“To establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section defines terms used in the Act, including "(1) Advisory Council" as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Advisory Council established under section 5(a); "(2) Map" as the map entitled "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Proposed Boundary," numbered 363/193026, and dated September 2024; "(3) Secretary" as the Secretary of the Interior; "(4) State" as Georgia; and "(5) Tribe" as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
This section redesignates Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands or interests therein within the area depicted as “National Park Area” on the Map by purchase from willing sellers, donation, or exchange (prohibiting eminent domain), with acquired lands administered in accordance with section 4 of the bill. (As background, the site in Bibb County, Georgia, preserves approximately 2,000 acres of Native American mounds and archaeological features originally established as Ocmulgee National Monument upon donation, with prior law prohibiting purchase using appropriated funds.) This section further establishes Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve as a National Park System unit, effective upon the Secretary's Federal Register notice that sufficient lands within the “National Preserve Area” on the Map have been acquired to form a manageable unit; authorizes land acquisition for the preserve using the same methods as for the park (prohibiting eminent domain); and sets preserve boundaries to conform to acquired lands. The Secretary may correct the Map technically and must make it available for public inspection in National Park Service offices.
This section directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve as a single unit of the National Park System in accordance with applicable laws generally governing park units and a general management plan to be developed within three years that provides for preservation and interpretation of cultural resources, including burial grounds, sacred sites, and cultural landscapes significant to the Tribe. The section further (1) authorizes hunting on Preserve lands and fishing on park and preserve waters, subject to federal and state laws, designated zones or periods of prohibition for public safety or management reasons, and state consultation; (2) requires hiring policies providing preference to Tribe members consistent with the Indian preference policy (25 U.S.C. 5116); (3) preserves administration of the Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with National Park Service consultation for tribal cultural programs; (4) maintains tribal consultation pursuant to Executive Order 13175; (5) permits military aircraft overflights, special use airspace, and flight training routes; and (6) ensures protection of and tribal access to sacred and cultural sites pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996 et seq.) and Executive Order 13007.
This section establishes the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Advisory Council to (1) advise the Secretary of the Interior on developing and implementing the park and preserve management plan and (2) submit recommendations within three years of enactment on accommodating Tribal interests, including collaboration on land management, species management, and interpretation of cultural and Tribal resources. The council consists of seven members appointed by the Secretary: (1) one National Park Service representative, (2) one U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representative, (3) three Tribal representatives, (4) one State Department of Natural Resources representative, and (5) one member selected after considering recommendations from the Middle Georgia Regional Commission. The council is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (except section 1013), meets at least twice per year, requires a majority quorum including at least one Tribal representative, elects its own chairperson, fills vacancies as with original appointments, and serves without compensation.
This section takes into trust for the benefit of the Tribe approximately 126 acres of land currently owned in fee by the Tribe, declares it part of the Tribe's Indian country (as defined in 18 U.S.C. §1151), and requires its administration under laws and regulations applicable to property held in trust by the United States for Indian tribes. (Thus, the land is subject to federal trust protections and tribal jurisdiction, limiting state authority.)