Four Corners Interpretive Center Act
PL 106-143 (S.28), enacted 12/07/1999

PUBLIC LAW 106-143—DEC. 7, 1999 
113 STAT. 1703 
Public Law 106-143 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize an interpretive center and related visitor facilities within the Four 
Dec. 7, 1999 
Comers Monument Tribal Park, and for other purposes. 
[g 28] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Four Comers 
Interpretive 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Center Act. 
This Act may be cited as the "Four Comers Interpretive Center 
Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the Four Comers Monument is nationsdly significant 
as the only geographic location in the United States where 
4 State boimdaries meet; 
(2) the States with boundaries that meet at the Four Cor- State listing. 
ners are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah; 
(3) between 1868 and 1875 the boundary lines that created 
the Four Comers were drawn, and in 1899 a monument was 
erected at the site; 
(4) a United States postal stamp will be issued in 1999 
to commemorate the centennial of the original boundary 
marker; 
(5) the Four Comers area is distinct in character and 
possesses important historical, cultural, and prehistoric values 
and resources within the surrounding cultural landscape; 
(6) although there are no permanent facilities or utilities 
at the Four Comers Monument Tribal Park, each year the 
park attracts approximately 250,000 visitors; 
(7) the area of the Four Comers Monument Tribal Park 
falls entirely within the Navajo Nation or Ute Mountain Ute 
Tribe reservations; 
(8) the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 
have entered into a memorandum of understanding governing 
the planning £uid future development of the Four Comers 
Monument Tribal Park; 
(9) in 1992, through agreements executed by the Governors 
of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, the Four Comers 
Heritage Council was established as a coalition of State, Fed-
eral, tribal, and private interests; 
(10) the State of Arizona has obligated $45,000 for planning 
efforts and $250,000 for construction of an interpretive center 
at the Four Comers Monument Tribal Park; 
(11) numerous studies and extensive consultation with 
American Indians have demonstrated that development at the 
113 STAT. 1704 
PUBLIC LAW 106-143—DEC. 7, 1999 
Four Comers Monument Tribal Park would greatly benefit 
the people of the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute 
Tribe; 
(12) the Arizona Department of Transportation has com-
pleted preliminary cost estimates that are based on field experi-
ence with rest-area development for the construction of a Four 
Comers Interpretive Center and surrounding infirastructure, 
including restrooms, roadways, parking areas, and water, elec-
trical, telephone, and sewage facilities; 
(13) an interpretive center would provide important edu-
cational 2md enrichment opportunities for all Americans; and 
(14) Federal financial assistance and technical expertise 
are needed for the construction of an interpretive center. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to recognize the importance of the Four Comers Monu-
ment and surrounding landscape as a distinct area in the 
heritage of the United States that is worthy of interpretation 
and preservation; 
(2) to assist the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain 
Ute Tribe in establishing the Four Comers Interpretive Center 
and related facilities to meet the needs of the general public; 
(3) to highlight and showcase the collaborative resource 
stewardship of private individuals, Indian tribes, universities. 
Federal agencies, and the governments of States and political 
subdivisions thereof (including counties); and 
(4) to promote knowledge of the life, art, culture, politics, 
and history of the culturally diverse groups of the Four Comers 
region. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act: 
(1) CENTER.—The term "Center" means the Four Comers 
Interpretive Center established under section 4, including rest-
rooms, parking areas, vendor facilities, sidewalks, utilities, 
exhibits, and other visitor facilities. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term "eligible entity" means the 
States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, or any 
consortium of 2 or more of those States. 
(3) FOUR CORNERS HERITAGE COUNCIL.—The term "Four 
Comers Heritage Council" means the nonprofit coalition of 
Federal, State, tribal, and private entities established in 1992 
by agreements of the Governors of the States of Arizona, Colo-
rado, New Mexico, and Utah. 
(4) FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT.—The term "Four Comers 
Monument" mesms the physical monument where the bound-
aries of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and 
Utah meet. 
(5) FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT TRIBAL PARK.—^The term 
"Four Comers Monument Tribal Park" mesuis lands within 
the legally defined boundaries of the Four Comers Monument 
Tribal Park. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
SEC 4. FOUR CORNERS INTERPRETIVE CENTER. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the Secretary is authorized to establish within the boundaries 
of the Four Comers Monument Tribal Park a center for the 
PUBLIC LAW 106-143—DEC. 7, 1999 
113 STAT. 1705 
interpretation and commemoration of the Four Comers Monument, 
to be known as the "Four Comers Interpretive Center". 
(b) LAND DESIGNATED AND MADE AVAILABLE.—Land for the 
Center shall be designated and made available by the Navajo Nation 
or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe within the boundaries of the Four 
Comers Monument Tribal Psirk in consultation with the Four Cor-
ners Heritage Council and in accordance with— 
(1) the memorandum of understanding between the Navajo 
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe that was entered 
into on October 22, 1996; and 
(2) applicable supplemental agreements with the Bureau 
of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the 
United States Forest Service. 
