[Senate Report 113-293]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 633
113th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 113-293
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NEW PHILADELPHIA, ILLINOIS, STUDY ACT
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December 10, 2014.--Ordered to be printed
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Ms. Landrieu, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1328]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 1328) to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study of the
archeological site and surrounding land of the New Philadelphia
town site in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE
The purpose of S. 1328 is to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study of the
archeological site and surrounding land of the New Philadelphia
town site in the State of Illinois.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
New Philadelphia, located near Barry, Illinois, was founded
in 1836 by Frank McWhorter, and is the first known town
established by an African American before the Civil War. Mr.
McWhorter, an enslaved man, bought his freedom in 1819 and
eventually the freedom of 15 family members by mining in
Kentucky caves and processing the mined material into
saltpeter. Once a thriving area, New Philadelphia fell into
decline when the first railroad constructed in the area
bypassed the town.
The New Philadelphia Town Site was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in August 2005 and designated a
National Historic Landmark in January 2009.
Today, the area is covered by farmland. No original
buildings of the town or the McWhorter farm or home are visible
above ground. However, the high archeological integrity of the
town site presents the opportunity to address nationally
significant research questions regarding social relationships
as seen through the landscape of the New Philadelphia Town
site.
Legislation is needed to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the
suitability and feasibility of adding the New Philadelphia town
site and the land surrounding it in Illinois, as a unit of the
National Park System.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 1328 was introduced by Senators Kirk and Durbin on July
18, 2013. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on
the bill on July 31, 2013 (S. Hrg. 113-93). A similar bill,
H.R. 930, was introduced by Representative Schock on February
28, 2013. It is cosponsored by eight additional House members.
The Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee held
a hearing on July 23, 2013, and reported the bill as amended on
September 20, 2013 (H. Rep. 113-219). The House of
Representatives passed the bill by voice vote on April 28,
2014.
S. 1328 is similar to S. 1902 which was introduced in the
112th Congress by Senators Kirk and Durbin on November 17,
2011.
In the 111th Congress, the Subcommittee on National Parks
held a hearing on a similar bill, S. 1629, on March 17, 2010
(S. Hrg. 111-476). The Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources considered the bill, and adopted amendments to it at
its business meeting on June 16, 2010. The Committee ordered S.
1629 favorably reported, as amended, at its business meeting on
June 21, 2010 (S. Rept. 111-258).
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on November 13, 2014, by a voice vote of
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1328.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1 provides the short title, the New Philadelphia,
Illinois, Study Act.
Section 2 contains findings about the history and
significance of the site of New Philadelphia.
Section 3 contains the definition of the terms
``Secretary'' and ``Study Are''.
Section 4 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of the site of New
Philadelphia to include national significance; suitability and
feasibility of designating the area as a unit of the National
Park System; and considering other alternatives for
preservation, protection and interpretation of the area
including cost estimates. Subsection (d) requires the Secretary
to submit a report of the study within three years after
funding.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office.
S. 1328--New Philadelphia, Illinois, Study Act
S. 1328 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study of the New Philadelphia archaeological site in
Illinois to evaluate the national significance of the area and
to determine the feasibility of designating the site as a unit
of the National Park System. Based on information provided by
the National Park Service and assuming the availability of
appropriated funds, CBO estimates that conducting the study
would cost about $250,000 over the next three years. Enacting
S. 1328 would not affect direct spending or revenues;
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
S. 1328 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
On August 22, 2013, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for
H.R. 930 (an identically titled bill), as ordered reported by
the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 31, 2013. H.R.
930 and S. 1328 are similar, and the CBO cost estimates are the
same.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Susanne S.
Mehlman. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 1328.
The Act is not a regulatory measure in the sense of
imposing Government-established standards or significant
economic responsibilities on private individuals and
businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 1328, as ordered reported.
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING
S. 1328, as reported, does not contain any congressionally
directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the
July 31, 2013, Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on S.
1328 follows:
Statement of Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural
Resources, Partnerships, and Science, National Park Service, U.S.
Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear
before you to provide the Department of the Interior's views on
S. 1328, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of the archeological site, and
surrounding land of the New Philadelphia town site in the State
of Illinois, and for other purposes.
The Department supports enactment of S. 1328. However, we
believe that priority should be given to the 30 previously
authorized studies for potential units of the National Park
System, potential new National Heritage Areas, and potential
additions to the National Trails System and National Wild and
Scenic River System that have not yet been transmitted to the
Congress.
S. 1328 authorizes a special resource study to evaluate the
national significance of the New Philadelphia, Illinois town
site and to determine the suitability and feasibility of
designating the archaeological site and the surrounding land as
a unit of the National Park System. The bill directs the
Secretary, in the course of the resource study, to also
consider other alternatives for the preservation, protection
and interpretation of the archeological site of New
Philadelphia, Illinois and the surrounding land by Federal,
State or local government entities, private nonprofit
organizations or any other interested individuals. We estimate
the cost of the resource study to range from $200,000 to
$300,000, based on similar types of studies conducted in recent
years.
The New Philadelphia town site, located near Barry,
Illinois, was founded in 1836 by Frank McWhorter, an enslaved
man from Kentucky, who bought his own freedom and the freedom
of 15 family members. New Philadelphia is the first known town
platted and officially registered by an African-American before
the Civil War. The rural community situated near the
Mississippi and Illinois Rivers flourished at first, but later
fell into decline when the railroad bypassed the community in
1869; it was eventually dissolved in 1885. The New Philadelphia
town site is a 42-acre archeological site with no visible
above-ground evidence. It was designated a National Historic
Landmark on January 16, 2009.
In 2012, the National Park Service completed a
reconnaissance survey of the New Philadelphia town site. The
survey found that the site is nationally significant and would
likely meet the criteria for suitability to be added to the
National Park System. The survey also found, however, that the
New Philadelphia town site is not likely to be feasible for
addition to the National Park System due to the challenges of
providing for public enjoyment, including associated operation
and staffing costs. However, a special resource study also
would examine alternatives to National Park Service management
for the preservation and interpretation of the New Philadelphia
town site.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared statement. I would
be happy to answer any questions that you or other committee
members may have regarding this bill.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by S. 1328, as ordered
reported.