[DOCID: f:hr092.110]
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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 110-92
======================================================================
STEEL INDUSTRY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT
_______
April 17, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 285]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 285) to establish the Steel Industry National
Historic Site in the State of Pennsylvania, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and
recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Steel Industry National Historic Site
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Certain sites and structures in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania symbolize in physical form the heritage of the
steel industry of the United States.
(2) Certain buildings and other structures in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are nationally significant
historical resources, including the United States Steel
Homestead Works, the Carrie Furnace complex, and the Hot Metal
Bridge.
(3) Despite substantial efforts for cultural preservation and
historical interpretation by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and by individuals and public and private entities in the
Commonwealth, these buildings and other structures may be lost
without the assistance of the Federal Government.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to ensure the
preservation, interpretation, visitor enjoyment, and maintenance of the
nationally significant historical and cultural sites and structures
described in subsection (a) for the benefit and inspiration of present
and future generations.
SEC. 3. STEEL INDUSTRY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, PENNSYLVANIA.
(a) Establishment.--The Steel Industry National Historic Site is
hereby established as a unit of the National Park System in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(b) Description.--
(1) Inclusion of certain property.--Subject to paragraph (2),
the historic site shall consist of the following properties,
each of which relate to the former United States Steel
Homestead Works, as depicted on the map entitled ``Steel
Industry National Historic Site'', dated November 2003, and
numbered 80,000:
(A) The historic location of the Battle of Homestead
site in the borough of Munhall, Pennsylvania,
consisting of approximately 3 acres of land, including
the pumphouse and water tower and related structures,
within the property bounded by the Monongahela River,
the CSX railroad, Waterfront Drive, and the Damascus-
Marcegaglia Steel Mill.
(B) The historic location of the Carrie Furnace
complex in the boroughs of Swissvale and Rankin,
Pennsylvania, consisting of approximately 35 acres of
land, including blast furnaces 6 and 7, the ore yard,
the cast house, the blowing engine house, the AC power
house, and related structures, within the property
bounded by the proposed southwesterly right-of-way line
needed to accommodate the Mon/Fayette Expressway and
the relocated CSX railroad right-of-way, the
Monongahela River, and a property line drawn northeast
to southwest approximately 100 yards east of the AC
power house.
(C) The historic location of the Hot Metal Bridge,
consisting of the Union railroad bridge and its
approaches, spanning the Monongahela River and
connecting the mill sites in the boroughs of Rankin and
Munhall, Pennsylvania.
(2) Availability of map.--The map referred to in paragraph
(1) shall be available for public inspection in an appropriate
office of the National Park Service.
(c) Acquisition of Property.--To further the purposes of this
section, the Secretary of the Interior may acquire, only by donation,
property for inclusion in the historic site as follows:
(1) Any land or interest in land with respect to the property
identified in subsection (b)(1).
(2) Up to 10 acres of land adjacent to or in the general
proximity of the property identified in such subsection, for
the development of visitor, administrative, museum, curatorial,
and maintenance facilities.
(3) Personal property associated with, and appropriate for,
the interpretation of the historic site.
(d) Private Property Protections.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed--
(1) to require any private property owner to permit public
access (including Federal, State, or local government access)
to the private property; or
(2) to modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law
with regard to public access to or use of private property.
(e) Administration.--The Secretary of the Interior shall administer
the historic site in accordance with this Act and the provisions of law
generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including
the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), and the Act of August
21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
(f) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--Until such time as the Secretary of the
Interior has acquired the property identified in subsection
(b)(1), as depicted on the map referred to in such subsection,
the Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with any
interested individual, public or private agency, organization,
or institution to further the purposes of the historic site.
(2) Contrary purposes.--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 purpose of
the historic site, as determined by the Secretary, shall result
in a right of the United States to reimbursement of all funds
made available to such a 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.
(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of the Interior may provide
technical assistance to any person for--
(1) the preservation of historic structures within the
historic site; and
(2) the maintenance of the natural and cultural landscape of
the historic site.
(h) General Management Plan.--
(1) Preparation.--Not later than three years after the date
on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act,
the Secretary of the Interior shall prepare a general
management plan for the historic site that will incorporate or
otherwise address substantive comments made during the
consultation required by paragraph (2).
(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall prepare the general
management plan in consultation with--
(A) an appropriate official of each appropriate
political subdivision of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania that has jurisdiction over all or a
portion of the lands included in the historic site;
(B) an appropriate official of the Steel Industry
Heritage Corporation; and
(C) private property owners in the vicinity of the
historic site.
(3) Submission of plan to congress.--Upon the completion of
the general management plan, the Secretary shall submit a copy
of the plan to the Committee on Natural Resources of the United
States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the United States Senate.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated not more than $30,000,000 for development of the historic
site.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 285, as ordered reported, is to
establish the Steel Industry National Historic Site in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
H.R. 285 would combine sites associated with the Homestead
Steel Works, located just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, and
designate them as the ``Steel Industry National Historic
Site.''
