IB
Union Calendar No. 297
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 1545
[Report No. 112–430]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 14, 2011
Mr. Flores introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
April 16, 2012
Additional sponsors: Mr. Farenthold, Mr. Hall, Mr. Carter, Ms. Granger, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Canseco, and Mr. Poe of Texas
April 16, 2012
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 14, 2011
A BILL
To establish the Waco Mammoth National Monument in the State of Texas, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Waco Mammoth National Monument Establishment Act of 2011
.
Findings
Congress finds that—
the Waco Mammoth Site area is located near the confluence of the Brazos River and the Bosque River in central Texas, near the city of Waco;
after the discovery of bones emerging from eroding creek banks leading to the uncovering of portions of 5 mammoths, Baylor University began investigating the site in 1978;
several additional mammoth remains have been uncovered making the site the largest known concentration of mammoths dying from the same event;
the mammoth discoveries have received international attention; and
Baylor University and the city of Waco, Texas, have been working together—
to protect the site; and
to develop further research and educational opportunities at the site.
Definitions
In this Act:
City
The term City
means the city of Waco, Texas.
Management plan
The term management plan
means the management plan for the Monument prepared under section 5(c)(1).
Map
The term map
means the map entitled Proposed Boundary Waco-Mammoth National Monument
, numbered T21/80,000, and dated April 2009.
Monument
The term Monument
means the Waco Mammoth National Monument established by section 4(a).
Secretary
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of the Interior.
State
The term State
means the State of Texas.
University
The term University
means Baylor University in the State.
Waco Mammoth National Monument, Texas
Establishment
There is established in the State, as a unit of the National Park System, the Waco Mammoth National Monument, as generally depicted on the map.
Availability of map
The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
Administration of monument
In general
The Secretary shall administer the Monument in accordance with—
this Act; and
any cooperative agreements entered into under subsection (b)(1).
Authorities of Secretary
Cooperative Agreements
The Secretary may enter into cooperative management agreements with the University and the City, in accordance with section 3(l) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–2(l)).
Acquisition of land
The Secretary may acquire by donation only from the City any land or interest in land owned by the City within the proposed boundary of the Monument.
General Management plan
In general
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the University and the City, shall complete a general management plan for the Monument.
Inclusions
The management plan shall include, at a minimum—
measures for the preservation of the resources of the Monument;
requirements for the type and extent of development and use of the Monument;
identification of the capacity of the Monument for accommodating visitors; and
opportunities for involvement by the University, City, State, and other local and national entities in—
developing educational programs for the Monument; and
developing and supporting the Monument.
Prohibition of use of Federal funds
No Federal funds may be used to pay the costs of—
carrying out a cooperative agreement under subsection (b)(1);
acquiring land for inclusion in the Monument under subsection (b)(2);
developing a visitor center for the Monument;
operating or maintaining the Monument;
constructing exhibits for the Monument; or
developing the general management plan under subsection (c).
Use of non-Federal funds
Non-Federal funds may be used to pay any costs that may be incurred by the Secretary or the National Park Service in carrying out this section.
Effect on eligibility for financial assistance
Nothing in this Act affects the eligibility of the Monument for Federal grants or other forms of financial assistance that the Monument would have been eligible to apply for had National Park System status not been conferred to the Monument under this Act.
Termination of national park system status
In general
Designation of the Monument as a unit of the National Park System shall terminate if the Secretary determines that Federal funds are required to operate and maintain the Monument.
Reversion
If the designation of the Monument as a unit of the National Park System is terminated under paragraph (1), any land acquired by the Secretary from the City under subsection (b)(2) shall revert to the City.
Private property protection
No private property may be made part of the Monument without the written consent of the owner of that private property.
No buffer zones
Nothing in this Act, the establishment of national monument, or the management plan shall be construed create buffer zones outside of the national monument. That an activity or use can be seen or heard from within the Monument shall not preclude the conduct of that activity or use outside the Monument.
April 16, 2012
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed