IB 
Union Calendar No. 113 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2729 
[Report No. 111–207] 
To authorize the designation of National Environmental Research Parks by 
the Secretary of Energy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 4, 2009 
Mr. LUJA´N introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science and Technology 
JULY 14, 2009 
Additional sponsors: Mr. BAIRD, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mrs. BIGGERT, Ms. 
GIFFORDS, and Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas 
JULY 14, 2009 
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 June 4, 2009] 
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A BILL 
To authorize the designation of National Environmental Re-
search Parks by the Secretary of Energy, and for other 
purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The National Environmental Research Parks 
are 
unique 
outdoor 
laboratories 
that 
provide 
opportunities for environmental studies on protected 
lands around Department of Energy facilities. 
(2) In 1972, the Atomic Energy Commission 
established its first official environmental research 
park at the Savannah River site in South Carolina. 
(3) In 1976, the Department of Energy defined 
the mission for the research parks in accordance with 
the recommendations of the multiagency review team 
for environmental research activities at the Savannah 
River site. 
(4) The mission of the research parks is to— 
(A) conduct research and education activi-
ties to assess and document environmental effects 
associated with energy and weapons use; 
(B) explore methods for eliminating or 
minimizing adverse effects of energy development 
and nuclear materials on the environment; 
(C) 
train 
people 
in 
ecological 
and 
environmental sciences; and 
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stewardship of Federal lands and to safeguard sites 
containing cultural and archeological resources. 
(9) Public education and outreach activities 
carried out on these sites provide unique learning 
opportunities, promote a stronger connection between 
these 
Federal 
facilities 
and 
the 
surrounding 
communities, and enhance public confidence that the 
Department of Energy is fulfilling its environmental 
stewardship responsibilities. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PARKS. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
designate the seven National Environmental Research 
Parks located on Department of Energy sites as permanent 
protected outdoor research reserves for the purposes of 
conducting long-term environmental research on the 
impacts of human activities on the natural environment. 
The seven National Environmental Research Parks shall 
include— 
(1) the Savannah River National Environmental 
Research Park; 
(2) the Idaho National Environmental Research 
Park; 
(3) the Los Alamos National Environmental 
Research Park; 
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(4) the Fermi Lab National Environmental 
Research Park; 
(5) 
the 
Hanford 
National 
Environmental 
Research Park; 
(6) the Oak Ridge National Environmental 
Research Park; and 
(7) 
the 
Nevada 
National 
Environmental 
Research Park. 
(b) PURPOSES.—Each site shall support— 
(1) environmental research and monitoring ac-
tivities to characterize and monitor present and 
future site conditions, and serve as control areas for 
comparison 
with 
environmental 
impacts 
of 
Department of Energy land management, energy 
technology development, remediation, and other site 
activities 
outside 
the 
National 
Environmental 
Research 
Park 
areas. 
Areas 
of 
research 
and 
monitoring on the sites may include— 
(A) ecology of the site and the region; 
(B) population biology and ecology; 
(C) radioecology; 
(D) effects of climate variability and change 
on ecosystems; 
(E) ecosystem science; 
(F) pollution fate and transport research; 
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(G) surface and groundwater modeling; and 
(H) environmental impacts of development 
and use of energy generation technologies, 
including renewable energy technologies; and 
(2) public education and outreach activities con-
sistent with subsection (d). 
(c) 
COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT.—To 
ensure 
the 
independence of the research, monitoring, public education, 
and outreach activities conducted on each site, the Secretary 
shall enter into a cooperative agreement with a university, 
community college, or consortium of institutions of higher 
education with expertise in ecology and environmental 
science of the region in which the National Environmental 
Research Park is located. 
(d) ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.— 
Each site shall support an outreach program to inform the 
public of the diverse ecological activities conducted at the 
park and to educate students at various levels in 
environmental science. Program activities may include— 
(1) on-site and in-classroom education programs 
for elementary and secondary students; 
(2) 
presentations 
to 
school, 
civic, 
and 
professional groups; 
(3) exhibits at local and regional events; 
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(4) development of educational projects and 
materials for students at all levels; 
(5) undergraduate and community college in-
ternships and graduate research opportunities; and 
(6) regularly scheduled public tours. 
(e) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
designate a National Environmental Research Park 
Coordinator within the Department of Energy Office of 
Science. The Coordinator shall— 
(1) coordinate research activities among the 
National Environmental Research Parks as appro-
priate; 
(2) ensure that information on best practices for 
research, education, and outreach activities is shared 
among the sites; and 
(3) serve as liaison to other Federal agencies to 
facilitate collaborative work at the Parks. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy, 
acting through the Director of the Office of Science, for 
carrying out this section $35,000,000, including $5,000,000 
for each National Environmental Research Park, for each 
of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014. 
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SEC. 3. SAVINGS. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the ac-
tivities that the Federal Government may carry out or au-
thorize on a site on which a National Environmental 
Research Park is located. 
SEC. 4. SUMMER INSTITUTES PROGRAM. 
The National Environmental Research Parks may be 
utilized to provide educational opportunities through the 
Summer Institutes program authorized in section 3185 of 
the Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement 
Act (42 U.S.C. 7381n). 
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