S. 1802

United States Civil Rights Trail Special Resource Study Act of 2009

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II

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1802

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 20, 2009

Mr. Burris introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To require a study of the feasibility of establishing the United States Civil Rights Trail System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the United States Civil Rights Trail Special Resource Study Act of 2009.

2.

Special resource study regarding proposed united states civil rights trail

(a)

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.

(b)

Consultation

The Secretary shall conduct the special resource study in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, county, and local governmental entities.

(c)

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.

(d)

Study Objectives

In conducting the special resource study, the Secretary shall evaluate alternatives for achieving the following objectives:

(1)

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.

(2)

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.

(3)

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.

(4)

Protecting historically significant landscapes, districts, sites, and structures.

(5)

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.

(6)

Identifying cost estimates for any necessary acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives developed under the special resource study.

(e)

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.