[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3707 Reported in House (RH)]

                                                 Union Calendar No. 316

103d CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 3707

                          [Report No. 103-570]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To establish an American Heritage Areas Partnership Program in the 
                      Department of the Interior.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             June 30, 1994

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed





                                                 Union Calendar No. 316
103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3707

                          [Report No. 103-570]

  To establish an American Heritage Areas Partnership Program in the 
                      Department of the Interior.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 22, 1993

 Mr. Vento (for himself, Mr. Hinchey, and Mr. Boucher) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
                               Resources

                             June 30, 1994

                     Additional sponsor: Mr. Gordon

                             June 30, 1994

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           November 22, 1993]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish an American Heritage Areas Partnership Program in the 
                      Department of the Interior.

    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 ``American Heritage Areas Partnership 
Program Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) certain areas of the United States represent the 
        diversity of the national character through the interaction of 
        natural processes, distinctive landscapes, cultural traditions, 
        and economic and social forces that have combined to create a 
        particular pattern of human settlement and activity;
            (2) despite existing efforts by States and localities and 
        existing Federal programs, the natural, historic, and cultural 
        resources and recreational opportunities in these areas are 
        often at risk; and
            (3) their complexity and character distinguish them and 
        call for a distinctive system of recognition, protection, and 
        partnership management.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of the American Heritage Areas Partnership Program Act 
are--
            (1) to recognize that the natural, historic, and cultural 
        resources and recreational opportunities of the United States 
        represent the great and diverse character of the Nation and are 
        important thereto, and that these resources and opportunities 
        must be guarded, preserved, and wisely managed so they may be 
        passed on to future generations;
            (2) to recognize that combinations of such resources and 
        opportunities as they are geographically assembled and 
        thematically related form heritage areas which provide unique 
        frameworks for understanding the historical, cultural and 
        natural development of the community and its surroundings;
            (3) to preserve such assemblages which are worthy of 
        national recognition, designation and assistance, and to 
        encourage linking such resources within such areas through 
        greenways, corridors, and trails;
            (4) to encourage appropriate partnerships among Federal 
        agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, 
        the private sector, or combinations thereof to preserve, 
        conserve and manage those resources and opportunities, 
        accommodate economic viability and enhance the quality of life 
        for our Nation's present and future generations;
            (5) to authorize Federal financial and technical assistance 
        to State and local governments, private nonprofit 
        organizations, or combinations thereof, to study and promote 
        the potential for conserving and interpreting heritage areas; 
        and
            (6) to prescribe the process by which, and the standards 
        according to which, prospective American Heritage Areas may be 
        assessed for eligibility and included in an American Heritage 
        Areas Partnership Program.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) American heritage area.--The term ``American Heritage 
        Area'' means a place where natural, historic, or cultural 
        resources, or some combination thereof, combine to form a 
        cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from 
        patterns of human activity shaped by geography. These patterns 
        make American Heritage Areas representative of the national 
        experience through the physical features that remain and the 
        traditions that have evolved in them. Continued use of and 
        adaptive reuses of the natural and cultural fabric within 
        American Heritage Areas by people whose traditions helped to 
        shape the landscapes enhances their significance.
            (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' means any 
        Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or 
        community, including any Alaska Native village or regional 
        corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska 
        Native Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible 
        for the special programs and services provided by the United 
        States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (4) Technical assistance.--The term ``technical 
        assistance'' means any guidance, advice, help, or aid, 
        exclusive of financial aid.
            (5) Unit of government.--The term ``unit of government'' 
        means the government of a State, a political subdivision 
        thereof, or Indian tribe.

