[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1585 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1585

   To provide for the establishment of the Ohio River Corridor Study 
                  Commission, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             October 25 (legislative day, October 13), 1993

 Mr. Simon (for himself and Mr. Coats) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the establishment of the Ohio River Corridor Study 
                  Commission, 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 ``Ohio River Corridor Study Commission 
Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the amenities and resources of the Ohio River, which 
        flows through 6 States from its headwaters in Pennsylvania to 
        its confluence with the Mississippi River and comprises a chain 
        of commercial, industrial, historical, archaeological, natural, 
        recreational, scenic, wildlife, urban, rural, cultural, and 
        economic areas, are of major significance and importance to the 
        United States;
            (2) the national interest is served by--
                    (A) preserving, protecting, and improving the 
                amenities and resources of the Ohio River for the 
                benefit of the people of the United States; and
                    (B) improving the coordination between all levels 
                of government in the Ohio River Corridor;
            (3) efforts to preserve, protect, and improve the amenities 
        and resources of the Ohio River are inadequate despite efforts 
        by the States through which the Ohio River flows, political 
        subdivisions of the States, and volunteer associations and 
        private businesses in the States;
            (4) Federal agency programs are insufficient to coordinate 
        State and local planning and regulatory authorities to provide 
        for resource management and economic development in a manner 
        that is consistent with the protection and public use of the 
        amenities and resources of the Corridor; and
            (5) the Federal Government should assist in the 
        coordination, preservation, and interpretation activities of 
        public and private entities with respect to the significant 
        amenities and resources associated with the Ohio River.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to focus attention on the unique and nationally 
        significant resources of the Ohio River Corridor;
            (2) to provide a means and stimulus for coordinating the 
        preservation, protection, improvement, enjoyment, and 
        utilization of the resources of the Ohio River Corridor; and
            (3) to establish a national entity to gather, assess, and 
        disseminate information on the historic, economic, natural, 
        recreational, scenic, and cultural opportunities in the Ohio 
        River Corridor.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Ohio 
        River Corridor Study Commission established under section 4.
            (2) Ohio river corridor; corridor.--The terms ``Ohio River 
        Corridor'' and ``Corridor'' mean the Ohio River from 
        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois, and an area 
        extending from the edge of the river to the landward boundary 
        of each county along the designated length of the river.
            (3) Ohio river state.--The term ``Ohio River State'' means 
        each of the States of Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West 
        Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

