I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 46 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
study of Fort Ontario in the State of New York. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 3, 2017 
Mr. KATKO (for himself, Ms. SLAUGHTER, and Ms. TENNEY) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
special resource study of Fort Ontario in the State of 
New York. 
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 ‘‘Fort Ontario Study 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) From 1755 until 1814, Fort Ontario and 
three previous fortifications built on the site of the 
Fort in Oswego, New York, on the shore of Lake 
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Ontario were used as military installations during 
the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, 
and the War of 1812. 
(2) The original fort, erected by the British in 
1755, was destroyed by French forces in 1756. The 
fort was rebuilt and subsequently destroyed during 
both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. 
The star-shaped fort was constructed on the site of 
the original fortifications in the 1840s, with im-
provements made from 1863 through 1872. 
(3) The United States Armed Forces began ex-
panding Fort Ontario in the early 20th century and 
by 1941, approximately 125 buildings stood at the 
fort. 
(4) On June 9, 1944, President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt announced that Fort Ontario would serve 
as the Nation’s only Emergency Refugee Camp dur-
ing World War II. From August of 1944 until Feb-
ruary 1946, nearly 1,000 refugees were sheltered at 
Fort Ontario. 
(5) Fort Ontario was conveyed from the Fed-
eral Government to the State of New York in 1946; 
it was used to house World War II veterans and 
their families and then converted to a State historic 
site in 1953. 
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(6) A post cemetery containing the graves of 77 
officers, soldiers, women, and children who served at 
Fort Ontario in war and peace is situated on the 
grounds of the fort. 
(7) In 1970, Fort Ontario was placed on the 
National Register of Historic Places. 
SEC. 3. FORT ONTARIO SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior (referred 
to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a spe-
cial resource study of Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) evaluate the national significance of the 
site; 
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
designating the site as a unit of the National Park 
System; 
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
protection, and interpretation of the lands 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; 
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(5) determine the effect of the designation of 
the site as a unit of the National Park System on 
existing commercial and recreational uses and the 
effect on State and local governments to manage 
those activities; 
(6) identify any authorities, including con-
demnation, that may compel or allow the Secretary 
to influence or participate in local land use decisions 
(such as zoning) or place restrictions on non-Federal 
land if the site is designated a unit of the National 
Park System; and 
(7) identify cost estimates for any Federal ac-
quisition, development, interpretation, operation, and 
maintenance associated with the alternatives. 
(c) APPLICABLE LAW.—The study authorized under 
subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with sec-
tion 100507 of title 54, United States Code. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
on which funds are first made available for the study 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a report that describes— 
(1) the findings of the study; and 
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(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 
Secretary. 
Æ 
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