[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2421 Referred in House (RFH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2421


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 6, 2000

                 Referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 Connecticut and Massachusetts.

    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 Valley National 
Heritage Area Study Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (2) Study area.--The term ``Study Area'' means the Upper 
        Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, comprised of--
                    (A) the part of the watershed of the Housatonic 
                River, extending 60 miles from Lanesboro, 
                Massachusetts, to Kent, Connecticut;
                    (B) the towns of Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk, 
                North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, and Warren, 
                Connecticut; and
                    (C) 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, Massachusetts.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF STUDY.

    (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a study of the Study Area.
    (b) Inclusions.--The study shall determine, through appropriate 
analysis and documentation, whether the Study Area--
            (1) includes an assemblage of natural, historical, and 
        cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of the 
        heritage of the United States that--
                    (A) are worthy of recognition, conservation, 
                interpretation, and continued use; and
                    (B) would best be managed--
                            (i) through partnerships among public and 
                        private entities; and
                            (ii) by combining diverse and, in some 
                        cases, noncontiguous resources and active 
                        communities;
            (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife 
        that are a valuable part of the story of the United States;
            (3) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
        historical, cultural, or scenic features;
            (4) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
        opportunities;
            (5) contains resources important to any theme of the Study 
        Area that retains a degree of integrity capable of supporting 
        interpretation;
            (6) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
        organizations, and State and local governments that--
                    (A) are involved in the planning of the Study Area;
                    (B) have developed a conceptual financial plan that 
                outlines the roles of all participants for development 
                and management of the Study Area, including the Federal 
                Government; and
                    (C) 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 State and local governments to develop a 
        national heritage area consistent with continued State and 
        local economic activity; and
            (8) is depicted on a conceptual boundary map that is 
        supported by the public.
    (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary shall 
consult with--
            (1) State historic preservation officers;
            (2) State historical societies; and
            (3) other appropriate organizations.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which 
funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
report on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $300,000 to carry out this 
Act.

            Passed the Senate July 27, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.