The Homestead Steel Works includes a number of nationally
significant sites and structures important to labor and
steelworker history and the development of integrated
steelmaking operations. It was here that the infamous ``Battle
of Homestead'' occurred in 1892 between striking steelworkers
and armed guards hired by the company's owners. Plant
operations were considered pivotal in the development of the
American iron and steel industry and helped identify Pittsburgh
as the capital of ``Big Steel.''
The national historic site would include three specific
sites: the U.S. Steel Homestead Works; the Carrie Furnace
Complex; and the Hot Metal Bridge, totaling approximately 38
acres. The sites would be acquired by donation only and would
be administered by the National Park Service as a unit of the
National Park System.
Similar legislation was approved by the Committee in the
107th and 108th Congresses and the legislation passed the House
as part of another measure in the 108th Congress.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 285 was introduced on January 5, 2007 by Rep. Mike
Doyle (D-PA). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. On March 7, 2007, the
Full Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was
discharged from further consideration of the bill by unanimous
consent. Subcommittee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an
amendment to limit the authorization of appropriations for
development of the historic site. The amendment was adopted by
voice vote. The bill as amended was then ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Provides that this Act may be cited as the ``Steel Industry
National Historic Site Act.''
Section 2. Findings and purposes
This section provides a number of findings on the
historical importance of the site and states that the purposes
of the Act are to ensure the preservation, interpretation,
visitor enjoyment, and maintenance of the nationally
significant historical and cultural sites and structures of the
area for the benefit and inspiration of present and future
generations.
Section 3. Establishment and administration of the historic site
This section establishes the historic site as a unit of the
National Park System. It references a map of the boundaries of
the historic site and provides for the acquisition of property
only by donation. The section also provides for administration
of the historic site in accordance with the provisions of law
generally applicable to units of the National Park System and
also authorizes cooperative agreements to assist in the
administration of the site. The section further directs the
development and submission of a general management plan for the
historic site. Finally, it provides that there is authorized to
be appropriated not more than $30,000,000 for development of
the site.
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 Resources' oversight findings and recommendations
are reflected in the body of this report.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that Rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. 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 establish the Steel Industry
National Historic Site.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
H.R. 285--Steel Industry National Historic Site Act
Summary: H.R. 285 would establish the Steel Industry
National Historic Site (NHS) in Pennsylvania as a unit of the
National Park System. Assuming appropriation of the amounts
authorized or estimated to be necessary, CBO estimates that
developing and operating the new site would cost about $40
million over the next five years. The National Park Service
(NPS) could incur other costs to implement this legislation,
but such costs would depend on presently unknown factors such
as the condition of property that may be acquired by the
federal government and the need for mitigating environmental or
other safety hazards. Enacting H.R. 285 would not affect direct
spending or revenues.
Under H.R. 285, the Steel Industry NHS would consist of
three or more separate properties in southwestern
Pennsylvania--the Battle of Homestead site (between 3 acres and
5 acres and related structures), the 35-acre Carrie Furnace
complex (including blast furnaces, an ore yard, and related
buildings), the hot metal bridge over the Monongahela River,
and possibly up to 10 acres of nearby land that may be acquired
by the NPS for visitor and administrative facilities. H.R. 285
would authorize the NPS to acquire all of these sites (as well
as related personal property) by donation only. In addition to
managing the NHS, the Park Service could provide technical and
financial assistance to local parties for their preservation
and management efforts. The agency also would prepare a general
management plan for the site within three years of the bill's
enactment. Finally, the bill would authorize the appropriation
of $30 million for development of the site.
H.R. 285 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 285 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of
dollars--
---------------------------------------
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Estimated Authorization Level... 2 7 27 2 2
Estimated Outlays............... 2 5 14 12 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of estimate: CBO estimates that one-time planning and
development costs to establish the Steel Industry NHS would be
$31 million over the five years following the bill's enactment.
Of this amount, about $1 million would be used for the
preparation of a general management plan, historic structures
report, environmental assessments, and other requisite studies.
The remaining $30 million--specifically authorized by the bill
for site development--would be spent on design and construction
of administrative and visitor facilities and creation of an
interpretive program over the 2009-2012 period. Implementing
H.R. 285 could involve other one-time costs, such as mitigation
of hazardous conditions and environmental contamination, but
CBO has no basis for estimating any such costs, which we assume
would not be included in the bill's authorization to
appropriate $30 million.
We estimate that administering the new NHS would increase
NPS costs by $1 million in 2008 and by $2 million a year for
2009 through 2012. (After 2012, annual costs would be about $3
million, CBO estimates.) Annual costs would include routine NPS
operating expenses, services to secure and maintain special
property such as the bridge and blast furnaces, and technical
assistance to nonfederal participant organizations.
This estimate is based on information provided by the
nonprofit Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, the NPS, and
other federal, state, and local agencies. For this estimate,
CBO assumes that any significant contamination or other safety
hazards located on donated property would be corrected before
or soon after federal acquisition. If the NPS should acquire
contaminated or unsafe property, the federal government could
be liable for future third-party damages, but CBO has no basis
for estimating the likelihood or amount of such costs.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 285
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on State, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller;
Impact on the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
EARMARK STATEMENT
H.R. 285 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.
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