IB
Union Calendar No. 345
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 1728
[Report No. 105–612]
To provide for the development of a plan and a management review of
the National Park System and to reform the process by which areas
are considered for addition to the National Park System, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 22, 1997
Mr. HEFLEY (for himself and Mr. VENTO) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Resources
JULY 14, 1998
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 22, 1997]
A BILL
To provide for the development of a plan and a management
review of the National Park System and to reform the
process by which areas are considered for addition to
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 System
New Area Studies Act’’.
SEC. 2. STUDY OF NEW PARK SYSTEM AREAS.
Section 8 of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5; pop-
ularly known as the National Park System General Au-
thorities Act) is amended as follows:
(1) By inserting ‘‘GENERAL
AUTHORITY.—’’
after ‘‘(a)’’.
(2) By striking the second through the seventh
sentences of subsection (a).
(3) By designating the last two sentences of sub-
section (a) as subsection (e) and inserting in the first
of such sentences before the words ‘‘For the purposes
of carrying’’ the following: ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—’’.
(4) By inserting the following after subsection
(a):
‘‘(b) STUDIES OF AREAS FOR POTENTIAL ADDITION.—
(1) At the beginning of each calendar year, along with the
annual budget submission, the Secretary of the Interior
shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House
of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the United States Senate a list of
areas recommended for study for potential inclusion in the
National Park System.
‘‘(2) In developing the list to be submitted under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give consideration to those
areas that have the greatest potential to meet the established
criteria of national significance, suitability, and feasibility.
The Secretary shall give special consideration to themes,
sites, and resources not already adequately represented in
the National Park System.
‘‘(3) No study of the potential of an area for inclusion
in the National Park System may be initiated after the date
of enactment of this subsection, except as provided by spe-
cific authorization of an Act of Congress.
‘‘(4) Nothing in this Act shall limit the authority of
the National Park Service to conduct preliminary resource
assessments, gather data on potential study areas, provide
technical and planning assistance, prepare or process nomi-
nations for administrative designations, update previous
studies, or complete reconnaissance surveys of individual
areas requiring a total expenditure of less than $25,000.
‘‘(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply
to or to affect or alter the study of any river segment for
potential addition to the national wild and scenic rivers
system or to apply to or to affect or alter the study of any
trail for potential addition to the national trails system.
‘‘(c) REPORT.—(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall
complete the study for each area for potential inclusion in
the National Park System within 3 complete fiscal years
following the date of enactment of specific legislation pro-
viding for the study of such area. Each study under this
section shall be prepared with appropriate opportunity for
public involvement, including at least one public meeting
in the vicinity of the area under study, and after reasonable
efforts to notify potentially affected landowners and State
and local governments.
‘‘(2) In conducting the study, the Secretary shall con-
sider whether the area under study—
‘‘(A) possesses nationally significant natural or
cultural resources and represents one of the most im-
portant examples of a particular resource type in the
country; and
‘‘(B) is a suitable and feasible addition to the
system.
‘‘(3) Each study—
‘‘(A) shall consider the following factors with re-
gard to the area being studied—
‘‘(i) the rarity and integrity of the re-
sources;
‘‘(ii) the threats to those resources;
‘‘(iii) similar resources are already pro-
tected in the National Park System or in other
public or private ownership;
‘‘(iv) the public use potential;
‘‘(v) the interpretive and educational poten-
tial;
‘‘(vi) costs associated with acquisition, de-
velopment and operation;
‘‘(vii) the socioeconomic impacts of any des-
ignation;
‘‘(viii) the level of local and general public
support, and
‘‘(ix) whether the area is of appropriate
configuration to ensure long-term resource pro-
tection and visitor use;
‘‘(B) shall consider whether direct National Park
Service management or alternative protection by
other public agencies or the private sector is appro-
priate for the area;
‘‘(C) shall identify what alternative or combina-
tion of alternatives would in the professional judg-
ment of the Director of the National Park Service be
most effective and efficient in protecting significant
resources and providing for public enjoyment; and
‘‘(D) may include any other information which
the Secretary deems to be relevant.
‘‘(4) Each study shall be completed in compliance with
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
‘‘(5) The letter transmitting each completed study to
Congress shall contain a recommendation regarding the
Secretary’s preferred management option for the area.
‘‘(d) LIST OF AREAS.—At the beginning of each cal-
endar year, along with the annual budget submission, the
Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives and to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United
States Senate a list of areas which have been previously
studied which contain primarily historical resources, and
a list of areas which have been previously studied which
contain primarily natural resources, in numerical order of
priority for addition to the National Park System. In devel-
oping the lists, the Secretary should consider threats to re-
source values, cost escalation factors, and other factors listed
in subsection (c) of this section. The Secretary should only
include on the lists areas for which the supporting data is
current and accurate.’’.
(5) By adding at the end of subsection (e) (as
designated by paragraph (3) of this section) the fol-
lowing: ‘‘For carrying out subsections (b) through (d)
there are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000.’’.
Union Calendar No. 345
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 1728
[Report No. 105–612]
A BILL
To provide for the development of a plan and a
management review of the National Park System
and to reform the process by which areas are
considered for addition to the National Park Sys-
tem, and for other purposes.
JULY 14, 1998
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Commit-
tee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and
ordered to be printed