[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 912 Introduced in Senate (IS)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 912

          To establish the Oil Region National Heritage Area.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 11, 2003

Mr. Santorum (for himself and Mr. Specter) introduced the following 
        bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
        Energy and Natural ResourcesYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
          To establish the Oil Region National Heritage Area.

    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 ``Oil Region National Heritage Area 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the Oil Region of northwestern Pennsylvania--
                    (A) contains numerous sites and districts listed on 
                the National Register of Historic Places; and
                    (B) is designated by the Governor of Pennsylvania 
                as a State Heritage Park Area;
            (2) the Oil Region--
                    (A) is a region with tremendous physical and 
                natural resources; and
                    (B) possesses a story of State, national, and 
                international significance;
            (3) the drilling of the world's first successful oil well 
        by Colonel Edwin Drake in 1859 has affected the industrial, 
        natural, social, and political structures of the modern world;
            (4) 6 national historic districts and 17 separate National 
        Register sites are located in Emlenton, Franklin, Oil City, and 
        Titusville, Pennsylvania, within the State Heritage Park 
        boundary;
            (5) the Allegheny River, which was designated as a 
        component of the national wild and scenic rivers system in 1992 
        by Public Law 102-271 (16 U.S.C. 1274 note; 106 Stat. 108), and 
        several of the tributaries of the River, such as Oil Creek, 
        French Creek, and Sandy Creek, traverse, and connect several 
        major sites within, the Oil Region;
            (6) the unspoiled rural character of the Oil Region 
        provides many natural and recreational resources, scenic 
        vistas, and excellent water quality for the public to enjoy;
            (7) remnants of the oil industry that remain visible on the 
        landscape of the Oil Region, as well as historic valley 
        settlements, riverbed settlements, plateau developments, 
        farmland, and industrial landscapes, provide a direct link to 
        the past for visitors;
            (8) the Oil Region represents a cross section of the 
        history of the United States as that history relates to--
                    (A) Native Americans;
                    (B) frontier settlements;
                    (C) the French and Indian War;
                    (D) African Americans and the Underground Railroad; 
                and
                    (E) the immigration of Swedish and Polish 
                individuals; and
            (9) involvement by the Federal Government would enhance the 
        efforts of the State (including political subdivisions), 
        volunteer organizations, and private entities in promoting 
        cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic 
        resources of the Oil Region.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a cooperative 
management framework to assist the State in conserving, enhancing, and 
interpreting the significant features of the land, water, and 
structures of the Oil Region in a manner that is consistent with 
compatible economic development for the benefit and inspiration of 
present and future generations.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Compact.--The term ``compact'' means the compact 
        between the Secretary and the management entity described in 
        section 5.
            (2) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
        Oil Region National Heritage Area established by section 4(a).
            (3) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' 
        means the Oil Heritage Region, Inc. (or a successor entity).
            (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
        the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under 
        section 7.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
        Park Service.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
        Pennsylvania.

SEC. 4. OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Oil Region National 
Heritage Area in the State.
    (b) Boundaries.--
            (1) In general.--The boundaries of the Heritage Area shall 
        be the boundaries of the land depicted on the map entitled 
        ``Oil Region National Heritage Area'', numbered OIRE/20,000, 
        and dated October, 2000.
            (2) Availability of map.--The map described in paragraph 
        (1) shall be on file in the appropriate offices of the 
        Secretary.
            (3) Publication.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the 
        Federal Register a detailed description and map of the 
        boundaries established under this subsection.

