National Parks and Recreation Act

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #532 (341-61))

National Parks and Recreation Act - =Title I: Development Ceiling Increases= - Makes specific increases in the limitations on funds for development within 34 units of the National Park System and affiliated areas.

=Title II: Acquisition Ceiling Increases= - Raises the limitations on appropriations for the acquisition of lands within five units of the National Park System.

Expresses the intent of Congress that all land acquisition of specified areas of the national park system be completed, subject to specific statutory limitation, within four complete fiscal years following the effective date of this Act.

=Title III: Boundary Changes= - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enlarge the boundaries of 18 units of the National Park System and authorizes appropriations of specified amounts of acquisition of lands by reason of such revisions.

States it is the policy of Congress that wilderness, wildlife conservation, and park and recreation values of United States property be conserved, enhanced, and developed. Provides that the Secretary, the Administrator of General Services, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish a system to permit full and early opportunity for studies of the suitability of Federal real property for implementation of the congressional policy.

Redesignates the City of Refuge National Historical Park as the Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.

Deeds a lot on Black Hammock Island, Florida, to the National Park Foundation, to be sold at fair market value.

Adds lands to the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Pennsylvania.

Revises the boundaries of: (1) Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Wyoming; (2) Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, North Dakota and Montana; (3) Boston National Historical Park; (4) Gateway National Recreation Area, New York, to add Sailors Snug Harbor; (5) Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia, to add Eppes Manor; (6) Sequoia National Park, California, to add Mineral King Valley; (7) Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, Ohio; (8) Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area; (9) Golden Gate National Recreation Area; (10) Point Reyes National Seashore; (11) Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland; (12) Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park; (13) Virgin Islands National Park, to include Hassel Island; (14) Alibates Flint Quarries and Texas Panhandle Pueblo Culture National Monument; (15) Fire Island National Seashore, New York; and (16) Adams National Historic Site, Massachusetts.

Authorizes the Secretary to grant easements and rights-of-way to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other political subdivisions therein for purposes of the vehicular, pedestrian, and utility access to that portion of the Boston Navy Yard outside the boundaries of the Boston National Historical Park.

=Title IV: Wilderness= - Designates ten areas as wilderness areas.

=Title V: Establishment of New Areas and Additions to National Trails System= - Provides for the establishment of Guam National Seashore War in the Pacific National Historical Park on Guam; Pine Barrens Area, New Jersey; Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site, Pennsylvania; San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas; Saint Paul's Church, Eastchester, New York; Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii; American Memorial Park, Saipan; Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site, Texas; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California; and Ebbey's Landing National Historical Park, Washington.

Provides for the establishment of the San Antonio Missions Advisory Commission, the Kaloko-Honokohau, an Advisory Commission for the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park; and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Advisory Commission.

Authorizes the Establishment of the Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Pennsylvania, including the former home of Albert Gallatin, and the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Virginia.

Amends the National Trails Systems Act to allow the inclusion of historic trails within the National Scenic Trails System. Makes the purpose of such historic trails to be the identification and protection of the historic route and its historic remnants and artifacts for public use and enjoyment.

Establishes the Oregon National Historic Trail, the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, the North Country National Scenic Trail, and the Overmountain Victory Trail.

Requires the Secretary charged with the administration of each respective trail to: (1) establish an advisory council for each such trail and (2) submit to specified committees of the House and Senate, a comprehensive plan for the acquisition, management, development, and use of the trail.

=Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions= - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire and upgrade Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Provides for a study of the desirability of establishing segments of the Ridgelands east of San Francisco Bay as a unit of the National Park System.

Amends the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation Act of 1972 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1979 for the Corporation's administrative and operating expenses.

Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1983 for the preservation of historical and archaeological data.

Empowers the Secretary to establish a historic site to commemorate each former President.

Authorizes appropriations for studies and management planning of areas suitable for inclusion in the National Park System.

Provides for a study of the Oak Creek Canyon, Yavapi, Soldier Wash-Mormon Canyon areas in Arizona for inclusion in the park system, and the boundary of Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona.

Stipulates that no funds authorized or appropriated pursuant to law shall be made available by the Secretary of the Interior to enlarge, expand, or alter the functions or responsibilities of the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, except under specified circumstances.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide 50 percent matching grants to local governments in urban and insular areas for rehabilitation and development of recreation areas and facilities. Provides additional grants to match State funding.

