Home > 105th Congressional Bills > S. 1998 (is) To authorize an interpretive center and related visitor facilities within the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, and for other purposes. ...S. 1998 (is) To authorize an interpretive center and related visitor facilities within the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, and for other purposes. ...
105th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1998
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize an interpretive center and related visitor facilities
within the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, and for other purposes.
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 ``Four Corners Interpretive Center
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the Four Corners Monument is nationally significant as
the only geographic location in the United States where 4 State
boundaries meet;
(2) the States with boundaries that meet at the Four
Corners area are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah;
(3) between 1868 and 1875 the boundary lines that created
the Four Corners were drawn, and in 1899 a monument was erected
at the site;
(4) a United States postal stamp will be issued in 1999 to
commemorate the centennial of the original boundary marker;
(5) the Four Corners area is distinct in character and
possesses important historical, cultural, and prehistoric
values and resources within the surrounding cultural landscape;
(6) although there are no permanent facilities or utilities
at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, each year the park
attracts approximately 250,000 visitors;
(7) the area of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park falls
entirely within the Navajo Nation or Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
reservations;
(8) the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have
entered into a Memorandum of Understanding governing the
planning and future development of the Four Corners Monument
Tribal Park;
(9) in 1992, through agreements executed by the governors
of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, the Four Corners
Heritage Council was established as a coalition of Federal,
State, tribal, and private interests;
(10) the State of Arizona has obligated $45,000 for
planning efforts and $250,000 for construction of an
interpretive center at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park;
(11) numerous studies and extensive consultation with
American Indians have demonstrated that development at the Four
Corners Monument Tribal Park would greatly benefit the people
of the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe;
(12) the Arizona Department of Transportation has completed
preliminary cost estimates that are based on field experience
with rest-area development for the construction for a Four
Corners Monument Interpretive Center and surrounding
infrastructure, including restrooms, roadways, parking, water,
electrical, telephone, and sewage facilities;
(13) an interpretive center would provide important
educational and enrichment opportunities for all Americans; and
(14) Federal financial assistance and technical expertise
are needed for the construction of an interpretive center.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to recognize the importance of the Four Corners
Monument and surrounding landscape as a distinct area in the
heritage of the United States that is worthy of interpretation
and preservation;
(2) to assist the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute
Tribe in establishing the Four Corners Interpretive Center and
related facilities to meet the needs of the general public;
(3) to highlight and showcase the collaborative resource
stewardship of private individuals, Indian tribes,
universities, Federal agencies, and the governments of States
and political subdivisions thereof (including counties); and
(4) to promote knowledge of the life, art, culture,
politics, and history of the culturally diverse groups of the
Four Corners region.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Four Corners
Interpretive Center established under section 4, including
restrooms, parking areas, vendor facilities, sidewalks,
utilities, exhibits, and other visitor facilities.
(2) Four corners heritage council.--The term ``Four Corners
Heritage Council'' means the nonprofit coalition of Federal,
State, and tribal entities established in 1992 by agreements of
the Governors of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico,
and Utah.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(4) Recipient.--The term ``recipient'' means the State of
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, or any consortium of 2
or more of these States.
(5) Four corners monument.--The term ``Four Corners
Monument'' means the physical monument where the boundaries of
the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
(6) Four corners monument tribal park.--The term ``Four
Corners Monument Tribal Park'' means lands within the legally
defined boundary of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.
SEC. 4. FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT INTERPRETIVE CENTER.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of appropriations,
the Secretary is authorized to establish within the boundaries of the
Four Corners Monument Tribal Park a center for the interpretation and
commemoration of the Four Corners Monument, to be known as the ``Four
Corners Interpretive Center''.
(b) Land.--Land for the Center shall be designated and made
available by the Navajo Nation or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe within the
boundary of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park in consultation with
the Four Corners Heritage Council and in accordance with--
(1) the memorandum of understanding between the Navajo
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe that was entered into on
October 22, 1996; and
(2) applicable supplemental agreements with the Bureau of
Land Management, the National Park Service, the United States
Forest Service.
