I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1668

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

the preservation of the Loess Hills in western Iowa.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 4, 1999

Mr. GANSKE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on 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 gla10 ciers and hundreds of centuries of westerly winds
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1 blowing soil across the Missouri River, which were

2 then deposited in Iowa;

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

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

5 world, supporting several species of rare native prai6 rie grasses;

7 (3) portions of the Loess Hills remain undevel8 oped and provide an important opportunity to pro9 tect and preserve a historic, rare and unique natural

10 resource;

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

12 be successfully implemented with the cooperation

13 and participation of affected local governments and

14 landowners;

15 (5) in 1986, the Loess Hills area was des16 ignated as a National Natural Landmark in recogni17 tion of the area’s nationally significant natural re18 sources;

19 (6) although significant natural resources re20 main in the area, increasing development in the area

21 has threatened the future stability and integrity of

22 the Loess Hills area; and

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

24 the National Park Service, in cooperation with the

25 State of Iowa, local governments, and affected land-
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1 owners, to determine appropriate means to better

2 protect, preserve, and interpret the significant re3 sources in the area.

4 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to author5 ize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility

6 study to determine what measures should be taken to pre7 serve the Loess Hills in western Iowa.

8 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

9 As used in this Act—

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

11 geological formation of soils in the State of Iowa lo12 cated between Waubansie State Park and Stone

13 Park, and which includes Plymouth, Woodbury,

14 Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fre15 mont counties;

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

17 of the Interior; and

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

19 SEC. 4. PRESERVATION STUDY REGARDING LOESS HILLS

20 IN WESTERN IOWA.

21 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall under22 take a study of the Loess Hills area to review options for

23 the protection and interpretation of the area’s natural,

24 cultural, and historical resources. The study shall include,
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1 but need not be limited to, an analysis of the suitability

2 and feasibility of 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) CONSIDERATION OF COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.—

9 The study shall examine the appropriateness and feasi10 bility of cooperative protection and interpretive efforts be11 tween the United States, the State, its political subdivi12 sions, and non-profit groups or other interested parties.

13 (c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult in

14 the preparation of the study with State and local govern15 mental entities, affected landowners, and other interested

16 public and private organizations and individuals.

17 (d) COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION.—The study shall

18 be completed within one year after the date funds are

19 made available. No later than 30 days after its completion,

20 the Secretary shall transmit a report of the study, along

21 with any recommendations, to the Committee on Energy

22 and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and

23 the Committee on Resources of the United States House

24 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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