I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2557
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on
the inclusion in Biscayne National Park, Florida, of the archaeological
site known as the Miami Circle.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 19, 1999
Mrs. MEEK of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility
study on the inclusion in Biscayne National Park, Flor-
ida, of the archaeological site known as the Miami Circle.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING INCLUSION
OF MIAMI CIRCLE IN BISCAYNE NATIONAL
PARK.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) The Tequesta Indians were one of the ear-
liest groups to establish permanent villages in south-
east Florida.
(2) The Tequestas had one of only two North
American civilizations that thrived and developed
into a complex social chiefdom without an agricul-
tural base.
(3) The Tequesta sites that remain preserved
today are rare.
(4) The Miami Circle, which includes the re-
mains of a circular ceremonial site constructed by
the Tequesta approximately 2,000 years ago, pre-
sents a valuable new opportunity to learn more
about the Tequesta culture.
(5) Biscayne National Park in nearby Home-
stead, Florida, already contains and protects several
prehistoric Tequesta sites.
(6) As a valuable archaeological resource and
the only Tequesta ceremonial site of its kind known
to exist in Florida, the Miami Circle is a national re-
source appropriate for preservation and protection
as part of the National Park System.
(b) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior, acting through the Director of the National Park
Service, shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility
of including the Miami Circle in Biscayne National Park
in the State of Florida.
(c) COMPONENTS.—The study shall include the anal-
ysis and recommendations of the Secretary with respect
to—
(1) which, if any, particular areas of or sur-
rounding the Miami Circle should be included in
Biscayne National Park;
(2) whether any additional staff, facilities, or
other resources would be necessary to administer the
Miami Circle as a unit of the Park; and
(3) any impact on the local area that would re-
sult from the inclusion of the Miami Circle in the
Park.
(d) COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION.—Not later than
19 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing
the findings and recommendations contained in the study.
(e) MIAMI CIRCLE DEFINED.—In this section, the
term ‘‘Miami Circle’’ means the property in Miami-Dade
County of the State of Florida consisting of the three par-
cels described in Exhibit A in the appendix to the sum-
mons to show cause and notice of eminent domain pro-
ceedings, filed February 18, 1999, in Miami-Dade County
v. Brickell Point, Ltd., in the circuit court of the 11th
judicial circuit of Florida in and for Miami-Dade County.
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section.
Æ