I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6175 
To authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the National 
Park System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 24, 2012 
Mr. KILDEE (for himself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. 
TONKO, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. DAVID 
SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. NORTON, Mr. LUJA´N, Ms. EDWARDS, Mrs. 
MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. KIND, Ms. HIRONO, and Mr. MARKEY) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion 
in the National Park System, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Park Service 
Study Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior shall con-
duct special resource studies of— 
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(1) the Kau coast, on the island of Hawaii; 
(2) upon request of the Government of the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands; 
(3) sites in the State of Alaska associated with 
the forced abandonment of the Aleut villages of 
Makushin, Kashega, and Biorka around Unalaska 
Island, and Attu on Attu Island during World War 
II, and the 5 relocation sites at Funter Bay, Burnett 
Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake, and the Wrangell Insti-
tute; 
(4) World War II Japanese American Reloca-
tion Center sites including Gila River and Poston 
sites, State of Arizona; Grenada, State of Colorado; 
Heart Mountain, State of Wyoming; Jerome and 
Rohwer sites, State of Arkansas; and Topaz, State 
of Utah; 
(5) sites within the San Luis Valley and Cen-
tral Sangre de Cristo Mountains, States of Colorado 
and New Mexico with cultural significance to 
Latinos in the United States; 
(6) the town of Goldfield and outlying mining 
sites in the State of Nevada; 
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(7) the Hudson River Valley in the State of 
New York; 
(8) the Norman Studios, within Jacksonville, 
Florida, where African-American casts and crews 
were used in the production of silent films; 
(9) the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in the State 
of Alabama; and 
(10) the Galveston Bay in the State of Texas. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the studies required 
under subsection (a) of the sites identified under such sub-
section, the Secretary shall— 
(1) evaluate the national significance of the 
sites and the areas surrounding such sites; 
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
designating one or more sites as units of the Na-
tional Park System; 
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
protection, and interpretation of the sites by Fed-
eral, State, or local governmental entities or private 
and nonprofit organizations; 
(4) consult with interested Federal, State, or 
local governmental entities, private and nonprofit or-
ganizations, or any other interested individuals; and 
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(5) identify cost estimates for any Federal ac-
quisition, development, interpretation, operation, and 
maintenance associated with the alternatives. 
(c) APPLICABLE LAW.—The studies required under 
subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with sec-
tion 8 of the National Park System General Authorities 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1a–5). 
SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY UPDATES. 
(a) STUDIES.—The Secretary of the Interior shall up-
date the study, ‘‘World War II Sites, Republic of Palau 
(upon the request of the Government of the Republic of 
Palau)’’ as authorized by section 326(b)(3)(N) of the De-
partment of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropria-
tions Act, 2000, and the 1979 study ‘‘Vermejo Ranch, 
New Mexico/Colorado: Study of Management Options’’. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In updating the studies under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) determine whether conditions have changed 
to warrant that the site be designated as a unit of 
the National Park System; 
(2) consider other alternatives for the preserva-
tion, protection, and interpretation of the site by 
Federal, State, or local governmental entities or pri-
vate and nonprofit organizations; 
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(3) consult with other interested Federal, State, 
or local governmental entities, private and nonprofit 
organizations, or any other interested individuals; 
and 
(4) identify cost estimates for any Federal ac-
quisition, development, interpretation, operation, and 
maintenance associated with the alternatives consid-
ered under paragraph (2). 
SEC. 4. BUFFALO SOLDIERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS 
STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior shall con-
duct a study of alternatives for commemorating and inter-
preting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years 
of the national parks. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) complete a historical assessment of the Buf-
falo Soldiers who served in national parks in the 
years that preceded the establishment of the Na-
tional Park Service; 
(2) evaluate the suitability and feasibility of es-
tablishing a national historic trail commemorating 
the route traveled by the Buffalo Soldiers from their 
post in the Presidio of San Francisco to Sequoia and 
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Yosemite National Parks and to any other national 
parks where they may have served; 
(3) identify properties that could meet criteria 
for listing in the National Register of Historic 
Places or criteria for designation as national historic 
landmarks; and 
(4) evaluate appropriate ways to enhance the 
historical research, education, interpretation, and 
public awareness of the story of the Buffalo Soldiers’ 
stewardship role in the national parks, including 
ways to link the story to both the development of the 
national parks and the story of African-American 
military service following the Civil War. 
SEC. 5. RECONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior shall con-
duct a national historic landmark study to identify sites 
and resources in the Southern United States that are sig-
nificant to the Reconstruction era. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study conducted under sub-
section (a) shall include recommendations for commemo-
rating and interpreting sites and resources identified by 
the study, including— 
(1) sites for which new national historic land-
marks should be nominated; and 
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(2) sites for which further study for potential 
inclusion in the National Park System is needed. 
SEC. 6. CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER BOUNDARY EXPANSION 
STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior shall con-
duct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility 
of including in the boundary of the Chattahoochee River 
National Recreation Area approximately 45 miles of the 
Chattahoochee River and lands along the river corridor 
from the southern boundary of the Recreation Area south 
to the junction of Coweta, Heard, and Carroll Counties. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study conducted under sub-
section (a) shall include an analysis of— 
(1) significant resources or opportunities for 
public enjoyment within the study area related to 
purposes of the Chattahoochee River National 
Recreation Area; 
(2) operational and management issues that 
need to be considered if the study area is included 
within the Recreation Area; 
(3) protection of resources within the study 
area critical to fulfilling the Recreation Area’s pur-
poses; 
(4) the feasibility of administering the study 
area as part of the Recreation Area considering the 
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study area’s size, configuration, ownership, costs, 
and other factors; and 
(5) the adequacy of other alternatives for man-
agement and protection of resources within the 
study area. 
SEC. 7. REPORT. 
Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds 
are first made available to conduct each study under this 
Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate a report containing— 
(1) the results of each such study; and 
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 
Secretary based on such results. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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