(B) The Secretary may amend such criteria, but such
amendments may not become effective until they have been
published in the Federal Register, opened to public comment
for at least 30 days, and transmitted to the Congressional
resources committees in final form.
(b) REVIEW.—(1)(A) Using the Plan deemed to be ap-
proved pursuant to section 101(d) and the criteria devel-
oped pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall review
the existing National Park System to determine whether
any existing units or significant portions of such units do
not conform to the Plan. For any such areas, the Secretary
shall determine whether there are more appropriate alter-
natives for managing all or a portion of such units, includ-
ing through partnerships or direct management by States,
local governments, other agencies and the private sector.
(B) The Secretary shall develop a report which con-
tains a list of any unit of the National Park System where
National Park Service management should be terminated
and a list of any portion of units where National Park
Service management should be modified as a result of
nonconformance with the Plan. No area or portion of an
area which Congress has designated as a national park may
be included in the report.
(2) Should any such unit or portion of such unit not
be recommended for continued National Park Service man-
agement, the Secretary shall make recommendations regard-
ing management by an entity or entities other than the Na-
tional Park Service.
(3) For any such unit or portion of such unit deter-
mined to have national significance, prior to including such
unit or portion of such unit on a list under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall identify feasible alternatives to National
Park Service management which will protect the resources
of and assure continued public access to the unit.
(c) CONSULTATION.—In developing the report referred
to in subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with other
Federal land management agencies, State and local offi-
cials, resource management, recreation and scholarly orga-
nizations, and other interested parties as the Secretary
deems advisable.
(d) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 18 months after the
Plan has been deemed approved, the Secretary shall trans-
mit the report developed under this section simultaneously
to the Congressional resources committees and the Commis-
sion. The report shall contain the recommendations of the
Secretary for termination of National Park Service man-
agement for any unit of the National Park System that is
determined not to conform with the Plan, a list of portions
of units where National Park Service management should
be modified, and the recommendations for alternative man-
agement by an entity or entities other than the National
Park Service for such unit.
SEC. 103. NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM REVIEW COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION; DUTIES.—(1)
Following completion of the Plan as specified in section
101, a National Park System Review Commission shall be
established.
(2) The Commission shall either review the report de-
veloped under section 102 or, if the Secretary fails to de-
velop and transmit such report, develop the report itself.
In conducting its review (or developing the report, if nec-
essary), the Commission shall be subject to the provisions
of sections 102 (b) and (c) in the same manner as such
provisions apply to the Secretary. If the Secretary develops
and transmits the report, the review of the Commission
shall be limited to the manner in which the criteria have
been applied to the existing National Park System. In addi-
tion the Commission shall seek broad public input and en-
sure the opportunity for input from persons who would be
directly affected by recommendations regarding National
Park System units identified in its report.
(3) Within 2 years after the date of its establishment,
the Commission shall prepare and transmit to the Congres-
sional resources committees a report of its work under para-
graph (2) in which the Commission recommends a list of
National Park System units where National Park Service
management should be terminated and a list of portions
of units where National Park Service management should
be modified.
(b) MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commis-
sion shall consist of 11 members, each of whom shall have
substantial familiarity with, and understanding of, the Na-
tional Park System and related fields. In addition, the
Commission members shall have expertise in natural
sciences, history, archaeology, and outdoor recreation. Five
members of the Commission, one of whom shall be the Direc-
tor of the National Park Service, shall be appointed by the
Secretary. Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker
of the United States House of Representatives in consulta-
tion with the chairman of the Committee on Resources, and
one member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of
the House or Representatives in consultation with the rank-
ing minority member of the Committee on Resources. Two
members shall be appointed by the President pro tempore
of the United States Senate, in consultation with the chair-
man of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
and one member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Senate in consultation with the ranking minority
member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources. Each member shall be appointed within three
months after the completion of the Plan as specified in sec-
tion 101.
(c) CHAIR.—The Commission shall elect a chair from
among its members.
(d) VACANCIES.—Vacancies occurring on the Commis-
sion shall not affect the authority of the remaining members
of the Commission to carry out the functions of the Commis-
sion. Any vacancy in the Commission shall be promptly
filled in the same manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made.
(e) QUORUM.—A simple majority of Commission
members shall constitute a quorum.
(f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at least
quarterly or upon the call of the chair or a majority of
the members of the Commission.
(g) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission
shall serve without compensation as such. Members of the
Commission, when engaged in official Commission business,
shall be entitled to travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed
intermittently in government service under section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code.
