[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 222 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 222

   To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing the Northern Neck National 
           Heritage Area in Virginia, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2009

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing the Northern Neck National 
           Heritage Area in Virginia, 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. STUDY  AND REPORT OF PROPOSED  NORTHERN  NECK  NATIONAL  
              HERITAGE  AREA.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Northern Neck 
National Heritage Area Study Act''.
    (b) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior (hereafter referred to as 
``the Secretary''), in consultation with appropriate State historic 
preservation officers, State historical societies, and other 
appropriate organizations, shall conduct a  study  of the suitability 
and feasibility of designating the  study area  as the  Northern  Neck  
National  Heritage  Area  in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
    (c) Criteria.--In conducting the  study, the Secretary shall apply 
the following criteria to determine the suitability and feasibility of 
designating the  study area as a  National  Heritage  Area:
            (1) The  area--
                    (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, 
                cultural, educational, scenic, or recreational 
                resources that together are nationally important to the 
                heritage  of the United States;
                    (B) represents distinctive aspects of the  heritage  
                of the United States worthy of recognition, 
                conservation, interpretation, and continuing use;
                    (C) is best managed as such an assemblage through 
                partnerships among public and private entities at the 
                local or regional level;
                    (D) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and 
                folklife that are a valuable part of the  heritage  of 
                the United States;
                    (E) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve 
                natural, historical, cultural, or scenic features;
                    (F) provides outstanding recreational or 
                educational opportunities; and
                    (G) has resources and traditional uses that have  
                national  importance.
            (2) Residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, 
        and governments (including relevant Federal land management 
        agencies) within the proposed  area  are involved in the 
        planning and have demonstrated significant support through 
        letters and other means for  National  Heritage  
        Areadesignation and management.
            (3) The local coordinating entity responsible for preparing 
        and implementing the management plan is identified.
            (4) The proposed local coordinating entity and units of 
        government supporting the designation have documented their 
        commitment to work in partnership to protect, enhance, 
        interpret, fund, manage, and develop resources within the  
        National  Heritage  Area.
            (5) The proposed local coordinating entity has developed a 
        conceptual financial plan that outlines the roles of all 
        participants (including the Federal Government) in the 
        management of the  National  Heritage  Area.
            (6) The proposal is consistent with continued economic 
        activity within the  area.
            (7) A conceptual boundary map has been developed and is 
        supported by the public and participating Federal agencies.
    (d) Consultation.--In conducting the  study, the Secretary shall 
consult with the managers of any Federal land within the proposed  
National  Heritage  Area and secure the concurrence of the managers 
with the findings of the  study  before making a determination for 
designation.
    (e) Boundaries of The  Study  Area.--The  study  area  referred to 
in this section shall be comprised of the following:
            (1) The part of Virginia between the Potomac and the 
        Rappahannock Rivers in eastern coastal Virginia.
            (2) Westmoreland, Northumberland, Richmond, King George, 
        and Lancaster Counties, Virginia.
            (3) Other areas that have  heritage  aspects that are 
        similar to those aspects that are in the areas described in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) and which are adjacent to or in the 
        vicinity of those areas.
    (f) Report.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) review, comment on, and determine if the  study  meets 
        the criteria specified in this section for designation as a  
        National  Heritage  Area;
            (2) consult with the Governor of the Commonwealth of 
        Virginia; and
            (3) not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which 
        funds are first made available for this section, submit to the 
        Committee on Natural 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, including--
                    (A) any comments received from the Governor of the 
                Commonwealth of Virginia; and
                    (B) a finding as to whether the proposed  National  
                Heritage  Area  meets the criteria for designation.
    (g) Disapproval.--If the Secretary determines that the proposed  
National  Heritage  Area  does not meet the criteria for designation, 
the Secretary shall include within the  study  submitted under 
subsection (f)(3) a description of the reasons for the determination.
                                 <all>