H.R. 538 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 538 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2017Mr. Bishop of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To redesignate Ocmulgee National Monument in the State of Georgia and revise its boundary, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Map The term map means the map entitled Ocmulgee National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment, numbered 363/125996, and dated January 2017. (2) Historical park The term Historical Park means the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in the State of Georgia, as redesignated in section 3. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. 3. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park (a) Redesignation Ocmulgee National Monument, established pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1934 (48 Stat. 958), shall be known and designated as Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. (b) References Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to Ocmulgee National Monument, other than in this Act, shall be deemed to be a reference to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. 4. Boundary adjustment (a) In general The boundary of the Historical Park is revised to include approximately 2,100 acres, as generally depicted on the map. (b) Availability of map The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior. 5. Land acquisition; no buffer zones (a) Land acquisition The Secretary is authorized to acquire land and interests in land within the boundaries of the Historical Park by donation or exchange only (and in the case of an exchange, no payment may be made by the Secretary to any landowner). The Secretary may not acquire by condemnation any land or interest in land within the boundaries of the Historical Park. No private property or non-Federal public property shall be included within the boundaries of the Historical Park without the written consent of the owner of such property. (b) No buffer zones Nothing in this Act, the establishment of the Historical Park, or the management of the Historical Park shall be construed to create buffer zones outside of the Historical Park. That an activity or use can be seen or heard from within the Historical Park shall not preclude the conduct of that activity or use outside the Historical Park. 6. Administration The Secretary shall administer any land acquired under section 5 as part of the Historical Park in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. 7. Ocmulgee River corridor special resource study (a) In general The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the Ocmulgee River corridor between the cities of Macon, Georgia, and Hawkinsville, Georgia, to determine— (1) the national significance of the study area; (2) the suitability and feasibility of adding lands in the study area to the National Park System; and (3) the methods and means for the protection and interpretation of the study area by the National Park Service, other Federal, State, local government entities, affiliated federally recognized Indian tribes, or private or nonprofit organizations. (b) Criteria The Secretary shall conduct the study authorized by this Act in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code. (c) Results of study Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section, 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— (1) the results of the study; and (2) any findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary.