I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4448 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study 

to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield located in 

Chemung County, New York, and the suitability and feasibility of its 

inclusion in the National Park System, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 13, 2010 

Mr. MASSA (for himself, Mr. MAFFEI, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. 

HINCHEY, Mr. TONKO, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. 

NADLER of New York, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. MCMAHON, and Mr. SESTAK) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 

resource study to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield located in Chemung County, New York, 

and the suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in 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, 

3 SECTION 1. 1779 BATTLE OF NEWTOWN STUDY. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: 

5 (1) In 1972, the Newtown Battlefield was rec6 ognized by the Federal Government as a significant 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4448 IH

1 historic resource by the designation of the Newtown 

2 Battlefield National Historic Landmark, consisting 

3 of approximately 2,100 acres in the towns of Ash4 land, Chemung, and Elmira in the County of 

5 Chemung, New York. 

6 (2) The Sullivan Campaign of 1779 was a sig7 nificant event in the history of American Revolu8 tionary War. 

9 (3) The Battle of Newtown, fought on August 

10 29, 1779, was the most significant military engage11 ment of the Sullivan Campaign. 

12 (4) The National Park Service’s 2007 Report 

13 on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War 

14 and War of 1812 Sites in the United States cat15 egorized Newtown Battlefield as a Class A site. 

16 (5) The designation of Newtown Battlefield as 

17 a Class A site evinces a conclusion that the battle18 field is a site of a military action with a vital objec19 tive or result that shaped the strategy, direction, 

20 outcome, or perception of the Revolutionary War. 

21 (6) The report also found that Newtown Battle22 field is a site that has experienced little alteration 

23 since the Revolutionary War and that it is largely 

24 unprotected by other public historic preservation 

25 agencies or nonprofit organizations. 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4448 IH

1 (b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this Act: 

2 (1) NEWTOWN BATTLEFIELD.—The term 

3 ‘‘Newtown Battlefield’’ means the area encompassed 

4 by the 1972 designation of the Newtown Battlefield 

5 National Historic Landmark, and other associated 

6 lands related to the Battle of Newtown located in 

7 the towns of Elmira, Chemung, and Ashland, in 

8 Chemung County, New York. 

9 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

10 the Secretary of the Interior. 

11 (c) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date that 

12 funds are made available for this section, the Secretary 

13 shall conduct a special resource study to evaluate the sig14 nificance of the Newtown Battlefield in Chemung County, 

15 New York, as well as the suitability and feasibility of its 

16 inclusion in the National Park System. 

17 (d) CRITERIA FOR STUDY.—In conducting the study 

18 authorized by this Act, the Secretary shall use the criteria 

19 for the study of areas for potential inclusion in the Na20 tional Park System contained in section 8(b) of Public 

21 Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(b)). 

22 (e) CONTENT OF STUDY.—The study shall include an 

23 analysis of the following: 

24 (1) The significance of the Battle of Newtown 

25 to the Sullivan Campaign and the significance of the 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4448 IH

1 Campaign in relation to the military objectives of the 

2 Continental Army in 1779. 

3 (2) Opportunities for public enjoyment of the 

4 Newtown Battlefield. 

5 (3) Any operational, management, and private 

6 property issues that need to be considered if the 

7 Newtown Battlefield were added to the National 

8 Park System. 

9 (4) A determination of the feasibility of admin10 istering the Newtown Battlefield considering its size, 

11 configuration, ownership, costs, and other factors. 

12 (5) An evaluation of the adequacy of other al13 ternatives for the management and resource protec14 tion of the Newtown Battlefield. 

15 (6) An analysis of the impact, economic and 

16 otherwise, on the Chemung County community, of 

17 the inclusion of Newtown Battlefield into the Na18 tional Park System. 

19 (f) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.—Upon completion of 

20 the study, the Secretary shall submit a report on the find21 ings of the study to the Committee on Natural Resources 

22 of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on 

23 Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. 

Æ 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS