[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3898 Engrossed in House (EH)]
103d CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3898
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New
Bedford, Massachusetts, 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. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
(1) the New Bedford National Historic Landmark District and
associated historic sites as described in section 3(b) of this
Act, including the Schooner Ernestina, are National Historic
Landmarks and are listed on the National Register of Historic
Places as historic sites associated with the history of whaling
in the United States;
(2) the city of New Bedford was the 19th century capital of
the world's whaling industry and retains significant
architectural features, archival materials, and museum
collections illustrative of this period;
(3) New Bedford's historic resources provide opportunities
for illustrating and interpreting the whaling industry's
contribution to the economic, social, and environmental history
of the United States and provide opportunities for public use
and enjoyment; and
(4) the National Park System presently contains no sites
commemorating whaling and its contribution to American history.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to preserve, protect, and interpret the resources
within the areas described in section 3(b) of this Act,
including architecture, setting, and associated archival and
museum collections;
(2) to collaborate with the city of New Bedford and with
local historical, cultural, and preservation organizations to
further the purposes of the park established under this Act;
and
(3) to provide opportunities for the inspirational benefit
and education of the American people.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ``park'' means the New Bedford Whaling
National Historical Park established by section 3.
(2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior.
SEC. 3. NEW BEDFORD WHALING NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) Establishment.--In order to preserve for the benefit and
inspiration of the people of the United States as a national historical
park certain districts, structures, and relics located in New Bedford,
Massachusetts, and associated with the history of whaling and related
social and economic themes in America, there is established the New
Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
(b) Boundaries.--(1) The boundaries of the park shall be those
generally depicted on the map numbered NAR-P49-80000-4 and dated June
1994. Such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in
the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. The park shall
include the following:
(A) The area included within the New Bedford National
Historic Landmark District, known as the Bedford Landing
Waterfront Historic District, as listed within the National
Register of Historic Places and in the Massachusetts State
Register of Historic Places.
(B) The National Historic Landmark Schooner Ernestina, with
its home port in New Bedford.
(C) The land along the eastern boundary of the New Bedford
National Historic Landmark District over to the east side of
MacArthur Drive from the Route 6 overpass on the north to an
extension of School Street on the south.
(D) The land north of Elm Street in New Bedford, bounded by
Acushnet Avenue on the west, Route 6 (ramps) on the north,
MacArthur Drive on the east, and Elm Street on the south.
In case of any conflict between the descriptions set forth in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) and the map referred to in this
subsection, the map shall govern.
(2) In addition to the sites, areas and relics referred to in
paragraph (1), the Secretary may assist in the interpretation and
preservation of each of the following:
(A) The southwest corner of the State Pier.
(B) Waterfront Park, immediately south of land adjacent to
the State Pier.
(C) The Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, located
at 396 County Street.
(D) The Wharfinger Building, located on Piers 3 and 4.
(E) The Bourne Counting House, located on Merrill's Wharf.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF PARK.
(a) In General.--The park shall be administered by the Secretary in
accordance with this Act and the provisions of law generally applicable
to units of the national park system, including the Act entitled ``An
Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes'',
approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2, 3, and 4) and
the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467).
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--(1) The Secretary may consult and
enter into cooperative agreements with interested entities and
individuals to provide for the preservation, development,
interpretation, and use of the park.
(2) Funds authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the
purposes of this subsection shall be expended in the ratio of one
dollar of Federal funds for each dollar of funds contributed by non-
Federal sources. For the purposes of this subsection, the Secretary is
authorized to accept from non-Federal sources, and to utilize for
purposes of this Act, any money so contributed. With the approval of
the Secretary, any donation of land, services, or goods from a non-
Federal source may be considered as a contribution of funds from a non-
Federal source for the purposes of this subsection.
(3) Any payment made by the Secretary pursuant to a cooperative
agreement under this subsection shall be subject to an agreement that
conversion, use, or disposal of the project so assisted for purposes
contrary to the purposes of this Act, as determined by the Secretary,
shall result in a right of the United States to reimbursement of all
funds made available to such project or the proportion of the increased
value of the project attributable to such funds as determined at the
time of such conversion, use, or disposal, whichever is greater.
(c) Limitation on Funds.--Funds authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary for operation and maintenance of the schooner Ernestina
may not exceed 50 percent of the total costs of such operation and
maintenance and may not exceed $300,000 annually.
(d) Acquisition of Real Property.--The Secretary may acquire, for
the purposes of the park, by donation, exchange, lease or purchase with
donated or appropriated funds, lands, interests in lands, and
improvements thereon within the park except that (1) lands, and
interests in lands, within the boundaries of the park which are owned
by the State of Massachusetts or any political subdivision thereof, may
be acquired only by donation, and (2) lands, and interests in lands,
within the boundaries of the park which are not owned by the State of
Massachusetts or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired only
with the consent of the owner thereof unless the Secretary determines,
after written notice to the owner and after opportunity for comment,
that the property is being developed, or proposed to be developed, in a
manner which is detrimental to the integrity of the park or which is
otherwise incompatible with the purposes of this Act.
(e) Other Property, Funds, and Services.--The Secretary may accept
donated funds, property, and services to carry out this Act.
SEC. 5. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.
Not later than the end of the second fiscal year beginning after
the date of enactment of 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 general
management plan for the park and shall implement such plan. The plan
shall be prepared in accordance with section 12(b) of the Act of August
18, 1970 (16 U.S.C. 1a-7(b)) and other applicable law.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act, but not more than $10,400,000 is
authorized to be appropriated for construction, acquisition,
restoration, and rehabilitation of visitor and interpretative
facilities.
Passed the House of Representatives August 1, 1994.
Attest:
Clerk.
103d CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3898
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New
Bedford, Massachusetts, and for other purposes.