SEC. 5. COMPACT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall enter into a compact with the 
management entity to carry out this Act.
    (b) Components.--The compact shall include--
            (1) information relating to the objectives and management 
        of the Heritage Area; and
            (2) a description of the goals and objectives of the 
        Heritage Area that includes--
                    (A) an explanation of the proposed approach to 
                conservation and interpretation; and
                    (B) a general outline of the protection measures on 
                which the Secretary and management entity agree.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

    (a) In General.--The management entity shall--
            (1) develop a management plan for the Heritage Area in 
        accordance with section 7;
            (2) give priority to implementing actions described in the 
        compact and management plan;
            (3) assist units of government, regional planning 
        organizations, and nonprofit organizations in--
                    (A) establishing and maintaining interpretive 
                exhibits in the Heritage Area;
                    (B) developing recreational resources in the 
                Heritage Area;
                    (C) increasing public awareness of and appreciation 
                for the natural, historical, and architectural 
                resources and sites in the Heritage Area;
                    (D) restoring any historic buildings relating to 
                the themes of the Heritage Area;
                    (E) ensuring that clear, consistent, and 
                environmentally appropriate signs identifying access 
                points and sites of interest are installed at 
                appropriate locations throughout the Heritage Area; and
                    (F) carrying out other actions in furtherance of 
                the purposes of this Act, as determined to be 
                appropriate by the management entity;
            (4) encourage, using appropriate means, economic viability 
        in the Heritage Area in accordance with the goals of the 
        management plan;
            (5) consider the interests of diverse governmental, 
        business, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area; and
            (6) with respect to any year for which Federal funds have 
        been provided to implement the management plan under subsection 
        (b)--
                    (A) conduct public meetings at least annually 
                regarding the implementation of the management plan;
                    (B) submit to the Secretary an annual report that, 
                for the year for which the report is submitted--
                            (i) describes accomplishments, expenses, 
                        and income of the management entity; and
                            (ii) identifies each person that received a 
                        grant from the management entity; and
                    (C) require, with respect to each agreement entered 
                into by the management entity that authorizes the 
                expenditure of Federal funds by any other person, that 
                the person making the expenditure make available to the 
                management entity for audit all records pertaining to 
                the expenditure of those funds.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--The management entity may use funds made 
        available under this Act--
                    (A) to prepare, update, and implement the 
                management plan; and
                    (B) to carry out related activities such as--
                            (i) making grants to, and entering into 
                        cooperative agreements with, States (including 
                        political subdivisions), private organizations, 
                        or other persons;
                            (ii) hiring and compensating staff; and
                            (iii) carrying out initiatives that advance 
                        the purposes of the Heritage Area.
            (2) Prohibition on the acquisition of real property.--The 
        management entity shall not use any funds made available under 
        this Act to acquire real property or an interest in real 
        property.

