Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act
This bill redesignates the Salem Maritime National Historic Site as the Salem Maritime National Historical Park, clarifying that references to the site in law should reflect the new naming. It also requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a boundary study to determine whether additional sites and resources in Salem, Massachusetts, and nearby areas—connected to maritime history, coastal defenses, and military history (including National Guard and militia activity)—should be included in the National Park System as part of the redesigned park. A report with the study results and recommendations must be submitted within three years after funds are made available. In short, the bill changes the official name of the site and launches a formal study to potentially expand the park’s boundaries to incorporate related historical resources in the surrounding area.
Key Points
- 1Redesignation: The Salem Maritime National Historic Site shall be known as the Salem Maritime National Historical Park (Section 2(a)).
- 2Legal references: Any law or official document referencing the former name must be interpreted as referring to the new park name (Section 2(b)).
- 3Boundary study scope: The Secretary must study whether sites and resources in the study area—related to maritime history, coastal defenses, and military history (including National Guard and militia activity)—should be added to the National Park System as part of the park (Section 3(a)).
- 4Study area definition: The study area is Salem, Massachusetts, and its vicinity, and includes the Salem Armory Visitor Center building and adjacent Salem Armory Park (Section 3(c)(2)).
- 5Reporting deadline: Within three years after funds are made available for the study, the Secretary must submit a report with the study results, findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Section 3(b)).