I
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5653
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 30, 2010
Mr. McClintock (for himself and Ms. Matsui) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation
Act
.
Findings
Congress finds that—
the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California, was the location of the founding of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony in 1869;
the Ranch is—
the oldest property in North America to be associated with Japanese immigration; and
the only property associated with the immigration of samurai following the Meiji Restoration;
the Ranch includes—
an 1860s home that was occupied by the Wakamatsu settlers;
mulberry trees planted by the silk farmers; and
the grave stone of Okei Ito, which is the oldest Japanese immigrant grave in the United States; and
a variety of non-Federal funds have been obligated with respect to the acquisition and restoration of the Ranch, including—
to be applied toward acquisition of the Ranch, $1,000,000 from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, $485,000 from the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, and $530,000 from private donations; and
to be applied toward restoration of the Graner farmhouse, $483,750 from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment.
Definitions
In this Act:
Map
The
term map means the map entitled Gold Hill-Wakamatsu
Site
and dated May 7, 2009.
Ranch
In general
The term Ranch means the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California (El Dorado County Assessor’s Parcel No. 089–010–06), comprising approximately 272 acres, which is more particularly described as the SW¼ and the SW ½ of the SE ¼ of Sec. 29 and the N½NE¼ of Sec. 32, T. 11 N., R. 10 E., of El Dorado County, California.
Exclusion
The term Ranch excludes the small inholding of the Gold Trail School District, as depicted on the map.
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
Acquisition of Gold Hill Ranch, Coloma, California
In General
The Secretary may acquire by donation or by purchase with donated or appropriated funds, from willing owners only, the lands or interests in lands described in section 3(2).
Administration of Acquired Lands
Lands and interests in lands acquired under this section shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.