SEC. 7. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) In General.--The management plan shall--
            (1) present comprehensive strategies and recommendations 
        for conservation, funding, management, and development of the 
        Heritage Area;
            (2)(A) take into consideration State, county, and local 
        plans in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act; and
            (B) involve residents, public agencies, and private 
        organizations working in the Heritage Area;
            (3) include a description of actions that units of 
        government and private organizations have agreed to take to 
        protect the resources of the Heritage Area;
            (4) specify any existing and potential sources of funding 
        to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area;
            (5) include an inventory of the resources contained in the 
        Heritage Area (including a list of any property in the Heritage 
        Area) that--
                    (A) are related to the themes of the Heritage Area; 
                and
                    (B) should be preserved, restored, managed, 
                developed, or maintained because of cultural, 
                historical, natural, recreational, or scenic 
                significance;
            (6) recommend policies for resource management that take 
        into consideration, and include, as appropriate, the 
        application of land and water management techniques (including 
        the development of intergovernmental and interagency 
        cooperative agreements) to protect, in a manner compatible with 
        the support of economic viability, the cultural, historical, 
        natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the Heritage 
        Area;
            (7) describe a program for implementation of the management 
        plan by the management entity, including--
                    (A) plans for restoration and construction; and
                    (B) any specific commitments for the first 5 years 
                of implementation that have been made by the management 
                entity or any other person;
            (8) include an analysis of ways in which Federal, State, 
        and local programs (including the involvement of the National 
        Park Service) may best be coordinated to promote the purposes 
        of this Act;
            (9) describe any revisions to the boundaries of the 
        Heritage Area that are--
                    (A) proposed by the management entity; and
                    (B) requested by the affected local government; and
            (10) include an interpretation plan for the Heritage Area.
    (b) Deadline for Submission.--As a condition of the receipt of 
Federal assistance under this Act, not later than 2 years after the 
date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
management entity shall submit to the Secretary the management plan.
    (c) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
        which the Secretary receives the management plan from the 
        management entity under subsection (b), the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Governor of the State, shall approve or 
        disapprove the management plan.
            (2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve the 
        management plan, the Secretary shall take into consideration--
                    (A) the extent to which the management plan 
                adequately preserves and protects the economic 
                viability and the cultural, historical, natural, 
                recreational, and scenic resources of the Heritage 
                Area;
                    (B) the level of public participation in the 
                development of the management plan; and
                    (C) the extent to which the board of directors of 
                the management entity is representative of the local 
                government and a wide range of interested organizations 
                and citizens.
    (d) Action Following Disapproval.--If the Secretary disapproves a 
management plan, the Secretary shall--
            (1) advise the management entity in writing of the reasons 
        for the disapproval; and
            (2) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
        plan.
    (e) Revision.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
Secretary receives a revised management plan from the management 
entity, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised 
management plan.
    (f) Approval of Changes.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and approve any 
        proposed amendment to the management plan that substantially 
        changes the management plan, as determined by the Secretary.
            (2) Funding.--Funds made available under this Act shall not 
        be expended to implement an amendment to the management plan 
        described in paragraph (1) until such date as the Secretary 
        approves the amendment.
    (g) Effect of Inaction.--If the Secretary does not approve or 
disapprove the management plan or a proposed amendment to the 
management plan within the 90-day period described in subsection (c)(1) 
or (e), respectively, the management plan or amendment to the 
management plan shall be deemed to have been approved by the Secretary.

SEC. 8. DUTIES OF SECRETARY.

    (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may, at the request of the 
        management entity and subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, provide reimbursable or nonreimbursable 
technical and financial assistance to the management entity to carry 
out this Act, including assistance in--
                    (A) updating and implementing the management plan; 
                and
                    (B) carrying out activities of the management 
                entity.
            (2) Priority.--In providing assistance under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in--
                    (A) the implementation of the management plan;
                    (B) the provision of educational assistance and 
                advice regarding land and water management techniques 
                to conserve the significant resources of the Heritage 
                Area;
                    (C) the development and application of techniques 
                to promote the preservation of any cultural and 
                historic properties within the Heritage Area;
                    (D) the preservation, restoration, and reuse of 
                publicly and privately owned historic buildings;
                    (E) the design and production of interpretive 
                materials based on the management plan, including--
                            (i) guide brochures;
                            (ii) visitor displays;
                            (iii) audio-visual and interactive 
                        exhibits; and
                            (iv) educational curricula materials for 
                        public education; and
                    (F) the implementation of initiatives prior to 
                approval of the management plan.
    (b) Documentation of Structures.--The Secretary, in cooperation 
with the Historic American Building Survey and the Historic American 
Engineering Record, shall conduct studies necessary to document the 
industrial, engineering, building, and architectural history of the 
Heritage Area.

SEC. 9. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    Any Federal agency that conducts or supports an activity that 
directly affects the Heritage Area shall--
            (1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity 
        with respect to the activity;
            (2)(A) cooperate with the Secretary and the management 
        entity in carrying out this Act; and
            (B) to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate the 
        activity of the Federal agency with the efforts of the 
        Secretary and the management entity; and
            (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support 
        the activity of the Federal agency in such manner as the 
        Secretary and the management entity determine shall not have an 
        adverse effect on the Heritage Area.

SEC. 10. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES.

    Nothing in this Act affects the authority of the management entity 
to use Federal funds made available under any other Act for the 
purposes for which those funds are authorized.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act--
            (1) $1,000,000 for any fiscal year; and
            (2) a total of $10,000,000.
    (b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of any activity 
carried out under this Act shall not exceed 50 percent.

SEC. 12. TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.

    The authority provided by this Act terminates effective on the date 
that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>