H.R. 4656

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4656 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4656

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing 
Florida Springs National Park in Central and North Florida, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Mr. Fine introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing 
Florida Springs National Park in Central and North Florida, and for 
other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Path to Florida Springs National 
Park Act''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of the Interior.
(2) Study area.--
(A) In general.--The term ``study area'' means 
approximately 2,800 square miles of land in Florida 
located south of Jacksonville, north of Orlando, and 
east of Gainesville.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``study area'' includes--
(i) Ocala National Forest;
(ii) Lake George, Relay, Tiger Bay, 
Seminole Forest (Lake Tracy Unit), Rock Springs 
Run, Marshall Swamp, Ocala (Lake Delancy and 
Church Lake Units), Belmore, Camp Blanding, 
Ocklawaha River, and Grove Park Wilderness 
Management Areas;
(iii) Lake George, Heart Island, Rice 
Creek, Hull Swamp, Crescent Lake, Lochloosa 
Wildlife, Clark Bay, Silver Springs Forest, 
Newnans Lake, Murphy Creek, Horseshoe Point, 
Moses Creek, and Pellicer Creek Conservation 
Areas;
(iv) Lake George, Tiger Bay, Seminole, 
Etoniah Creek, Jennings, and Matanzas State 
Forests, and Indian Lake State Forest 
Campground;
(v) Lower Wekiva River Preserve, Dunns 
Creek, Haw Creek Preserve, Paynes Prairie 
Preserve, De Leon Springs, Blue Spring, and 
Faver Dykes State Parks;
(vi) Longleaf Pine Preserve, Ocklawaha 
Prairie Restoration Area, Deep Creek Preserve, 
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and 
Princess Place; and
(vii) Lake Disston Park.
(b) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a special resource 
study of the study area.
(c) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (b), the 
Secretary shall--
(1) evaluate the national significance of the study area;
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
designating the study area as a unit of the National Park 
System;
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
protection, and interpretation of the study area by the Federal 
Government, State or local government entities, or private and 
nonprofit organizations;
(4) consult with interested Federal agencies, State or 
local governmental entities, private and nonprofit 
organizations, or any other interested individuals; and
(5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
associated with the alternatives described in paragraphs (2) 
and (3).
(d) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection (b) shall 
be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United 
States Code.
(e) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds 
are first made available to carry out the study under subsection (b), 
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 that describes--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
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