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115th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 115-1061
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TO REAUTHORIZE THE NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL ROUTE, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
_______
December 3, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bishop of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6602]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 6602) to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal
Heritage Trail Route, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and
recommend that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 6602 is to reauthorize the New Jersey
Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
Background and Need for Legislation
The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route was authorized
by Congress in 1988 and runs along the entire coast of New
Jersey.\1\ The Route was established for public appreciation,
education, understanding, and enjoyment of significant natural
and cultural sites associated with the coastal area of New
Jersey.\2\ Five themes define different aspects of coastal life
along the Route: Maritime History, Coastal Habitats, Wildlife
Migration, Historic Settlements, and Relaxation and
Inspiration.\3\
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\1\Public Law 100-515. 100th Congress. ``An Act to Provide for the
Establishment of the Coastal Heritage Trail Route in the State of New
Jersey, and for other purposes.'' October 20, 1988.
\2\Id.
\3\``Trail Themes''. New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
National Park Service website. https://www.nps.gov/neje/planyourvisit/
trailthemes.htm.
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The National Park Service (NPS), the State of New Jersey,
the Pinelands Commission, and other local organizations
partnered to promote recreation and appreciation of New
Jersey's coastal areas.\4\ The partners developed a strategic
plan which called for an initial implementation period with the
NPS and New Jersey cooperatively managing the Route for five
years, followed by a diminished role by NPS and an expanded
role by New Jersey.\5\ The Secretary of the Interior was given
authority to enter into cooperative agreements and provide
technical assistance in the establishment and development of
the Route. The Route was eligible to receive federal funds for
certain projects provided those funds did not exceed 50% of
total project costs and were matched with non-federal
dollars.\6\
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\4\``New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route--Description''. NYNJ
Trail Conference website. https://www.nynjtc.org/park/new-jersey-
coastal-heritage-trail#dialog-park-description.
\5\1993. ``Implementation Guide, New Jersey Coastal Heritage
Route''. Included as ``Appendix B'' in ``2011 Strategic Plan: New
Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route--Part 2 of 2, Appendices''.
National Park Service. file:///C:/Users/hbaker1/Downloads/
NJCHTR%202011%20Strategic%20 Plan%202%20of%202%20Appendices.pdf.
\6\16 USC 1244 note.
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A sunset provision for the Secretary's authority, and thus
the NPS's participation in managing the Trail, was enacted in
1994.\7\ Subsequent laws extended this timeframe and authorized
increased appropriations in 1999, 2006, and 2008.\8\ The
Secretary's authorities related to the Route expired on
September 30, 2011.
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\7\Public Law 103-243.
\8\Public Law 106-18, Public Law 109-338, Public Law 110-229.
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H.R. 6602 will reauthorize the Secretary of the Interior's
authority and the NPS's ability to co-manage the New Jersey
Coastal Heritage Trail Route through 2025. The bill removes the
unlimited authorization of appropriations for the Route that
was enacted in 2006. It also requires the Secretary of the
Interior to complete a strategic plan for the Trail.
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has introduced a companion
bill (S. 3291) in the Senate.
Committee Action
H.R. 6602 was introduced on July 26, 2018, by Congressman
Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On November 15, 2018, the
Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The
Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments
were offered, and the bill was ordered favorably reported to
the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional
Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, November 19, 2018.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6602, a bill to
reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, and
for other purposes.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani
Shankaran.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall,
Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 6602--A bill to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail
Route, and for other purposes
H.R. 6602 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS)
to co-manage the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route and
provide technical assistance to state and local partners
through 2025.
The NPS's previous authority to co-manage the route and
provide assistance expired in 2011. Based on the previous costs
for those activities, CBO estimates that the agency would spend
about $400,000 annually under the bill for two full-time
employees, one part-time employee, and materials and signage.
H.R. 6602 also would direct the NPS to develop a strategic plan
for the route. Based on the costs of similar tasks, CBO
estimates completing that plan would cost less than $500,000.
In total, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost
about $2 million over the 2019-2023 period; such spending would
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 6602 would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6602 would not increase
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 6602 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani
Shankaran. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal
Heritage Trail Route.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Compliance With H. Res. 5
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
PUBLIC LAW 100-515
AN ACT To provide for the establishment of the Coastal Heritage Trail
Route in the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
[(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
[(b)] (a) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Amounts made available [under
subsection (a)] to carry out this Act shall be used
only for--
(A) technical assistance;
(B) the design and fabrication of
interpretive materials, devices, and signs; and
(C) the preparation of the strategic plan.
(2) Limitations.--No funds made available [under
subsection (a)] to carry out this Act shall be used
for--
(A) operation, repair, or construction costs,
except for the costs of constructing
interpretative exhibits; or
(B) operation, maintenance, or repair costs
for any road or related structure.
(3) Cost-sharing requirement.--
(A) Federal share.--The Federal share of any
project carried out with amounts made available
[under subsection (a)] to carry out this Act--
(i) may not exceed 50 percent of the
total project costs; and
(ii) shall be provided on a matching
basis.
(B) Form of non-federal share.--The non-
Federal share of carrying out a project with
amounts made available [under subsection (a)]
to carry out this Act may be in the form of
cash, materials, or in-kind services, the value
of which shall be determined by the Secretary.
(C) Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(A), funds
made available [under subsection (a)] to carry
out this Act for the preparation of the
strategic plan shall not require a non-Federal
match.
[(c)] (b) Termination of Authority.--The authorities provided
to the Secretary under this Act shall terminate on September
30, [2011] 2025.
* * * * * * *
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NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS ACT OF 2006
* * * * * * *
TITLE VII--JOHN H. CHAFEE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE
CORRIDOR REAUTHORIZATION
* * * * * * *
SEC. 703. NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL ROUTE.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Public Law 100-515 (16
U.S.C. 1244 note) is amended by striking section 6 and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
``(b) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--Amounts made available under
subsection (a) shall be used only for--
``(A) technical assistance; and
``(B) the design and fabrication of
interpretative materials, devices, and signs.
``(2) Limitations.--No funds made available under
subsection (a) shall be used for--
``(A) operation, repair, or construction
costs, except for the costs of constructing
interpretative exhibits; or
``(B) operation, maintenance, or repair costs
for any road or related structure.
``(3) Cost-sharing requirement.--
``(A) Federal share.--The Federal share of
any project carried out with amounts made
available under subsection (a)--
``(i) may not exceed 50 percent of
the total project costs; and
``(ii) shall be provided on a
matching basis.
``(B) Form of non-federal share.--The non-
Federal share of carrying out a project with
amounts made available under subsection (a) may
be in the form of cash, materials, or in-kind
services, the value of which shall be
determined by the Secretary.
``(c) Termination of Authority.--The authorities provided to
the Secretary under this Act shall terminate on September 30,
2007.''.
[(b) Strategic Plan.--
[(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the
date on which funds are made available, the Secretary
of the Interior shall prepare a strategic plan for the
New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
[(2) Contents.--The strategic plan shall describe--
[(A) opportunities to increase participation
by national and local private and public
interests in the planning, development, and
administration of the New Jersey Coastal
Heritage Trail Route; and
[(B) organizational options for sustaining
the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.]
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