Changes the date of the map referencing the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

Authorizes the use of Federal funds other than Department of Interior funds for operating and maintaining the Ansley Wilcox House, Buffalo, New York, as an historic site.

Directs the Secretary to study the feasibility of establishing the Irvine Coast-Laguna area, California, as a unit of the National Park System.

Authorizes the National Park Service to provide technical and financial assistance for the continued operation of the Highway of Flags Servicemens Memorial, Indiana.

Authorizes the Secretary to convey to the National Academy of Sciences specified property located within the District of Columbia, to erect and maintain a Memorial to Albert Einstein.

Renames the area formerly known as the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Names the project for flood protection on Big Hill Creek, Kansas, the Pearson-Skubitz Big Hill Lake.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the transfer of certain lands and waters in the Voyageurs National Park to the State, and for the transfer by the State to the United States of other lands to be added to the park.

=Title VII: Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Amendments= - Adds eight segments of rivers to those designated as wild and scenic rivers. Adds 19 rivers to those designated for study for potential inclusion in the wild and scenic rivers system.

Increases authorizations of appropriations for five specified rivers.

Makes technical amendments to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

=Title VIII: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area= - Establishes the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area in the State of Georgia.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands, waters, and interest by donation or purchase. Sets a ceiling of $73,000,000 permitted to be expended from the appropriations authorized pursuant to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act for the purchase of such lands and interest.

Permits an owner of improved property, upon the sale of such property to the Secretary, to retain the right of occupancy for noncommercial residential purposes.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Georgia and its political subdivisions to assist in the planning for the use of non-Federal publicly owned lands adjacent or within the recreation area.

Permits fishing within the recreation area in accordance with State and Federal Laws and regulations.

Provides for limitations on any water resources project that would have an adverse effect on the values for which such area is established. Prohibits the Federal Power Commission from licensing the construction of any dam, water conduit, reservoir, or other project works under the Federal Power Act on or affecting the recreation area.

Directs the Secretary, after consulting with the Governor of the State of Georgia, to transmit to the appropriate committees of the House and the Senate a management plan for the use and development of such area.

=Title IX: Recognition of the Honorable William M. Ketchum= - Directs the Secretary to provide an appropriate form of recognition of the late Congressman William M. Ketchum of California, within the War in the Pacific National Historic Park, Guam, and the American Memorial Park, Saipan.

=Title X:= Establishes the Jackson Hole Scenic Area Commission which shall consist of nine members including the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, the Governor of the State of Wyoming, and the Mayor or member of the Town Council of Jackson, Wyoming. Sets forth the duties and authority of the Commission.

Directs the Commission to develop a proposed Jackson Hole Scenic Area Plan which shall be submitted to the Congress not later than one year from the effective date of this Act. Requires such plan to include an evaluation and identification of areas of important scenic, wildlife, ecologic, hydrologic, and agricultural concern, and recommendations for the immediate emergency acquisition of lands or interests in lands.

Requires at least one public hearing within the County of Teton, Wyoming, prior to the adoption of such plan.

Authorizes appropriations nto to exceed $5,000,000 for acquisition of land or interests in lands by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture as authorized pursuant to this Title.

=Title XI:= Authorizes to be established the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park in Louisiana which shall consist of: (1) Big Oak Island, (2) specified areas within the French Quarter section and Garden District of the city of New Orleans, (3) the Chalmette National Historical Park, and (4) certain forts, plantations, and Acadian towns and villages.

Allows the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with owners of properties of cultural or historical significance. Stipulates that such agreements shall contain, but need not be limited to, the right to access by the National Park Service at reasonable times all public portions of the property covered by such agreement.

Establishes the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park Advisory Commission the function of which shall be to advise the Secretary in the selection of sites for inclusion in the park and in the development and implementation of a program for the historic and cultural resources of the region and a plan for management.

Authorizes appropriations for acquisition of lands, water, and interests, not to exceed $1,000,000, from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Requires the Secretary to submit to the appropriate committees of the House and the Senate a general management plan for the park.

=Title XII:= - Designates the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as the "Paul H. Douglas Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore."