H.R. 182

To extend the authorization for the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission.

STATEMENT OF P. DANIEL SMITH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, EXERCISING THE AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS, CONCERNING H.R. 182, A BILL TO EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE ADVISORY COMMISSION.

MAY 22, 2019

Chairwoman Haaland, Ranking Member Young, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior’s views on H.R. 182, a bill to extend the authorization for the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission (Commission).

The Department does not support H.R. 182. This bill would reauthorize the Commission until September 26, 2028, retroactive to September 26, 2018, the date that the Commission’s authority to operate terminated.

The retroactive extension included in the bill would enable the Commission to function with the same charter and membership it had previously. The Commission was originally authorized in 1961 as a part of Public Law 87-126, the Cape Cod National Seashore's enabling legislation, and began operation in 1966. It has been reauthorized by Congress several times even though the enabling legislation called for the Commission to be terminated ten years after the Seashore was established.

The Department does not see a compelling reason to extend the authorization of the Commission, especially at a time when we are focusing resources on reducing the $11.9 billion backlog of deferred maintenance in national park units and addressing other critical park needs. However, if the Subcommittee takes action on this bill, the Department recommends one change to the Commission’s statutory role. Currently, the law that established the Commission [16 U.S.C. 459b-7(g)] states that no permit for the commercial or industrial use of property located within the seashore shall be issued, nor shall any public use area for recreational activity be established within the seashore, without the advice of the Commission, if such advice is submitted within a reasonable time after it is sought. We recommend this provision be deleted as it is unprecedented for an advisory commission to have this kind of statutory role in park management decisions.

Ms. Chairwoman, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may have.

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