(c) Concurrence.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
no such center shall be established without the consent of the Navajo
Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
(d) Components of Center.--The Center shall include--
(1) a location for permanent and temporary exhibits
depicting the archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage of
the Four Corners region;
(2) a venue for public education programs;
(3) a location to highlight the importance of efforts to
preserve southwestern archaeological sites and museum
collections;
(4) a location to provide information to the general public
about cultural and natural resources, parks, museums, and
travel in the Four Corners region; and
(5) visitor amenities including restrooms, public
telephones, and other basic facilities.
SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION GRANT.
(a) Grant.--The Secretary is authorized to award a Federal grant to
the recipient described in section 3(4) for up to 50 percent of the
cost to construct the Center. To be eligible for the grant, the
recipient shall provide assurances that--
(1) the non-Federal share of the costs of construction is
paid from non-Federal sources. The non-Federal sources may
include contributions made by States, private sources, the
Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for planning,
design, construction, furnishing, startup, and operational
expenses;
(2) the aggregate amount of non-Federal funds contributed
by the States used to carry out the activities specified in
subparagraph (A) will not be less than $2,000,000, of which
each of the States that is party to the grant will contribute
equally in cash or in kind;
(3) States may use private funds to meet the requirements
of paragraph (2); and
(4) the State of Arizona may apply $45,000 authorized by
the State of Arizona during fiscal year 1998 for planning and
$250,000 that is held in reserve by that State for construction
toward the Arizona share.
(b) Grant Requirements.--In order to receive a grant under this
Act, the recipient shall--
(1) submit to the Secretary a proposal that meets all
applicable--
(A) laws, including building codes and regulations;
(B) requirements under the Memorandum of
Understanding described in paragraph (2) of this
subsection; and
(C) provides such information and assurances as the
Secretary may require; and
(2) the recipient shall enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the Secretary providing--
(A) a timetable for completion of construction and
opening of the Center;
(B) assurances that design, architectural and
construction contracts will be competitively awarded;
(C) specifications meeting all applicable Federal,
State, and local building codes and laws;
(D) arrangements for operations and maintenance
upon completion of construction;
(E) a description of center collections and
educational programing;
(F) a plan for design of exhibits including, but
not limited to, collections to be exhibited, security,
preservation, protection, environmental controls, and
presentations in accordance with professional museum
standards;
(G) an agreement with the Navajo Nation and the Ute
Mountain Ute Tribe relative to site selection and
public access to the facilities; and
(H) a financing plan developed jointly by the
Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe outlining
the long-term management of the Center, including but
not limited to--
(i) the acceptance and use of funds derived
from public and private sources to minimize the
use of appropriated or borrowed funds;
(ii) the payment of the operating costs of
the Center through the assessment of fees or
other income generated by the Center;
(iii) a strategy for achieving financial
self-sufficiency with respect to the Center by
not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act; and
(iv) defining appropriate vendor standards
and business activities at the Four Corners
Monument Tribal Park.
SEC. 6. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENT.
The Secretary is authorized to award a grant in accordance with the
provisions of this Act. The Four Corners Heritage Council may make
recommendations to the Secretary on grant proposals regarding the
design of facilities at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
In General.--
(1) Authorizations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this Act--
(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
(B) $50,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through
2004 for maintenance and operation of the center,
program development, or staffing in a manner consistent
with the requirements of section 5(b).
(2) Carryover.--Any funds made available under this section
that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year for which
those funds are appropriated may be used by the Secretary
through fiscal year 2001 for the purposes for which those funds
were made available.
(3) Reservation of funds.--The Secretary may reserve funds
appropriated pursuant to this Act until a proposal meeting the
requirements of this Act is submitted, but no later than
September 30, 2000.
SEC. 8. DONATIONS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of the
planning, construction, and operation of the Center, the Secretary may
accept, retain, and expand donations of funds, and use property or
services donated from private persons and entities or from public
entities.
SEC. 9. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, modify, or impair any
right or claim of the Navajo Nation or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, that
is based on any law (including any treaty, Executive order, agreement,
or Act of Congress).
Passed the Senate September 17, 1998.
Attest:
Secretary.
105th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1998
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize an interpretive center and related visitor facilities
within the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, and for other purposes.
Pages: 1 Other Popular 105th Congressional Bills Documents:
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