“A bill to establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) "Advisory Commission" as the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Advisory Commission established under section 9(a); (2) "Bay" as the Chesapeake Bay, including its tidal tributaries, in Maryland and Virginia; (3) "Bay Program" as the Chesapeake Bay Program authorized under section 117 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267); (4) "Chesapeake Gateways" as the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network authorized under section 502 of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (54 U.S.C. 320101 note); (5) "Map" as the map entitled “Chesapeake National Recreation Area Proposed Boundary”, numbered P99/189631, and dated June 2023 (5 pages); (6) "National Recreation Area" as the Chesapeake National Recreation Area established by section 3(a); (7) "Secretary" as the Secretary of the Interior; and (8) "youth representative" as a member of the Advisory Commission who is under age 22 and tasked with representing children and young adults from the member's state.
This section establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area in Maryland and Virginia as a unit of the National Park System to preserve, protect, interpret, and enhance public enjoyment of natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources relating to Chesapeake Bay and surrounding areas, subject to the Secretary of the Interior determining that sufficient land or interests in land have been acquired to constitute a manageable park unit. The Secretary must publish notice of establishment in the Federal Register within 30 days of that determination, with boundaries encompassing areas acquired from sites depicted on a specified map available in National Park Service offices. This section further directs that, upon the Secretary determining specified land within Fort Monroe National Monument (established by presidential proclamation dated November 1, 2011) has been remediated and is appropriate for inclusion, (1) administrative jurisdiction over that land transfers from the Secretary of the Army to the Secretary of the Interior for inclusion in the National Recreation Area; (2) the monument's boundary revises to exclude the North Beach area as depicted on the map; (3) references in federal law, regulations, or documents to the transferred land are deemed references to the National Recreation Area; (4) the Army provides interim administration under a December 9, 2016, memorandum of agreement until transfer; and (5) the National Recreation Area boundary revises to include the transferred land, which is then administered under applicable laws governing the area.
This section authorizes the Secretary to acquire land or interests in land within the boundary of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area by donation, purchase from a willing seller using donated or appropriated funds, exchange, or transfer from another federal agency, subject to limitations in subsection (c). It further directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Commission, to identify additional sites near or adjacent to the Bay for potential addition and, subject to appropriations, assess whether such sites are appropriate and meet National Park Service criteria for units of the National Park System. State- or locally-owned land within the boundary may be acquired only by donation, and no land or interests may be acquired by condemnation.
This section directs the Secretary to administer the National Recreation Area in accordance with this section and laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System. The section authorizes the Secretary to (1) locate the headquarters at the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Park Service to facilitate coordination with the Chesapeake Gateways program and the Chesapeake Bay Program; and (2) acquire up to 10 acres outside the boundary, in accordance with section 4(a), for administrative, interpretive, and visitor service sites. The section requires coordination of National Recreation Area management with the Chesapeake Gateways program, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and—through an implementation plan developed as part of the section 8 management plan—National Park System units in the Bay watershed to interpret and enhance public understanding of Bay resources. The section specifies that nothing in the Act affects statutory or regulatory authority over navigation, commercial or recreational fishing, or shellfish aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries, or enlarges or diminishes State jurisdiction, including with respect to fish and wildlife management.
This section authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with a state, political subdivision, nonprofit organization, or individual to interpret and restore nationally significant historic, cultural, or recreational resources relating to the Bay, provided the agreements ensure reasonable public access to those resources.
This section (1) directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer the Chesapeake Gateways—a network of National Park Service sites interpreting the Chesapeake Bay region's heritage—in coordination with the National Recreation Area; (2) provides permanent authorization of such sums as are necessary for the Chesapeake Gateways by amending the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (previously limited authorization); and (3) specifies that neither this section nor its amendments modify eligibility criteria for the Gateways.
This section directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council (i.e., the signatories to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement that directs the Chesapeake Bay Program) and the Advisory Commission, to prepare a management plan for the National Recreation Area in accordance with 54 U.S.C. 100502 not later than three years after funds are first made available for that purpose. In preparing the plan, the Secretary must consider including visitor facilities in Annapolis, Maryland, and in or near Fort Monroe. As part of the plan, the Secretary must consult with state and local governments to minimize park-related traffic impacts on nearby communities.
This section establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Advisory Commission, to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior not later than 180 days after enactment of the Act. The 19-member commission—composed of 9 appointees from Maryland (including representatives of environmental/recreational/cultural/historic interests, commercial fishing, agriculture, youth, the Governor's recommendation, and a Tribe traditionally associated with the Bay), 9 from Virginia (with parallel representation), and the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission—must recommend to the Secretary updates to the management plan under section 8 and potential additions to the National Recreation Area under section 4(b); it may form committees on issues such as education, tourism, and revenue generation and is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (except section 1013(b)) and other applicable laws. Commission members serve 3-year terms without compensation (reimbursed for travel expenses), elect a chairperson and vice chairperson annually, meet with a quorum of 11 members (allowing virtual participation), and follow self-established procedures requiring majority votes and 3/4 presence for elections.