(c) CONCURRENCE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
Act, no such center shall be established without the consent of 
the Navajo Nation and the Ute Moimtain Ute Tribe. 
(d) COMPONENTS OF CENTER.—The Center shall include— 
(1) a location for permanent and temporary exhibits 
depicting the archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage of 
the Four Comers region; 
(2) a venue for public education programs; 
(3) a location to highlight the importance of efforts to 
preserve southwestern archaeological sites and museum collec-
tions; 
(4) a location to provide information to the general public 
about cultural and natural resources, parks, museums, and 
travel in the Four Comers region; and 
(5) visitor amenities including restrooms, public telephones, 
and other basic facilities. 
SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION GRANT. 
(a) GRANT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to award 
a grant to an eligible entity for the construction of the Center 
in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the cost of construction 
of the Center. 
(2) ASSURANCES.—To be eligible for the grant, the eligible 
entity that is selected to receive the grant shall provide assur-
ances that— 
(A) the non-Federal share of the costs of construction 
is paid from non-Federal sources (which may include con-
tributions made by States, private sources, the Navajo 
Nation, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for planning, 
design, construction, furnishing, startup, and operational 
expenses); and 
(B) the aggregate amount of non-Federal fluids contrib-
uted by the States used to carry out the activities specified 
in subparagraph (A) will not be less than $2,000,000, of 
which each of the States that is party to the grant will 
contribute equally in cash or in kind. 
(3) FUNDS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES.—A State may use fiinds 
from private sources to meet the requirements of paragraph 
(2)(B). 
(4) FUNDS OF STATE OF ARIZONA.—The State of Arizona 
may apply $45,000 authorized by the State of Arizona during 
fiscal year 1998 for planning and $250,000 that is held in 
reserve by the State for construction toward the Arizona share. 
113 STAT. 1706 
PUBLIC LAW 106-143—DEC. 7, 1999 
(b) GRANT REQUIREMENTS.—In order to receive a grant under 
this Act, the eligible entity selected to receive the grant shall— 
Proposal. 
(1) submit to the Secretary a proposal that— 
(A) meets all applicable— 
(i) laws, including building codes and regulations; 
and 
(ii) requirements under the memorandum of under-
standing described in paragraph (2); and 
(B) provides such information and assurances as the 
Secretary may require; and 
(2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the 
Secretary providing— 
(A) a timetable for completion of construction and 
opening of the Center; 
(B) assurances that design, architectural, and construc-
tion contracts will be competitively awarded; 
(C) specifications meeting all applicable Federal, State, 
and local building codes and laws; 
(D) arrangements for operations £ind maintenance upon 
completion of construction; 
(E) a description of the Center collections and edu-
cational programming; 
(F) a plan for design of exhibits including, but not 
limited to, the selection of collections to be exhibited, and 
the providing of security, preservation, protection, environ-
mental controls, and presentations in accordance with 
professional museum standards; 
(G) an agreement with the Navajo Nation and the 
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe relative to site selection and public 
access to the facilities; and 
(H) a financing plan developed jointly by the Navajo 
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe outlining the 
long-term management of the Center, including— 
(i) the acceptance and use of funds derived from 
public and private sources to minimize the use of 
appropriated or borrowed funds; 
(ii) the payment of the operating costs of the 
Center through the assessment of fees or other income 
generated by the Center; 
(iii) a strategy for achieving financial self-suffi-
ciency with respect to the Center by not later than 
5 years after the date of enactment of this Act; and 
(iv) appropriate vendor standards £ind business 
activities at the Four Comers Monument Tribal Park. 
SEC. 6. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENT. 
The Four Corners Heritage Council may make recommenda-
tions to the Secretary on grant proposals regarding the design 
of facilities at the Four Comers Monument Tribal Park. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Department of the Interior to carry out this Act— 
(1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and 
(2) $50,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 
for maintenance and operation of the Center, program develop-
ment, or staffing in a manner consistent with the requirements 
of section 5(b). 
PUBLIC LAW 106-143—DEC. 7, 1999 
113 STAT. 1707 
(b) CARRYOVER,—Funds made available under subsection (a)(1) 
that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year for which those 
funds are appropriated, may be used by the Secretary through 
fiscal year 2002 for the purposes for which those funds are made 
available. 
(c) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—The Secretary may reserve funds 
appropriated pursuEint to this Act until a grant proposal meeting 
the requirements of this Act is submitted, but no later than Sep-
tember 30, 2001. 
SEC. 8. DONATIONS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of 
the planning, construction, and operation of the Center, the Sec-
retary may accept, retain, and expend donations of funds, and 
use property or services donated, fi*om private persons and entities 
or from public entities. 
SEC. 9. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, modify, or impair 
any right or claim of the Navajo Nation or the Ute Mountain 
Ute Tribe, that is based on any law (including any treaty. Executive 
order, agreement, or Act of Congress). 
Approved December 7, 1999. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 28: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-144 (Comm. on Indian Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999): 
Sept. 9, considered £ind passed Senate. 
Nov. 18, considered and passed House.