Joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to provide for the commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Yellowstone National Park, and for other purposes
PL 91-332 (H.J.Res.546), enacted 07/10/1970

84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-332-JULY 10, 1970 
427 
Public Law 91-332 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
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Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to provide for the commemoration of 
[H. J . Res. 546] 
the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Yellowstone National 
Park, and for other purposes. 
National Parks 
Centennial Year, 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Secretary of the 
Interior is directed to request the President to issue a proclamation m i 
designating the year 1972 as "National Parks Centennial Year", in 
proclamation. 
recognition of the establishment on March 1,1872, of the world's first 
national park, Yellowstone, which advanced a new concept of land use 
in setting aside an outstanding natural area in perpetuity for the bene-
fit and enjoyment of the people. 
SEC. 2. (a) There is hereby established a National Parks Centennial 
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Commission (hereinafter referred to as "the Commission") to be *^ ^ 
composed of the following members: 
(1) four Members of the Senate to be appointed by the Presi-
dent of the Senate; 
(2) four Members of the House of Representatives to be 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
(3) the Secretary of the Interior or his representative; and 
(4) six persons to be appointed by the President from among 
persons not officers or employees of the Federal Government and 
who, in the judgment of the President, have outstanding knowl-
edge and experience in the fields of natural and historical resource 
preservation and public recreation. 
(b) The President shall designate one of the members appointed by 
him as Chairman of the Conmiission. 
(c) The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation „Jl!!!!°^rr' ^
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expenses. 
for their services as such, but members from the legislative branch 
shall be allowed necessary travel expenses as authorized by law for 
official travel, members of the executive branch shall be allowed neces-
sary travel expenses in accordance with section 5702 of title 5, United 
States Code, and members appointed by the President shall be allowed ga^statr^igo^*' 
necessary travel expenses as authorized by section 5 of the Adminis-
trative Expenses Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. 5703). Staff of the Commission 
shall be allowed necessary travel expenses in accordance with section 
5702 of title 5, United States Code. 
(d) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers or 
functions, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment. 
SEC. 3. The functions of the Commission shall be (1) to prepare. 
Functions. 
and execute, in cooperation with Federal, State, local, nongovern-
mental agencies and organizations, and appropriate international 
organizations, a suitable plan for commemoration of the one hundredth 
anniversary of the beginning of the worldwide national park move-
ment by the establishment o f Yellowstone National Park in 1872; (2) 
to coordinate the activities of such agencies and organizations under-
taken pursuant to such plan; and (3) to provide, in cooperation with 
such agencies and organizations, host services for a world conference 
428 
PUBLIC LAW 91-332-JULY 10, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Personnel. 
63 Stat. 954; 
80 Stat. 443. 
5 u s e 5101 
et 
seq. 
Powers. 
Executive 
Director, 
80 Stat. 477. 
Reports to 
Congress. 
Commission, 
termination. 
Books, relics, 
etc., disposition. 
Appropriation. 
on National Parks in 1972, and to assist in representing the United 
States in the activities of such conference. 
SEC. 4. The Commission may employ such personnel as may be neces-
sary to carry out its functions, with or without regard to the provisions 
of the civil service laws or the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, 
in its discretion. 
SEC. 5. (a) The Commission is authorized to accept donations of 
money, property, or personal services; to cooperate with public and 
private associations, and educational institutions; and to request 
advice and assistance from appropriate Federal departments or agen-
cies in carrying out its functions. Such Federal departments and 
agencies are authorized to furnish the Commission such advice and 
assistance with or without reimbursement. To the extent it finds neces-
sary, the Commission may, without regard to the laws and procedures 
applicable to Federal departments and agencies, make contracts, pro-
cure supplies, property, and services (including printing and pub-
lishing) , and may exercise the powers needed to carry out its functions 
efficiently and in the public interest. 
(b) The Director of the National Park Service or his designee shall 
be the Executive Director of the Commission. Financial and adminis-
trative services (including those related to budgeting, accounting, 
financial reporting, personnel, and procurement) shall be provided the 
Commission by the Department of the Interior, for which payment 
shall be made in advance, or by reimbursement, from funds of the 
Commission in such amounts as may be agreed upon by the Chairman 
of the Commission and the Secretary of tne Interior: P?'ovided, That 
the regulations of the Department of the Interior for the collection of 
indebtedness of personnel resulting from erroneous payments (5 U;S.C. 
5514) shall apply to the collection of erroneous payments made to or 
on behalf of a Commission employee, and regulations of said Secretary 
for the administrative control of funds (31 U.S.C. 665(g)) shall apply 
to appropriations of the Commission. 
(c) Beginning with the end of the calendar year in which the Com-
mission is first established, the Commission shall submit annual reports 
of its activities and plans to the Congress. The Commission shall sub-
mit a final report of its activities, including an accounting of funds 
received and expended, to the Congress, not later than December 31, 
1973, and shall cease to exist upon submission of said report. 
(d) Upon termination of the Commission and after consultation 
with the Archivist of the United States and the Secretary of the 
Smithsonian Institution, the Secretary of the Interior may deposit all 
books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relics, 
and other similar materials of the Commission relating to the National 
Parks Centennial in Federal, State, or local libraries or museums or 
make other disposition of such materials. Other property acquired by 
the Commission remaining upon its termination may be used by the 
Secretary of the Interior for purposes of the national park system or 
may be disposed of as excess or surplus property. The net revenues, 
after payment of Commission expenses, derived from Commission 
activities shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States. 
SEC. 6. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums, but not 
more than $250,000, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act: Provided, That no part of such appropriations shall be avail-
able for obligation by the Commission until and unless at lea'st 
$300,000 in donations have been actually collected by the Commission 
from non-Federal sources. 
Approved July 10, 1970.