S. Rept. 105-405 - FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE105th Congress (1997-1998)
Committee Report
Report Type: | Senate Report |
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Accompanies: | S.2246 |
Committees: |
S. Rept. 105-405 - 105th Congress (1997-1998)
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Senate Report 105-405 - FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE [Senate Report 105-405] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] Calendar No. 629 105th Congress Report SENATE 2d Session 105-405 _______________________________________________________________________ FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE _______ October 10 (legislative day, October 2), 1998.--Ordered to be printed _______________________________________________________________________ Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany S. 2246] The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was referred the bill (S. 2246) to amend the Act which established the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by modifying the boundary, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. Purpose of the Measure The purpose of S. 2246 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to expand the boundaries of Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to allow for the donation of a 5.35-acre parcel of land contiguous to the park. Background and Need Frederick Law Olmsted is best known as the creator of major urban parks, including Central Park in New York and the U.S. Capital grounds in Washington, DC. He left his imprint across the Nation, in the green spaces of towns and cities, and in protection efforts for wilderness areas. Olmsted saw the need for preserving green and open spaces where people could escape city pressures and nourish body and spirit. The National Park Service acquired the Olmsted National Historic Site in 1980 (Public Law 96-87) and inventoried the historic design records, including thousands of plans and photographs dating from 1860 to 1980. Olmsted National Historic Site transcends the traditional role of a museum by serving as a center for the study and preservation of landscapes. Landscape and architect researchers throughout the Nation are assisted through the Olmsted Archives and the Olmsted Center of Landscape located at the site. S. 2246 would expand the boundary of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site to add 5.35 acres of donated land. The Brookline Conservation Land Trust has agreed to donate the property to the National Park Service to help preserve the integrity of the historic site. Legislative History S. 2246 was introduced June 26, 1998 by Senator Murkowski at the request of the administration, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation held a hearing on S. 2246 on September 17, 1998. At its business meeting on September 24, 1998, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2246, favorably reported. Committee Recommendation and Tabulation of Votes The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on September 24, 1998, by a unanimous voice vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 2246, as described herein. Summary of S. 2246 S. 2246 amends Public Law 96-87 authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire, through donation only, a 5.35 acre parcel of land owned by the Brookline Conservation Land Trust. The Brookline Conservation Land Trust has agreed to donate the property to the National Park Service to help preserve the setting of the historic site and to make it available for educational purposes. Cost and Budgetary Considerations The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, September 25, 1998. Hon. Frank H. Murkowski, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2246, a bill to amend the act which established the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by modifying the boundary, and for other purposes. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. Sincerely, June E. O'Neill, Director. Enclosure. congressional budget office cost estimate S. 2246--A bill to amend the act which established the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, by modifying the boundary, and for other purposes S. 2246 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to accept from the Brookline Conservation Land Trust the donation of lands (and associated easements) abutting the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. CBO estimates that the NPS would incur only minor expenses generally associated with accepting title to donated property, such as the costs of appraising and surveying the site. Based on information provided by the NPS, CBO expects that the agency would incur no significant additional development or operating expenses after the transfer has been completed. S. 2246 would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would have no significant impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. This estimate was approved by Paul N. Van de Water, 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. 2246. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards of 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 enactment of S. 2256, as ordered reported. Executive Communications S. 2246 was introduce at the request of the Administration. On September 22, 1997 the Department of the Interior transmitted a letter to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee requesting that the bill be introduced and passed. A copy of the letter, and the testimony of the National Park Service follows: Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC, September 22, 1997. Hon. Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: Enclosed is a draft bill ``To amend the Act which established the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by modifying the boundary and for other purposes.'' We recommend the bill be introduced, referred to the appropriate committee, and enacted. The purpose of the legislation is to allow the Secretary of the Interior to acquire, by donation only, lands owned by the Brookline Conservation Land Trust which are situated adjacent to the historic site. These lands remain much as they were during Olmsted's life and acquisition will help preserve the setting of the historic site. The Brookline Conservation Land Trust desires to donate the property to the National Park Service to help preserve the setting of the historic site and to make it available for educational purposes. The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection to the enactment of the enclosed draft legislation from the standpoint of the Administration's program. Sincerely, Donald J. Barry, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. ------ Statement of Destry Jarvis, Assistant Director, External Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the Interior Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss S. 2246, a bill to amend the Act which established Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to authorize the acquisition of certain lands adjacent to the site. Mr. Chairman, the National Park Service strongly supports enactment of S. 2246. S. 2246 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire, by donation only, land and interests therein adjacent to the site and is owned by the Brookline Conservation Land Trust, a non-profit corporation established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Such property would subsequently be included and administered as part of Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site was established on October 12, 1979, for the purpose of preserving the home and office of Frederick Law Olmsted, the great American landscape architect and park designer. After work on such landmark designs as Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, Olmsted moved to Brookline in 1883 where he established the first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape architecture in the United States. Many of the nation's most significant landscapes were designed and developed in the Brookline office by Olmsted, his sons, and successors--thousands of designs, including those for the U.S. Capitol and White House Grounds, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Acadia National Park, and entire park systems in Boston, Chicago, Louisville, and Seattle. Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site is the most important site in the National Park Service dedicated to the history of American landscape architecture and urban planning. The historic office was actively used as a landscape design center by Olmsted and successor firms for nearly a century between 1883 and 1979. Housed on-site are the Olmsted Archives, which contains hundreds of thousands of design records including landscape architectural plans, drawings, and photographs. These records document work in 45 of the states and are of enormous interest to park and city planners across America engaged in the study and rehabilitation of historic landscapes. The site also includes 1.75 acres which formed the working environment of the firm. The plan for this historic landscape was originally conceived by Olmsted and serves as a model exhibit of his design principles, craftsmanship, and use of plant material. Management objectives for Olmsted NHS as stated in the General Management Plan (1983) emphasize preservation of the historic scene, including the landscaped grounds. The objectives also encourage preservation of the general neighborhood character. The National Park Service has recently completed a five-year program of rigorous landscape restoration to interpret better the characteristic Olmsted design and to demonstrate the importance of maintenance practices in historic landscape management. Fortunately the open lands and estates bordering the site have thus far remained largely as they were described when Olmsted first established his home in Brookline; however, neighboring estate properties are presently being developed. The Brookline Conservation Land Trust has willingly proposed to donate to Olmsted NHS six parcels of adjourning land totaling 5.35 acres in order to ensure preservation of one of the few remaining open field and woodland environments in Brookline. There are no buildings; seasonal mowing by the existing park staff would constitute the primary maintenance cost. Acquiring and protecting these lands, which constitute a key component of the historic viewshed at Olmsted NHS, will ensure that the visual and historic integrity of the site is maintained. Legislation to amend the Act which established the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site is necessary in order to modify the existing boundary. If S. 2246 is enacted, no additional funding would be required since start-up and routine maintenance costs are expected to be minimal. This concludes my prepared testimony. I would be happy to answer any questions that you or 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 bill S. 2246, as ordered 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): 93 Stat. 664, Public Law 96-87--Oct. 12, 1979 * * * * * * * TITLE II Sec. 201. (a) * * * * * * * * * * (d) In order to preserve and maintain the historic setting of the Site, the Secretary is authorized to acquire, through donation only, lands with associated easements situated adjacent to the Site owned by the Brookline Conservation Land Trust. These lands are to be used for educational and interpretive purposes and shall be maintained and managed as part of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site.