Aleut Confinement and Relocation Sites Study Act

Bill: 113-s-2716
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2014-07-31
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska

Alaska Natives and Hawaiians

Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Historic sites and heritage areas

Military history

Parks, recreation areas, trails

Racial and ethnic relations
Latest action: action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-07-31
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Aleut Confinement and Relocation Sites Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine whether the following sites are suitable for inclusion in the National Park System: (1) the World War II Aleut relocation sites at Funter Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake, and the Wrangell Institute in Alaska; and (2) the villages of Makushin, Kashega, and Biorka around Unalaska Island and Attu on Attu Island in Alaska, from which the Aleut people were forcibly removed.</p> <p>Requires the Secretary to:</p> <ul> <li>evaluate the national significance of the sites;</li> <li> determine the suitability and feasibility of designating those sites as units of the National Park System; </li> <li> consider alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the land comprising those sites; and </li> <li> identify cost estimates for any federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with carrying out such alternatives.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2716 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 31, 2014 Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of adding the sites associated with the forced relocation and confinement of the Aleut people during World War II in the State of Alaska as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Aleut Confinement and Relocation Sites Study Act . 2. Aleut confinement and relocation sites study (a) Definitions In this Act: (1) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (2) State The term State means the State of Alaska. (b) Study The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the following sites to determine whether any of the sites may be suitable for inclusion in the National Park System: (1) The 5 World War II Aleut relocation sites at Funter Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake, and the Wrangell Institute in the State. (2) The following villages in the State from which the Aleut people were forcibly removed and which were so depopulated and so significantly damaged by miliary activity and weather that the villages effectively could not be resettled after World War II: (A) Makushin, Kashega, and Biorka around Unalaska Island. (B) Attu on Attu Island. (c) Contents In conducting the study under subsection (b), the Secretary shall— (1) evaluate the national significance of the sites described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b); (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of designating those sites as one or more units of the National Park System; (3) consider alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the land comprising those sites by Federal, State, or local governments or private or nonprofit organizations; (4) consult with any interested governments or organizations described in paragraph (3) or any other interested individual; and (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with carrying out the alternatives described in paragraph (3). (d) Applicable law The study under subsection (b) shall be conducted in accordance with section 8 of the National Park System General Authorities Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1a–5 ). (e) Report Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available for the study under subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes— (1) the findings of the study; and (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as are necessary.