February 5, 2025
Ms. Balint introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To amend the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act to expand the boundary of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in the State of Vermont, 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 Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Boundary expansion
Section 3 of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv–1) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
(b) Boundaries; map
(1) Boundaries
(A) In general
The boundaries of the park shall be as generally depicted on the map entitled
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Proposed Boundary Revision, numbered 456/190,048, and dated August 2023.(B) Inclusions
The park shall include the following:
(i)
A historic zone, including—
(I)
the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion;
(II)
surrounding buildings; and
(III)
a portion of the area known as
Mt. Tom.(ii)
A protection zone, including the area occupied by the Billings Farm and Museum.
(iii)
The King Farm, which shall be divided between the historic zone described in clause (i) and the protection zone described in clause (ii), as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
(2) Availability of map
The map described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
Sec. 3. Acquisition of land
Section 4 of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv–2) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:
(1) In general
The Secretary may acquire land or an interest in land within the boundary of the park by—
(A)
donation;
(B)
purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds;
(C)
transfer from a Federal agency; or
(D)
exchange.
(2) King Farm
Acquisition by the Secretary of the land described in section 3(b)(1)(B)(iii) shall include—
(A)
a right of access from the land acquired to the park; and
(B)
a right of access to the land acquired from the park.; and
(B)
in paragraph (3), by striking (3) The Secretary
and inserting the following:
(3) Commercial operation
The Secretary; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(e) King farm
On acquisition by the Secretary of the land described in section 3(b)(1)(B)(iii), the acquired land may be used for—
(1)
agricultural and forestry purposes, including the growing and harvesting of crops and trees, animal husbandry, and other agricultural operations customary in the State of Vermont;
(2)
conservation purposes in a manner that preserves the historic character of a working farm and forest; and
(3)
educational purposes relating to agriculture, forestry, and conservation activities, including the study of natural history.
Sec. 4. Scenic zone
Section 5(a) of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv–3(a)) is amended by striking
and inserting Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Scenic Zone Map
and dated November 19, 1991
.Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Proposed Boundary Revision
, numbered 456/190,048, and dated August 2023
Sec. 5. National Park Service Stewardship Institute
The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv et seq.) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating sections 6 through 10 as sections 7 through 11, respectively; and
(2)
by inserting after section 5 the following:
6. National Park Service Stewardship Institute
(a) In general
There is established at the park the National Park Service Stewardship Institute (referred to in this Act as the
Institute).(b) Purposes
The purposes of the Institute are—
(1)
to highlight and encourage the advancement of stewardship practices through workshops, public programs, learning opportunities, and similar programming;
(2)
to create opportunities within the National Park Service to identify and share innovation through research, evaluation, and dialogue; and
(3)
to identify and exchange best practices and enhance leadership capacity, partnership development, and community engagement in the fields of conservation and resource stewardship.
(c) Administration
The Institute shall be managed as a program of the park.