II
Calendar No. 608
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 685
[Report No. 111–322]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 30, 2009
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
September 27, 2010
Reported by Mr. Bingaman, without amendment
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study regarding the proposed United States Civil Rights Trail, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
United States Civil Rights Trail
Special Resource Study Act of 2009
.
Special resource study regarding proposed united states civil rights trail
Study Required
The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a special resource study for the purpose of evaluating a range of alternatives for protecting and interpreting sites associated with the struggle for civil rights in the United States, including alternatives for potential addition of some or all of the sites to the National Trails System.
Consultation
The Secretary shall conduct the special resource study in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, county, and local governmental entities.
Study requirements
The Secretary shall conduct the study required under subsection (a) in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)) and section 5(b) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b)), as appropriate.
Study Objectives
In conducting the special resource study, the Secretary shall evaluate alternatives for achieving the following objectives:
Identifying the resources and historic themes associated with the movement to secure racial equality in the United States for African Americans that, focusing on the period from 1954 through 1968, challenged the practice of racial segregation in the Nation and achieved equal rights for all American citizens.
Making a review of existing studies and reports, such as the Civil Rights Framework Study, to complement and not duplicate other studies of the historical importance of the civil rights movements that may be underway or undertaken.
Establishing connections with agencies, organizations, and partnerships already engaged in the preservation and interpretation of various trails and sites dealing with the civil rights movement.
Protecting historically significant landscapes, districts, sites, and structures.
Identifying alternatives for preservation and interpretation of the sites by the National Park Service, other Federal, State, or local governmental entities, or private and nonprofit organizations, including the potential inclusion of some or all of the sites in a National Civil Rights Trail.
Identifying cost estimates for any necessary acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives developed under the special resource study.
Report
Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section, 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 containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (c) and any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to the route.
September 27, 2010
Reported without amendment