II
Calendar No. 594
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1596
[Report No. 111–308]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 6, 2009
Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Mr. Inouye) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
September 27, 2010
Reported by Mr. Bingaman, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
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—
$485,000 from the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and $515,000 from private donations to be applied toward acquisition of the Ranch; and
$483,750 from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment to be applied toward restoration of the Graner farmhouse.
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
Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may acquire the Ranch in exchange for consideration in an amount not to exceed $3,290,000.
Limitation on acquisition
The acquisition of the Ranch under subsection (a) shall only be from willing sellers and not through eminent domain.
Non-Federal contributions
For the consideration required under subsection (a), the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation shall contribute any private funds or State or Federal grants received by the Conservancy and the Foundation for the acquisition of the Ranch.
Visitor center
In general
On acquisition of the Wakamatsu Colony site, the Secretary may work with the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation to design and develop a visitor center that provides for the interpretation of—
the Wakamatsu Colony;
early pioneer history; and
the contribution of traditional Japanese crops and practices to the extensive agricultural economy of the State of California.
Costs
To the maximum extent practicable, the costs of constructing the visitor center and conducting restoration activities at the Ranch shall be leveraged by amounts received by the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation in the form of private funds and State or Federal grants provided for those purposes.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation
Act
.
Definitions
In this Act:
Gold Hill ranch
The term Gold Hill Ranch
means the
approximately 272 acres of land located in Coloma, California, as generally
depicted on the map entitled Gold Hill–Wakamatsu Site
and dated
May 7, 2009.
Secretary
The
term Secretary
means the Secretary of the Interior.
Gold Hill Ranch
Acquisition
The Secretary may acquire the Gold Hill Ranch, including any interest in the Gold Hill Ranch, by purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds, donation, or exchange.
Management
The Secretary shall manage any land or interest in land acquired under subsection (a) in accordance with—
this Act;
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
any other applicable laws.
Cooperative agreement
In general
The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with public or nonprofit entities to interpret the history of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony and related pioneer history associated with Japanese immigration to the area, including the history of traditional Japanese crops and farming practices and the contribution of those practices to the agricultural economy of the State of California.
Inclusions
The cooperative agreement referred to in paragraph (1) may include provisions for the design and development of a visitor center to further public education and interpretation of the Gold Hill Ranch.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
September 27, 2010
Reported with an amendment