SEC. 5. AMERICAN HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--In order to preserve nationally distinctive 
natural, historic, and cultural resources, and to provide opportunities 
for conservation, education, and recreation through recognition of and 
assistance to such areas, there is hereby established an American 
Heritage Areas Partnership Program within the Department of the 
Interior, which shall consist of American Heritage Areas designated 
pursuant to subsection (d).
    (b) General Authority.--In accordance with the purposes of this 
Act, the Secretary is authorized to--
            (1) evaluate combinations of resources best preserved, 
        interpreted, stabilized, and managed as American Heritage Areas 
        under a partnership model;
            (2) evaluate areas nominated for designation under 
        subsection (d) as American Heritage Areas in accordance with 
        the criteria established in subsection (c);
            (3) advise State and local governments, as well as 
        nonprofit organizations or other appropriate entities as to 
        suitable methods of recognizing and preserving thematically and 
        geographically linked natural, historic, and cultural resources 
        and recreational opportunities;
            (4) provide technical assistance and grants for the 
        purposes of nominating areas for inclusion in the American 
        Heritage Area Program, of developing compacts for nominated 
        areas, of developing management plans for designated areas, and 
        of undertaking capital projects and improvements pursuant to 
        such management plans; and
            (5) to consider any heritage area designated under this or 
        any other Act for nomination to the World Heritage List if the 
        Secretary determines that such heritage area meets the 
        qualification for such nomination.
    (c) Criteria.--To be eligible for designation as an American 
Heritage Area, a proposed area shall meet each of the following 
criteria:
            (1) The area shall be an assemblage of natural, historic, 
        or cultural resources that together represent distinctive 
        aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, 
        preservation, interpretation and continuing use which are best 
        managed as such, through partnerships among public and private 
        entities, and combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous 
        resources and active communities.
            (2) The area shall reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, or 
        folklife, or some combination thereof, that are a valuable part 
        of the Nation's story.
            (3) The area shall provide outstanding opportunities to 
        conserve natural, cultural, or historic features, or some 
        combination thereof.
            (4) The area shall provide outstanding recreational and 
        educational opportunities.
            (5) The resources important to the identified theme or 
        themes of the area shall retain integrity capable of supporting 
        interpretation.
            (6) Residents, nonprofit organizations, other private 
        entities, and governments within the proposed area shall have 
        demonstrated support for designation of the area and 
        implementation of its management plan.
            (7) The principal organization and units of government 
        supporting the designation shall be willing to commit to 
        agreements to work in partnership to implement its management 
        plan.
            (8) The proposal shall be consistent with continued 
        economic viability in the area.
            (9) A compact shall have been prepared with public 
        participation.
            (10) The implementation program outlined in the compact 
        shall be likely to be initiated within a reasonable time after 
        designation and such program shall ensure effective 
        implementation of the State and local aspects of the plan.
    (d) Conditions for Designation.--An area may be designated as an 
American Heritage Area only by an Act of Congress. The Congress may 
designate an area as an American Heritage Area, upon which the 
boundaries of the area shall be specified and the management entity 
recognized, only after each of the following conditions are met:
            (1) An entity requesting American Heritage Area designation 
        shall have submitted a feasibility study and compact, as 
        described in section 6(d), to the Secretary. The comments of 
        the Governor of each State in which the proposed American 
        Heritage Area lies shall accompany such submittals to the 
        Secretary.
            (2) The Secretary shall have approved the feasibility study 
        and compact, and have submitted the study and compact to the 
        Congress. Prior to approving any studies or compacts, the 
        Secretary shall consult with the Advisory Council on Historic 
        Preservation in accordance with section 106 of the National 
        Historic Preservation Act. The Secretary shall submit those 
        studies and compacts described in section 6(d) of this Act to 
        the Congress, together with any comments which the Secretary 
        deems appropriate for a preferred action.
    (e) Relation to the National Register of Historic Places.--The act 
of designation of an American Heritage Area shall not be deemed to 
signify that such American Heritage Area is included in, or eligible 
for, inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, as 
established in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act. 
Designation of an American Heritage Area shall not preclude the 
subsequent nomination to, or determination of eligibility for inclusion 
in, the National Register of any district, site, building, structure, 
or object located within the designated American Heritage Area.
    (f) Duration of Designations.--
            (1) In general.--An American Heritage Area's designation 
        shall continue unless the Secretary determines--
                    (A)(i) that the American Heritage Area no longer 
                meets the criteria established in subsection (c);
                    (ii) that the parties to the compact are not in 
                compliance with the terms of the compact; or
                    (iii) that the management entity has not made 
                significant progress in developing or implementing the 
                management plan; and
                    (B) requests that the Congress withdraw 
                designation.
            (2) Public hearing.--Before making such a determination, 
        the Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall hold a public 
        hearing within the American Heritage Area.

