II

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 776

To authorize the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study for

the preservation of the Loess Hills in western Iowa.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 13, 1999

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mr. HARKIN) introduced the following bill;

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

A BILL

To authorize the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study for the preservation of the Loess Hills in

western Iowa.

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 Study Act of 1999’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—

8 (1) the Loess Hills encompasses 600,000 acres

9 in western Iowa, having been formed by ancient gla-
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1 ciers and hundreds of centuries of westerly winds

2 blowing soil across the Missouri River, which were

3 then deposited in Iowa;

4 (2) this area is the largest Loess formation in

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

6 world, supporting several species of rare native prai7 rie grasses;

8 (3) portions of the Loess Hills remain undevel9 oped and provide an important opportunity to pro10 tect and preserve an historic, rare and unique nat11 ural resource;

12 (4) a program to study the Loess Hills can only

13 be successfully implemented with the cooperation

14 and participation of affected local governments and

15 landowners;

16 (5) in 1986, the Loess Hills area was des17 ignated as a National Natural Landmark in recogni18 tion of the area’s nationally significant natural re19 sources;

20 (6) although significant natural resources re21 main in the area, increasing development in the area

22 has threatened the future stability and integrity of

23 the Loess Hills area; and

24 (7) the Loess Hills area merits further study by

25 the National Park Service, in cooperation with the
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1 State of Iowa, local governments, and affected land2 owners, to determine appropriate means to better

3 protect, preserve, and interpret the significant re4 sources in the area.

5 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to author6 ize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility

7 study to determine what measures should be taken to pre8 serve the Loess Hills in western Iowa.

9 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

10 As used in this Act—

11 (1) the term ‘‘Loess Hills’’ means the natural

12 geological formation of soils in the State of Iowa lo13 cated between Waubansie State Park and Stone

14 Park, and which includes Plymouth, Woodbury,

15 Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fre16 mont counties;

17 (2) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

18 of the Interior; and

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

20 SEC. 4. LOESS HILLS STUDY.

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

22 Loess Hills area to review options for the protection and

23 interpretation of the area’s natural, cultural, and histor24 ical resources. The study shall include, but need not be
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1 limited to, an analysis of the suitability and feasibility of

2 designating the area as—

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

4 (2) a National Heritage Area or Heritage Cor5 ridor; or

6 (3) such other designation as may be appro7 priate.

8 (b) The study shall examine the appropriateness and

9 feasibility of cooperative protection and interpretive efforts

10 between the United States, the State, its political subdivi11 sions, and non-profit groups or other interested parties.

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

13 the study with State and local governmental entities, af14 fected landowners, and other interested public and private

15 organizations and individuals.

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

17 after the date funds are made available. No later than 30

18 days after its completion, the Secretary shall transmit a

19 report of the study, along with any recommendations, to

20 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the

21 United States Senate and the Committee on Resources of

22 the United States House of Representatives.
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1 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

2 There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out

3 this Act $275,000.

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