[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4156 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4156
To establish the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the State of West
Virginia, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2000
Mr. Mollohan (for himself, Mr. Rahall, and Mr. Wise) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the State of West
Virginia, 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 ``Wheeling National Heritage Area Act
of 2000''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
(1) the area in and around Wheeling, West Virginia,
possesses important historical, cultural, and natural
resources, representing major heritage themes of
transportation, commerce and industry, and Victorian culture in
the United States;
(2) the city of Wheeling has played an important part in
the settlement of this country by serving as--
(A) the western terminus of the National Road of
the early 1800's;
(B) the ``Crossroads of America'' throughout the
nineteenth century;
(C) one of the few major inland ports in the
nineteenth century; and
(D) the site for the establishment of the Restored
State of Virginia, and later the State of West
Virginia, during the Civil War and as the first capital
of the new State of West Virginia;
(3) the city of Wheeling has played an important role in
the industrial and commercial heritage of the United States,
through the development and maintenance of many industries
crucial to the Nation's expansion, including iron and steel,
textile manufacturing, boat building, glass manufacturing, and
stogie and chewing tobacco manufacturing facilities, many of
which are industries that continue to play an important role in
the national economy;
(4) the city of Wheeling has retained its national heritage
themes with the designations of the old custom house (now
Independence Hall) and the historic suspension bridge as
National Historic Landmarks; with five historic districts; and
many individual properties in the Wheeling area listed or
eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic
Places;
(5) the heritage themes and number and diversity of
Wheeling's remaining resources should be appropriately
retained, enhanced, and interpreted for the education, benefit,
and inspiration of the people of the United States; and
(6) in 1992 a comprehensive plan for the development and
administration of the Wheeling National Heritage Area was
completed for the National Park Service, the city of Wheeling,
and the Wheeling National Heritage Task Force, including--
(A) an inventory of the natural and cultural
resources in the city of Wheeling;
(B) criteria for preserving and interpreting
significant natural and historic resources;
(C) a strategy for the conservation, preservation,
and reuse of the historical and cultural resources in
the city of Wheeling and the surrounding region;
(D) an implementation agenda by which the State of
West Virginia and local governments can coordinate
their resources; and
(E) a complete description of the management entity
responsible for implementing the comprehensive plan.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to recognize the special importance of the history and
development of the Wheeling area in the cultural heritage of
the Nation;
(2) to provide a framework to assist the city of Wheeling
and other public and private entities and individuals in the
appropriate preservation, enhancement, and interpretation of
significant resources in the Wheeling area emblematic of
Wheeling's contributions to the Nation's cultural heritage;
(3) to allow for limited Federal, State, and local capital
contributions for planning and infrastructure investments to
complete the Wheeling National Heritage Area, in partnership
with the State of West Virginia, the city of Wheeling, and
other appropriate public and private entities; and
(4) to provide for an economically self-sustaining National
Heritage Area not dependent on Federal financial assistance
beyond the initial years necessary to establish the heritage
area.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act--
(1) the term ``City'' means the city of Wheeling;
(2) the term ``heritage area'' means the Wheeling National
Heritage Area established in section 4;
(3) the term ``plan'' means the ``Plan for the Wheeling
National Heritage Area'' dated August 1992;
(4) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior; and
(5) the term ``State'' means the State of West Virginia.
SEC. 4. WHEELING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
(a) Establishment.--In furtherance of the purposes of this Act,
there is established in the State of West Virginia the Wheeling
National Heritage Area, as generally depicted on the map entitled
``Boundary Map, Wheeling National Heritage Area, Wheeling, West
Virginia'' and dated March, 1994. The map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
National Park Service.
(b) Management Entity.--The management entity for the heritage area
shall be the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation, a nonprofit
corporation chartered in the State of West Virginia.
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) In General.--The duties of the management entity shall be to--
(A) manage the heritage area in accordance with the
plan;
(B) implement and coordinate the recommendations
contained in the plan;
(C) ensure integrated operation of the heritage
area;
(D) conserve and interpret the historic and
cultural resources of the heritage area;
(E) direct and coordinate the diverse conservation,
development, programming, educational, and interpretive
activities within the heritage area; and
(F) work with the State and local governments to
ensure that the plan is formally adopted by the City
and recognized by the State.