SEC. 6. HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP FEASIBILITY STUDIES, COMPACTS, MANAGEMENT 
              PLANS, AND EARLY ACTIONS.

    (a) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may make matching grants to 
        assist in studies to identify the feasibility of establishing a 
        heritage area, to prepare compacts outlining the objectives, 
        boundaries and management structure of the heritage area, to 
        prepare management plans for designated American Heritage 
        Areas, and to provide support for early actions as part of the 
        development of American Heritage Areas, as described in 
        subsections (d) and (e).
            (2) Eligibility.--The Secretary may make grants under this 
        section to units of government. The Secretary, in consultation 
        with affected units of government, may also make grants to 
        private nonprofit organizations. In awarding grants, the 
        Secretary shall be guided by the criteria for eligibility for 
        designation found in section 5(c).
    (b) Technical Assistance.--
            (1) Eligibility.--The Secretary may provide technical 
        assistance to units of government and private nonprofit 
        organizations in the conduct of studies, compacts, plans, and 
        early actions. In providing technical assistance, the Secretary 
        shall be guided by the criteria for eligibility for designation 
        found in section 5(c).
            (2) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may also elect 
        to provide all or part of the technical assistance in the 
        conduct of studies, compacts, plans, and early actions through 
        cooperative agreements with units of government and private 
        nonprofit organizations whose missions and resources can 
        contribute substantially to the purposes of this Act.
    (c) Other Assistance.--Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to 
prohibit the Secretary or other units of government from providing 
technical or financial assistance under any other provision of law.
    (d) Contents of Studies, Compacts, and Plans.--
            (1) Feasibility study.--Each feasibility study under this 
        Act shall include sufficient information to determine if an 
        area has the potential to meet the criteria in section 5(c). 
        Such information shall include, but need not be limited to, 
        each of the following:
                    (A) A description of the natural, historic, and 
                cultural resources and recreational opportunities, 
                including an assessment of their quality, the degree of 
                integrity, the availability of public access and the 
                themes represented by such resources and opportunities.
                    (B) An assessment of the interest of potential 
                partners, including units of government, nonprofit 
                organizations, and other private entities.
                    (C) A description of tentative boundaries for the 
                area to be nominated.
                    (D) Identification of a possible management entity.
            (2) Compact.--A compact under this Act shall include 
        information relating to the objectives and management of the 
        area to be proposed for designation. Such information shall 
        include, but need not be limited to each of the following:
                    (A) A delineation of the boundaries of the proposed 
                area.
                    (B) A discussion of the goals and objectives of the 
                area to be nominated, including an explanation of the 
                proposed approach to conservation and interpretation, 
                and a general outline of the protection measures 
                committed to by the partners.
                    (C) An identification and description of the 
                management entity which will administer the heritage 
                area.
                    (D) A list of the initial partners to be involved 
                in developing and implementing the management plan for 
                the proposed area, as well as a statement of the 
                financial commitment of such partners.
                    (E) A description of the role of the State or 
                States in which the proposed area is located.
            (3) Management plan.--A management plan under this Act for 
        an American Heritage Area shall present comprehensive 
        recommendations for the heritage area's conservation, funding, 
        management and development. Such plan shall take into 
        consideration existing State, county, and local plans and 
        involve residents, public agencies, and private organizations 
        working in the area. It shall include recommended actions to be 
        undertaken by units of government and private organizations to 
        protect the resources of the area. It shall specify the 
        existing and potential sources of funding to protect, manage 
        and develop the area. Such plans shall include specifically as 
        appropriate:
                    (A) An inventory of the resources contained in the 
                heritage area, including a list of property in the area 
                which should be preserved, restored, managed, 
                developed, maintained because of its natural, cultural, 
                or historic significance as it relates to the themes of 
                the area.
                    (B) A recommendation of policies for resource 
                management which consider and detail application of 
                appropriate land and water management techniques, 
                including (but not limited to) the development of 
                intergovernmental cooperative agreements to protect the 
                area's historical, cultural, and natural resources and 
                recreational opportunities in a manner consistent with 
                supporting appropriate and compatible economic 
                viability.
                    (C) A program for implementation of the management 
                plan by the management entity, including plans for 
                restoration and construction, as well as specific 
                commitments of the identified partners for the first 5 
                years of operation.
                    (D) An analysis of ways in which local, State, and 
                Federal programs may best be coordinated to promote the 
                purposes of the Act.
                    (E) An interpretation plan for the American 
                Heritage Area.
    (e) Early Action.--After designation of an American Heritage Area 
but prior to approval of the management plan for that area, the 
Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance for early 
actions which are important to the theme of the area and which protect 
resources in imminent danger of irreversible damage but for the fact of 
such early action.

