[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 589 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 589

    To establish the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National 
               Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               March 16 (legislative day, March 3), 1993

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National 
               Heritage Corridor, 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 ``Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers 
Valley National Heritage Corridor Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 
        Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage 
        Corridor Commission established under section 6.
            (2) Corridor.--The term ``Corridor'' means the Quinebaug 
        and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor 
        established under section 4.
            (3) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the Governor of 
        the State of Connecticut.
            (4) Plan.--The term ``Plan'' means the Cultural Heritage 
        and Corridor Management Plan to be prepared by the Commission 
        pursuant to section 9.
            (5) Regional planning organization.--The term ``regional 
        planning organization'' means each of the 3 regional planning 
        organizations established by Connecticut State statute chapter 
        127 and chapter 50 (the Northeast Council of Governments, the 
        Windham Regional Planning Agency or its successor, and the 
        Southeastern Connecticut Regional Planning Agency or its 
        successor).
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley in 
        Connecticut is one of the last unspoiled and undeveloped areas 
        in the Northeastern United States and has remained largely 
        intact, including important aboriginal archaeological sites, 
        excellent water quality, beautiful rural landscapes, 
        architecturally significant mill structures and mill villages, 
        and large acreage of parks and other permanent open space;
            (2) Connecticut ranks last among the 50 States in the 
        quantity of federally protected park and open space lands 
        within its borders and lags far behind the other northeastern 
        States in the quantity of land set aside for public recreation;
            (3) the beautiful rural landscapes, scenic vistas and 
        excellent water quality of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers 
        contain significant undeveloped recreational opportunities for 
        people throughout the United States;
            (4) the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley is within a 
        2-hour drive of the major metropolitan areas of New York City, 
        Hartford, Providence, Worcester, Springfield, and Boston;
            (5) with the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors 
        reporting that Americans are taking shorter ``closer-to-home'' 
        vacations, the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley represents 
        important recreational opportunities for a significant portion 
        of the population;
            (6) the existing mill sites and other structures throughout 
        the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley were instrumental in 
        the development of the industrial revolution;
            (7) the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley contains a 
        vast number of discovered and unrecovered Native American and 
        colonial archaeological sites significant to the history of 
        North America and the United States;
            (8) the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley represents 
        one of the last traditional upland farming and mill village 
        communities in the northeastern United States;
            (9) the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley played a 
        nationally significant role in the cultural evolution of the 
        prewar colonial period and lead the transformation from Puritan 
        to Yankee, the ``Great Awakening'' religious revival and early 
        political development leading up to and during the War of 
        Independence; and
            (10) many local, regional, and State agencies, businesses, 
        and private citizens and the New England Governors' Conference 
        have expressed an overwhelming desire to combine forces to work 
        cooperatively to preserve and enhance resources regionwide and 
        better plan for the future.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUINEBAUG AND SHETUCKET RIVERS VALLEY NATIONAL 
              HERITAGE CORRIDOR; PURPOSE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State of 
Connecticut the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage 
Corridor.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to provide a management 
framework to assist the State of Connecticut, and local and regional 
governments and citizens of Connecticut in the development and 
implementation of integrated cultural, historical, and recreational 
land resource management programs to retain, enhance, and interpret the 
significant features of the lands, water, and structures of the 
Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley in Connecticut.

SEC. 5. BOUNDARIES.

    The Boundaries of the Corridor shall include the towns of Ashford, 
Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Franklin, Griswold, 
Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mansfield, Norwich, Plainfield, 
Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Scotland, Sprague, Sterling, Thompson, 
Voluntown, Windham, and Woodstock. As soon as is practicable after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the 
Federal Register a detailed description and map of the boundaries 
established under this section.

