[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4312 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.4312

                       One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
             the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand


                                 An Act


 
   To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the 
 suitability and feasibility of establishing an Upper Housatonic Valley 
National Heritage Area in the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth 
                of Massachusetts, 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 ``Upper Housatonic National Heritage 
Area Study Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (``the Secretary'') 
shall conduct a study of the Upper Housatonic National Heritage Area 
(``Study Area''). The study shall include analysis, documentation, and 
determinations regarding whether the Study Area--
        (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
    resources that together represent distinctive aspects of American 
    heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and 
    continuing use, and are best managed through partnerships among 
    public and private entities and by combining diverse and sometimes 
    noncontiguous resources and active communities;
        (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs and folklife that are 
    a valuable part of the national story;
        (3) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
    historic, cultural, and/or scenic features;
        (4) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
    opportunities;
        (5) contains resources important to the identified theme or 
    themes of the Study Area that retain a degree of integrity capable 
    of supporting interpretation;
        (6) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
    organizations, and local and State governments who are involved in 
    the planning, have developed a conceptual financial plan that 
    outlines the roles for all participants including the Federal 
    Government, and have demonstrated support for the concept of a 
    national heritage area;
        (7) has a potential management entity to work in partnership 
    with residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and 
    local and State governments to develop a national heritage area 
    consistent with continued local and State economic activity; and
        (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
    public.
    (b) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary shall 
consult with the State historic preservation officers, State historical 
societies and other appropriate organizations.

SEC. 3. BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.

    The Study Area shall be comprised of--
        (1) part of the Housatonic River's watershed, which extends 60 
    miles from Lanesboro, Massachusetts to Kent, Connecticut;
        (2) the towns of Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk, North Canaan, 
    Salisbury, Sharon, and Warren in Connecticut; and
        (3) the towns of Alford, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, 
    Hinsdale, Lanesboro, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New 
    Marlboro, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, 
    Washington, and West Stockbridge in Massachusetts.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are 
first available for this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $300,000 to carry out the 
provisions of this Act.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.