SEC. 4. OHIO RIVER STUDY COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the Ohio River Corridor Study Commission.
    (b) Duties of the Commission.--
            (1) Study.--The Commission shall study and make 
        recommendations regarding--
                    (A) the feasibility of establishing an Ohio River 
                National Heritage Corridor for the Ohio River Corridor; 
                and
                    (B) the preservation, protection, improvement, 
                enjoyment, and utilization of the historic, economic, 
                natural, recreational, scenic, and cultural resources 
                of the Corridor consistent with this Act.
            (2) Information collection; consultation.--As part of the 
        study conducted under paragraph (1), the Commission shall--
                    (A) assess the preservation, protection, 
                improvement, enjoyment, and utilization potential of 
                the historic, economic, natural, recreational, scenic, 
                and cultural resources of the Corridor;
                    (B) collect information dealing with ongoing 
                activities, management plans, and opportunities 
                regarding historic, economic, natural, recreational, 
                scenic, and cultural resources in the Corridor;
                    (C) make such information available to Federal 
                agencies, States, and political subdivisions of States, 
                tribal governments, educational institutions, volunteer 
                associations, and private businesses to assist such 
                entities in undertaking activities to preserve, 
                protect, improve, or utilize the historic, economic, 
                natural, recreational, scenic, or cultural resources of 
                the Corridor;
                    (D) consult with the Ohio River Valley Water 
                Sanitation Commission and the Ohio River Basin 
                Commission, and cooperate with the commissions and such 
                associations in the performance of its duties;
                    (E) provide a forum for the consideration of 
                resource issues relating to the Corridor;
                    (F) seek and encourage the participation of 
                affected State and local governments, interested 
                citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, 
                educational institutions, and others in the 
                preservation, protection, improvement, enjoyment, and 
                utilization of the resources of the Corridor;
                    (G) recommend methods and means for educating the 
                general population about the national importance and 
                value of the Ohio River as a natural resource and 
                national treasure; and
                    (H) make the Commission accessible to such groups, 
                agencies, and citizens by holding at least one well-
                publicized public hearing in each State within the 
                Corridor.
            (3) Report.--The Commission shall prepare a report that--
                    (A) specifies the results of the study conducted 
                under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) contains--
                            (i) a description of the Ohio River 
                        Corridor and the proposed boundaries of an Ohio 
                        River National Heritage Corridor (if so 
                        recommended) showing the corridor and such 
                        zones as may be appropriate;
                            (ii) an inventory and assessment of the 
                        historic, economic, natural, recreational, 
                        scenic, and cultural resources of the Corridor;
                            (iii) specific preservation and 
                        interpretation goals;
                            (iv) proposed management strategies whereby 
                        the funds, data, personnel, and authorities of 
                        public and private entities may be combined and 
                        coordinated in furtherance of the purposes of 
                        this Act; and
                            (v) such recommendations as the Commission 
                        may deem appropriate with respect to clauses 
                        (i) through (iv) and with respect to public 
                        access to and interpretation of the natural and 
                        cultural resources of the river and related 
                        outdoor recreation opportunities.
    (c) Organization of the Commission.--
            (1) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 
        members including--
                    (A) the Director of the National Park Service (or a 
                designee of the Director);
                    (B) the Secretary of Transportation (or a designee 
                of the Secretary);
                    (C) the Secretary of Commerce (or a designee of the 
                Secretary);
                    (D) the Director of the United States Fish and 
                Wildlife Service (or a designee of the Director);
                    (E) the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of 
                Engineers (or a designee of the Chief); and
                    (F) one member from each Ohio River State appointed 
                by the Governor of such State.
            (2) Ex officio members.--Members designated by clauses (A) 
        through (E) of paragraph (1) shall serve ex officio.
            (3) Initial appointments.--Members of the Commission 
        appointed under clause (F) of paragraph (1) shall be first 
        appointed not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act.
            (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment is made.
            (5) Terms.--Members of the Commission appointed under 
        clause (F) of paragraph (1) shall be appointed for the life of 
        the Commission.
            (6) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall serve 
        without compensation.
            (7) Reimbursement of expenses.--While away from their homes 
        or regular places of business in the performance of services 
        for the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed 
        travel expenses, including a per diem allowance in lieu of 
        subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed 
        intermittently in Government service are allowed travel 
        expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
            (8) Quorum.--
                    (A) In general.--Seven members of the Commission 
                shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of 
                members may hold hearings.
                    (B) Proxy.--A member of the Commission may vote by 
                means of a signed proxy exercised by another member of 
                the Commission, but any member so voting shall not be 
                considered present for purposes of establishing a 
                quorum.
            (9) Chairperson.--As the first item of business at the 
        first meeting of the Commission, the members of the Commission 
        shall elect a chairperson of the Commission from among the 
        members appointed under subsection (c)(1)(F).
            (10) Meetings.--
                    (A) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after 
                the members of the Commission are first appointed, the 
                Commission shall hold its first meeting.
                    (B) Subsequent meetings.--After the initial 
                meeting, the Commission shall meet at the call of the 
                chairperson or a majority of the members.
            (11) Interim rules.--The Director of the National Park 
        Service (or a designee of the Director) shall select the date 
        of the first meeting and shall serve as chairperson until the 
        election of the chairperson under paragraph (9).
            (12) Technical committee.--With the advice and consent of 
        the Commission members, the chairperson may appoint a technical 
        committee with representation from various interest groups, 
        professional agencies, or advocacy groups within the Ohio River 
        States with each State having at least one member.
            (13) Waiver.--The provisions of section 14(b) of the 
        Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) are waived with 
        respect to the Commission.
    (d) Staff; Experts and Consultants; Personnel of Federal 
Agencies.--
            (1) Lead agency.--The National Park Service shall, if 
        personnel are available, staff and advise the Commission.
            (2) Staff.--The Commission, if National Park Service 
        personnel are not available, with advice from the Director of 
        the National Park Service (or a designee of the Director), may 
        appoint and fix the pay of such staff as the Commission 
        considers appropriate, subject to--
                    (A) the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
                governing appointments in the competitive service; and
                    (B) the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III 
                of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification 
                and General Schedule pay rates.
            (3) Experts and consultants.--The Commission, with advice 
        from the Director of the National Park Service (or a designee 
        of the Director), may procure temporary and intermittent 
        services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
            (4) Personnel of states and political subdivisions.--The 
        Commission may--
                    (A) accept the services of personnel detailed from 
                an Ohio River State or a political subdivision of an 
                Ohio River State; and
                    (B) reimburse such State or such subdivision for 
                such services.
            (5) Personnel of federal agencies.--At the request of the 
        Commission, with the advice of the Director of the National 
        Park Service (or a designee of the Director), the head of any 
        Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the 
        personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the 
        Commission in carrying out its duties under this Act.
    (e) Powers of the Commission.--
            (1) Hearings and sessions.--The Commission may hold such 
        hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
        testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
        considers appropriate to carry out this Act.
            (2) Powers of members and agents.--Any member or agent of 
        the Commission may, if so authorized by the Commission, take 
        any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this 
        section.
            (3) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails 
        in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
        departments and agencies of the United States.
            (4) Administrative support services.--The Administrator of 
        General Service shall provide to the Commission on a 
        reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the 
        Commission may request.
    (f) Submission of Reports.--
            (1) Interim report.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
        of the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall 
        submit to the President, the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Governor 
        of each Ohio River State a report describing the progress of 
        the Commission in carrying out the duties of the Commission 
        under subsection (b).
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall 
        submit to the President, the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Governor 
        of each Ohio River State the report required by subsection 
        (b)(3).
    (g) Termination of Commission.--Notwithstanding section 14(a)(2) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Commission 
shall cease to exist 90 days after submitting the report required by 
subsection (b)(3).

SEC. 5. CONSENT TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSED COMPACTS.

    The consent and approval of Congress are hereby given to each Ohio 
River State to enter into an interstate agreement or compact with 1 or 
more of any other Ohio River State in furtherance of this Act or the 
study referred to in section 4(b)(1).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such 
sums as may be necessary to be available until expended during the 3 
years in which the Commission is in existence.

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