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Week Ending March 9, 2006

H.R.276 To designate the Piedras Blancas Light Station and the surrounding public land as an Outstanding Natural Area to be administered as a part of the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes

Near the historic Hearst Castle in San Luis Obispo County, California is the Piedras Blancas Light Station. This bill would ‘protect, conserve, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the unique and nationally important historical, natural, cultural scientific, educational, scenic, and recreational values of the lands surrounding the lighthouse.

The surrounding area is designated as an Outstanding Natural Area (ONA) bringing it under the Secretary of Interior who is charged with future management of the resource.

If the bill is enacted the land would be withdrawn from all forms of entry, appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; from location, entry and patent under the public land mining laws and withdrawn from operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws and the mineral materials leasing laws.

The Secretary will manage the ONA “in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the unique and nationally important historical, natural, cultural, scientific, educational, scenic, and recreational values of that area, including an emphasis on preserving and restoring the Light Station facilities,..”

Within three years the Secretary will have consulted with Federal, State and local government agencies and the public and will produce a plan that includes provisions designed to ensure the protection of the resources and values of the land; objectives to restore the Light Station and ancillary buildings; implementation of a plan for interpretation and public education about the Station and its importance to the surrounding community; a proposal for minimal administrative and public facilities to be developed or improved to reach the resources objectives of the ONA. The plan will also include cultural resources management strategies.

Cooperative agreements with the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (California DEP) are in order as well as those with state and local entities.

Adjacent, privately owned land may be acquired by the Secretary by donation, exchange with a willing party or purchase from a willing seller.

Low level or other overflights of military, commercial and general aviation planes that can be seen or heard from the ONA are not restricted nor is the creation of modification of special use airspace or the future establishment of military flight training routes over the ONA.

Border security and law enforcement are not to be affected by the bill and Native American access to the ONA for traditional cultural and religious purposes will not be restricted and allows for the facilities to be temporarily closed for Native American ceremonies.

Existing activities near the ONA that can be heard or seen from the ONA are not to be restricted.

Sponsor:  Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA-23^rd)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote March 5, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: Authorized is such sums as may be necessary. Actual amounts will be appropriated at a later date.

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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MORE INFORMATION

Congress finds as follows:

(1) The publicly owned Piedras Blancas Light Station has nationally recognized historical structures that should be preserved for present and future generations.

(2) The coastline adjacent to the Light Station is internationally recognized as having significant wildlife and marine habitat that provides critical information to research institutions throughout the world.

(3) The Light Station tells an important story about California's coastal prehistory and history in the context of the surrounding region and communities.

(4) The coastal area surrounding the Light Station was traditionally used by Indian people, including the Chumash and Salinan Indian tribes.

(5) The Light Station is historically associated with the nearby world-famous Hearst Castle (Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument), now administered by the State of California.

(6) The Light Station represents a model partnership where future management can be successfully accomplished among the Federal Government, the State of California, San Luis Obispo County, local communities, and private groups.

(7) Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area would make a significant addition to the National Landscape Conservation System administered by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management.

(8) Statutory protection is needed for the Light Station and its surrounding Federal lands to ensure that it remains a part of our historic, cultural, and natural heritage and to be a source of inspiration for the people of the United States.

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