Legislation

S. 503: Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park Establishment Act

March 7, 2013
STATUS:
  • March 7, 2013.--Introduced.

S.503

Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park Establishment Act (Introduced in Senate - IS)

S 503 IS

113th CONGRESS
1st Session


S. 503

To establish the Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park, and for
other purposes.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 7, 2013

Mr. UDALL of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources


A BILL

To establish the Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park, and for
other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

      This Act may be cited as the `Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park

    Establishment Act'.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

      The purpose of this Act is to establish the Sangre de Cristo National

    Historical Park--
        (1) to help preserve, protect, and interpret the nationally significant

        historical and cultural resources of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range-San

        Luis Valley region of southern Colorado for the benefit and inspiration of

      future generations;
        (2) to support the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the

      urban, rural, and agricultural landscape features of the region;
      (3) to educate the public about--
          (A) nationally significant sites and districts that convey the history of

          the northern migrations and the other migrations of diverse peoples that settled

        in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range-San Luis Valley region;
          (B) the exploration and development of the region under Spanish rule from

        1598 through 1821;
          (C) the history of communities under Mexican rule between 1821 and 1848, the

        date of the conclusion of the Mexican American War;
          (D) the post-1848 settlement history of the area under United States

        jurisdiction, and the creation of the State of Colorado; and
          (E) the rich and distinctive folklore, religions, and languages of the

        cultures in the area today; and
        (4) to support and enhance the network of partners, including the State and

        local governments, private entities, and nonprofit entities, that will engage in

        the protection, improvement, management, and operation of key resources and

      facilities in the Park and throughout the National Heritage Area.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
        (1) NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA- The term `National Heritage Area' means the

        Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area established by section 8001 of the

        Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law

      111-11).
        (2) PARK- The term `Park' means the Sangre de Cristo National Historical

      Park established under section 4.
        (3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior,

      acting through the Director of the National Park Service.
      (4) STATE- The term `State' means the State of Colorado.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF SANGRE DE CRISTO NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

      (a) Establishment- Subject to valid and existing rights, there is

      established in the State a unit of the National Park System to be known as the

    `Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park'.
      (b) Boundaries- Subject to valid existing rights, the Park shall be

      comprised of the following cultural and historical sites and byways within the

      Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range-San Luis Valley region of southern

    Colorado:
        (1) The Sangre de Cristo Heritage Center, San Luis, Costilla

      County.
        (2) The Sociedad Proteccion Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos building, Antonito,

      Conejos County.
      (3) The Fort Garland Museum, Fort Garland, Costilla County.
        (4) The Denver & Rio Grande Antonito Depot, Antonito, Conejos

      County.
      (5) The Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway.
      (6) Dario Gallegos House, San Luis, Costilla County.
      (7) Trujillo Homesteads, Alamosa County.
      (8) Pike's Stockade, Conejos County.
        (9) The portions of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail located in the

        areas of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties where the

      trail crosses federally owned land.
    (c) Additional Sites-
        (1) IN GENERAL- An additional site may not be added to the Park

      unless--
          (A) the Secretary determines, based on further research and planning, that

          the site meets the applicable criteria for national significance, suitability,

        and feasibility; and
          (B) notification of the proposed addition of the site has been submitted

        to--
            (i) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;

          and
            (ii) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of

          Representatives.
        (2) STUDY- The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility

        of including in the Park additional cultural and historical sites located in the

      following counties:
        (A) Huerfano County.
        (B) Las Animas County.
    (d) Acquisition of Land- The Secretary may--
        (1) acquire land or interests in land within the boundaries of the Park

      by--
        (A) donation;
          (B) purchase from willing sellers with donated or appropriated funds;

        or
        (C) exchange; and
        (2) enter into cooperative management agreements in accordance with section

        3(

l

        ) of the National Park System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C.

        1a-2(

l

      )).
    (e) Acquisition of Water Rights-
      (1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may acquire water rights by--
        (A) donation; or
        (B) purchase from willing sellers.
        (2) LIMITATION- The Secretary may not acquire water rights by means other

      than the means described in paragraph (1).
    (f) Administration-
        (1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall administer the Park in accordance

      with--
        (A) this Act; and
          (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System,

        including--
            (i) the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.);

          and
          (ii) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
      (2) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN-
          (A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are

          made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a general

        management plan for the Park--
            (i) in consultation with applicable State and local governments, owners of

            property within the boundaries of the Park, and other interested parties;

          and
            (ii) in accordance with section 12(b) of the National Park System General

          Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-7(b)).
          (B) REQUIREMENTS- To the maximum extent practicable, the plan prepared under

        subparagraph (A) shall--
            (i) consider ways to use existing visitor facilities and recreational

          opportunities developed in the National Heritage Area; and
            (ii) develop programs and management actions cooperatively with the National

          Heritage Area.
    (g) Cooperative Agreements-
        (1) IN GENERAL- To further the purposes of this Act and notwithstanding

        chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may provide grants and

        technical assistance to, and may enter into cooperative agreements with, the

        State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and private

      property owners--
          (A) to provide technical assistance, interpretation, public access, and

        other visitor services in the Park; and
          (B) subject to the availability of appropriations, to provide not more than

          50 percent of the cost of any natural, historic, or cultural resource protection

          project in the Park and the National Heritage Area that is consistent with the

        general management plan prepared under subsection (f).
        (2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT- As a condition of the receipt of funds under

        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall require that any Federal funds made available

        under a grant or cooperative agreement entered into under that paragraph are

      matched on a 1-to-1 basis by non-Federal funds.
        (3) REIMBURSEMENT- Any payment made by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B)

        shall be subject to an agreement that the conversion, use, or disposal of the

        project for purposes that are inconsistent with the purposes of this Act, as

        determined by the Secretary, shall result in a right of the United States to

      reimbursement of the greater of--
          (A) the amount provided by the Secretary to the project under paragraph

        (1)(B); or
          (B) an amount equal to the increased value of the project that is

          attributable to the funds, as determined by the Secretary at the time of the

        conversion, use, or disposal.
      (h) Management of Old Spanish Trail- Notwithstanding any other provision of

      this Act, the head of the Federal agency with jurisdiction over a portion of the

      Old Spanish Trail included within the boundaries of the Park under subsection

      (b)(9), as determined under the applicable management plan for the Old Spanish

    Trail, shall continue to manage that portion of the Old Spanish Trail.
      (i) Limitation- Nothing in this Act expands or diminishes any right of

    access to any private land within the boundaries of the Park.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

      There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carryout this Act.