protection and interpretive efforts

3 between the United States, the State, and its political sub4 divisions.

5 (c) The Secretary shall consult in the preparation of

6 the study with State and local governmental entities, af7 fected landowners, and other interested public and private

8 organizations and individuals.

9 (d) The study shall be completed within one year

10 after the date funds are made available. Upon its comple11 tion, the Secretary shall transmit a report of the study,

12 along with any recommendations, to the Committee on

13 Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Sen14 ate and the Committee on Resources of the United States

15 House of Representatives.

16 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

17 There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as

18 may be necessary to carry out this Act.

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