[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2628 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 2628


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 2002

   Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
   To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing the Muscle Shoals National 
           Heritage Area in Alabama, 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 ``Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area 
Study Act of 2002''.

SEC. 2. STUDY.

    The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with appropriate 
State historic preservation officers, States historical societies, and 
other appropriate organizations, shall conduct a study regarding the 
suitability and feasibility of designating the study area described in 
section 3 as the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. The study shall 
include analysis, documentation, and determination 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, 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 that are 
        involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual financial 
        plan that outlines the roles of 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.

SEC. 3. BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.

    The study area referred to in section 2 shall be comprised of the 
following:
            (1) The part of the Tennessee River's watershed in northern 
        Alabama.
            (2) The cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and 
        Muscle Shoals City, Alabama.
            (3) The towns of Anderson, Cherokee, Courtland, Leighton, 
        Lexington, Littleville, Red Bay, Rogersville, Russellville, 
        Town Creek, and Waterloo, Alabama, and their environs.
            (4) Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin, and Lawrence Counties, 
        Alabama.
            (5) Other areas that have heritage aspects that are similar 
        to those aspects that are in the areas described in paragraphs 
        (1) through (4) and which are adjacent to or in the vicinity of 
        those areas.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are 
first made available for this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 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.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 30, 2002.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.