Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2345
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-10T06:45:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act aims to redesignate and expand the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Georgia as a national park, while establishing a new adjacent national preserve. This legislation seeks to preserve and interpret the cultural, historical, and natural resources of the area, with a strong emphasis on collaboration with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation (referred to as the "Tribe") to honor its ancestral connections to the site.
Key Provisions
- Redesignation and Land Acquisition for the National Park:
- Renames the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park."
- Allows the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land or interests in land (e.g., easements) within designated areas only from willing sellers through purchase, donation, or exchange—no use of eminent domain (government-forced seizure of property).
- Acquired lands will be incorporated into and administered as part of the national park.
- Establishment of the National Preserve:
- Creates the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve" as a unit of the National Park System once the Secretary determines sufficient land has been acquired to form a manageable unit (effective upon Federal Register notice).
- Similar land acquisition rules apply: only from willing sellers, with no eminent domain.
- Boundaries will adjust based on acquired lands.
- Administration and Management:
- Treats the park and preserve as a single unit under general National Park System laws, including requirements for visitor protection, resource management, and public use.
- Requires a general management plan within 3 years, developed with input from an advisory council, focusing on preserving cultural resources (e.g., burial grounds, sacred sites) and important landscapes significant to the Tribe.
- Permits hunting and fishing in the preserve (and fishing in the park) under federal and state laws, with possible restrictions for safety or management; private lands remain unaffected.
- Provides hiring preference for Tribe members in park positions, following established federal Indian preference policies.
- Ensures protection of sacred and cultural sites, allowing tribal access in line with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (which protects Native American religious practices) and related executive orders.
- Allows military overflights and flight training without interference.
- Does not alter management of the nearby Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge but encourages cultural interpretation programs there with tribal input.
- Advisory Council:
- Establishes a 7-member Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Advisory Council, including representatives from the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tribe (3 members), Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and a local regional commission.
- Duties include advising on the management plan and recommending ways to incorporate tribal interests in land, species, and cultural resource management.
- Operates under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (rules for government advisory groups), meets at least twice yearly, and serves without pay.
- Tribal Land Trust:
- Places approximately 126 acres of existing Tribe-owned land into federal trust (meaning the U.S. government holds legal title for the Tribe's benefit), classifying it as "Indian country" under federal law, subject to tribal and federal regulations.
- Funding:
- Authorizes necessary appropriations (federal budget allocations) to implement the act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Upgrades the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park (established under prior conservation legislation) to full "national park" status, which typically implies stronger federal protection and prestige compared to a historical park.
- Introduces a new national preserve designation, allowing compatible activities like hunting (unlike stricter national parks), and ties its creation to voluntary land acquisition rather than immediate federal control.
- Mandates tribal hiring preferences and consultation, building on but expanding existing federal policies for Native American involvement in public lands.
- Explicitly places specific tribal lands into trust, enhancing tribal sovereignty over those acres without changing broader land ownership laws.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The National Park Service will gain responsibility for expanded lands, requiring new resources for acquisition, management planning, and operations; increased coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tribal entities. The advisory council adds a formal layer of consultation, potentially streamlining decisions but increasing administrative workload.
- On Citizens: Enhances public access to preserved historical and natural sites for education, recreation (e.g., hunting, fishing), and tourism, benefiting local economies in Georgia. Protects cultural heritage while maintaining traditional activities on public lands.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation focuses on domestic conservation and tribal affairs.
- Broader Effects: Promotes cultural preservation, potentially boosting ecotourism and education about Native American history; voluntary acquisition avoids forced displacements, respecting private property.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation: Gains formal involvement in management, access to sacred sites, hiring preferences, and trust status for 126 acres, strengthening cultural and sovereign interests.
- U.S. Department of the Interior (National Park Service): Primary manager of the new park and preserve, responsible for acquisitions, planning, and enforcement.
- State of Georgia (Department of Natural Resources): Involved in advisory council and hunting/fishing regulations; benefits from preserved lands without losing wildlife jurisdiction.
- Local Communities and Regional Bodies (e.g., Middle Georgia Regional Commission): Advisory input on management; potential economic gains from tourism and recreation.
- General Public and Recreation Users: Affected by expanded protected areas and allowed activities like hunting/fishing.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Continues managing adjacent refuge but collaborates on cultural programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces tribal consultation under Executive Order 13175 (federal policy for government-tribal coordination) and protects religious freedoms via the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, potentially setting precedents for co-management of public lands with tribes. The no-eminent-domain clause upholds Fifth Amendment property rights (protection against uncompensated takings).
- Constitutional: Supports tribal sovereignty (rooted in treaties and federal Indian law) by placing land in trust, treating it as Indian country exempt from some state laws, without infringing on states' rights over wildlife.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by Georgia representatives from both parties), highlighting regional priorities for cultural preservation and economic development. Could influence future expansions of the National Park System by emphasizing voluntary, tribal-inclusive approaches, though implementation depends on funding and land availability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (13 pages)