SEC. 6. QUINEBAUG AND SHETUCKET RIVERS VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE 
              CORRIDOR COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Quinebaug and 
Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission. The 
Commission shall assist appropriate Federal, State, regional planning 
organizations, and local authorities in the development and 
implementation of an integrated resource management plan for the lands 
and water described in section 5.
    (b) Membership.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall appoint the following 19 
members of the Commission:
            (1) The Director of the National Park Service ex officio 
        (or the delegate of the Director).
            (2) Three individuals nominated by the Governor who shall 
        be--
                    (A) the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department 
                of Environmental Protection, or a person representing 
                the interests of the Commissioner;
                    (B) the Chairman of the Connecticut Historical 
                Commission or a person representing the interests of 
                the Chairman; and
                    (C) the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department 
                of Economic Development or a person representing the 
                interests of the Commissioner.
            (3) Six individuals representing the interests of local 
        governments or regional planning organizations from Connecticut 
        nominated by the Governor, of whom--
                    (A) three individuals shall be representatives of 
                the 3 regional planning organizations within the 
                Corridor region; and
                    (B) three individuals shall be local elected 
                officials from the region.
            (4) Nine individuals from the general public nominated by 
        the Governor, who are citizens of the State of Connecticut, and 
        who represent conservation, business, tourism, and recreational 
        interests.
    (c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the Commission shall be 
        appointed for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed.
            (2) Vacancy.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring before the expiration of the term for which the 
        predecessor of the member was appointed shall be appointed only 
        for the remainder of the term. Any member of the Commission 
        appointed for a definite term may serve after the expiration of 
        the term of the member until the successor of the member has 
        taken office.
    (e) Compensation.--A member of the Commission shall receive no 
compensation for the service of the member but shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner 
as a person employed intermittently in the Government service under 
section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their 
homes or a regular place of business in the performance of services for 
the Commission.
    (f) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be 
elected by the members of the Commission.
    (g) Quorum.--
            (1) In general.--Eight members of the Commission shall 
        constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
            (2) Budgets.--The affirmative vote of not less than 10 
        members of the Commission shall be required to approve the 
        budget of the Commission.
    (h) Meetings.--The Commission shall hold the first meeting of the 
Commission not later than 90 days after the date on which the members 
of the Commission are appointed, and shall meet at least quarterly at 
the call of the Chairperson or at least 10 members of the Commission. A 
meeting of the Commission shall be subject to section 552(b) of title 
5, United States Code.
    (i) Proxy.--Any 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.

SEC. 7. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall have the power to 
        appoint and fix compensation of such staff as may be necessary 
        to carry out the duties of the Commission.
            (2) Appointments; compensation.--Staff appointed by the 
        Commission--
                    (A) shall be appointed subject to the provisions of 
                title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 
                the competitive service; and
                    (B) shall be paid in accordance with provisions of 
                chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such 
                title relating to classification and General Schedule 
                pay rates.
    (b) Experts and Consultants.--Subject to such rules as may be 
adopted by the Commission, the Commission may procure temporary and 
intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by section 
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates determined by the 
Commission to be reasonable.
    (c) Staff of Other Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--Upon request of the Commission, the head 
        of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any 
        of the personnel of the agency to the Commission to assist the 
        Commission in carrying out the duties of the Commission.
            (2) Reimbursement.--The Commission may accept the service 
        of personnel detailed from a State, political subdivision, or 
        regional planning organization, and may reimburse the State, 
        political subdivision, or regional planning organization for 
        these services.

SEC. 8. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may, for the purposes of 
        carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at such times 
        and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as 
        the Commission considers appropriate.
            (2) Subpoenas.--The Commission may not issue subpoenas or 
        exercise any subpoena authority.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
Commission, if so authorized by the Commission, may take any action 
that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act.
    (c) Administrative Support Services.--The Administrator of the 
General Services Administration shall provide to the Commission, on a 
reimbursable basis, such administrative support services as the 
Commission may request.
    (d) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and other agencies of the United States.
    (e) Use of Funds To Obtain Money.--The Commission may use the funds 
of the Commission to obtain money from any source under any program or 
law requiring the recipient of the money to make a contribution in 
order to receive the money.
    (f) Gifts.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may seek, accept, and 
        dispose of gifts, bequests, or donations of money, personal 
        property, or services.
            (2) Tax consequences.--For purposes of section 170(c) of 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any gift to the Commission 
        shall be a gift to the United States.
    (g) Acquisition of Real Property.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission 
        may acquire real property, or interest in real property, in the 
        Corridor--
                    (A) by gift or devise; or
                    (B) by purchase from a willing seller with donated 
                or appropriated funds.
            (2) Management of real property.--Any real property or 
        interest in real property acquired by the Commission under 
        paragraph (1) shall be conveyed to an appropriate public or 
        private land management agency, as determined by the 
        Commission. Any such conveyance shall be made--
                    (A) as soon as is practicable after the 
                acquisition;
                    (B) without consideration; and
                    (C) on the condition that the real property or 
                interest in real property shall be used for public 
                purposes.
    (h) Cooperative Agreements.--The Commission may enter into a 
cooperative agreement with the State of Connecticut, a political 
subdivision, an individual, or an organization. Any cooperative 
agreement shall establish procedures for providing notice to the 
Commission of any action proposed by the State, political subdivision, 
individual, or organization that may affect implementation of the plan 
referred to in section 9.
    (i) Advisory Groups.--The Commission may establish such advisory 
groups as the Commission determines are necessary to ensure open 
communication with, and assistance from, the State, political 
subdivisions of the State, regional planning organizations, and 
interested persons.

