Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act

#32 | S Congress #116

Last Action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (1/8/2019)

Bill Text Source: Congress.gov

Summary and Impacts
Original Text

Bill Summary

This bill, titled the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act, establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield in Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System. This monument is intended to preserve and interpret the historic resources and significance of the Mill Springs Battlefield during the Civil War. The bill outlines the boundaries of the monument, as well as the Secretary's authority to acquire land for the monument through donation, purchase, or exchange. It also requires the preparation of a general management plan and states that private property rights and activities outside the monument will not be affected by its establishment.

Possible Impacts



1. This legislation could affect people by restricting their land use rights if they are located within or adjacent to the Monument. They may not be able to use their land for certain purposes, such as development or resource extraction, without the approval of the National Park Service.
2. This legislation could also affect people by limiting their access to the Monument. If the Secretary determines that a sufficient amount of land has not been acquired, the Monument may not be established and people may not be able to visit and learn about the historic resources and role of the Mill Springs Battlefield.
3. The legislation may also affect people who live or own property near the Monument by prohibiting certain activities or uses that could be seen, heard, or detected from within the Monument. This could impact their daily lives and potentially limit their economic opportunities.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 32 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 32

  To establish the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in the 
State of Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 8, 2019

 Mr. McConnell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in the 
State of Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System, 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 ``Mill Springs Battlefield National 
Monument Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Mill 
        Springs Battlefield National Monument, Nancy, Kentucky'', 
        numbered 297/145513, and dated June 2018.
            (2) Monument.--The term ``Monument'' means the Mill Springs 
        Battlefield National Monument established by section 3(a)(1).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
        Park Service.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MILL SPRINGS BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there is 
        established as a unit of the National Park System, the Mill 
        Springs Battlefield National Monument in the State of Kentucky, 
        to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit of present 
        and future generations--
                    (A) the nationally significant historic resources 
                of the Mill Springs Battlefield; and
                    (B) the role of the Mill Springs Battlefield in the 
                Civil War.
            (2) Determination by the secretary.--The Monument shall not 
        be established until the date on which the Secretary determines 
        that a sufficient quantity of land or interests in land has 
        been acquired to constitute a manageable park unit.
            (3) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
        the Secretary makes a determination under paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the 
        establishment of the Monument.
            (4) Boundary.--The boundary of the Monument shall be as 
        generally depicted on the Map.
            (5) Availability of map.--The Map shall be on file and 
        available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
        the National Park Service.
            (6) Acquisition authority.--The Secretary may only acquire 
        land or an interest in land located within the boundary of the 
        Monument by--
                    (A) donation;
                    (B) purchase from a willing seller with donated or 
                appropriated funds; or
                    (C) exchange.
    (b) Administration.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the 
        Monument in accordance with--
                    (A) this Act; and
                    (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the 
                National Park System, including--
                            (i) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and 
                        sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 
                        of title 54, United States Code; and
                            (ii) chapter 3201 of title 54, United 
                        States Code.
            (2) Management plan.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
                date on which funds are first made available to prepare 
                a general management plan for the Monument, the 
                Secretary shall prepare the general management plan in 
                accordance with section 100502 of title 54, United 
                States Code.
                    (B) Submission to congress.--On completion of the 
                general management plan, the Secretary shall submit to 
                the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                Resources of the Senate the general management plan.
    (c) Private Property Protection.--Nothing in this Act affects the 
land use rights of private property owners within or adjacent to the 
Monument.
    (d) No Buffer Zones.--
            (1) In general.--Nothing in this Act, the establishment of 
        the Monument, or the management of the Monument creates a 
        buffer zone outside the Monument.
            (2) Activity or use outside monument.--The fact that an 
        activity or use can be seen, heard, or detected from within the 
        Monument shall not preclude the conduct of the activity or use 
        outside the Monument.
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