I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 624 
To establish the First State National Historical Park in the State of 
Delaware, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 10, 2011 
Mr. CARNEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the First State National Historical Park in 
the State of Delaware, 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 ‘‘First State National 
Historical Park Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) HISTORICAL PARK.—The term ‘‘historical 
park’’ means the First State National Historical 
Park established by section 3(a)(1). 
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(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Delaware. 
SEC. 3. FIRST STATE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), 
there is established in the State the First State Na-
tional Historical Park, to be administered as a unit 
of the National Park System. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the historical 
park are to preserve, protect, and interpret the na-
tionally significant cultural and historic resources in 
the State that are associated with— 
(A) early Dutch, Swedish, and English set-
tlement of the Colony of Delaware; and 
(B) the role of Delaware as the first State 
to ratify the Constitution. 
(3) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The historical park 
shall not be established until the date on which 
the Secretary determines that sufficient land or 
interests in land have been acquired from 
among the sites described in subsection (b) to 
constitute a manageable park unit. 
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(B) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days 
after making a determination under subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall publish a notice 
in the Federal Register of the establishment of 
the historical park, including an official bound-
ary map for the historical park. 
(C) AVAILABILITY
OF
MAP.—The map 
published under subparagraph (B) shall be on 
file and available for public inspection in the 
appropriate offices of the National Park Serv-
ice. 
(b) HISTORIC SITES.—The Secretary may include the 
following sites in the State within the boundary of the his-
torical park: 
(1) The Old Sherriff’s House in New Castle 
County, Delaware. 
(2) Fort Christina National Historic Landmark 
in New Castle County, Delaware. 
(3) Old Swedes Church National Historic Land-
mark in New Castle County, Delaware. 
(4) Old New Castle Courthouse in New Castle, 
Delaware. 
(5) John Dickinson Plantation National His-
toric Landmark in Kent County, Delaware. 
(6) Dover Green in Kent County, Delaware. 
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(7) Ryves Holt House in Sussex County, Dela-
ware. 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall administer 
the historical park in accordance with— 
(1) this Act; and 
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System, including— 
(A) the National Park System Organic Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and 
(B) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 
461 et seq.). 
(b) LAND ACQUISITION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may acquire 
all or a portion of any of the sites described in sec-
tion 3(b), including easements or other interests in 
land, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, or 
exchange. 
(2) BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.—On acquisition 
of land or an interest in land under paragraph (1), 
the boundary of the historical park shall be adjusted 
to reflect the acquisition. 
(c) INTERPRETIVE TOURS.—The Secretary may pro-
vide interpretive tours to sites and resources in the State 
that are located outside the boundary of the historical 
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park and associated with the purposes for which the his-
torical park is established, including— 
(1) Fort Casimir; 
(2) DeVries Monument; 
(3) Amstel House; 
(4) Dutch House; and 
(5) Zwaanendael Museum. 
(d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter 
into a cooperative agreement with the State, political 
subdivisions of the State, institutions of higher edu-
cation, nonprofit organizations, and individuals to 
mark, interpret, and restore nationally significant 
historic or cultural resources within the boundaries 
of the historical park, if the cooperative agreement 
provides for reasonable public access to the re-
sources. 
(2) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share 
of the total cost of any activity carried out 
under a cooperative agreement entered into 
under paragraph (1) shall be not more than 50 
percent. 
(B) FORM OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The 
non-Federal share may be in the form of in- 
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kind contributions or goods or services fairly 
valued. 
(e) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 fiscal years 
after the date on which funds are made available to 
carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall com-
plete a management plan for the historical park. 
(2) APPLICABLE LAW.—The management plan 
shall be prepared in accordance with section 12(b) of 
Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–7(b)) and other 
applicable laws. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL LANDMARK STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date on which funds are made available to carry out this 
section, the Secretary shall complete a study assessing the 
historical significance of additional properties in the State 
that are associated with the purposes of historical park. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The study prepared under 
subsection (a) shall include an assessment of the potential 
for designating the additional properties as National His-
toric Landmarks. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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