S. 1516 — Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act

This section states congressional findings on the historical significance of the city of Cahokia, including that it was inhabited from approximately A.D. 700 to 1400 and at its peak from A.D. 1050 to 1200 covered nearly 6 square miles and was home to 10,000 to 20,000 people; more than 120 mounds were built there over time; it was the central hub and largest city of the Mississippian culture, which ruled and traded across more than 1,250,000 square miles of North America and represented the first known organized urbanization and government north of Mexico (larger than most European cities, including London); some mounds built from A.D. 900 to 1400 still stand as remnants of that culture (ancestors of many of today's First Peoples and Nations); and the Cahokia Mounds are designated as a National Historic Landmark, an Illinois State Historic Site, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including "Secretary" as the Secretary of the Interior and "Study Area" as the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, the Emerald Mounds in St. Clair County, Illinois, and the Pulcher Mounds in Monroe and St. Clair Counties, Illinois.

This section directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study (SRS) of the Study Area in accordance with 54 U.S.C. 100507 (i.e., the National Park Service's process for assessing areas' potential inclusion in the National Park System). The study must (1) evaluate the area's national significance; (2) determine its suitability and feasibility for designation as a National Park System unit; (3) consider alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation by federal, state, local governmental entities, or private and nonprofit organizations; (4) consult interested federal, state, local, private, nonprofit, and other entities and individuals; and (5) identify cost estimates for federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives; and the Secretary must submit the results, conclusions, and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources within three years after funds are made available.