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H.R. 5254 · House bill · 119th Congress
This bill authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to enter into a one-time agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events at the Gateway Arch National Park and its buildings for a period of up to five years. The NPS manages the park, located in St. Louis, Missouri, and its buildings, such as the Arch Visitor Center and the Old Courthouse.
The bill outlines the terms and conditions that must be included in the agreement. The bill also requires private events hosted at the park or its buildings to be consistent with the park's purposes and compatible with NPS programs. Such events may not (1) degrade the integrity, appearance, or purposes of the park; or (2) take place during times or in locations that prevent or disrupt public use or access to the park or its buildings.
The NPS must charge a fee to cover the cost of wear and tear resulting from the private events. The NPS may recover all costs incurred as a result of the private events, including maintenance, utilities, administrative expenses, security, and personnel costs.
The bill terminates the NPS's authority to enter and carry out an agreement with the foundation seven years after the enactment of this bill.
This Act may be cited as the “Gateway Partnership Act”.
In this Act:
(1) Foundation.— The term Foundation means the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, a nonprofit organization that serves as the official philanthropic partner of the Park.
(2) Park.— The term Park means Gateway Arch National Park.
(3) Park building.— The term Park building means—
(A) the Arch Visitor Center;
(B) the Old Courthouse; and
(C) any other building administered or managed by the Secretary as part of the Park that is open to the public.
(4) Secretary.— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(a) In general.— The Secretary, in accordance with subsection (b), may enter into a one-time agreement for a period not to exceed five years with the Foundation to host private events at the Park, which may include the use of Park buildings.
(b) Terms and conditions.— An agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall include terms and conditions to protect the resources and values of the Park, including—
(1) dates and times during which the Foundation may be the exclusive organization that holds a special event in specified Park buildings;
(2)
(A) the maximum number of events that can be held per month; and
(B) appropriate National Park Service staffing levels necessary to ensure public safety and resource protection during such events;
(3) liability insurance in an amount sufficient to protect the interests of the United States that lists the United States as additionally insured;
(4) a provision stating that the Federal Government and agents and employees of the Federal Government will not be held liable for claims for damages or suits for any injuries or deaths from any cause resulting from the occupancy and use of specified Park buildings by the Foundation;
(5) a provision allowing for the modification or cancellation of the terms and conditions of the agreement, except that any modified agreement shall still comply with the terms and conditions described in subparagraphs (1) through (4); and
(6) any other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(c) Use.— Private events hosted at the Park or in Park buildings through an agreement entered into under subsection (a)—
(1) shall be limited to activities—
(A) consistent with the purposes of the Park; and
(B) compatible with National Park Service programs;
(2) shall not include activities that degrade the integrity, appearance, or purposes of the Park; and
(3) shall not take place during times or in locations that prevent or disrupt public use or access to the Park or Park buildings.
(d) Recovery of costs.— In entering into an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary—
(1) shall charge a fee to cover the cost of maintaining the Park and Park buildings with respect to wear and tear resulting from the private events; and
(2) notwithstanding any other provision of law, may recover all costs incurred as a result of the private events and use of the Park and Park buildings, including maintenance, utilities, administrative expenses, security, and personnel costs.
(e) National Park Service-Sponsored events.— Nothing in this Act prevents the National Park Service from hosting events or issuing permits to other individuals or entities for special events or otherwise, as appropriate, in the Park or Park buildings.
(f) Sunset.—
(1) In general.— The authority to enter into and carry out an agreement with the Foundation pursuant to this Act shall sunset on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Effect on existing agreement.— Any existing agreement entered into under this section shall terminate, notwithstanding any terms within such agreement, on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(g) Saving clause.— Nothing in this Act affects any other authority of the Secretary to issue special use permits or agreements.
(h) Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report evaluating the implementation of this Act, including the—
(1) operational impacts of the agreement on visitor access, security, staffing, and facilities management; and
(2) financial implications of the agreement, including fees collected and costs recovered.