I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1430

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to complete a study of the feasibility 

of establishing the National Parks Institute in Central California. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 17, 2005

Mr. RADANOVICH (for himself and Mr. CARDOZA) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to complete a 

study of the feasibility of establishing the National Parks 

Institute in Central California.

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 Parks Insti5 tute Study Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 

8 shall apply: 

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

10 the Secretary of the Interior. 
2

•HR 1430 IH 

1 (2) INSTITUTE.—The term ‘‘Institute’’ means 

2 the entity to be known as the National Parks Insti3 tute as described in section 3(a). 

4 SEC. 3. NATIONAL PARKS INSTITUTE STUDY. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to 

6 conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing 

7 an academic institution, to be called the National Parks 

8 Institute and located in Central California, to promote 

9 management and stewardship excellence for the National 

10 Park System, and to help developing nations manage their 

11 natural and cultural resources. 

12 (b) ASSESSMENT OF NEED.—In evaluating the need 

13 for the Institute, the study shall assess—

14 (1) the availability of opportunities for aca15 demic, governmental, and nongovernmental sectors 

16 to pursue scientific research and policy analysis on 

17 issues related to the preservation and enjoyment of 

18 the natural and cultural resources in the National 

19 Park System, including opportunities for—

20 (A) forecasting emerging issues in manage21 ment of the National Park System and ana22 lyzing alternative responses to those issues; 

23 (B) generating and promoting ideas for 

24 improved practices in the stewardship of the 

25 National Park System, including environ-
3

•HR 1430 IH 

1 mentally sustainable resources management 

2 practices; and 

3 (C) recognizing and responding to evolving 

4 interests among the public in natural and cul5 tural resource subjects; 

6 (2) the capability of existing National Park 

7 Service training centers and programs to fulfill edu8 cation and training needs identified in the workforce 

9 plan developed by the National Park Service on the 

10 basis of the Department of the Interior’s Strategic 

11 Human Capital Management Plan (September 

12 2002); 

13 (3) the benefits of further promoting the na14 tional park concept among developing nations and 

15 helping those nations manage their natural and cul16 tural resources; and 

17 (4) other factors the Secretary considers appro18 priate in determining the need for the Institute. 

19 (c) FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS.—If the Secretary 

20 determines that a need exists for the Institute as described 

21 in subsection (a), the study shall evaluate— 

22 (1) the costs associated with constructing, oper23 ating and maintaining the Institute; 
4

•HR 1430 IH 

1 (2) the feasibility of entering into a partnership 

2 with an academic entity for purposes of establishing 

3 and operating the Institute; 

4 (3) potential locations for the Institute or proc5 esses for determining such locations; 

6 (4) the appropriateness and feasibility of broad7 ening the purposes of the Institute to include sci8 entific research and education relevant to other land 

9 management agencies; and 

10 (5) any other matters related to the feasibility 

11 of establishing and operating the Institute that the 

12 Secretary deems appropriate. 

13 (d) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 years 

14 after funding is made available for the study, the Sec15 retary shall transmit the results of the study, including 

16 the Secretary’s recommendations, if any, for establishing 

17 an Institute, to the Committee on Resources of the House 

18 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 

19 Natural Resources of the Senate.

Æ