[Senate Report 115-70]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 88
115th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 115-70
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TO FACILITATE THE ADDITION OF PARK ADMINISTRATION AT THE COLTSVILLE
HISTORICAL PARK, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
_______
May 16, 2017.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 863]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (H.R. 863) to facilitate the addition of park
administration at the Coltsville National Historical Park, and
for other purposes, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that bill do
pass.
Purpose
The purpose of H.R. 863 is to facilitate the relocation of
a park administration and visitor facility at the Coltsville
National Historical Park in Connecticut.
Background and Need
Section 3032 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck''
McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015
(Public Law 113-291) established the Coltsville National
Historical Park in Hartford, Connecticut. The park commemorates
the site of the Samuel Colt homestead and manufacturing
headquarters and its role in American manufacturing history.
The authorization included language making the establishment of
the park contingent on the donation of approximately 10,000
square feet in the East Armory building for park administrative
and visitor services. The East Armory is the main and most
recognizable building on the former Colt complex and was
initially thought to be the best site for a park visitor
center. However, the National Park Service and stakeholders
have determined that there are other buildings on the complex
better suited for the visitor center. Because the location of
the administration and visitor facility was specified in the
park's enabling Act, legislation is needed to allow for the
facility to be located elsewhere on the complex.
Legislative History
Representative Larson introduced H.R. 863 on February 3,
2017. On February 27, 2017, H.R. 863 passed on a vote of 369-42
in the House of Representatives.
In the 114th Congress similar legislation, S. 2620, was
introduced by Senators Blumenthal and Murphy on March 2, 2016.
The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on, the
measure on March 17, 2016. The Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources met in open business session on July 13, 2016, and
ordered S. 2620 favorably reported (S. Rept. 114-329).
Representative Larson introduced similar legislation, H.R.
2857, on June 23, 2015. H.R. 2857 was reported from the
Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment on March 10,
2016, and passed the House of Representatives on a voice vote
on March 22, 2016.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in
open business session on March 30, 2017, and ordered H.R. 863
favorably reported.
Committee Recommendation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on March 30, 2017, by a majority voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R.
863.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Amendment to Coltsville National Historical Park donation
site
Section 1 amends section 3032(b)(2)(B) of Public Law 113-
291, which currently requires the property owners to donate
10,000 square feet of space in the East Armory building to the
National Park Service for park administration and visitor
services before the national historical park can be officially
established. By striking ``East Armory'' and inserting ``Colt
Armory Complex'' in section 3032(b)(2)(B), the amendment allows
space to be donated for park administration and visitor
services elsewhere within the Colt Armory Complex.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
H.R. 863 would revise the boundaries of the Coltsville
National Historic Park in Connecticut. The Coltsville site is
about 260 acres of land and structures that hold artifacts
associated with Colt Firearms and the Samuel Colt family. H.R.
863 would allow the National Park Service (NPS) to use space
outside of the area stipulated under current law as the
National Historic Park.
Under H.R. 863, NPS would relocate some existing facilities
to the new area. CBO estimates that any costs to implement H.R.
863 would be insignificant and subject to the availability of
appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 863 would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO
estimates that enacting H.R. 863 would not increase net direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 863 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jon Sperl. The
estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 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 H.R. 863. The bill 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 H.R. 863, as ordered reported.
Congressionally Directed Spending
H.R. 863, as ordered 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
Because H.R. 863 is similar to legislation considered by
the Committee in the 114th Congress, the Committee did not
request Executive Agency views. The testimony provided by the
National Park Service at the hearing before the Subcommittee on
National Parks on March 17, 2016, follows:
Statement of Peggy O'dell, Deputy Director for Operations, National
Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for
the opportunity to present the views of the Department of the
Interior on S. 2620, a bill to facilitate the addition of park
administration at the Coltsville National Historical Park.
The Department supports S. 2620.
S. 2620 would amend the law that authorizes the
establishment of the Coltsville National Historical Park in
Hartford, Connecticut, by making a technical change in one of
the requirements for establishing the park. Section
3032(b)(2)(B) of Public Law 113-291 requires the donation of
10,000 square feet of space for park administration and visitor
services in the East Armory building of the Colt Armory complex
in order for the Secretary of the Interior to designate
Coltsville as a unit of the National Park System. S. 2620 would
allow this requirement to be met by a donation of 10,000 square
feet anywhere in the armory complex, not just specifically in
the East Armory building.
The East Armory is the most visible and best-known building
within the Colt Armory complex. It houses the site's iconic
blue onion dome, and it has been the primary focus of
redevelopment of the complex. Immediately adjacent to the East
Armory are two brownstone buildings, the Forge Shop and the
Foundry, that date to 1855. They are key historic resources
within the Colt Armory complex and closely associated with the
East Armory.
As the National Park Service (NPS) began working with the
property owners (Colt Gateway LLC) and the city of Hartford to
implement the legislation, it became clear that a much better
location for park administration and visitor services than the
East Armory itself would be the adjacent brownstone buildings.
This is for two reasons: first, the redevelopment of the East
Armory building is far enough along that locating park
administration and visitor service facilities within the
building would disrupt existing occupancy, including a school
and residences. Second, the two brownstone buildings are better
suited to welcome visitors because they are at grade and
directly adjacent to parking and, therefore, provide universal
accessibility. The brownstones together contain approximately
18,000 square feet of space, well in excess of the 10,000
square feet of space required by the law.
A joint letter sent to the NPS by Senator Richard
Blumenthal and Representative John Larson, on February 16,
2016, stated that it was their view that an agreement for the
donation of the 18,000 square feet of space for park
administration and visitor services in the two brownstones
immediately adjacent to the East Armory would meet the law's
intention, so long as the agreement also provides for visitor
access to the East Armory dome. They noted that the brownstone
buildings are so close that it would be logical to infer that
the term ``East Armory'' includes these smaller buildings in
the immediate vicinity of the actual East Armory building. The
letter from the House and Senate sponsors of the original Colt
legislation has given the NPS confidence to move forward with
plans to accept the donation of the brownstone buildings. Even
so, the Department would like to have the legal certainty about
meeting the donation requirement that S. 2620 would provide.
The NPS continues to make steady progress in meeting the
other requirements for establishing the Coltsville National
Historical Park. Agreements with the property owners (Colt
Gateway LLC) and the city of Hartford are nearing completion.
The donation of the required space for park administration and
visitor services is the next critical step necessary to
officially establish Coltsville National Historical Park as a
unit of the National Park System, which we would like to
complete in the NPS's Centennial year.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be happy
to answer any questions that you or other members of the
subcommittee may have.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the original bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing
law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
CARL LEVIN AND HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015
Public Law 113-291
* * * * * * *
DIVISION B--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS
* * * * * * *
TITLE XXX--NATURAL RESOURCES RELATED GENERAL PROVISIONS
* * * * * * *
Subtitle C--National Park System Units
* * * * * * *
SEC. 3032. COLTSVILLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
* * * * * * *
(b) Establishment.--
(2) Conditions for establishment.--The park shall not
be established until the date on which the Secretary
determines that--
(A) the Secretary has acquired by donation
sufficient land or an interest in land within
the boundary of the park to constitute a
manageable unit;
(B) the State, city, or private property
owner, as appropriate, has entered into a
written agreement with the Secretary to donate
at least 10,000 square feet of space in the
[East Armory] Colt Armory Complex which would
include facilities for park administration and
visitor services; and
(C) the Secretary has entered into a written
agreement with the State, city, or other public
entity, as appropriate, providing that land
owned by the State, city, or other public
entity within the Coltsville Historic District
shall be managed consistent with this section.
* * * * * * *
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