[Senate Report 114-329]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 602
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-329
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COLTSVILLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
_______
September 6, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2620]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2620) to facilitate the addition of park
administration at the Coltsville National Historical Park, and
for other purposes, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the
bill do pass.
Purpose
The purpose of S. 2620 is to facilitate the addition of
park administration at the Coltsville National Historical Park.
Background and Need
Section 3032 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck''
McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015
(Public Law 113-291) established the Coltsville National
Historical Park in Hartford, Connecticut, at the site of the
Samuel Colt homestead and manufacturing headquarters to
commemorate its role in American manufacturing history. The
authorization included language making the establishment of the
park contingent on the donation of approximately 10,000 square
feet in the East Armory building for park administrative and
visitor services. The East Armory is the main and most
recognizable building on the former Colt complex and was
initially thought to be the best site for a park visitor
center. However, the National Park Service and stakeholders
have determined that there are other buildings on the complex
better suited for the visitor center. Legislation is needed to
allow for the visitor center to be located elsewhere on the
complex.
Legislative History
S. 2620 was introduced by Senators Blumenthal and Murphy on
March 2, 2016. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a
hearing on the measure on March 17, 2016.
Representative Larson introduced similar legislation to S.
2620, H.R. 2857, on June 23, 2015. H.R. 2857 was reported from
the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment on March
10, 2016 (H. Rept. 114-447), and passed the House of
Representatives on a voice vote on March 22, 2016.
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in open
business session on July 13, 2016, and ordered S. 2620
favorably reported.
Committee Recommendation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on July 13, 2016, by a majority voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S.
2620.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Amendment to Coltsville National Historical Park Donation
Site
Section 1 amends section 3032(b)(2)(B) of Public Law 113-
291, which currently requires the property owners to donate
10,000 square feet of space in the East Armory building to the
National Park Service for park administration and visitor
services. By striking ``East Armory'' and inserting ``Colt
Armory Complex'' in section 3032(b)(2)(B), the amendment allows
space to be donated for park administration and visitor
services elsewhere within the Colt Armory Complex.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The following estimate of the costs of this measure has
been provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, August 5, 2016.
Hon. Lisa Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2620, a bill to
facilitate the addition of park administration at the
Coltsville National Historical Park, and for other purposes.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Hadley
(For Keith Hall).
Enclosure.
S. 2620--A bill to facilitate the addition of park administration at
the Coltsville National Historic Park, and for other purposes
S. 2620 would revise the boundaries of the Coltsville
National Historic Park in Connecticut. The Coltsville site is
about 260 acres of land and structures that hold artifacts
associated with Colt Firearms and the Samuel Colt family. S.
2620 would allow the National Park Service (NPS) to use space
outside of the area stipulated under current law as the
National Historic Park.
Under S. 2620, NPS would relocate some existing facilities
to the new area. CBO estimates that any costs to implement S.
2620 would be insignificant and subject to the availability of
appropriated funds.
Because enacting S. 2620 would not affect direct spending
or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO
estimates that enacting S. 2620 would not increase net direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 2620 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
On March 4, 2016, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R.
2857, a bill to facilitate the addition of park administration
at the Coltsville National Historic Park, and for other
purposes, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural
Resources on February 3, 2016. The two pieces of legislation
are similar and CBO's estimates of their budgetary effects are
the same.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jon Sperl. The
estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director for
Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 2620. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 2620, as ordered reported.
Congressionally Directed Spending
S. 2620, as ordered reported, does not contain any
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Executive Communications
The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the
March 17, 2016, Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on S.
2620, follows:
Statement of Peggy O'Dell, Deputy Director for Operations, National
Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for
the opportunity to present the views of the Department of the
Interior on S. 2620, a bill to facilitate the addition of park
administration at the Coltsville National Historical Park.
The Department supports S. 2620.
S. 2620 would amend the law that authorizes the
establishment of the Coltsville National Historical Park in
Hartford, Connecticut, by making a technical change in one of
the requirements for establishing the park. Section
3032(b)(2)(B) of Public Law 113-291 requires the donation of
10,000 square feet of space for park administration and visitor
services in the East Armory building of the Colt Armory complex
in order for the Secretary of the Interior to designate
Coltsville as a unit of the National Park System. S. 2620 would
allow this requirement to be met by a donation of 10,000 square
feet anywhere in the armory complex, not just specifically in
the East Armory building.
The East Armory is the most visible and best-known building
within the Colt Armory complex. It houses the site's iconic
blue onion dome, and it has been the primary focus of
redevelopment of the complex. Immediately adjacent to the East
Armory are two brownstone buildings, the Forge Shop and the
Foundry, that date to 1855. They are key historic resources
within the Colt Armory complex and closely associated with the
East Armory.
As the National Park Service (NPS) began working with the
property owners (Colt Gateway LLC) and the city of Hartford to
implement the legislation, it became clear that a much better
location for park administration and visitor services than the
East Armory itself would be the adjacent brownstone buildings.
This is for two reasons: first, the redevelopment of the East
Armory building is far enough along that locating park
administration and visitor service facilities within the
building would disrupt existing occupancy, including a school
and residences. Second, the two brownstone buildings are better
suited to welcome visitors because they are at grade and
directly adjacent to parking and, therefore, provide universal
accessibility. The brownstones together contain approximately
18,000 square feet of space, well in excess of the 10,000
square feet of space required by the law.
A joint letter sent to the NPS by Senator Richard
Blumenthal and Representative John Larson, on February 16,
2016, stated that it was their view that an agreement for the
donation of the 18,000 square feet of space for park
administration and visitor services in the two brownstones
immediately adjacent to the East Armory would meet the law's
intention, so long as the agreement also provides for visitor
access to the East Armory dome. They noted that the brownstone
buildings are so close that it would be logical to infer that
the term ``East Armory'' includes these smaller buildings in
the immediate vicinity of the actual East Armory building. The
letter from the House and Senate sponsors of the original Colt
legislation has given the NPS confidence to move forward with
plans to accept the donation of the brownstone buildings. Even
so, the Department would like to have the legal certainty about
meeting the donation requirement that S. 2620 would provide.
The NPS continues to make steady progress in meeting the
other requirements for establishing the Coltsville National
Historical Park. Agreements with the property owners (Colt
Gateway LLC) and the city of Hartford are nearing completion.
The donation of the required space for park administration and
visitor services is the next critical step necessary to
officially establish Coltsville National Historical Park as a
unit of the National Park System, which we would like to
complete in the NPS's Centennial year.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be happy
to answer any questions that you or other members of the
subcommittee may have.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the original bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing
law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
CARL LEVIN AND HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015
Public Law 113-291
* * * * * * *
DIVISION B--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS
* * * * * * *
TITLE XXX--NATURAL RESOURCES RELATED GENERAL PROVISIONS
* * * * * * *
Subtitle C--National Park System Units
* * * * * * *
SEC. 3032. COLTSVILLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
* * * * * * *
(b) Establishment.--
(2) Conditions for Establishment.--The park shall not
be established until the date on which the Secretary
determines that--
(A) the Secretary has acquired by donation
sufficient land or an interest in land within
the boundary of the park to constitute a
manageable unit;
(B) the State, city, or private property
owner, as appropriate, has entered into a
written agreement with the Secretary to donate
at least 10,000 square feet of space in the
[East Armory] Colt Armory Complex which would
include facilities for park administration and
visitor services; and
(C) the Secretary has entered into a written
agreement with the State, city, or other public
entity, as appropriate, providing that land
owned by the State, city, or other public
entity within the Coltsville Historic District
shall be managed consistent with this section.
* * * * * * *
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