(b) Implementation.--To the extent practicable, the management
entity shall--
(1) implement the recommendations contained in the plan in
a timely manner pursuant to the schedule identified in the
plan;
(2) coordinate its activities with the City, the State, and
the Secretary;
(3) ensure the conservation and interpretation of the
heritage area's historical, cultural, and natural resources,
including--
(A) assisting the City and the State in the
preservation of sites, buildings, and objects within
the heritage area which are listed or eligible for
listing on the National Register of Historic Places;
(B) assisting the City, the State, or a nonprofit
organization in the restoration of any historic
building in the heritage area;
(C) increasing public awareness of and appreciation
for the natural, cultural, and historic resources of
the heritage area;
(D) assisting the State or City in designing,
establishing, and maintaining appropriate interpretive
facilities and exhibits in the heritage area;
(E) assisting in the enhancement of public
awareness and appreciation for the historical,
archaeological, and geologic resources and sites in the
heritage area; and
(F) encouraging the City and other local
governments to adopt land use policies consistent with
the goals of the plan, and to take actions to implement
those policies;
(4) encourage intergovernmental cooperation in the
achievement of these objectives;
(5) develop recommendations for design standards within the
heritage area; and
(6) seek to create public-private partnerships to finance
projects and initiatives within the heritage area.
(c) Authorities.--The management entity may, for the purposes of
implementing the plan, use Federal funds made available by this Act
to--
(1) make loans or grants to the State, City, or other
appropriate public or private organizations, entities, or
persons;
(2) enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide
technical assistance to Federal agencies, the State, City, or
other appropriate public or private organizations, entities, or
persons;
(3) hire and compensate such staff as the management entity
deems necessary;
(4) obtain money from any source under any program or law
requiring the recipient of such money to make a contribution in
order to receive such money;
(5) spend funds on promotion and marketing consistent with
the resources and associated values of the heritage area in
order to promote increased visitation; and
(6) contract for goods and services.
(d) Acquisition of Real Property.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
management entity may not acquire any real property or interest
therein within the heritage area, other than the leasing of
facilities.
(2) Conditions for acquisition.--(A) Subject to
subparagraph (B), the management entity may acquire real
property, or an interest therein, within the heritage area by
gift or devise, or by purchase from a willing seller with money
which was donated, bequeathed, appropriated, or otherwise made
available to the management entity on the condition that such
money be used to purchase real property, or interest therein,
within the heritage area.
(B) Any real property or interest therein acquired by the
management entity pursuant to this paragraph shall be conveyed
in perpetuity by the management entity to an appropriate public
or private entity, as determined by the management entity. Any
such conveyance shall be made as soon as practicable after
acquisition, without consideration, and on the condition that
the real property or interest therein so conveyed shall be used
for public purposes.
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) Interpretive Support.--The Secretary may, upon request of the
management entity, provide appropriate interpretive, planning,
educational, staffing, exhibits, and other materials or support for the
heritage area, consistent with the plan and as appropriate to the
resources and associated values of the heritage area.
(b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall, upon request of the
management entity and consistent with the plan, provide technical
assistance to the management entity.
(c) Cooperative Agreements, Loans, and Grants.--The Secretary may,
in consultation with the management entity and consistent with the
management plan, make loans and grants to, and enter into cooperative
agreements with the management entity, the State, City, nonprofit
organization or any person.
(d) Plan Amendments.--No amendments to the plan may be made unless
such amendments are approved by the Secretary. The Secretary shall
consult with the management entity in reviewing any proposed
amendments.
SEC. 7. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
Any Federal department, agency, or other entity conducting or
supporting activities directly affecting the heritage area shall--
(1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity
with respect to such activities;
(2) cooperate with the Secretary and the management entity
in carrying out their duties under this Act, and to the extent
practicable, coordinate such activities directly with the
duties of the Secretary and the management entity; and
(3) to the extent practicable, conduct or support such
activities in a manner which the management entity determines
will not have an adverse effect on the heritage area.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
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