Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Carolinas Revolutionary Road National Heritage Area Act

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1)to recognize and interpret important events and geographic locations associated with the American Revolution in the States of North Carolina and South Carolina and the impact of these events on European American, African-American, and Native American heritage; (2)to protect and preserve battlefields, landscapes, communities, historic sites and natural features associated with the Revolutionary War campaigns in the Carolinas; (3)to promote heritage, cultural, and recreational tourism, and to develop educational, interpretive, and cultural programs for the benefit of visitors and the general public; and (4)to provide appropriate linkages among units of the National Park System, trails, State and local historic sites, and communities, governments, and organizations within the Heritage Area.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Heritage area

The term Heritage Area means the Carolinas Revolutionary Road National Heritage Area, established in section 4. (2)

Local coordinating entity

The term local coordinating entity means Cultural and Heritage Museums of York County, South Carolina, the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area designated by section 4(d). (3)

Management Plan

The term management plan means the management plan for the Heritage Area specified in section 6. (4)

Map

The term map means the map entitled Carolinas Revolutionary Road National Heritage Area, numbered _______, and dated _______. (5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (6)

States

The term States means the State of North Carolina and the State of South Carolina.

Carolinas revolutionary road national heritage area

(a)

Establishment

There is established the Carolinas Revolutionary Road National Heritage Area in the States of North Carolina and South Carolina. (b)

Boundaries

(1)

In general

The boundaries of the Heritage Area shall be as generally depicted on the map. (2)

Revision

The boundaries of the Heritage Area may be revised if the revision is— (A)proposed in the management plan; (B)approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 5; and (C)placed on file in accordance with section (c). (c)

Availability of Map

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service and the local coordinating entity. (d)

Local coordinating entity

The local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area shall be Cultural and Heritage Museums of York County, South Carolina.

Duties and authorities of the local coordinating entity

(a)

Duties of the local coordinating entity

To further the purposes of the Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity shall— (1)prepare, and submit to the Secretary in accordance with section 5, a management plan for the Heritage Area; (2)assist units of local government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the approved management plan by— (A)carrying out programs and projects that recognize and protect important resource values within the Heritage Area; (B)establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs within the Heritage Area; (C)developing recreational and educational opportunities in the Heritage Area; (D)increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for, natural, historical, scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; (E)protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings in the Heritage Area that are consistent with the themes of the Heritage Area; (F)ensuring that signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are posted throughout the Heritage Area; and (G)promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments, organizations, and individuals to further the purposes of the Heritage Area; (3)consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage Area in the preparation and implementation of the management plan; (4)conduct meetings open to the public at least semi-annually regarding the preparation and implementation of the management plan; (5)submit an annual report to the Secretary for each fiscal year in which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act specifying— (A)the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity; (B)the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity; (C)the amounts and sources of matching funds; (D)the amounts leveraged with Federal funds and sources of the leveraged funds; and (E)grants made to any other entities during the fiscal year; (6)make available for audit for any fiscal year for which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act, all information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching funds; (7)require in all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available for audit all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds; and (8)encourage, by appropriate means, economic development that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area. (b)

Authorities

The local coordinating entity may, subject to the prior approval of the Secretary, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use Federal funds made available under this Act to— (1)make grants to the States, political subdivisions of the States, nonprofit organizations, and other persons; (2)enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide technical assistance to, the States, political subdivisions of the States, nonprofit organizations, Federal agencies, and other interested parties; (3)hire and compensate staff; (4)obtain funds or services from any source, including funds and services provided under any other Federal law or program; (5)contract of goods or services; and (6)support activities of partners and any other activities that further the purposes of the Heritage Area and are consistent with the approved management plan. (c)

Prohibition on the acquisition of real property

The local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire any interest in real property.

Management plan

(a)

In general

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to develop the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the Heritage Area. (b)

