I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5980 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource study along 
the ‘‘Ox-Bow Route’’ of the Butterfield Overland Trail in the States 
of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Ari-
zona, and California, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 28, 2006 
Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself, Mr. HALL, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. BERRY, Mr. SNY-
DER, Mr. ROSS, Mr. FORD, Mr. REYES, Mr. NUNES, Mr. CALVERT, and 
Mrs. BLACKBURN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource 
study along the ‘‘Ox-Bow Route’’ of the Butterfield Over-
land Trail in the States of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkan-
sas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Cali-
fornia, 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 ‘‘Butterfield Overland 
Trail Study Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. RESOURCE STUDY OF THE BUTTERFIELD OVER-
LAND TRAIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior 
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), in 
consultation with appropriate Federal, State, county and 
local governmental entities, shall conduct a resource study 
along the ‘‘Ox-Bow Route’’ of the Butterfield Overland 
Trail in the States of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, 
Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California 
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘trail area’’). The 
study shall evaluate a range of alternatives for protecting 
and interpreting the resources of the trail area, including 
alternatives for potential addition of the trail area to the 
National Trails System. 
(b) STUDY OBJECTIVES.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall evaluate alter-
natives for achieving the following objectives: 
(1) Identifying the resources and historic 
themes associated with the trail area. 
(2) Making a review of existing studies and re-
ports to complement, and not duplicate, other stud-
ies of the scenic or historical importance of the 
Butterfield Overland Trail and associated resources 
that may be underway or undertaken. 
(3) Establishing connections with partnerships 
already engaged in the development of various trails 
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and sites along the corridor of the Butterfield Over-
land Trail. 
(4) Preserving recreational opportunities and 
facilitating access for a variety of recreational users. 
(5) Protecting historically significant land-
scapes, districts, sites, and structures of the trail 
area. 
(6) Identifying alternatives for preservation and 
interpretation of the trail area by the National Park 
Service, other Federal, State, or local governmental 
entities, or private and non-profit organizations. 
(7) Identifying cost estimates for any necessary 
acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, 
and maintenance associated with the alternatives re-
ferred to in subsection (a). 
(c) TRANSMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 
years after funds are first made available for the study, 
the Secretary shall transmit the final study to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United 
States Senate and to the Committee on Resources of the 
United States House of Representatives. 
SEC. 3. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTIONS. 
(a) ALTERNATIVES
TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROP-
ERTY.—In conducting the resource study under section 
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2(a), the Secretary shall not consider any alternative that 
would— 
(1) require any private property owner to allow 
public access (including Federal, State, or local gov-
ernment access) to such private property; 
(2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or 
local law with regard to public access to or use of 
private property; 
(3) create any liability, or have any effect on 
any liability under any other law, of any private 
property owner with respect to any persons injured 
on such private property; 
(4) modify the authority of Federal, State, or 
local governments to regulate land use; or 
(5) require the owner of any private property to 
participate in or be associated with any addition to 
the National Parks System. 
(b) IMPACTS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.—The study 
shall include an analysis and documentation regarding 
whether each alternative proposed has potential or actual 
impact on private property located within or abutting the 
trail area. 
Æ 
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