[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2749 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2749
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, Nevada,
to facilitate the interpretation of the history of development and use
of trails in the settling of the western portion of the United States.
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 ``California Trail Interpretive Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the nineteenth century westward movement in the United
States over the California National Historic Trail, which
occurred from 1840 until the completion of the transcontinental
railroad in 1869, was an important cultural and historical
event in--
(A) the development of the western land of the
United States; and
(B) the prevention of colonization of the west
coast by Russia and the British Empire;
(2) the movement over the California Trail was completed by
over 300,000 settlers, many of whom left records or stories of
their journeys; and
(3) additional recognition and interpretation of the
movement over the California Trail is appropriate in light of--
(A) the national scope of nineteenth century
westward movement in the United States; and
(B) the strong interest expressed by people of the
United States in understanding their history and
heritage.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to recognize the California Trail, including the
Hastings Cutoff and the trail of the ill-fated Donner-Reed
Party, for its national, historical, and cultural significance;
and
(2) to provide the public with an interpretive facility
devoted to the vital role of trails in the West in the
development of the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) California trail.--The term ``California Trail'' means
the California National Historic Trail, established under
section 5(a)(18) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C.
1244(a)(18)).
(2) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the California Trail
Interpretive Center established under section 4(a).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of
Land Management.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Nevada.
SEC. 4. CALIFORNIA TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes of section
7(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1246(c)), the
Secretary may establish an interpretation center to be known as
the ``California Trail Interpretive Center'', near the city of
Elko, Nevada.
(2) Purpose.--The Center shall be established for the
purpose of interpreting the history of development and use of
the California Trail in the settling of the West.
(b) Master Plan Study.--To carry out subsection (a), the Secretary
shall--
(1) consider the findings of the master plan study for the
California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, Nevada, as
authorized by page 15 of Senate Report 106-99; and
(2) initiate a plan for the development of the Center that
includes--
(A) a detailed description of the design of the
Center;
(B) a description of the site on which the Center
is to be located;
(C) a description of the method and estimated cost
of acquisition of the site on which the Center is to be
located;
(D) the estimated cost of construction of the
Center;
(E) the cost of operation and maintenance of the
Center; and
(F) a description of the manner and extent to which
non-Federal entities shall participate in the
acquisition and construction of the Center.
(c) Implementation.--To carry out subsection (a), the Secretary
may--
(1) acquire land and interests in land for the construction
of the Center by--
(A) donation;
(B) purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or
(C) exchange;
(2) provide for local review of and input concerning the
development and operation of the Center by the Advisory Board
for the National Historic California Emigrant Trails
Interpretive Center of the city of Elko, Nevada;
(3) periodically prepare a budget and funding request that
allows a Federal agency to carry out the maintenance and
operation of the Center;
(4) enter into a cooperative agreement with--
(A) the State, to provide assistance in--
(i) removal of snow from roads;
(ii) rescue, firefighting, and law
enforcement services; and
(iii) coordination of activities of nearby
law enforcement and firefighting departments or
agencies; and
(B) a Federal, State, or local agency to develop or
operate facilities and services to carry out this Act;
and
(5) notwithstanding any other provision of law, accept
donations of funds, property, or services from an individual,
foundation, corporation, or public entity to provide a service
or facility that is consistent with this Act, as determined by
the Secretary, including 1-time contributions for the Center
(to be payable during construction funding periods for the
Center after the date of enactment of this Act) from--
(A) the State, in the amount of $3,000,000;
(B) Elko County, Nevada, in the amount of
$1,000,000; and
(C) the city of Elko, Nevada, in the amount of
$2,000,000.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$12,000,000.
Passed the Senate October 5 (legislative day, September
22), 2000.
Attest:
Secretary.
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2749
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, Nevada,
to facilitate the interpretation of the history of development and use
of trails in the settling of the western portion of the United States.