Castle Nugent National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-87
Sponsor: full_name: Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2013-01-03
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Archaeology and anthropology

Caribbean area

Endangered and threatened species

Forests, forestry, trees

Historic sites and heritage areas

Historical and cultural resources

Land transfers

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

U.S. territories and protectorates

Virgin Islands

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2013-01-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-01-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p> Castle Nugent National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2013 - Establishes the Castle Nugent National Historic Site on the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National Park System in order to preserve, protect, and interpret a Caribbean cultural landscape spanning over 300 years of agricultural use, significant archeological resources, an extensive barrier coral reef system, and other outstanding natural features. </p> <p>Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands within the boundary of the Historic Site to the University of the Virgin Islands for the purpose of continuing the University's operations for breeding Senepol cattle. </p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 87 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2013 Mrs. Christensen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To establish the Castle Nugent National Historic Site at St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Castle Nugent National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2013 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Historic site The term historic site means the Castle Nugent National Historic Site established in section 3. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. 3. Castle Nugent National Historic Site (a) Establishment There is established as a unit of the National Park System the Castle Nugent National Historic Site on the Island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, in order to preserve, protect, and interpret, for the benefit of present and future generations, a Caribbean cultural landscape that spans more than 300 years of agricultural use, significant archeological resources, mangrove forests, endangered sea turtle nesting beaches, an extensive barrier coral reef system, and other outstanding natural features. (b) Boundaries The historic site consists of the approximately 2,900 acres of land extending from Lowrys Hill and Laprey Valley to the Caribbean Sea and from Manchenil Bay to Great Pond, along with associated submerged lands to the three-mile territorial limit, as generally depicted on the map titled Castle Nugent National Historic Site Proposed Boundary Map , numbered T22/100,447, and dated October 2009. (c) Map availability The map referred to in subsection (b) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. (d) Acquisition of land (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary is authorized to acquire lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of the historic site by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. (2) U.S. Virgin Island lands The Secretary is authorized to acquire lands and interests in lands owned by the U.S. Virgin Islands or any political subdivision thereof only by donation or exchange. 4. Administration (a) In general The Secretary shall administer the historic site in accordance with this Act and with laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including— (1) the National Park Service Organic Act (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq. ); and (2) the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461 et seq. ). (b) Shared resources To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary shall use the resources of other sites administered by the National Park Service on the Island of St. Croix to administer the historic site. (c) Continued use In order to maintain an important feature of the cultural landscape of the historic site, the Secretary may lease to the University of the Virgin Islands certain lands within the boundary of the historic site for the purpose of continuing the university’s operation breeding Senepol cattle, a breed developed on St. Croix. A lease under this subsection shall contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate, including those necessary to protect the values of the historic site. (d) Management plan Not later than three years after funds are made available for this subsection, the Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the historic site.