[House Report 107-742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 107-742
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HOMESTEAD STEEL WORKS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT
_______
October 11, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 635]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 635) to establish the Steel Industry National Historic
Park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, having considered the
same, report favorably thereon with amendment and recommend
that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Homestead Steel Works National
Historic Site Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND DEFINITIONS.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Certain sites and structures in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania symbolize in physical form the heritage of the
steel industry of the United States.
(2) A very large proportion of the buildings and other
structures in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are nationally
significant historical resources, including the United States
Steel Homestead Works, the Carrie Furnace complex, and the Hot
Metal Bridge.
(3) Despite substantial efforts for cultural preservation and
historical interpretation by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and by individuals and public and private entities in the
Commonwealth, these buildings and other structures may be lost
without the assistance of the Federal Government.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to ensure the
preservation, interpretation, visitor enjoyment, and maintenance of the
nationally significant historical and cultural sites and structures
described in subsection (a) for the benefit and inspiration of present
and future generations.
(c) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Historic site.--The term ``historic site'' means the
Homestead Steel Works National Historic Site established by
section 3.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
SEC. 3. HOMESTEAD STEEL WORKS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania the Homestead Steel Works National Historic Site as a unit
of the National Park System.
(b) Description.--The historic site shall be comprised of the
following properties, each of which relate to the former United States
Steel Homestead Works:
(1) The historic location of the Battle of Homestead site in
the borough of Munhall, Pennsylvania, consisting of
approximately 3 acres of land, including the pumphouse and
water tower and related structures, within the property bounded
by the Monongahela River, the CSX railroad, Waterfront Drive,
and the Damascus-Marcegaglia Steel Mill.
(2) The historic location of the Carrie Furnace complex in
the boroughs of Swissvale and Rankin, Pennsylvania, consisting
of approximately 35 acres of land, including blast furnaces 6
and 7, the ore yard, the cast house, the blowing engine house,
the AC power house, and related structures, within the property
bounded by the proposed southwesterly right-of-way line needed
to accommodate the Mon/Fayette Expressway and the relocated CSX
railroad right-of-way, the Monongahela River, and a property
line drawn northeast to southwest approximately 100 yards east
of the AC power house.
(3) The historic location of the Hot Metal Bridge, consisting
of the Union railroad bridge and its approaches, spanning the
Monongahela River and connecting the mill sites in the boroughs
of Rankin and Munhall, Pennsylvania.
(4) All other property included in the historic site by
Federal law or acquired by the Secretary for inclusion in the
historic site pursuant to section 4 or other Federal law.
SEC. 4. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
To further the purposes of this Act, the Secretary may acquire, by
donation, property for inclusion in the historic site as follows:
(1) Any land or interest in land with respect to the property
identified in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of section 3(b).
(2) Up to 10 acres of land adjacent to or in the general
proximity of the property identified in paragraphs (1), (2), or
(3) of section 3(b), for the development of visitor,
administrative, museum, curatorial, and maintenance facilities.
(3) Personal property associated with, and appropriate for,
the interpretation of the historic site.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the historic site
in accordance with this Act and the provisions of law generally
applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of
August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), and the Act of August 21, 1935
(16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--To further the purposes of this Act, the
Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with any
interested individual, public or private agency, organization,
or institution.
(2) Contrary purposes.--Any payment made by the Secretary
pursuant to a cooperative agreement under this subsection shall
be subject to an agreement that conversion, use, or disposal of
the project so assisted for purposes contrary to the purpose of
this Act, as determined by the Secretary, shall result in a
right of the United States to reimbursement of all funds made
available to such a project or the proportion of the increased
value of the project attributable to such funds as determined
at the time of such conversion, use, or disposal, whichever is
greater.
(c) Technical and Preservation Assistance.--The Secretary may
provide technical assistance to any person for--
(1) the preservation of historic structures within the
historic site;
(2) the maintenance of the natural and cultural landscape of
the historic site; and
(3) local preservation planning for the historic site.
SEC. 6. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than the last day of the third fiscal
year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall, in consultation with the officials described in subsection (b),
prepare a general management plan for the historic site.
(b) Officials Consulted.--The officials described in this
subsection are--
(1) an appropriate official of each appropriate political
subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that has
jurisdiction over all or a portion of the historic site; and
(2) an appropriate official of the Steel Industry Heritage
Corporation.
(c) Submission of Plan to Congress.--Upon the completion of the
general management plan, the Secretary shall submit a copy of the plan
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.
Amend the title so as to read:
A bill to establish the Homestead Steel Works National
Historic Site in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 635, as ordered reported, is to
establish the Homestead Steel Works National Historic Site in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
In 1996, Congress designated the Rivers of Steel National
Heritage Area in southwestern Pennsylvania to help preserve,
interpret, and manage the historic, cultural, and natural
resources related to the steel industry. From 1875 to 1980,
southwestern Pennsylvania was the ``steel making capital of the
world'' producing steel for the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire
State Building. The Heritage Area encompasses 3,000 square
miles in seven counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver,
Westmoreland, Greene, Fayette and Washington.
Located within the Heritage Area is the United States Steel
Homestead Works--site of the 1892 bloody Homestead Steel
Strike, the Carrie Furnace complex--last of the giant blast
furnaces from the Homestead Works, and the Hot Metal Bridge.
H.R. 635 would create a 38-acre National Historic Park
within the National Heritage Area to further highlight the
historic significance of the Homestead Works, the Carrie
Furnace and the Hot Metal Bridge.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 635 was introduced on February 14, 2001, by
Congressman Mike Doyle. The bill was referred to the Committee
on Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands. On September 12,
2002, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill.
The Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public
Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 635 by
unanimous consent. Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA) offered
an amendment in the nature of a substitute to change the
designation from a National Park to a Historic Site. It was
adopted by unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was then
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by
unanimous consent.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations
are reflected in the body of this report.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. The Committee on Resources
believes that enactment of this bill will not have a
significant effect on the federal budget.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not
apply.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has requested but not received a cost
estimate for this bill from the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.