HR 1376

HR 1376 IH

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Waco Mammoth National Monument in the State of Texas.

March 6, 2009

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Waco Mammoth National Monument in the State of Texas.

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 ‘Waco Mammoth National Monument Establishment Act of 2009’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds as follows:

(1) The Waco Mammoth Site area is located near the confluence of the Brazos and the Bosque rivers in Central Texas, near the City of Waco.

(2) Baylor University has been investigating the site since 1978 after the discovery of bones emerging from eroding creek banks leading to the uncovering of portions of five mammoths.

(3) Several additional mammoth remains have been uncovered making this the largest known concentration of mammoths dying from the same event.

(4) The discoveries have received international attention.

(5) The University and the City of Waco have been working together to protect the site and to develop further research and educational opportunities.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act the following definitions apply:

(1) NATIONAL MONUMENT- The term ‘national monument’ means the Waco Mammoth National Monument, established in section 4.

(2) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 4. WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL MONUMENT, TEXAS.

(a) Establishment- There is established the Waco Mammoth National Monument in the State of Texas, as a unit of the National Park System.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL MONUMENT.

(a) In General- The Secretary shall administer the national monument in accordance with this Act, the cooperative agreements described in this section, and laws and regulations generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the National Park Service Organic Act (39 Stat. 535, 16 U.S.C. 1).

(b) Cooperative Agreements- The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements for the management of the national monument with Baylor University and City of Waco, pursuant to the National Park Service General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-2(1)).

SEC. 6. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT.

(a) Acquisition of Property- The Secretary is authorized to acquire from willing sellers lands, or interests in lands, within the proposed boundary of the national monument necessary for effective management.

(b) Conditions- Lands identified in subsection (a) may be acquired--

(1) by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, transfer from another Federal agency, or by exchange; and

(2) in the case of lands owned by the State of Texas, or a political subdivision thereof, only by donation or exchange.

SEC. 7. CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES ON NONFEDERAL LANDS.

(a) In General- The Secretary is authorized, subject to the appropriation of necessary funds, to construct essential administrative or visitor use facilities on non-Federal lands within the national monument.

(b) Other Funding- In addition to the use of Federal funds authorized in subsection (a), the Secretary may use donated funds, property, and services to carry out this section.

SEC. 8. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.

(a) In General- Not later than three years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with Baylor University and City of Waco, shall prepare a management plan for the national monument.

(b) Inclusions- The management plan shall include, at a minimum--

(1) measures for the preservation of the resources of the national monument;

(2) requirements for the type and extent of development and use of the national monument;

(3) identification of visitor carrying capacities for national monument; and

(4) opportunities for involvement by Baylor University, the City of Waco, the State of Texas, and other local and national entities in the formulation of educational programs for the national monument and for developing and supporting the national monument.