SEC. 7. MANAGEMENT ENTITIES.

    (a) General.--The management entities named in the compacts for 
American Heritage Areas are authorized to receive Federal funds in 
support of cooperative partnerships to prepare and implement the 
management plans and otherwise perform the functions contemplated in 
this Act. To be eligible for designation as the management entity of an 
American Heritage Area, a unit of government or private nonprofit 
organization must possess the legal ability to--
            (1) receive Federal funds for use in preparing and 
        implementing the management plan;
            (2) disburse Federal funds to other units of government or 
        other organizations for use in preparing and implementing the 
        management plan;
            (3) account for all Federal funds so received or disbursed; 
        and
            (4) sign agreements with the Federal Government.
    (b) Authorities of the Management Entity.--The management entity 
may, for purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, 
use Federal funds made available through this Act--
            (1) to make grants and loans to States, political 
        subdivisions thereof, private organizations, and other persons;
            (2) to enter into cooperative agreements with Federal 
        agencies; and
            (3) to hire and compensate staff.
    (c) Duties of the Management Entity.--The management entity for an 
American Heritage Area shall--
            (1) develop and submit to the Secretary for approval a 
        management plan as described in section 6(d) within 5 years of 
        the date of designation of such area;
            (2) give priority to implementing actions as set forth in 
        the compact and the management plan, including taking steps 
        to--
                    (A) assist units of government, regional planning 
                organizations, and nonprofit organizations in 
                preserving the American Heritage Area;
                    (B) assist units of government, regional planning 
                organizations, and nonprofit organizations in 
                establishing, and maintaining interpretive exhibits in 
                the American Heritage Area;
                    (C) assist units of government, regional planning 
                organizations, and nonprofit organizations in 
                developing recreational opportunities in the American 
                Heritage Area;
                    (D) assist units of government, regional planning 
                organizations, and nonprofit organizations in 
                increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the 
                natural, historical, and cultural resources in the 
                American Heritage Area;
                    (E) assist units of government, regional planning 
                organizations and nonprofit organizations in the 
                restoration of any historic building relating to the 
                themes of the American Heritage Area;
                    (F) encourage by appropriate means economic 
                viability in the corridor consistent with the goals of 
                the management plan;
                    (G) encourage local governments to adopt land use 
                policies consistent with the management of the American 
                Heritage Area and the goals of the management plan; and
                    (H) assist units of government, regional planning 
                organizations and nonprofit organizations to ensure 
                that clear, consistent, and environmentally appropriate 
                signs identifying access points and sites of interest 
                are put in place throughout the American Heritage Area;
            (3) in developing and implementing the management plan, 
        consider the interests of diverse governmental, business, and 
        nonprofit groups within the geographic area;
            (4) conduct public meetings at least quarterly regarding 
        the implementation of the management plan;
            (5) submit substantial changes (including any increase of 
        more than 20 percent in the cost estimates for implementation) 
        to the management plan to the Secretary for the Secretary's 
        approval;
            (6) for any year in which Federal funds have been received 
        under this Act, submit an annual report to the Secretary 
        setting forth its accomplishments, its expenses and income, and 
        the entities to which any loans and grants were made during the 
        year for which the report is made;
            (7) for any year in which Federal funds have been received 
        under this Act, make available for audit by the Congress, the 
        Secretary, and appropriate units of government all records and 
        other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds 
        and any matching funds, and require, for all agreements 
        authorizing expenditure of Federal funds by other 
        organizations, that the receiving organizations make available 
        for audit by such entities all records and other information 
        pertaining to the expenditure of such funds; and
            (8) be liable for any loans made pursuant to section 
        7(b)(1).
    (d) Disqualification for Federal Funding.--If a management plan is 
not submitted to the Secretary as required under subsection (c)(1) 
within the specified time, the American Heritage Area shall no longer 
qualify for Federal funding.
    (e) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The 
management entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to 
acquire real property or interest in real property. Nothing in this Act 
shall preclude any management entity from using Federal funds from 
other sources for their permitted purposes.
    (f) Eligibility for Receiving Financial Assistance.--(1) A 
management entity for a designated American Heritage Area shall be 
eligible to receive funds appropriated through this Act for a period of 
10 years after the day on which the American Heritage Area is 
designated, except as provided in paragraph (2).
    (2) A management entity's eligibility for funding under this Act 
may be extended for a period of not more than 5 additional years, if--
            (A) the management entity determines such extension is 
        necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this Act and 
        notifies the Secretary not later than 180 days prior to the 
        termination date;
            (B) the management entity, not later than 180 days prior to 
        the termination date, presents to the Secretary a plan of its 
        activities for the period of the extension, including 
        provisions for becoming independent of the funds made available 
        through this Act; and
            (C) the Secretary, with the advice of the Governors of the 
        States in which the American Heritage Area is located, approves 
        such extension of funding.
    (3) Any extension provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be 
construed as waiving any limitation on funds provided by this Act.

