II 

Calendar No. 223 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 126 

[Report No. 110–93] 

To modify the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 4, 2007 

Mr. ALLARD (for himself and Mr. SALAZAR) introduced the following bill; 

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

JUNE 26, 2007 

Reported by Mr. BINGAMAN, with an amendment 

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

A BILL 

To modify the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park, 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. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mesa Verde National 

5 Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2007’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 

2 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

3 (1) on June 29, 1906, Mesa Verde National 

4 Park was established as the first national park in 

5 the United States to preserve the works of human6 ity; 

7 (2) on September 6, 1978, Mesa Verde Na8 tional Park became the first World Heritage Site 

9 designated in the United States; and 

10 (3) Mesa Verde National Park protects some of 

11 the best preserved and notable archeological sites of 

12 the ancient Puebloan culture that flourished in the 

13 southwestern United States from approximately 

14 600–1300, including the elaborate stone villages in 

15 the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls referred to 

16 as ‘‘cliff dwellings’’. 

17 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 

18 (1) to modify the boundary of Mesa Verde Na19 tional Park— 

20 (A) to protect the archeological sites lo21 cated on property adjacent to the Park bound22 ary; 

23 (B) to extend and expand the knowledge 

24 and understanding of the ancient Puebloan cul25 ture, a major influence in the development of 

26 the southwestern United States; 


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1 (C) to protect from potential development 

2 the scenic and biological value of the pinyon-ju3 niper covered hills that— 

4 (i) border the Park; and 

5 (ii) are in full view of the Park en6 trance road; and 

7 (D) to protect the largest recorded colony 

8 of the globally imperiled Gray’s Townsend 

9 Daisy, to ensure continuation of a major wild10 life corridor, and to protect important habitat 

11 for wildlife; and 

12 (2) to provide greater opportunities to visitors, 

13 researchers, and surrounding communities to under14 stand and appreciate the natural environment of 

15 Mesa Verde and the contributions of the ancient 

16 Puebloan culture to the region by providing the land 

17 required to construct a contemporary museum collec18 tions storage facility and visitor orientation center. 

19 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

20 In this Act: 

21 (1) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en22 titled ‘‘2006 Proposed Mesa Verde National Park 

23 Boundary Adjustment’’. 

24 (1) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map enti25 tled ‘‘Mesa Verde National Park Proposed Boundary 


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1 Adjustment’’, numbered 307/80,180, and dated March 

2 1, 2007. 

3 (2) PARK.—The term ‘‘Park’’ means the Mesa 

4 Verde National Park in the State of Colorado. 

5 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

6 the Secretary of the Interior. 

7 SEC. 4. MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK. 

8 (a) ACQUISITION OF LAND.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may acquire 

10 the land or an interest in the land described in sub11 section (b) for addition to the Park. 

12 (2) MEANS.—An acquisition of land under 

13 paragraph (1) may be made by donation, purchase 

14 from a willing seller with donated or appropriated 

15 funds, or exchange. 

16 (b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The land referred to in 

17 subsection (a)(1) is the approximately 360 acres of land 

18 adjacent to the Park, as generally depicted on the map. 

19 (c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map shall be on file 

20 and available for inspection in the appropriate offices of 

21 the National Park Service. 

22 (d) BOUNDARY MODIFICATION.—The boundary of 

23 the Park shall be revised to reflect the acquisition of the 

24 land under subsection (a). 


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1 (e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin2 ister any land or interest in land acquired under sub3 section (a)(1) as part of the Park in accordance with the 

4 laws (including regulations) applicable to the Park. 

5 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

6 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

7 as are necessary to carry out this Act. 


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Calendar No. 223 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 126 

[Report No. 110

–93] 

A BILL 

To modify the boundary of Mesa Verde National 

Park, and for other purposes. 

JUNE 26, 2007 

Reported with an amendment 


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