[Senate Report 106-314] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] Calendar No. 632 106th Congress Report SENATE 2d Session 106-314 ====================================================================== SAINT-GAUDENS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE _______ June 27, 2000.--Ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany S. 1367] The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was referred the bill (S. 1367) to amend the Act which established the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, in the State of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. The amendment is as follows: On page 1, line 3, strike ``the Act of August 31, 1964 (78 Stat. 749),'' and insert ``Public Law 88-543 (16 U.S.C. 461 (note)),''. Purpose of the Measure The purpose of S. 1367 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to expand the boundary of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in the State of New Hampshire by approximately 215 acres. Background and Need The present boundary of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site includes approximately 150 acres. The majority of this acreage is the historical zone of the historic site and therefore unavailable for the development of visitor service facilities, parking, administrative offices and facilities, or new exhibition space. The enlarged boundary would allow for the development of such facilities. The current natural areas that are part of the site would be protected with the addition of adjacent property and the viewshed from the historic area would also be protected. S. 1367 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to expand the boundary at the site in response to the recommendations of the general management plan completed in 1996. The legislation would also increase the land acquisition ceiling for the site so as to allow the acquisition of lands identified for expansion in the general management plan and to address the site development program outlined in the plan. Legislative History S. 1367 was introduced by Senator Murkowski, at the request of the Administration, on July 14, 1999. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation held a hearing on S. 1367 on May 11, 2000. At its business meeting on June 7, 2000, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1367 favorably reported, as amended. Committee Recommendation and Tabulation of Votes The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on June 7, 2000, by a unanimous vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1367, if amended as described herein. Committee Amendment During consideration of S. 1367, the Committee adopted an amendment to make a technical correction. Section-by-Section Analysis Paragraph (1) amends section 3 of Public Law 88-543 (16 U.S.C. 461 (note)) by increasing the land acquisition ceiling for the site from 64 to 215 acres. Paragraph (2) amends section 6 of Public Law 88-543 (16 U.S.C. 461 (note)) by increasing the authorized ceiling for development from $2.677 million to $10.632 million. Paragraph (3) amends section 6 of Public Law 88-543 (16 U.S.C. 461 (note)) by increasing the authorized ceiling for land acquisition from $80,000 to $2,000,000. Cost and Budgetary Considerations The following estimate of the cost of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, June 20, 2000. Hon. Frank H. Murkowski, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1367, a bill to amend the act which established the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, in the state of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. Sincerely, Steven Lieberman (For Dan L. Crippen, Director). Enclosure. S. 1367--A bill to amend the act which established the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, in the state of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary S. 1367 would expand the boundaries of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in New Hampshire to 365 acres. The bill would increase the amount that the National Park Service (NPS) is authorized to spend on acquiring land from $80,000 to $2 million and would authorize the appropriation of an additional $8 million for development of the site. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that the NPS would spend about $10 million to implement S. 1367 over the next five years. The agency would spend about $2 million to acquire 48 acres of land and to purchase easements on an additional 167 acres. The remaining $8 million would finance the construction of an administrative center and other park facilities such as restrooms on the newly acquired acreage. In addition, the NPS would spend about $0.2 million annually to operate and maintain the new facilities once they are constructed. These estimates are based on information provided by the NPS. S. 1367 would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The bill contains no private-sector or intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would have no significant impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. The estimate as approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. Regulatory Impact Evaluation In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out S. 1367. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. No personal information would be collected in administering the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 1367, as ordered reported. Executive Communications On June 6, 2000, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting forth Executive agency recommendations on S. 1367. These reports had not been received at the time the report on S. 1367 was filed. When the reports become available, the Chairman will request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate. The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the Subcommittee hearing follows: Statement of Denis P. Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before the subcommittee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S. 1367, a bill to amend the Act which established the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (NHS) in the State of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary and for other purposes. The Department of the Interior supports enactment of this legislation. The Administration sent this proposal to Congress on April 30, 1999 and this bill was introduced by Senator Murkowski. We appreciate the Senator's support for this effort. S. 1367 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands or interests in lands abutting Saint-Gaudens NHS. This position is consistent with two plans approved in 1996-- the site's general management plan and the site's land protection plan. Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site was authorized in 1964 to preserve and interpret historically significant structures and artifacts associated with the life and cultural achievements of Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). The purpose of the site, as articulated in the authorizing law, is also to promote the arts through events in the spirit of those conducted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and to maintain the site as a living memorial. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was one of the nation's foremost sculptors. His heroic monuments include: ``Lincoln: the Man''; ``Lincoln: the Head of State''; the ``Shaw Memorial/the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of African-American Volunteers''; ``Farragut''; ``Sherman''; ``Puritan''; ``Diana'' and ``Adams Memorial''. These monuments represent his crowning achievements in American Art, together with his designs for the United States Gold Coinage of 1907 and his intimate portraits of artists and friends in bas-relief, which are found at the site and in museum collections throughout the United States. His contributions to our cultural achievements in the American Renaissance make this one of the most important units of the National Park System dedicated to the history of American art and culture. The historic properties at ``Aspet'', in Cornish, New Hampshire, including the artist's home and studios, preserve the ambience of this important cultural period as well as the Cornish Colony of artists, writers and architects. Management objectives for Saint-Gaudens NHS emphasize preservation of the historic scene, including the landscaped grounds. The site has recently completed a general management plan and the plan outlines a phased program that addresses each of the areas of concern while minimizing impacts on the historic structures and landscape. Key recommendations of that plan are to provide for additional interpretive opportunities and for relocating the administrative facilities to existing buildings on adjacent lands. Ultimately, the proposed acquisition of land at the entrance to the site will provide improved visitor services and interpretive facilities, park offices and parking. Less than fee easements of the other lands will help ensure that the visual and historic integrity of the site is maintained. This legislation would amend the act which established Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site to modify the existing boundary to allow acquisition of the lands needed to meet the objectives of the general management plan. S. 1367 would provide the needed authorization for future appropriations for purchase of the land and interests in lands, and would increase the authorized ceiling on development. This concludes my prepared testimony. I would be happy to answer any questions that you or members of the subcommittee may have. Changes in Existing Law In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill S. 1367, as ordered reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): Public Law 88-543--Aug. 31, 1964 AN ACT To authorize establishment of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, New Hampshire, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * * * * * * * Sec. 3. When the sites, structures, and other properties authorized for acquisition under the first section of the Act and endowment funds in the amount of $100,000 have been transferred to the United States, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site by publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register. Following such establishment the Secretary may acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange [not to exceed sixty-four acres of lands and interests therein] 215 acres of lands and buildings, or interests therein which he deems necessary for addition to the national historical site and which, when acquired, shall become a part of the site. Sec. 4. * * * * * * * * * * Sec. 6. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums, but not more than [$2,677,000] $10,632,000 for development, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. For the acquisition of lands or interest therein, there is authorized to be appropriated not to exceed [$80,000] $2,000,000.