(h) TERMINATION.—The Commission established pur-
suant to this section shall terminate 90 days after the trans-
mittal of the report to Congress as provided in subsection
(a).
(i) 
LIMITATION
ON
NATIONAL
PARK
SERVICE
STAFF.—The Commission may hire staff to carry out its
assigned responsibilities. Not more than one-half of the pro-
fessional staff of the Commission shall be made up of cur-
rent employees of the National Park Service.
(j) STAFF OF OTHER AGENCIES.—Upon the request of
the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may de-
tail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such
agency to the Commission to assist the Commission.
(k) EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS.—Subject to such
rules as may be adopted by the Commission, the Commis-
sion may procure temporary and intermittent services to
the same extent as authorized by section 3109(b) of title
5, United States Code, but at rates determined by the Com-
mission to be advisable.
(l) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.—(1) The Commis-
sion shall for the purpose of carrying out this title hold
such public hearings, sit and act at such times and places,
take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Com-
mission deems advisable.
(2) The Commission may make such bylaws, rules, and
regulations, consistent with this title, as it considers nec-
essary to carry out its functions under this title.
(3) When so authorized by the Commission, any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may take any action which
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
(4) The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and upon the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the United States.
(5) The Secretary shall provide to the Commission any
information available to the Secretary and requested by the
Commission regarding the Plan and any other information
requested by the Commission which is relevant to the duties
of the Commission and available to the Secretary.
SEC. 104. SUBSEQUENT ACT OF CONGRESS REQUIRED TO
MODIFY OR TERMINATE A PARK.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as modifying
or terminating any unit of the National Park System with-
out a subsequent Act of Congress. This limitation shall not
limit any existing authority of the Secretary.
SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated
$2,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this title.
SEC. 106. COMMENDATION AND PROTECTION OF NATIONAL
PARK RANGERS.
(a) FINDING.—The Congress recognizes the dedication,
expertise and courage of the men and women who serve as
rangers and other employees of the National Park Service
and finds their service to the protection of our park re-
sources and the safety of the hundreds of millions of Ameri-
cans who visit our national parks each year to be indispen-
sable.
(b) PROTECTION OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE EM-
PLOYEES.—As soon as possible as part of the report devel-
oped under section 101, the Secretary shall report on the
procedures that have been instituted to report to the United
States Attorney or other appropriate law enforcement offi-
cial any intimidation, threats, or acts of violence against
employees of the National Park Service related to their
duties.
TITLE II—NEW AREA
ESTABLISHMENT
SEC. 201. STUDY OF NEW PARK SYSTEM AREAS.
Section 8 of the Act of August 18, 1970, entitled ‘‘An
Act to improve the Administration of the National Park
System by the Secretary of the Interior, and to clarify the
authorities applicable to the system, and for other purposes’’
(16 U.S.C. 1a–1 and following) is amended as follows:
(1) By inserting ‘‘GENERAL
AUTHORITY.—’’
after ‘‘(a)’’.
(2) By striking the second through the sixth sen-
tences of subsection (a).
(3) By redesignating the last two sentences of
subsection (a) as subsection (f) and inserting in the
first of such sentences before the words ‘‘For the pur-
poses of carrying’’ the following: ‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—’’.
(4) By striking subsection (b).
(5) 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 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 as identified in the National
Park System Plan to be developed under section 101 of the
National Park System Reform Act of 1995.
‘‘(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 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 providing for the
study of such area. Each study under this section shall be
prepared with appropriate opportunity for public involve-
ment, including at least one public meeting in the vicinity
of the area under study, and after reasonable efforts to no-
tify 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, or outstanding recreational oppor-
tunities, and that the area represents one of the most
important 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 resources;
(ii) the threats to those resources;
(iii) whether similar resources are already
protected 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, devel-
opment 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 con-
figuration to ensure long-term resource protec-
tion 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) NEW AREA STUDY OFFICE.—The Secretary shall
establish a single office to be assigned to prepare all new
area studies and to implement other functions of this
section.
‘‘(e) LIST OF AREAS.—At the beginning of each cal-
endar year, along with the annual budget submission, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of
the House of Representatives and to the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate a
list of areas which have been previously studied which con-
tain primarily historical resources, and a list of areas
which have been previously studied which contain pri-
marily natural resources, in numerical order of priority for
addition to the National Park System. In developing the
lists, the Secretary should consider threats to resource val-
ues, cost escalation factors, and other factors listed in sub-
section (c) of this section. The Secretary should only include
on the lists areas for which the supporting data is current
and accurate.’’.
HR 260 RH——2