II 

Calendar No. 216 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1483 

[Report No. 114–136] 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility 

of designating the James K. Polk Home in Columbia, Tennessee, as 

a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 2, 2015 

Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself and Mr. MURPHY) introduced the following bill; 

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

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 

Reported by Ms. MURKOWSKI, with an amendment 

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

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability 

and feasibility of designating the James K. Polk Home 

in Columbia, Tennessee, as a unit 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, 


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•S 1483 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘James K. Polk Presi3 dential Home Study Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

5 Congress finds that— 

6 (1) in 1961, the James K. Polk Home was des7 ignated as a National Historic Landmark; and 

8 (2) in April 2015, the National Park Service 

9 completed a reconnaissance survey of the James K. 

10 Polk Home, in which the National Park Service— 

11 (A) determined that— 

12 (i) the James K. Polk Home is con13 clusively nationally significant; and 

14 (ii) a special resource study is needed 

15 to fully analyze the suitability, feasibility, 

16 and need for management of the James K. 

17 Polk Home by the National Park Service; 

18 and 

19 (B) recommended that Congress consider 

20 authorizing a special resource study for the 

21 James K. Polk Home and associated properties. 

22 SEC. 3. STUDY. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (re24 ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a 

25 special resource study of the site of the James K. Polk 


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•S 1483 RS

1 Home in Columbia, Tennessee, and adjacent property (re2 ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘site’’). 

3 (b) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall conduct the 

4 study under subsection (a) in accordance with section 

5 100507 of title 54, United States Code. 

6 (c) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub7 section (a), the Secretary shall— 

8 (1) evaluate the national significance of the 

9 site; 

10 (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 

11 designating the site as a unit of the National Park 

12 System; 

13 (3) include cost estimates for any necessary ac14 quisition, development, operation, and maintenance 

15 of the site; 

16 (4) consult with interested Federal, State, or 

17 local governmental entities, private and nonprofit or18 ganizations, or other interested individuals; and 

19 (5) include an analysis of the effect of the site 

20 on— 

21 (A) existing commercial and recreational 

22 activities; 

23 (B) the authorization, construction, oper24 ation, maintenance, or improvement of energy 


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1 production and transmission or other infra2 structure in the area; and 

3 (C) the authority of State and local gov4 ernments to manage the activities described in 

5 subparagraphs (A) and (B); 

6 (6) include an identification of any authorities 

7 (including condemnation) that would compel or per8 mit the Secretary to influence or participate in local 

9 land use decisions (such as zoning) or place restric10 tions on non-Federal land if the site is designated as 

11 a unit of the National Park System; and 

12 (7)(5) identify alternatives for the management, 

13 administration, and protection of the site. 

14 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 

15 on which funds are made available to carry out the study 

16 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the 

17 Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep18 resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

19 Resources of the Senate a report that describes— 

20 (1) the findings and conclusions of the study; 

21 and 

22 (2) any recommendations of the Secretary. 


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Calendar No. 216 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1483 

[Report No. 114–136] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 

other purposes. a unit of the National Park System, and for James K. Polk Home in Columbia, Tennessee, as suitability and feasibility of designating the 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 

Reported with an amendment 


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