[House Report 109-135]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
109th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 109-135
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DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A BOUNDARY STUDY TO
EVALUATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COLONEL JAMES BARRETT FARM IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS AND THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF
ITS INCLUSION IN THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM AS PART OF THE MINUTE MAN
NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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June 16, 2005.--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. 394]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 394) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
boundary study to evaluate the significance of the Colonel
James Barrett Farm in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the
suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in the National
Park System as part of the Minute Man National Historical Park,
and for other purposes, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill
as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT STUDY.
(a) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act:
(1) Barrett's farm.--The term ``Barrett's Farm'' means the
Colonel James Barrett Farm listed on the National Register of
Historic Places, including the house and buildings on the
approximately 6 acres of land in Concord, Massachusetts.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
(b) Study.--Not later than 2 years after the date that funds are made
available for this section, the Secretary shall conduct a boundary
study to evaluate the significance of Barrett's Farm in Concord,
Massachusetts, as well as the suitability and feasibility of its
inclusion in the National Park System as part of Minute Man National
Historical Park.
(c) Content of Study.--The study shall include an analysis of the
following:
(1) The significance of Barrett's Farm in relation to the
Revolutionary War.
(2) Opportunities for public enjoyment of the site as part of
the Minute Man National Historical Park.
(3) Any operational, management, and private property issues
that need to be considered if Barrett's Farm were added to the
Minute Man National Historical Park.
(4) A determination of the feasibility of administering
Barrett's Farm considering its size, configuration, ownership,
costs, and other factors, as part of Minute Man National
Historical Park.
(5) An evaluation of the adequacy of other alternatives for
management and resource protection of Barrett's Farm.
(d) Submission of Report.--Upon completion of the study, the
Secretary shall submit a report on the findings of the study to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 394 is to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a boundary study to evaluate the
significance of the Colonel James Barrett Farm in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the suitability and
feasibility of its inclusion in the National Park System as
part of the Minute Man National Historical Park, and for other
purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Barrett's Farm is a five acre parcel listed in the National
Register of Historic Places and is recognized as a nationally
significant site. The farm, once owned by Colonel James
Barrett, stored cannons, powder and other munitions during the
Revolutionary War. The study authorized by this bill would
consider the opportunities for public enjoyment, operational
and management issues, and the feasability of administration
should Barrett's Farm be added to Minute Man National
Historical Park. In addition, the study would analyze the role
of Barrett's Farm during the Revolutionary War, and other
possibilities for management and protection of the area. A
local conservation organization, Save our Heritage, is leading
the effort for the preservation of Barrett's Farm. It has
privately financed the purchase of 3.45 acres around the
perimeter of the site, and is attempting to raise funds to
purchase the property's farmhouse.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 394 was introduced on January 26, 2005, by Congressman
Martin Meehan (D-MA). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks. On May 18, 2005, the Full Resources Committee
met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks
was discharged from further consideration of the bill by
unanimous consent. Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA) offered an
amendment in the nature of a substitute that directs the
Secretary to consider private property issues as part of the
boundary expansion study, extends the deadline to complete the
study from one to two years from when funds are made available,
and removes the authorization for appropriations. The Pombo
amendment was adopted by unanimous consent. The bill, as
amended, was then 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, and Article IV, section 3 of the
Constitution of the United States grant 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:
H.R. 394--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
boundary study to evaluate the significance of the Colonel
James Barrett Farm in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the
suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in the National
Park System as part of the Minute Man National Historical Park,
and for other purposes
H.R. 394 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to
study, within two years, the suitability and feasibility of
adding the Colonel James Barrett Farm to the Minute Man
National Historical Park in Massachusetts. The proposed study
would consider the significance of the farm during the
Revolutionary War, opportunities for public enjoyment, and
other operational and management issues.
Based on information from the National Park Service, CBO
estimates that the proposed study would cost less than $100,000
over the 2006-2007 period, assuming appropriation of the
necessary amounts. Enacting H.R. 394 would not affect direct
spending or revenues.
H.R. 394 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 Matthew
Pickford. This 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.