H. Rept. 115-580 - TO UPDATE THE MAP OF, AND MODIFY THE MAXIMUM ACREAGE AVAILABLE FOR INCLUSION IN, THE FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT115th Congress (2017-2018)
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115th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 115-580
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TO UPDATE THE MAP OF, AND MODIFY THE MAXIMUM ACREAGE AVAILABLE FOR
INCLUSION IN, THE FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
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February 26, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bishop of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 835]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 835) to update the map of, and modify the
maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument, having considered the same,
report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that
the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 835 is to update the map of, and modify
the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument.
Background and Need for Legislation
The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was designated
in Teller County, Colorado, in 1969 to preserve one of the
richest fossil deposits in the world and interpret its
geological significance and its paleontological resources.\1\
The Monument features detailed fossils of insects, plants and
giant petrified redwood stumps, teaching visitors about
prehistoric Colorado. The Monument offers a variety of
recreational activities including hiking, sightseeing, ranger-
led experiences and stargazing.\2\
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\1\``Learn about the Park.'' Florissant Fossil Beds. National Parks
Service. https://www.nps.gov/flfo/learn/index.htm.
\2\``Basic Information'' Florissant Fossil Beds. National Parks
Service. https://www.nps.gov/flfo/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm.
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The Monument has a collection of more than 12,000 fossil
specimens and is part of ongoing collaborations with
universities.\3\ These resources have allowed scientists to
study the ecosystem of the area from 34-35 million years ago.
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\3\Statement of Dr. Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director,
Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science, National Parks Service.
June 15, 2016.
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The Monument encompasses 5,998 acres just west of Pikes
Peak, and 35 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado.\4\
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\4\S. Rept. 115-38--TO UPDATE THE MAP OF, AND MODIFY THE MAXIMUM
ACREAGE AVAILABLE FOR INCLUSION IN, THE FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL
MONUMENT.
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In May 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) received a
proposed donation of 280 acres of private land adjacent to the
current northwestern boundary of the Monument.\5\ The donation
would give access to the Monument for wildland fire protection
and additional wildlife habitat.
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\5\Statement of Dr. Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director,
Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science, National Parks Service.
June 15, 2016.
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The Monument size is capped at 6,000 acres by Public Law
91-60 and requires legislative action to expand the boundaries.
H.R. 835 would allow for modification of the maximum area
of the Monument to 6,300 acres and allow NPS to accept the 280
acres currently being held by the Palmer Land Trust and
Coalition for the Upper South Platte.\6\
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\6\S. Rept. 115-38--TO UPDATE THE MAP OF, AND MODIFY THE MAXIMUM
ACREAGE AVAILABLE FOR INCLUSION IN, THE FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL
MONUMENT.
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This legislation would allow for updates to the official
map of the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. According
to NPS, the only additional expenses associated with accepting
the donation would be the minor labor cost to move boundary
fences and update maps. No additional funding or staff is
needed.\7\
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\7\Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Questions and Answers.
National Parks Service.
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Committee Action
H.R. 835 was introduced on February 2, 2017, by Congressman
Doug Lamborn (R-CO). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee
on Federal Lands. On February 6, 2018, the Subcommittee held a
hearing on the legislation. On February 14, 2018, the Natural
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee
was discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered
and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of
Representatives by unanimous consent.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, February 20, 2018.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 835, a bill to
update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for
inclusion in, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani
Shankaran.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall,
Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 835--A bill to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage
available for inclusion in, the Florissant Fossil Beds National
Monument
H.R. 835 would revise the boundary of the Florissant Fossil
Beds National Monument in Colorado and increase the maximum
number of acres that could be included in that monument from
6,000 acres to 6,300 acres. Enacting H.R. 835 would enable the
National Park Service (NPS) to proceed with plans to acquire
approximately 280 acres of land for inclusion within the
monument. The underlying legislation that established the
monument authorizes the NPS to acquire land by donation,
purchase, or exchange.
According to the NPS, the owner of the 280-acre parcel is
willing to donate the land for inclusion within the monument;
CBO estimates that any administrative costs associated with
such a transaction would be negligible. Alternatively, if the
NPS were to purchase the parcel, CBO estimates that the
resulting costs would total about $1 million over the 2018-2022
period; such spending would be subject to the availability of
appropriated funds. That estimate is based on information from
the NPS and recent sale prices of comparable tracts of land in
the areas where the land would be purchased. Total costs would
depend on the average price per acre, which according to local
property records could range from $2,500 per acre to $4,000 per
acre.
Enacting H.R. 835 would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 835 would not increase net
direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 835 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
On April 7, 2017, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S.
287 a bill to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage
available for inclusion in the Florissant Fossil Beds National
Monument, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources on March 30, 2017. The bills are similar
and CBO's estimates of their budgetary effects are the same.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani
Shankaran. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to update the map of, and modify the
maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Compliance With H. Res. 5
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
PUBLIC LAW 91-60
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in order
to preserve and interpret for the benefit and enjoyment of
present and future generations the excellently preserved insect
and leaf fossils and related geologic sites and objects at the
Florissant lakebeds, the Secretary of the Interior may acquire
by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or
exchange such land and interests in land in Teller County,
Colorado, as he may designate from the lands shown on the map
[entitled ``Proposed Florissant Fossil Beds National
Monument'', numbered NM-FFB-7100, and dated March 1967, and
more particularly described by metes and bounds in an
attachment to that map,] entitled ``Florissant Fossil Beds
National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment'', numbered 171/
132,544, and dated May 3, 2016, not exceeding, however, [six
thousand acres] 6,300 acres thereof, for the purpose of
establishing the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
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