I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3866 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources 
study to evaluate resources along the coastal region of the State of 
Delaware and to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing 
a unit of the National Park System in Delaware. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 
Mr. CASTLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
special resources study to evaluate resources along the 
coastal region of the State of Delaware and to determine 
the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of 
the National Park System in Delaware. 
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 ‘‘Delaware National 
Coastal Special Resources Study Act’’.
SEC. 2. STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (re-
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a 
special resources study of the national significance, suit-
ability, and feasibility of including sites in the coastal re-
gion of the State of Delaware in the National Park Sys-
tem. 
(b) INCLUSION OF SITES IN THE NATIONAL PARK 
SYSTEM.—The study under subsection (a) shall include an 
analysis and any recommendations of the Secretary con-
cerning the suitability and feasibility of designating 1 or 
more of the sites along the Delaware coast, including Fort 
Christina, as a unit of the National Park System that re-
lates to the themes described in section 3. 
(c) STUDY GUIDELINES.—In conducting the study 
authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use 
the criteria for the study of areas for potential inclusion 
in the National Park System contained in section 8 of 
Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5). 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In preparing and conducting 
the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult 
with— 
(1) the State of Delaware; 
(2) the coastal region communities; and 
(3) the general public.
SEC. 3. THEMES. 
The study authorized under section 2 shall evaluate 
sites along the coastal region of the State of Delaware that 
relate to— 
(1) the history of indigenous peoples, which 
would explore the history of Native American tribes 
of Delaware, such as the Nanticoke and Lenni 
Lenape; 
(2) the colonization and establishment of the 
frontier, which would chronicle the first European 
settlers in the Delaware Valley who built fortifica-
tions for the protection of settlers, such as Fort 
Christina; 
(3) the founding of a nation, which would docu-
ment the contributions of Delaware to the develop-
ment of our constitutional republic; 
(4) industrial development, which would inves-
tigate the exploitation of water power in Delaware 
with the mill development on the Brandywine River; 
(5) transportation, which would explore how 
water served as the main transportation link, con-
necting Colonial Delaware with England, Europe, 
and other colonies; 
(6) coastal defense, which would document the 
collection of fortifications spaced along the river and
bay from Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island to 
Fort Miles near Lewes; 
(7) the last stop to freedom, which would detail 
the role Delaware has played in the history of the 
Underground Railroad network; and 
(8) the coastal environment, which would exam-
ine natural resources of Delaware that provide re-
source-based recreational opportunities such as crab-
bing, fishing, swimming, and boating. 
SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after funds are made available 
to carry out this Act under section 5, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources 
of the House of Representatives a report containing the 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study 
conducted under section 2. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this Act. 
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