Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park Establishment Act”.
Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park Establishment Act
A BILL
To establish the Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to establish the Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park—
to help preserve, protect, and interpret the nationally significant historical and cultural resources of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range-San Luis Valley region of southern Colorado for the benefit and inspiration of future generations;
to support the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the urban, rural, and agricultural landscape features of the region;
to educate the public about—
nationally significant sites and districts that convey the history of the northern migrations and the other migrations of diverse peoples that settled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range-San Luis Valley region;
the exploration and development of the region under Spanish rule from 1598 through 1821;
the history of communities under Mexican rule between 1821 and 1848, the date of the conclusion of the Mexican American War;
the post-1848 settlement history of the area under United States jurisdiction, and the creation of the State of Colorado; and
the rich and distinctive folklore, religions, and languages of the cultures in the area today; and
to support and enhance the network of partners, including the State and local governments, private entities, and nonprofit entities, that will engage in the protection, improvement, management, and operation of key resources and facilities in the Park and throughout the National Heritage Area.
Sec. 3 Definitions
In this Act:
National heritage area— The term National Heritage Area means the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area established by section 8001 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 111–11).
Park— The term Park means the Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park established under section 4.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service.
State— The term State means the State of Colorado.
Sec. 4 Establishment of Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park
Establishment— Subject to valid and existing rights, there is established in the State a unit of the National Park System to be known as the Sangre de Cristo National Historical Park.
Boundaries— Subject to valid existing rights, the Park shall be comprised of the following cultural and historical sites and byways within the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range-San Luis Valley region of southern Colorado:
The Sangre de Cristo Heritage Center, San Luis, Costilla County.
The Sociedad Proteccion Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos building, Antonito, Conejos County.
The Fort Garland Museum, Fort Garland, Costilla County.
The Denver & Rio Grande Antonito Depot, Antonito, Conejos County.
The Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway.
Dario Gallegos House, San Luis, Costilla County.
Trujillo Homesteads, Alamosa County.
Pike’s Stockade, Conejos County.
The portions of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail located in the areas of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties where the trail crosses federally owned land.
Additional sites—
In general— An additional site may not be added to the Park unless—
the Secretary determines, based on further research and planning, that the site meets the applicable criteria for national significance, suitability, and feasibility; and
notification of the proposed addition of the site has been submitted to—
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
Study— The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of including in the Park additional cultural and historical sites located in the following counties:
Huerfano County.
Las Animas County.
Acquisition of land— The Secretary may—
acquire land or interests in land within the boundaries of the Park by—
donation;
purchase from willing sellers with donated or appropriated funds; or
exchange; and
enter into cooperative management agreements in accordance with section 3(l) of the National Park System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a–2(l)).
Acquisition of water rights—
In general— The Secretary may acquire water rights by—
donation; or
purchase from willing sellers.
Limitation— The Secretary may not acquire water rights by means other than the means described in paragraph (1).
Administration—
In general— The Secretary shall administer the Park in accordance with—
this Act; and
the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—
the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and
the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
General management plan—
In general— Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the Park—
in consultation with applicable State and local governments, owners of property within the boundaries of the Park, and other interested parties; and
in accordance with section 12(b) of the National Park System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a–7(b)).
Requirements— To the maximum extent practicable, the plan prepared under subparagraph (A) shall—
consider ways to use existing visitor facilities and recreational opportunities developed in the National Heritage Area; and
develop programs and management actions cooperatively with the National Heritage Area.
Cooperative agreements—
In general— To further the purposes of this Act and notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may provide grants and technical assistance to, and may enter into cooperative agreements with, the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and private property owners—
to provide technical assistance, interpretation, public access, and other visitor services in the Park; and
subject to the availability of appropriations, to provide not more than 50 percent of the cost of any natural, historic, or cultural resource protection project in the Park and the National Heritage Area that is consistent with the general management plan prepared under subsection (f).
Matching requirement— As a condition of the receipt of funds under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall require that any Federal funds made available under a grant or cooperative agreement entered into under that paragraph are matched on a 1-to-1 basis by non-Federal funds.
Reimbursement— Any payment made by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B) shall be subject to an agreement that the conversion, use, or disposal of the project for purposes that are inconsistent with the purposes of this Act, as determined by the Secretary, shall result in a right of the United States to reimbursement of the greater of—
the amount provided by the Secretary to the project under paragraph (1)(B); or
an amount equal to the increased value of the project that is attributable to the funds, as determined by the Secretary at the time of the conversion, use, or disposal.
Management of old spanish trail— Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the head of the Federal agency with jurisdiction over a portion of the Old Spanish Trail included within the boundaries of the Park under subsection (b)(9), as determined under the applicable management plan for the Old Spanish Trail, shall continue to manage that portion of the Old Spanish Trail.
Limitation— Nothing in this Act expands or diminishes any right of access to any private land within the boundaries of the Park.
Sec. 5 Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.