Overview
Title
To establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 2345 wants to change a special place in Georgia into a big park where people can visit and play, and it makes sure it's done by talking and working with the people who first lived there, while making sure everyone gets along nicely.
Summary AI
H.R. 2345 proposes the creation of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in Georgia by redesignating the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. It outlines the acquisition of land through purchase, donation, or exchange to form both the park and preserve while explicitly prohibiting the use of eminent domain for land acquisition. The bill emphasizes collaboration with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other stakeholders in managing the park, ensuring cultural sites are protected and providing for hunting and fishing within the preserve. Additionally, it sets plans for an advisory council and authorizes necessary funding for its execution.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
The bill titled "To establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes" aims to redesignate the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as a national park and establish a new preserve. The intent is to offer better protection and management of cultural and natural resources, involving the local Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribe in its operations. It also details land acquisition procedures, management frameworks, and the establishment of an advisory council to aid in overseeing these efforts.
General Summary of the Bill
The bill proposes establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in Georgia, redesignating it from its historical park status. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for these areas through willing sellers, donations, or exchanges, while prohibiting the use of eminent domain. It sets forth guidelines on how these areas should be managed, including allowing hunting and fishing and protecting sacred sites important to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribe. An advisory council, composed of stakeholders including tribal representatives, will advise on management plans and decision-making. Certain lands are to be held in trust for the Tribe, and while an appropriation of funds to support these initiatives is authorized, specific financial details remain vague.
Significant Issues
A key concern involves the lack of specific funding details or a clear budget, potentially leading to financial mismanagement. The bill's language authorizes "such sums as are necessary," which lacks specificity and could result in unchecked spending.
Additionally, the use of a map not finalized until September 2024 could lead to ambiguities in establishing precise park boundaries.
The process to identify "willing sellers" for land acquisition lacks clarity. Execution without a defined framework could lead to confusion or unfair practices.
The creation of the management plan involves a lengthy three-year development period, which may delay immediate action on the park and preserve's projects and conservation efforts.
Another issue is the provision of no compensation for advisory council members, which may impact the diversity and dedication of its participants.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the bill has the potential to enhance conservation efforts, increase tourism, and provide cultural education. By elevating the park's status and safeguarding its assets, it could attract more visitors, boosting local economies.
For local communities, the involvement and leadership of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation could provide a model of cooperative management, potentially leading to more inclusive and culturally sensitive stewardship of historical and natural resources.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation stands to benefit significantly from involvement in the management of culturally significant sites. The bill's provisions for cultural preservation and employment preference could lead to positive socio-economic outcomes for the Tribe.
Environmentalists and conservationists may view the establishment of a national preserve favorably, seeing it as a commitment to protecting biodiversity and ecosystems within Georgia.
On the downside, concerns about financial oversight and a lack of detail about the land to be placed in trust may stir distrust among taxpayers and other stakeholders worried about resource allocation and management efficacy.
Overall, while the bill seeks to achieve important environmental and cultural goals, clear and detailed plans regarding financial management and land acquisition processes will be crucial for success.
Issues
The lack of a specified budget or funding source for the land acquisition in both the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve raises significant financial oversight and accountability concerns. [Section 3]
The ambiguous term 'such sums as are necessary' in the authorization of appropriations lacks specificity regarding budgetary limits and time frames, which could lead to unchecked spending and prolonged financial commitments. [Section 7]
The definitions section refers to a map dated September 2024, which may not be finalized or available, potentially leading to ambiguity in understanding the proposed boundary of the park and preserve. [Section 2]
The absence of criteria or process for determining a 'willing seller' in the land acquisition process may lead to ambiguity during implementation, as there is no clear definition. [Section 3]
The three-year timeframe for the development of a management plan could lead to delays in the implementation of the park and preserve, potentially creating unnecessary bureaucracy. [Section 4]
There is insufficient detail on compensation or incentives for Advisory Council members, which might affect the commitment and diversity of potential candidates, as they serve without compensation. [Section 5]
The language about interaction and collaboration between the Secretary and the Tribe lacks clarity, which may affect mutual understanding and management strategies. [Section 5]
The hiring preference for members of the Tribe could raise concerns about fairness and discrimination against non-tribal members if not appropriately implemented. [Section 4]
The lack of explicit budgetary details or funding sources for the administration of the park and preserve may lead to concerns about financial planning or resource allocation. [Section 4]
The provision for technical corrections to the Map without specifying their nature and scope may lead to ambiguity and lack of transparency. [Section 3]
The oversight and accountability measures ensuring that the land held in trust is used for the benefit of the Tribe according to the trust are not specified, raising potential concerns of misuse or mismanagement. [Section 6]
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section specifies the short title of the Act, which is called the “Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act.”
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides definitions for terms used in the Act, including "Advisory Council" as the council related to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park, "Map" as the specified map detailing park boundaries, "Secretary" as the Secretary of the Interior, "State" as the State of Georgia, and "Tribe" as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
3. Redesignation of Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and establishment of Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section proposes redesignating the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park" as the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park" and allows the Secretary to acquire land for the park and the newly established "Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve" through purchase, donation, or exchange, but not through eminent domain. It also provides guidelines for the management and boundaries of these areas and mandates that a map of the areas be available for public inspection.
4. Administration of Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve will be managed as a single unit, allowing activities like hunting and fishing according to state and federal laws, and providing special consideration for cultural preservation and the involvement of the affiliated Tribe. The law ensures continued federal and state cooperation, respects tribal preferences for hiring, and maintains military overflight freedoms while protecting sacred and cultural sites within the park.
5. Advisory council Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Advisory Council will be established to advise on the park's management plan and ensure Tribal interests are considered. It will consist of seven members, meet at least twice a year, and members will not be paid.
6. Land to be held in trust Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The United States is transferring ownership of approximately 126 acres of land to be held in trust for the benefit of a Tribe. This land will be considered part of the Tribe's territory and will be managed according to laws and regulations that apply to land held in trust for Indian Tribes.
7. Authorization of appropriations Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
There is permission for the government to allocate as much money as needed to implement the purposes of this Act.