Title: To amend section 7 of Public Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) to promote continued use of the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Gateway National Recreation Area by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
This bill authorizes the transfer of the James J. Howard Marine Science Laboratory at Gateway National Recreation Area in New Jersey, without consideration, to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by the state of New Jersey and sets forth new requirements governing the continued use of the laboratory.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 477 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 477

   To amend section 7 of Public Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) to 
promote continued use of the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory 
    at Gateway National Recreation Area by the National Oceanic and 
                      Atmospheric Administration.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 10, 2019

 Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend section 7 of Public Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) to 
promote continued use of the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory 
    at Gateway National Recreation Area by the National Oceanic and 
                      Atmospheric Administration.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF THE JAMES J. HOWARD MARINE SCIENCES LABORATORY.

    Section 7 of Public Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) is amended by 
striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Transfer From the State to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, or the provisions of the August 13, 1991, Ground Lease 
        Agreement (`Lease') between the Department of the Interior and 
        the State of New Jersey (`State'), upon notice to the National 
        Park Service, the State may transfer without consideration, and 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may accept, 
        all State improvements within the land assignment and right of 
        way, including the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory 
        (`Laboratory'), two parking lots, and the seawater supply and 
        backflow pipes as generally depicted on the map entitled 
        `Gateway National Recreation Area, James J. Howard Marine 
        Science Laboratory Land Assignment', numbered 646/142,581A, and 
        dated April 2018 (`Map') and any related State personal 
        property.
            ``(2) Lease amendment.--Upon the transfer authorized in 
        paragraph (1), the Lease shall be amended to exclude any 
        obligations of the State and the Department of the Interior 
        related to the Laboratory and associated property and 
        improvements transferred to the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration. However, all obligations of the 
        State to rehabilitate Building 74 and modify landscaping on the 
        surrounding property as depicted on the Map, under the Lease 
        and pursuant to subsection (a), shall remain in full force and 
        effect.
            ``(3) Use by the national oceanic and atmospheric 
        administration.--Upon the transfer authorized in paragraph (1), 
        the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration is authorized to use the land generally depicted 
        on the Map as a land assignment and right of way and associated 
        land and appurtenances for continued use of the Laboratory, 
        including providing maintenance and repair, and access to the 
        Laboratory, the parking lots and the seawater supply and back 
        flow pipes, without consideration, except for reimbursement to 
        the National Park Service of agreed upon reasonable actual 
        costs of subsequently provided goods and services.
            ``(4) Agreement between the national park service and the 
        national oceanic and atmospheric administration.--Upon the 
        transfer authorized in paragraph (1), the Director of the 
        National Park Service and the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall enter into an 
        agreement addressing responsibilities pertaining to the use of 
        the land assignment within the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway 
        National Recreation Area as authorized in paragraph (3). The 
        agreement shall prohibit any new construction on this land, 
        permanent or nonpermanent, or significant alteration to the 
        exterior of the Laboratory, without National Park Service 
        approval.
            ``(5) Restoration.--
                    ``(A) Notwithstanding any provision of the Lease to 
                the contrary, if the State does not transfer the 
                improvements as authorized in paragraph (1), and these 
                improvements are not used as or in support of a marine 
                science laboratory, the State shall demolish and remove 
                the improvements and restore the land in accordance 
                with the standards set forth by the National Park 
                Service, free of unacceptable encumbrances and in 
                compliance with all applicable laws and regulations 
                regarding known contaminants.
                    ``(B) If the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration accepts the improvements as authorized 
                in paragraph (1) and these improvements are not used as 
                or in support of a marine science laboratory, the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall 
                be responsible for demolishing and removing these 
                improvements and restoring the land, in accordance with 
                the standards set forth by the National Park Service, 
                free of unacceptable encumbrances and in compliance 
                with all applicable laws and regulations regarding 
                known contaminants.''.
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