II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 126 

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 

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’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

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

9 Park was established as the first national park in 


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1 the United States to preserve the works of human2 ity; 

3 (2) on September 6, 1978, Mesa Verde Na4 tional Park became the first World Heritage Site 

5 designated in the United States; and 

6 (3) Mesa Verde National Park protects some of 

7 the best preserved and notable archeological sites of 

8 the ancient Puebloan culture that flourished in the 

9 southwestern United States from approximately 

10 600–1300, including the elaborate stone villages in 

11 the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls referred to 

12 as ‘‘cliff dwellings’’. 

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

14 (1) to modify the boundary of Mesa Verde Na15 tional Park— 

16 (A) to protect the archeological sites lo17 cated on property adjacent to the Park bound18 ary; 

19 (B) to extend and expand the knowledge 

20 and understanding of the ancient Puebloan cul21 ture, a major influence in the development of 

22 the southwestern United States; 

23 (C) to protect from potential development 

24 the scenic and biological value of the pinyon-ju25 niper covered hills that— 


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1 (i) border the Park; and 

2 (ii) are in full view of the Park en3 trance road; and 

4 (D) to protect the largest recorded colony 

5 of the globally imperiled Gray’s Townsend 

6 Daisy, to ensure continuation of a major wild7 life corridor, and to protect important habitat 

8 for wildlife; and 

9 (2) to provide greater opportunities to visitors, 

10 researchers, and surrounding communities to under11 stand and appreciate the natural environment of 

12 Mesa Verde and the contributions of the ancient 

13 Puebloan culture to the region by providing the land 

14 required to construct a contemporary museum collec15 tions storage facility and visitor orientation center. 

16 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

17 In this Act: 

18 (1) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en19 titled ‘‘2006 Proposed Mesa Verde National Park 

20 Boundary Adjustment’’. 

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

22 Verde National Park in the State of Colorado. 

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

24 the Secretary of the Interior. 


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1 SEC. 4. MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK. 

2 (a) ACQUISITION OF LAND.— 

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

4 the land or an interest in the land described in sub5 section (b) for addition to the Park. 

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

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

8 from a willing seller with donated or appropriated 

9 funds, or exchange. 

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

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

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

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

14 and available for inspection in the appropriate offices of 

15 the National Park Service. 

16 (d) BOUNDARY MODIFICATION.—The boundary of 

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

18 land under subsection (a). 

19 (e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin20 ister any land or interest in land acquired under sub21 section (a)(1) as part of the Park in accordance with the 

22 laws (including regulations) applicable to the Park. 

23 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

24 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

25 as are necessary to carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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