SEC. 8. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) Duties and Authorities of the Secretary.--
            (1) Technical and financial assistance.--(A) Following 
        designation of an American Heritage Area, the Secretary may, 
        upon request of the management entity, provide technical and 
        financial assistance with respect to American Heritage Area to 
        develop and implement the management plan.
            (B) In assisting a designated American Heritage Area, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to actions that in general assist 
        in--
                    (i) conserving the significant natural, historic, 
                and cultural resources which support the themes of the 
                American Heritage Area; and
                    (ii) providing education, interpretive, and 
                recreational opportunities consistent with the 
                resources and associated values of the American 
                Heritage Area.
            (C) The Secretary is authorized to spend Federal funds 
        directly on nonfederally owned property to further the purposes 
        of this Act, especially in assisting units of government in 
        appropriate treatment of districts, sites, buildings, 
        structures, and objects listed or eligible for listing on the 
        National Register of Historic Places.
            (D) The Secretary shall decide which American Heritage 
        Areas shall be awarded technical and financial assistance, and 
        the amount of such assistance. Such decisions shall be based on 
        the relative degree to which each Area most effectively 
        fulfills the objectives contained in the management plan and 
        shall give consideration to projects which provide a greater 
        leverage of Federal funds.
            (E) The Secretary may provide technical and financial 
        assistance to units of government and to nonprofit 
        organizations in carrying out the purposes of this Act.
            (2) Approval and disapproval of compacts, and management 
        plans.--
                    (A) The Secretary, in consultation with the 
                Governors of each State in which the proposed or 
                designated American Heritage Area is located, shall 
                approve or disapprove a compact or management plan 
                submitted under this Act not later than 90 days after 
                receiving such compact or management plan.
                    (B) If the Secretary disapproves a submitted 
                compact or management plan, the Secretary shall advise 
                the petitioner in writing of the reasons therefor and 
                shall make recommendations for revisions in the compact 
                or plan. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove a 
                proposed revision within 90 days after the date it is 
                submitted.
            (3) Approving amendments.--The Secretary shall review 
        substantial amendments to management plans of American Heritage 
        Areas. Funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may not be 
        expended to implement the amendments until the Secretary 
        approves the amendments.
            (4) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit an annual 
        report to Congress on the American Heritage Partnership 
        Program. Such report shall include--
                    (A) the number, amount and recipients of any grants 
                provided by the Secretary and the nature of any 
                technical assistance or early action provided pursuant 
                to this Act;
                    (B) a description of the areas nominated for the 
                American Heritage Partnership Program;
                    (C) the Secretary's recommendations for areas to be 
                designated by Congress; and
                    (D) the status of the implementation of contractual 
                agreements entered into by the Secretary under this 
                same program.
            (5) Oversight of heritage areas.--The Secretary shall 
        investigate, study and continually monitor the welfare of 
        American Heritage Areas whose eligibility for Federal funding 
        has expired, and shall report to the Congress periodically on 
        the current and changed condition of any such American Heritage 
        Area.
            (6) Providing information.--In cooperation with other 
        Federal agencies, the Secretary shall provide the general 
        public with information as to the location and character of 
        components of the American Heritage Area Program.
            (7) Promulgating regulations.--The Secretary shall 
        promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out the 
        purposes of this Act.
    (b) Duties of Federal Entities.--Any Federal entity conducting or 
supporting activities directly affecting a designated American Heritage 
Area, and any unit of government acting pursuant to a grant of Federal 
funds or a Federal permit or agreement conducting or supporting such 
activities shall, to the maximum extent practicable--
            (1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity 
        for the American Heritage Area with respect to such activities;
            (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the management entity 
        in carrying out their duties under this Act and coordinate such 
        activities with the carrying out of such duties; and
            (3) conduct or support such activities in a manner 
        consistent with the management plan unless the Federal entity, 
        after consultation with the management entity, determines there 
        is no practicable alternative.

