[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2609 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2609

 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing the Niagara Falls National 
    Heritage Area in the State of New York, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2001

 Mr. LaFalce introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing the Niagara Falls National 
    Heritage Area in the State of New York, 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 ``Niagara Falls National Heritage Area 
Study Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (2) Study area.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``study area'' means the 
                segment of the Niagara River in Niagara County, New 
                York, that extends from Niagara Falls to the mouth of 
                the Niagara River at Lake Ontario.
                    (B) Inclusion.--The term ``study area'' includes 
                land in any municipality that is adjacent to the 
                Niagara River in Niagara County, New York.

SEC. 3. NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing a heritage area in the 
State of New York to be known as the ``Niagara Falls National Heritage 
Area''.
    (b) Analyses and Documentation.--The study shall include analysis 
and documentation of whether the study area--
            (1) contains an assemblage of natural, historical, scenic, 
        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 sometimes 
                        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, scenic, or cultural features;
            (4) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
        opportunities;
            (5) contains resources important to the identified theme of 
        the study area that retain 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 planning a national heritage 
                area;
                    (B) have developed a conceptual financial plan for 
                a national heritage area that outlines the roles for 
                all participants, 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) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
        public.
    (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary shall 
consult with--
            (1) State and local agencies; and
            (2) interested organizations within the study area.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 fiscal year 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 that describes the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of 
the study under subsection (a).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $300,000.
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