I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6434 
To amend section 7 of Public Law 100–515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) to 
promote continued use of the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Labora-
tory at Gateway National Recreation Area by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 18, 2018 
Mr. PALLONE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To amend section 7 of Public Law 100–515 (16 U.S.C. 
1244 note) to promote continued use of the James J. 
Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Gateway Na-
tional Recreation Area by the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF THE JAMES J. HOWARD MARINE 
SCIENCES LABORATORY. 
Section 7 of Public Law 100–515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 
note) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting 
the following: 
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‘‘(b) TRANSFER FROM
THE STATE
TO
THE NA-
TIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, or the provisions of the August 13, 
1991, Ground Lease Agreement (‘Lease’) between 
the Department of the Interior and the State of New 
Jersey (‘State’), upon notice to the National Park 
Service, the State may transfer without consider-
ation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration may accept, all State improvements 
within the land assignment and right of way, includ-
ing the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Labora-
tory (‘Laboratory’), two parking lots, and the sea-
water supply and backflow pipes as generally de-
picted on the map entitled ‘Gateway National Recre-
ation Area, James J. Howard Marine Science Lab-
oratory Land Assignment’, numbered 646/142,581A, 
and dated April 2018 (‘Map’) and any related State 
personal property. 
‘‘(2) LEASE AMENDMENT.—Upon the transfer 
authorized in paragraph (1), the Lease shall be 
amended to exclude any obligations of the State and 
the Department of the Interior related to the Lab-
oratory and associated property and improvements 
transferred to the National Oceanic and Atmos-
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pheric Administration. However, all obligations of 
the State to rehabilitate Building 74 and modify 
landscaping on the surrounding property as depicted 
on the Map, under the Lease and pursuant to sub-
section (a), shall remain in full force and effect. 
‘‘(3) USE BY THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AT-
MOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION.—Upon the transfer 
authorized in paragraph (1), the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion is authorized to use the land generally depicted 
on the Map as a land assignment and right of way 
and associated land and appurtenances for continued 
use of the Laboratory, including providing mainte-
nance and repair, and access to the Laboratory, the 
parking lots and the seawater supply and back flow 
pipes, without consideration, except for reimburse-
ment to the National Park Service of agreed upon 
reasonable actual costs of subsequently provided 
goods and services. 
‘‘(4) AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE
NATIONAL 
PARK SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.—Upon the transfer 
authorized in paragraph (1), the Director of the Na-
tional Park Service and the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
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shall enter into an agreement addressing responsibil-
ities pertaining to the use of the land assignment 
within the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway Na-
tional Recreation Area as authorized in paragraph 
(3). The agreement shall prohibit any new construc-
tion on this land, permanent or nonpermanent, or 
significant alteration to the exterior of the Labora-
tory, without National Park Service approval. 
‘‘(5) RESTORATION.— 
‘‘(A) Notwithstanding any provision of the 
Lease to the contrary, if the State does not 
transfer the improvements as authorized in 
paragraph (1), and these improvements are not 
used as or in support of a marine science lab-
oratory, the State shall demolish and remove 
the improvements and restore the land in ac-
cordance with the standards set forth by the 
National Park Service, free of unacceptable en-
cumbrances and in compliance with all applica-
ble laws and regulations regarding known con-
taminants. 
‘‘(B) If the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration accepts the improvements 
as authorized in paragraph (1) and these im-
provements are not used as or in support of a 
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