Requirements

The management plan for the Heritage Area shall— (1)describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area; (2)take into consideration existing State, county, and local plans in the development and implementation of the management plan; (3)include a description of actions and commitments that governments, private organizations, and citizens plan to take to protect, enhance, and interpret the natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; (4)specify existing and potential sources of funding or economic development strategies to conserve, manage, and develop the Heritage Area; (5)include an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area relating to the stories and themes of the Heritage Area that should be protected, enhanced, managed, or developed; (6)recommend policies and strategies for resource management, including the development of intergovernmental and interagency agreements, to protect the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area; (7)describe a program for implementation of the management plan including— (A)performance goals; (B)plans for resource protection, enhancement, and interpretation; (C)specific commitments for implementation that have been made by the local coordinating entity or any government, organization, business, or individual; (8)include an analysis of, and recommendations for, ways in which Federal, State, tribal, and local programs may best be coordinated (including the role of the National Park Service and other Federal agencies associated with the Heritage Area) to further the purposes of this Act; (9)include an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area; (10)include a business plan that— (A)describes the role, operation, financing and functions of the local coordinating entity and of each of the major activities contained in the management plan; and (B)provides adequate assurances that the local coordinating entity has the partnerships and financial and other resources necessary to implement the management plan for the Heritage Area; and (11)include a reaffirmation of the appropriateness of, or a proposed revision to, the boundaries of the Heritage Area. (c)

Termination of funding

If the management plan is not submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this section, the local coordinating entity shall not qualify for additional financial assistance under this Act until such time as the management plan is submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary. (d)

Approval of management plan

(1)

Review

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management plan. (2)

Criteria for approval

In determining the approval of the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether— (A)the local coordinating entity represents the diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including governments, natural and historic resource protection organizations, educational institutions, businesses, community residents, and recreational organizations; (B)the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate opportunity for public and governmental involvement (including workshops and public meetings) in the preparation of the management plan; (C)the resource protection and interpretation strategies described in the management plan, if implemented, would adequately protect the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; (D)the management plan would not adversely affect any activities authorized on Federal or tribal lands under applicable laws or land use plans; (E)the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the appropriate State, tribal and local officials whose support is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State, tribal, and local aspects of the management plan; and (F)the local coordinating entity has demonstrated the financial capability, in partnership with others, to carry out the management plan. (3)

Action following disapproval

(A)

In general

If the Secretary disapproves the management plan, the Secretary— (i)shall advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval; and (ii)may make recommendations to the local coordinating entity for revisions to the management plan. (B)

Deadline

Not later than 180 days after receiving a revised management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan. (4)

Amendments

(A)

In general

An amendment to the management plan that substantially alters the management plan shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved or disapproved in the same manner as the original management plan. (B)

Implementation

The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act to implement any amendment to the management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment.

Duties and authorities of the Secretary

(a)

Technical and financial assistance

(1)

In general

On the request of the local coordinating entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance, on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis (as determined by the Secretary), to the local coordinating entity to prepare and implement the management plan. (2)

Cooperative agreements

The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the local coordinating entity and other public or private entities to provide technical or financial assistance under paragraph (1). (3)

Priority

In assisting the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in— (A)conserving the significant natural, historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; and (B)providing educational, interpretive, and recreational opportunities consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area. (b)

Evaluation; report

(1)

In general

Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area under section 10, the Secretary shall— (A)conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; and (B)prepare a report with recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area, in accordance with paragraph (3). (2)

Evaluation

An evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A) shall— (A)assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to— (i)accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the Heritage Area; and (ii)achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the Heritage Area; (B)analyze the Federal, State, local, and private investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and (C)review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area. (3)

Report

(A)

In general

Based on the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service's future role, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area. (B)

Required analysis

If the report prepared under this paragraph recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of— (i)ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; and (ii)the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination. (C)

Submission to Congress

On completion of a report under this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit the report to— (i)the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and (ii)the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

Relationship to other Federal agencies

(a)

In general

Nothing in this Act affects the authority of any Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law. (b)

Consultation and coordination

To the maximum extent practicable, the head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the local coordinating entity. (c)

Other Federal agencies

Nothing in this Act— (1)modifies, alters, or amends any laws (including regulations) authorizing a Federal agency to manage land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency; (2)limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or (3)modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.

Property owners and regulatory protections

Nothing in this Act— (1)abridges the rights of any owner of public or private property, including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the Heritage Area; (2)requires any property owner to— (A)permit public access (including Federal, tribal, State, or local government access) to the property; or (B)modify any provisions of Federal, tribal, State or local law with regard to public access or use of private land; (3)alters any duly adopted land use regulations, approved land use plan, or any other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency, or tribal government; (4)conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity; (5)authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights; (6)diminishes the authority of the States to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or (7)creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property.

10.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 shall be made available for any fiscal year. (b)

Availability

Funds made available under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. (c)

Cost-Sharing requirement

(1)

In general

The Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this section shall be not more than 50 percent. (2)

Form

The non-Federal contribution— (A)shall be from non-Federal sources; and (B)may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.

11.

Termination of financial assistance

The authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of the Act.