§1a–5. Additional areas for National Park System

(a) Areas of national significance for potential inclusion; investigation and study; transmittal to Congress of report and annual listings of areas, included on Registry of Natural Landmarks and National Register of Historic places, subject to threats of damage; printing as House document; authorization of appropriations

The Secretary of the Interior is directed to investigate, study, and continually monitor the welfare of areas whose resources exhibit qualities of national significance and which may have potential for inclusion in the National Park System. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President of the Senate, comprehensive reports on each of those areas upon which studies have been completed. Each such report shall indicate and elaborate on the theme(s) which the area represents as indicated in the National Park System Plan. On this same date, and accompanying such reports, the Secretary shall transmit a listing, in generally descending order of importance or merit, of not less than twelve such areas which appear to be of national significance and which may have potential for inclusion in the National Park System. Threats to resource values, and cost escalation factors shall be considered in listing the order of importance or merit. Such listing may be comprised of any areas heretofore submitted under terms of this section, and which at the time of listing are not included in the National Park System. Accompanying the annual listing of areas shall be a synopsis, for each report previously submitted, of the current and changed condition of the resource integrity of the area and other relevant factors, compiled as a result of continual periodic monitoring and embracing the period since the previous such submission or initial report submission one year earlier. The Secretary is also directed to transmit annually to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President of the Senate, at the beginning of each fiscal year, a complete and current list of all areas included on the Registry of Natural Landmarks and those areas of national significance listed on the National Register of Historic places which areas exhibit known or anticipated damage or threats to the integrity of their resources, along with notations as to the nature and severity of such damage or threats. Each report and annual listing shall be printed as a House document: Provided, That should adequate supplies of previously printed identical reports remain available, newly submitted identical reports shall be omitted from printing upon the receipt by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives of a joint letter from the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate indicating such to be the case. For the purposes of carrying out the studies for potential new Park System units and for monitoring the welfare of those resources, there are authorized to be appropriated annually not to exceed $1,000,000. For the purposes of monitoring the welfare and integrity of the national landmarks, there are authorized to be appropriated annually not to exceed $1,500,000.

(b) National Park System Plan; submission to Congress; revision and annual update of Plan

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate, a comprehensive, "National Park System Plan", which document shall constitute a professional guide for the identification of natural and historic themes of the United States, and from which candidate areas can be identified and selected to constitute units of the National Park System. Such plan shall be revised and updated annually.

(Pub. L. 91–383, §8, as added Pub. L. 94–458, §2, Oct. 7, 1976, 90 Stat. 1940 ; amended Pub. L. 95–625, title VI, §604(1), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3518 ; Pub. L. 96–199, title I, §104, Mar. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 68 ; Pub. L. 96–344, §8, Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1135 ; Pub. L. 103–437, §6(b), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4583 .)

Amendments

1994-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–437, §6(b)(1), substituted "Natural Resources" for "Interior and Insular Affairs" after "Committee on".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–437, §6(b)(2), substituted "The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources" for "Within six months of March 5, 1980, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs".

1980-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–344 inserted provisions requiring that each report indicate and elaborate on the theme or themes which the area represents as indicated in the National Park System Plan and the annual priority listing of areas be accomplished by a synopsis, for each report previously submitted, of current and changed conditions of the resource integrity of the area or other relevant factors, to cover the period since the previous such submission or initial report submission one year earlier.

Pub. L. 96–199, §104(a), (b), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted provision that should adequate supplies of previously printed identical reports remain available, newly submitted identical reports shall be omitted from printing upon the receipt by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives of a joint letter from the chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate indicating such to be the case.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–199, §104(b), added subsec. (b).

1978-Pub. L. 95–625 authorized annual appropriations of $1,000,000 for studies for potential new Park System units and for monitoring the welfare of those resources and $1,500,000 for monitoring the welfare and integrity of the national landmarks.

Change of Name

Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.

Lower Mississippi Delta Region Initiatives

Pub. L. 103–433, title XI, Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4512 , directed Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with Delta Region States, the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Center, the Chairs of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Director of the Smithsonian Institution, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, State Archaeological Surveys and Regional Archaeological Centers and other appropriate institutions, to prepare and transmit to Congress a series of studies involving Delta Region heritage particularly development of Delta Region Corridors and Heritage and Cultural Centers, preservation of historic and prehistoric sites and structures, Delta antiquities survey, and comprehensive historic and archaeological resources program.

Boston Harbor Islands Study

Pub. L. 102–525, title V, §501, Oct. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 3442 , directed Secretary of the Interior to study within one year after Oct. 26, 1992, opportunities for National Park Service to promote conservation and use by the public of Boston Harbor Islands, and in so doing to consult local governmental authorities, to evaluate suitability of establishing Boston Harbor Islands as unit of National Park System, to assess tourism and public education opportunities of management in conjunction with nearby units of National Park System, to evaluate possible transportation links with those units, and to submit, not later than one year after Oct. 26, 1992, a report of findings, conclusions, and recommendations to Congress.

National Historic Landmark Theme Study on American Labor History

Pub. L. 102–101, Aug. 17, 1991, 105 Stat. 493 , directed Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with workers, workers' representatives, scholars, and preservationists, and under cooperative agreements with scholarly and public historic organizations, to prepare and transmit to Congress, within 3 years of date of funding, a theme study to identify key sites in American labor history, to nominate districts, sites, etc., as national historic landmarks, to identify possible new park units, and to prepare a list of the most appropriate sites, and authorized appropriations of $250,000 to carry out study.

