National Park Service Study Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resource studies of: (1) the Kau coast, on the island of Hawaii; (2) on request, the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (3) sites in Alaska associated with the forced abandonment of the Aleut villages of Makushin, Kashega, and Biorka around Unalaska Island and Attu on Attu Island during World War II; (4) the five relocation sites in Alaska at Funter Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake and the Wrangell Institute; (5) specified World War II Japanese American Relocation Center sites; (6) American Latino sites in the San Luis Valley and Central Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico; (7) the town of Goldfield and outlying mining sites in Nevada; (8) the Hudson River Valley in New York; (9) the Norman Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, at which African-American casts and crews were used in the production of silent films; (10) the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in Alabama; and (11) Galveston Bay in Texas.
Requires updates of: (1) the study authorized by the National Park Service Studies Act of 1999 relating to World War II sites, Republic of Palau; and (2) the 1979 study entitled "Vermejo Ranch, New Mexico/Colorado: Study of Management Options."
Directs the Secretary to: (1) study alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the National Parks, (2) conduct a national historic landmark theme study to identify sites and resources in the southern United States that are significant to the Reconstruction era, and (3) study the feasibility of including 45 miles of the Chattahoochee River and land along the river corridor within the boundary of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area located in Georgia.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3399 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3399
To authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the
National Park System, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 18, 2012
Mr. Bingaman (by request) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the
National Park System, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Park Service Study Act of
2012''.
SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDIES.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act
as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct special resource studies of--
(1) the Kau Coast, on the island of Hawaii;
(2) on request of the Government of the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the island of Rota in the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
(3)(A) sites in the State of Alaska associated with the
forced abandonment of the Aleut villages of Makushin, Kashega,
and Biorka around Unalaska Island, and Attu on Attu Island
during World War II; and
(B) the 5 relocation sites in the State of Alaska at Funter
Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake, and the Wrangell
Institute;
(4) World War II Japanese American Relocation Center sites,
including--
(A) Gila River and Poston sites in the State of
Arizona;
(B) Grenada in the State of Colorado;
(C) Heart Mountain in the State of Wyoming;
(D) Jerome and Rohwer sites in the State of
Arkansas; and
(E) Topaz in the State of Utah;
(5) American Latino Sites in the San Luis Valley and
Central Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the States of Colorado
and New Mexico;
(6) the town of Goldfield and outlying mining sites in the
State of Nevada;
(7) the Hudson River Valley in the State of New York;
(8) the Norman Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, at which
African-American casts and crews were used in the production of
silent films;
(9) the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in the State of Alabama;
and
(10) Galveston Bay in the State of Texas.
(b) Contents.--In conducting the studies under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) evaluate the national significance of--
(A) the sites; and
(B) the areas surrounding the sites;
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of
designating 1 or more of the sites as units of the National
Park System;
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation,
protection, and interpretation of the sites by the Federal,
State or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit
organizations;
(4) consult with interested Federal, State, or local
governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or
any other interested individuals; and
(5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition,
development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance
associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph
(3).
(c) Applicable Law.--The studies required under subsection (a)
shall be conducted in accordance with section 8 of the National Park
System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY UPDATES.
(a) Studies.--The Secretary shall update the following studies:
(1) The study authorized by section 326(b)(3)(N) of the
National Park Service Studies Act of 1999 (as enacted in title
III of Appendix C of Public Law 106-113; 113 Stat. 1501A-195)
relating to World War II Sites, Republic of Palau.
(2) The 1979 study entitled ``Vermejo Ranch, New Mexico/
Colorado: Study of Management Options''.
(b) Contents.--In updating the studies under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) determine whether conditions have changed to justify
designation of the site as a unit of the National Park System;
(2) consider other alternatives for preservation,
protection, and interpretation of the site by Federal, State,
or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit
organizations;
(3) consult with other interested Federal, State, or local
governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or
any other interested individuals; and
(4) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition,
development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance
associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph
(2).
SEC. 4. BUFFALO SOLDIERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of alternatives for
commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the
early years of the National Parks.
(b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) complete a historical assessment of the Buffalo
Soldiers that served in National Parks in the years before the
establishment of the National Park Service;
(2) evaluate the suitability and feasibility of
establishing a national historic trail commemorating the route
traveled by the Buffalo Soldiers from the post of the Buffalo
Soldiers in the Presidio of San Francisco to Sequoia and
Yosemite National Parks and any other National Parks at which
the Buffalo Soldiers may have served;
(3) identify properties relating to the Buffalo Soldiers
that could satisfy--
(A) the criteria for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places; or
(B) the criteria for designation as a National
Historic Landmark; and
(4) evaluate appropriate ways to enhance historical
research, education, interpretation, and public awareness of
the story of the stewardship role of the Buffalo Soldiers in
the National Parks, including ways to link the story to the
development of National Parks and the story of African-American
military service following the Civil War.
SEC. 5. RECONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH STUDY THEME STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a national historic
landmark theme study (referred to in this section as the ``theme
study'') to identify sites and resources in the southern United States
that are significant to the Reconstruction era.
(b) Contents.--The theme study shall include recommendations for
commemorating and interpreting sites and resources identified by the
theme study, including recommendations for--
(1) sites for which new national historic landmarks should
be nominated; and
(2) sites for which further study for potential inclusion
in the National Park System is needed.
SEC. 6. CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER BOUNDARY EXPANSION STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the
suitability and feasibility of including in the boundary of the
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (referred to in this
section as the ``recreation area'') approximately 45 miles of the
Chattahoochee River and land along the river corridor from the southern
boundary of the recreation area south to the junction of Coweta, Heard,
and Carroll Counties (referred to in this section as the ``study
area'').
(b) Contents.--The study authorized under this section shall
include an analysis of--
(1) significant resources or opportunities for public
enjoyment within the study area relating to the purposes of the
recreation area;
(2) operational and management issues that need to be
considered if the study area is included within the recreation
area;
(3) protection of resources within the study area critical
to fulfilling the purposes of the recreation area;
(4) the feasibility of administering the study area as part
of the recreation area, taking into account--
(A) the size, configuration, and ownership of the
study area;
(B) costs relating to the administration of the
study area; and
(C) any other factors that the Secretary determines
to be appropriate; and
(5) the adequacy of other alternatives for management and
protection of resources within the study area.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made
available for each study authorized under this Act, 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 results of the applicable study; and
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary
with respect to the area studied.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5136-5138)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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