S. 1596 (111th): Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation Act

S 1596 RS

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California.

August 6, 2009

Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mr. INOUYE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

September 27, 2010

Reported by Mr. BINGAMAN, with an amendment

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

[Struck out->] SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] This Act may be cited as the ‘Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation Act’. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] SEC. 2. FINDINGS. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] Congress finds that-- [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (1) the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California, was the location of the founding of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony in 1869; [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (2) the Ranch is-- [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (A) the oldest property in North America to be associated with Japanese immigration; and [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (B) the only property associated with the immigration of samurai following the Meiji Restoration; [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (3) the Ranch includes-- [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (A) an 1860s home that was occupied by the Wakamatsu settlers; [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (B) mulberry trees planted by the silk farmers; and [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (C) the grave stone of Okei Ito, which is the oldest Japanese immigrant grave in the United States; and [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (4) a variety of non-Federal funds have been obligated with respect to the acquisition and restoration of the Ranch, including-- [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (A) $485,000 from the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and $515,000 from private donations to be applied toward acquisition of the Ranch; and [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (B) $483,750 from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment to be applied toward restoration of the Graner farmhouse. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] In this Act: [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (1) MAP- The term ‘map’ means the map entitled ‘Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Site’ and dated May 7, 2009. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (2) RANCH- [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘Ranch’ means the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California (El Dorado County Assessor’s Parcel No. 089-010-06), comprising approximately 272 acres, which is more particularly described as the SW 1/4 and the SW 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Sec. 29 and the N 1/2 NE 1/4 of Sec. 32, T. 11 N., R. 10 E., of El Dorado County, California. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (B) EXCLUSION- The term ‘Ranch’ excludes the small inholding of the Gold Trail School District, as depicted on the map. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (3) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] SEC. 4. ACQUISITION OF GOLD HILL RANCH, COLOMA, CALIFORNIA. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (a) In General- Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may acquire the Ranch in exchange for consideration in an amount not to exceed $3,290,000. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (b) Limitation on Acquisition- The acquisition of the Ranch under subsection (a) shall only be from willing sellers and not through eminent domain. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (c) Non-Federal Contributions- For the consideration required under subsection (a), the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation shall contribute any private funds or State or Federal grants received by the Conservancy and the Foundation for the acquisition of the Ranch. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (d) Visitor Center- [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (1) IN GENERAL- On acquisition of the Wakamatsu Colony site, the Secretary may work with the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation to design and develop a visitor center that provides for the interpretation of-- [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (A) the Wakamatsu Colony; [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (B) early pioneer history; and [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (C) the contribution of traditional Japanese crops and practices to the extensive agricultural economy of the State of California. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (2) COSTS- To the maximum extent practicable, the costs of constructing the visitor center and conducting restoration activities at the Ranch shall be leveraged by amounts received by the American River Conservancy and the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Foundation in the form of private funds and State or Federal grants provided for those purposes. [<-Struck out]

[Struck out->] (e) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act. [<-Struck out]

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation Act’.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) GOLD HILL RANCH- The term ‘Gold Hill Ranch’ means the approximately 272 acres of land located in Coloma, California, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Site’ and dated May 7, 2009.

(2) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 3. GOLD HILL RANCH.

(a) Acquisition- The Secretary may acquire the Gold Hill Ranch, including any interest in the Gold Hill Ranch, by purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds, donation, or exchange.

(b) Management- The Secretary shall manage any land or interest in land acquired under subsection (a) in accordance with--

(1) this Act;

(2) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and

(3) any other applicable laws.

(c) Cooperative Agreement-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with public or nonprofit entities to interpret the history of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony and related pioneer history associated with Japanese immigration to the area, including the history of traditional Japanese crops and farming practices and the contribution of those practices to the agricultural economy of the State of California.

(2) INCLUSIONS- The cooperative agreement referred to in paragraph (1) may include provisions for the design and development of a visitor center to further public education and interpretation of the Gold Hill Ranch.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

Calendar No. 594

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California.

September 27, 2010

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