African-American History Landmark Theme Study

Pub. L. 102–98, Aug. 17, 1991, 105 Stat. 485 , directed Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with scholars and preservationists, and under cooperative agreements with scholarly and public historic organizations, to prepare and transmit to Congress, within 3 years of date of funding, a theme study to identify key sites in history and experience of African-Americans, to nominate districts, sites, etc. as national historic landmarks, to identify possible new park units, and to prepare a list of most appropriate sites, and authorized appropriations of $500,000 to carry out study.

Niobrara-Buffalo Prairie National Park Study

Pub. L. 102–50, §8, May 24, 1991, 105 Stat. 257 , directed Secretary of the Interior to study within 18 months after May 24, 1991, feasibility and suitability of establishing Niobrara-Buffalo Prairie National Park in Nebraska, including assessment of significance of natural, cultural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources and study of feasibility of managing the area by various methods, in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies, Nature Conservancy, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and directed Secretary to submit study to Congress.

Underground Railroad Study

Pub. L. 101–628, title VI, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4495 , directed Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating the Underground Railroad in order to preserve and protect this aspect of American history, directed preparation of an interpretive handbook on the Underground Railroad in larger context of American antebellum society, including history of slavery and abolitionism, and authorized establishment of Underground Railroad Advisory Committee to meet and consult with Secretary on matters relating to the study.

Civil War and Other Studies

Pub. L. 101–628, title XII, §§1201–1210, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4503–4507 , as amended by Pub. L. 102–166, title V, §501, Nov. 21, 1991, 105 Stat. 1100 , known as the "Civil War Sites Study Act of 1990", directed Secretary of the Interior to prepare a study of Shenandoah Valley Civil War sites in order to obtain information on significance of such sites, threats to their integrity, and alternatives for their preservation, authorized establishment of Civil War Sites Advisory Commission, directed such Commission to prepare a study of historically significant sites other than Shenandoah Valley Civil War sites, and directed Secretary to undertake a complete revision of National Park Service "Thematic Framework" to reflect current scholarship on American history and culture, historic and prehistoric archeology, and architecture.

Report to Congress on Criteria for Inclusion as Affiliated Area of National Park System

Pub. L. 100–336, §2, June 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 617 , directed Secretary, in consultation with interested conservation, professional, and park management organizations and individuals, to prepare and submit to Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of House of Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of Senate a report of criteria for elements of national significance and other factors necessary for a proposed area to be considered appropriate for inclusion as an affiliated area of National Park System including an analysis of applicability to Wildlife Prairie Park, this report to address responsibilities to be required of operators of an affiliated area and responsibilities of National Park Service to any such designated area, with report to be submitted not later than two years from June 17, 1988, and to provide recommendations by Secretary of the Interior including but not limited to how criteria for national significance and other factors should be made applicable to future proposed affiliated areas, when such areas are considered by the Secretary, and any criteria or procedures for such considerations by Congress including recommendations for legislative action.

Study of Historical Camden, South Carolina, Regarding Establishment as Unit of National Park System; Transmittal to President and Congressional Committees

Pub. L. 95–629, title IV, §401, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3640 , directed Secretary of the Interior to prepare and transmit to President, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of House of Representatives, and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of Senate a study of Historical Camden, consisting of approximately ninety acres of land in Camden, South Carolina, to determine feasibility and desirability of establishing such area as a unit of the National Park System, with study to be transmitted not later than two years following date on which funds are appropriated for study and to include cost estimates for any necessary acquisition, development, operation and maintenance, as well as any alternatives for administration and protection of area.

Crow Creek Village Archeological Site, South Dakota; Feasibility/Suitability Study; Transmittal to Congressional Committees; Cost Estimates; Site Preservation

Section 512 of Pub. L. 95–625 directed Secretary to prepare and transmit to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of Senate and Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of House of Representatives within two years from Nov. 10, 1978, a feasibility/suitability study of Crow Creek Village archeological site, Buffalo County, South Dakota, as a unit of National Park System, including cost estimates for any necessary acquisition, development, operation and maintenance, as well as any feasible alternatives for administration and protection of area, including, but not limited to, Federal financial and technical assistance to State of South Dakota, Buffalo County or other suitable entity, and directed Secretary of the Army to take such actions as may be necessary to preserve and protect such site from any adverse impact on site and to refrain from any activities which might cause such impact until two years from date of submission of study by Secretary.

Ridgelands Area Study; Consultation and Coordination; Report to President and Congress; Authorization of Appropriations

Section 602 of Pub. L. 95–625 directed Secretary to study feasibility and desirability of establishing Ridgelands area east of San Francisco Bay as a unit of National Park System, to consult with other Federal, State, and local agencies in conduct of this study, to coordinate this study with applicable local and State plans and planning activities relating to Ridgelands, and to report findings and recommendations to President and Congress not later than one year after Nov. 10, 1978.

Oak Creek Canyon, Yavapai, Soldiers Wash-Mormon Canyon, and Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona; Studies by Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture

Section 605 of Pub. L. 95–625 directed Secretary, in cooperation with Secretary of Agriculture where national forest lands are involved, to conduct a study to determine suitable boundaries for Oak Creek Canyon, Yavapai, Soldiers Wash-Mormon Canyon areas in Arizona as a unit or units of National Park System, and to conduct a study of boundary of Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona, to determine appropriate location of a boundary line for additions to monument, with both reports to be submitted by Secretary to Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of House of Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of Senate not later than one year following date on which funds are appropriated for purpose of study.

Irvine Coast-Laguna, California Study

Section 608 of Pub. L. 95–625 directed Secretary to study feasibility and desirability of establishing Irvine Coast-Laguna beach area as a unit of National Park System, to consult with other Federal, State, and local agencies in conduct of this study, and to report findings and recommendations to President and Congress within six months after Nov. 10, 1978.