SEC. 9. CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) Preparation of Plan.--Not later than 2 years after the date on 
which the Commission conducts the first meeting of the Commission, the 
Commission shall submit to the Secretary and the Governor for review 
and approval a Cultural Heritage and Corridor Management Plan. The Plan 
shall be based on then current Federal, State, and local plans, but 
shall present a unified historic preservation, interpretation, and 
recreational plan for the Corridor.
    (b) Details of Plan.--The Plan shall--
            (1) provide an inventory that includes any property in the 
        Corridor that should be preserved, restored, managed, 
        developed, maintained, or acquired because of the national 
        historic, cultural, or recreational significance of the 
        property;
            (2) recommend advisory standards and criteria applicable to 
        the construction, preservation, restoration, alteration, and 
        use of all properties within the Corridor;
            (3) develop a historic interpretation plan;
            (4) develop an inventory that includes then current and 
        potential recreational sites that are developed or that could 
        be developed along the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers and 
        surrounding areas;
            (5) recommend policies for resource management that 
        consider and detail application of appropriate land and water 
        management techniques, including the development of 
        intergovernmental cooperative agreements to protect the 
        historical, cultural, recreational, scenic, and natural 
        resources of the Corridor in a manner consistent with 
        supporting compatible economic revitalization efforts;
            (6) detail ways in which local, State, and Federal programs 
        may best be coordinated to promote the purposes of this Act; 
        and
            (7) contain a program for implementation of the Plan by the 
        State.
    (c) Implementation of Plan.--After review and approval of the Plan 
by the Secretary and the Governor, the Commission shall implement the 
Plan by taking appropriate steps to preserve and interpret the historic 
resources, develop the recreational resources of the Corridor and 
surrounding areas, and support public and private efforts in economic 
revitalization, consistent with the goals of the Plan. The steps may 
include--
            (1) assisting State and local governmental entities, 
        regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations 
        in--
                    (A) preserving the Corridor and ensuring 
                appropriate use of lands and structures throughout the 
                Corridor;
                    (B) establishing and maintaining visitor centers 
                and other interpretive exhibits in the Corridor;
                    (C) developing recreational programs and resources 
                in the Corridor;
                    (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation 
                for the historical and architectural resources and 
                sites in the Corridor;
                    (E) restoring any historic building in the 
                Corridor; and
                    (F) ensure that clear, consistent signs identifying 
                access points and sites of interest are established 
                throughout the Corridor; and
            (2) encouraging by appropriate means enhanced economic and 
        industrial development in the Corridor consistent with the 
        goals of the Plan; and
            (3) encouraging local governments to adopt land use 
        policies consistent with the management of the Corridor and the 
        goals of the Plan.

SEC. 10. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.

    (a) Approval of Plan.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Governor, shall approve or disapprove a Plan submitted under this Act 
by the Commission not later than 60 days after receiving the Plan. The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Governor, shall approve a Plan if--
            (1) the Plan would adequately protect significant 
        historical and cultural resources of the Corridor while 
        providing adequate and appropriate outdoor recreational 
        opportunities and economic activities within the Corridor;
            (2) the Commission held public hearings and provided 
        adequate opportunity for comment in the preparation of the 
        Plan; and
            (3) the Secretary receives adequate assurances from 
        appropriate State officials that--
                    (A) the recommended implementation program 
                identified in the Plan will be initiated within a 
                reasonable time after date of approval of the Plan; and
                    (B) the implementation program will ensure 
                effective implementation of the State and local aspects 
                of the Plan.
    (b) Disapproval of Plan.--If the Secretary disapproves a Plan, the 
Secretary shall advise the Commission in writing of the reasons for 
disapproval and shall make recommendations for revisions in the Plan. 
Not later than 90 days after the receipt of the notice of disapproval, 
the Commission shall revise and resubmit the Plan to the Secretary who 
shall approve or disapprove a proposed revision not later than 60 days 
after the date the Plan is submitted to the Secretary.
    (c) Assistance.--The Secretary shall, upon request of the 
Commission, assist the Commission in the preparation and implementation 
of Plan.

SEC. 11. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES.

    A Federal entity conducting or supporting activities directly 
affecting the Corridor shall--
            (1) consult with the Secretary and the Commission with 
        respect to the activities;
            (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Commission with 
        respect to the activities and, to the extent practicable, 
        coordinate the activities; and
            (3) to the extent practicable, conduct or support the 
        activities in a manner that the Commission determines will not 
        have an adverse effect on the Corridor.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out the duties of the 
        Commission under this Act $200,000 for fiscal year 1994, and 
        $250,000 for each subsequent fiscal year.
            (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the operating 
        costs of the Commission under this Act shall not exceed 50 
        percent.
    (b) Secretary.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Secretary under this 
Act.

SEC. 13. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Termination.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
Commission shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Extension.--The Commission may be extended for a period of not 
more than 5 years beginning on the termination date referred to in 
subsection (a) if, not later than 180 days before the date--
            (1) the Commission determines the extension is necessary to 
        carry out this Act;
            (2) the Commission submits the proposed extension to the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the United States Senate; and
            (3) the Secretary, in consultation with the Governor, 
        approves the extension.

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