SEC. 9. PRIVATE PROPERTY USE.

    Land use plans for a designated American Heritage Area may be 
adopted and implemented by local governments, or management entities 
authorized by State law to exercise such authorities concerning private 
property use, pursuant to the compact, the management plan, and the 
other binding agreements among the partners supporting the American 
Heritage Area to achieve the purposes of the designation.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Feasibility Studies, Compacts, Management Plans, and Early 
Actions.--From the amounts made available to carry out the National 
Historic Preservation Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary, for grants and technical assistance pursuant to section 
6 and the administration thereof, annually not more than $10,000,000, 
to remain available until expended with the following conditions:
            (1) No grant for a feasibility study, compact, management 
        plan, or early action may exceed 75 percent of the grantee's 
        cost for such study, plan, or early action.
            (2) The total amount of Federal funding for a feasibility 
        study for any one American Heritage Area may not exceed 
        $100,000.
            (3) The total amount of Federal funding for a compact for 
        any one American Heritage Area may not exceed $150,000.
            (4) The total amount of Federal funding for early action 
        grants for any one American Heritage Area may not exceed 
        $250,000.
            (5) The total amount of Federal funding for a management 
        plan for any one American Heritage Area may not exceed 
        $150,000.
    (b) Management Entity Operations.--
            (1) Operating costs.--From the amounts made available to 
        carry out the National Historic Preservation Act, there is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 
        operating costs of each management entity pursuant to section 7 
        not more than $250,000 annually.
            (2) Cost share.--The Federal contribution to the operations 
        of any management entity shall not exceed 50 percent of the 
        annual operating costs of that entity.
    (c) Implementation.--From the amounts made available to carry out 
the National Historic Preservation Act, there is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary, for grants and technical assistance 
pursuant to section 8 and the administration thereof for the 
implementation of management plans for designated American Heritage 
Areas pursuant to section 8, annually not more than $25,000,000, to 
remain available until expended, with the following conditions--
            (1) No grant for implementation may exceed 50 percent of 
        the grantee's cost of implementation.
            (2) No more than 10 percent of the annual appropriation for 
        this subsection shall be made available, in any single year, 
        for implementation activities in a given area.
            (3) No more than $10,000,000 in total may be made available 
        under this subsection to any one American Heritage Area.
            (4) Any payment made shall be subject to an agreement that 
        conversion, use, or disposal of the project so assisted for 
        purposes contrary to the purposes of this Act, as determined by 
        the Secretary, shall result in a right of the United States of 
        reimbursement of all funds made available to such project or 
        the proportion of the increased value of the project 
        attributable to such funds as determined at the time of such 
        conversion, use, or disposal, whichever is greater.
    (d) Limitation on Amounts Available for Technical Assistance.--For 
any one American Heritage Area, an amount equal to not more than 10 
percent of the total amount made available to such area under this 
section for a fiscal year may be made available for that fiscal year 
for technical assistance with respect to that area.

SEC. 11. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITIES.

    The authorities contained in this Act shall expire on September 30 
of the 25th fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this 
Act. The Secretary shall submit to the Congress every 5 years a report 
on the status and accomplishments of the overall American Heritage Area 
Partnership Program.

SEC. 12. SAVINGS PROVISION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to expand or diminish any 
authorities provided by laws designating individual National Heritage 
Areas or Corridors established prior to enactment of this Act.
HR 3707 RH----2
HR 3707 RH----3