[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1708 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1708

   To establish the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National 
                Historical Park, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 13, 2011

 Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. 
  Whitehouse) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National 
                Historical Park, 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 ``John H. Chafee Blackstone River 
Valley National Historical Park Establishment Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish the John H. Chafee 
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park--
            (1) to help preserve, protect, and interpret the nationally 
        significant resources in the Blackstone River Valley that 
        exemplify the industrial heritage of the John H. Chafee 
        Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor for the 
        benefit and inspiration of future generations;
            (2) to support the preservation, protection, and 
        interpretation of the urban, rural, and agricultural landscape 
        features (including the Blackstone River and Canal) of the 
        region that provide an overarching context for the industrial 
        heritage of the National Heritage Corridor;
            (3) to educate the public about--
                    (A) the industrial history of the National Heritage 
                Corridor; and
                    (B) the significance of the National Heritage 
                Corridor to the past and present; and
            (4) to support and enhance the network of partners who will 
        continue to engage in the protection, improvement, management, 
        and operation of key resources and facilities throughout the 
        National Heritage Corridor.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``John H. 
        Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park'', 
        numbered NEFA962/111015, and dated October 2011.
            (2) National heritage corridor.--The term ``National 
        Heritage Corridor'' means the John H. Chafee Blackstone River 
        Valley National Heritage Corridor.
            (3) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the John H. Chafee 
        Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park established 
        under section 4.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
        Park Service.
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States of 
        Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOHN H. CHAFEE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY 
              NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the States a unit of 
the National Park System, to be known as the ``John H. Chafee 
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park''.
    (b) Boundaries.--The Park shall be comprised of the following sites 
and districts, as generally depicted on the map:
            (1) Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District.
            (2) Slatersville Historic District.
            (3) Ashton Historic District.
            (4) Whitinsville Historic District.
            (5) Hopedale Village Historic District.
            (6) Blackstone River and the tributaries of Blackstone 
        River.
            (7) Blackstone Canal.
    (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be available for public 
inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
    (d) Acquisition of Land.--The Secretary may acquire land or 
interests in land within the boundaries of the Park by--
            (1) donation;
            (2) purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or
            (3) exchange.
    (e) Administration.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the Park in 
        accordance with--
                    (A) this Act;
                    (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the 
                National Park System, including--
                            (i) the National Park Service Organic Act 
                        (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and
                            (ii) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 
                        461 et seq.); and
                    (C) any cooperative agreements entered into under 
                subsection (f).
            (2) General management plan.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
                date on which funds are made available to carry out 
                this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a general 
                management plan for the Park--
                            (i) in consultation with the States; and
                            (ii) in accordance with--
                                    (I) any cooperative agreements 
                                entered into under subsection (f); and
                                    (II) section 12(b) of the National 
                                Park System General Authorities Act (16 
                                U.S.C. 1a-7(b)).
                    (B) Requirements.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, the plan prepared under subparagraph (A) 
                shall consider ways to use preexisting or planned 
                visitor facilities and recreational opportunities 
                developed in the National Heritage Corridor, 
                including--
                            (i) the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center in 
                        Pawtucket, Rhode Island;
                            (ii) the Captain Wilbur Kelly House at 
                        Blackstone River State Park in Lincoln, Rhode 
                        Island;
                            (iii) the Museum of Work and Culture in 
                        Woonsocket, Rhode Island;
                            (iv) the River Bend Farm/Blackstone River 
                        and Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge, 
                        Massachusetts; and
                            (v) the Worcester Blackstone Visitor 
                        Center, located at the former Washburn & Moen 
                        wire mill facility in Worcester, Massachusetts.
    (f) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into 
cooperative agreements with the States, political subdivisions of the 
States, nonprofit organizations (including the Blackstone River Valley 
National Heritage Corridor, Inc.), and private property owners to 
provide technical assistance and interpretation in the Park and the 
National Heritage Corridor.
    (g) Financial Assistance.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Secretary may provide financial assistance, on a 
matching basis, for the conduct of resource protection activities in 
the National Heritage Corridor.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.
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