STATUS:

• March 20, 2013.--Introduced.

Pacific Islands Parks Act of 2013 (Introduced in Senate - IS)

S 618 IS

To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain special resource studies.

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

To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain special resource studies.

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 `Pacific Islands Parks Act of 2013'.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

In this Act, the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDIES.

(a) Study-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of each of the following sites:

(A) The Ka`u Coast on the island of Hawaii, Hawaii.

(B) The northern coast of Maui, Hawaii.

(C) The southeastern coast of Kauai, Hawaii.

(D) Historic sites on Midway Atoll.

(E) On request of the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(2) CONTENTS- In conducting each study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--

(A) evaluate the national significance of the site and the area surrounding the site;

(B) determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the site as a unit of the National Park System;

(C) consider other alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the site by Federal, State, or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit organizations;

(D) consult with any interested Federal, State, or local governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or individuals; and

(E) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under the study.

(b) Updates-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall update the study authorized by section 326(b)(3)(N) of the National Park Service Studies Act of 1999 (as enacted in title III of Appendix C of Public Law 106-113; 113 Stat. 1501A-195) relating to World War II sites in the Republic of Palau.

(2) CONTENTS- In updating the study described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--

(A) determine whether conditions have changed to justify designating the site as a unit of the National Park System;

(B) consider other alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the site by Federal, State, or local governmental entities or private and nonprofit organizations;

(C) consult with any interested Federal, State, or local governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or individuals; and

(D) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under the study.

(c) Applicable Law- The studies and updates to the study required under this section shall be conducted in accordance with section 8 of the National Park System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).

(d) Report- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available for the studies and updates to the study under this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes--

(1) the results of each study and updates to the study; and

(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary based on the results described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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