[House Report 108-640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 108-640
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TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO STUDY THE SUITABILITY AND
FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNATING CASTLE NUGENT FARMS LOCATED ON ST. CROIX,
VIRGIN ISLANDS, AS A UNIT OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
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September 7, 2004.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Pombo, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2663]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 2663) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study
the suitability and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent
Farms located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a unit of the
National Park System, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and
recommend that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 2663 is to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of
designating Castle Nugent Farms located on St. Croix, U.S.
Virgin Islands, as a Unit of the National Park System.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Located on the island of St. Croix, United States Virgin
Islands, Castle Nugent Farms is one of 264 cotton and sugar
plantations that were formed on the island after 1733 when the
Danish West Indies Company purchased the island from France.
Historians believe Castle Nugent Farms, which includes a 17th
century Danish estate house and a number of structures, is one
of the oldest ongoing cattle ranches in the West Indies
specializing in Senepol breed of cattle. Today, Castle Nugent,
the largest parcel of privately-held land in the U.S. Virgin
Islands, is a genetic bank for the Senepol breed. The shores of
the farm also include large coral reefs and turtle and heron
nesting sites.
The National Park Service study authorized by H.R. 2663
would determine the suitability, feasibility and national
significance of establishing the Castle Nugent Farm Estate as a
unit of the Park System.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 2663 was introduced on July 8, 2003, by Delegate Donna
Christensen (D-VI). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On March 25, 2004,
the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On April 22, 2004,
the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. No amendments were
offered and the bill was forwarded to the full Resources
Committee by unanimous consent. On May 5, 2004, the full
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. No amendments
were offered and the bill was 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. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
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 received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, May 12, 2004.
Hon. Richard W. Pombo,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2663, a bill to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the
suitability and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent Farms
located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National
Park System.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact for this
estimate is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Robinson
(For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 2663--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study
the suitability and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent
Farms located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a unit of the
National Park System
H.R. 2663 would direct the Department of the Interior to
study the feasibility and suitability of designating the
approximately 1,400-acre site of Castle Nugent Farms on St.
Croix as a unit of the National Park System. The department
would be required to report its findings and recommendations
within three years of receiving funds for the study.
Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO
estimates that implementing H.R. 2663 would cost the federal
government about $300,000 over the next three years to complete
the required study and report. Enacting the legislation would
not affect direct spending or revenues.
H.R. 2663 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
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.