[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1899 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
103d CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1899
To establish the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area in the State of
Georgia, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 8 (legislative day, February 22), 1994
Mr. Coverdell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area in the State of
Georgia, 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. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) the Augusta Canal National Landmark in the State of
Georgia, listed on the National Historic Register of Historic
Places, and designated by the Governor of Georgia as one of
four regionally important resources in the State, is one of the
last unspoiled areas in the State of Georgia;
(2) the Augusta Canal National Historic Landmark possesses
excellent water quality, beautiful rural and historic cultural
landscapes, architecturally significant mill structures and
mill villages, and large acreages of parks and permanent open
space;
(3) three national historic districts, the Harrisburg,
Laney Walker, and Greene Street districts, and 2 national
historic landmarks, Stallings Island, located in the Savannah
River, and Meadow Garden, are connected by the Augusta Canal
Area;
(4) the beautiful rural landscapes and historic cultural
landscapes, scenic vistas and excellent water quality of the
Augusta Canal contain significant undeveloped recreational
opportunities for people throughout the United States;
(5) the Augusta Canal and related mill sites, structures,
and associated neighborhoods are representative of the
development of the cotton textile industry and associated
agriculture and trade in the South;
(6) the transformation of the agrarian economy of the area
into an early industrial economy was precipitated by the
development and use of the Augusta Canal;
(7) several significant sites associated with the American
Revolution, the Civil War, Native Americans, Colonial
Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans, and Irish
Americans are located within the Augusta Canal area;
(8) despite the efforts by the State of Georgia, political
subdivisions of the State, volunteer organizations, and private
businesses, the cultural, historical, natural, and recreational
resources of the area have not realized full potential and may
be lost without assistance from the Federal Government;
(9) the Secretary of the Interior considers this landmark
threatened and has designated it a priority for protection; and
(10) many local, regional, and State agencies, businesses,
and private citizens have expressed an overwhelming desire to
combine forces to work cooperatively to preserve and enhance
the resources of the Augusta Canal National Historic Landmark
and better plan for its future.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this Act to provide a cooperative management
framework to assist the State of Georgia, its units of local
government, and area citizens in retaining, enhancing, and interpreting
the significant features of the lands, water, and structures of the
Augusta Canal, in a manner consistent with positive economic impact and
development for the benefit and inspiration of present and future
generations in the State of Georgia and the United States.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND BOUNDARIES OF AUGUSTA CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE
AREA.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the State of Georgia
the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (referred to in this Act as
the ``Heritage Area'').
(b) Boundaries.--
(1) In general.--The Heritage Area shall include those
lands in the States of Georgia and South Carolina commonly
known as the Augusta Canal, as generally depicted in the
``Augusta Canal Master Plan'', dated December 31, 1993. The
Augusta Canal Master Plan shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the Office of the Director of the National
Park Service, Washington, D.C.
(2) Map.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (referred
to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall publish in the
Federal Register a detailed description and map of the
boundaries established under this subsection.
SEC. 4. AUGUSTA CANAL COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the Augusta Canal
Commission. Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall appoint the members of the Commission as
follows:
(1) Five members shall be appointed from among persons
serving on the Augusta Canal Authority as established in the
Augusta Canal Charter, by Georgia Public Law.
(2) One member shall be appointed from recommendations
submitted by the mayor of the city of Augusta, Georgia.
(3) One member shall be appointed from recommendations
submitted by a consensus of the Georgia congressional
delegation, representing Augusta, Georgia.
(4) One member shall be appointed from recommendations
submitted by the Governor of the State of Georgia.
(5) One member shall be appointed from recommendations
submitted by the Governor of the State of South Carolina.
(b) Chairperson.--The Commission shall elect a chairman from among
its members.
(c) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) Preparation of Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Augusta Canal Commission shall prepare and
submit to the Secretary for review and approval a plan for the
management and administration of the Heritage Area.
(b) Content.--The plan shall be based on Federal, State, and local
plans in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, including the
Augusta Canal Master Plan. The Augusta Canal Commission shall
coordinate and combine such plans and present an integrated and
cooperative approach for the protection, enhancement, and
interpretation of the cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational
resources of the Heritage Area.
(c) Assistance.--The Secretary is authorized to provide technical
and financial assistance in the preparation of the management plan.
(d) Approval.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after receipt of
the plan submitted pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary
shall approve or disapprove the plan.
(2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve a plan,
the Secretary shall consider--
(A) whether the planning area has strong local
support for the study from a diversity of landowners,
business interests, nonprofit organizations, and
governments within the proposed study area;
(B) whether the proposal is consistent with and
complements continued economic activity in the area;
(C) whether the planning area has a high potential
for effective partnership mechanisms;
(D) whether the plan improperly infringes on
private property rights; and
(E) whether the plan will take appropriate action
to ensure private property rights are observed.
(3) Disapproval.--
(A) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves the
management plan, the Secretary shall notify the Augusta
Canal Commission of the disapproval in writing. The
notice shall include--
(i) the reasons for the disapproval; and
(ii) recommendations for revision.
(B) Revised plan.--The Augusta Canal Commission
shall revise and resubmit the management plan to the
Secretary for approval. Not later than 180 days after
receipt of the revised plan, the Secretary shall
approve or disapprove the plan as provided in paragraph
(2). The Augusta Canal Commission shall revise and
submit the management plan until the management plan is
approved by the Secretary.
(e) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Upon approval of the management plan as
provided in subsection (d), the Secretary, in conjunction with
the Augusta Canal Commission, shall take appropriate steps to
implement the management plan.
(2) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary is authorized to
enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Georgia,
political subdivisions of the State, the Augusta Canal
Commission, or any organization or individual to implement the
management plan.
(f) Economic Development.--The Augusta Commission, the State of
Georgia, the city of Augusta, or any political subdivision of the State
shall encourage, by appropriate means, enhanced economic and industrial
development in the area consistent with the goals of the Augusta Canal
Master Plan.
SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.
(a) Construction.--Nothing in this Act is intended to impose any
occupational, safety, conservation, or environmental regulation on the
Heritage Area that is more stringent than the regulations that would be
applicable to such area but for the establishment of the Heritage Area
pursuant to section 3.
(b) Restrictions.--No Federal agency may promulgate an
occupational, safety, conservation, or environmental regulation for the
Heritage Area that is more stringent than the regulations applicable to
the Heritage Area in existence on the date of enactment of this Act,
solely as a result of the establishment of the Heritage Area pursuant
to section 3.
SEC. 7. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES.
Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activities directly
affecting the Heritage Area shall--
(1) consult with the Secretary and the Augusta Canal
Commission with respect to such activities;
(2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Augusta Canal
Authority with respect to such activities;
(3) coordinate such activities with the Secretary and the
Augusta Canal Commission; and
(4) conduct or support such activities in a manner that the
Secretary and the Augusta Canal Commission determine will not
have an adverse effect on the Heritage Area.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act.
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