Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act Public Law 117–331 Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act 331 117–331 Statute Compilation United States House of Representatives Office of the Legislative Counsel text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. GPO Statute Compilations USLM converter, version 20210527.1 2023-03-17 Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act 17360 117 2023-01-05 Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act [(Public Law 117–331)] [This law has not been amended] [Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 117-331. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/] [Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
AN ACTTo authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land as the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area, 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 “Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act”.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Heritage area.—The term “Heritage Area” means the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area. (2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior. (3) States.—The term “States” means the States of Virginia and North Carolina. (4) Study area.—The term “study area” means— (A) the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk in the State of Virginia; (B) Isle of Wight County in the State of Virginia; (C) Camden, Currituck, Gates, and Pasquotank counties in the State of North Carolina; and (D) any other areas in the States that— (i) have heritage aspects that are similar to the areas described in subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C); and (ii) are adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, those areas.
SEC. 3. STUDY. (a) In General.—The Secretary, in consultation with State and local organizations and governmental agencies, Tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and other appropriate entities, shall conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a National Heritage Area, to be known as the “Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area”. (b) Requirements.—The study shall include analysis, documentation, and determinations on whether the study area— (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural resources that— (A) represent distinctive aspects of the people and cultures of the United States; (B) are worthy of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and continuing use; and (C) would be best managed— (i) through partnerships among public and private entities; and (ii) by linking diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and active communities; (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife that are a valuable part of the story of the United States; (3) provides outstanding opportunities— (A) to conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic features; and (B) for recreation and education; (4) contains resources that— (A) are important to any identified themes of the study area; and (B) retain a degree of integrity capable of supporting interpretation; (5) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and State, local, and Tribal governments, and other appropriate entities that— (A) are involved in the planning of the Heritage Area; (B) have developed a conceptual financial plan that outlines the roles of all participants in the Heritage Area, including the Federal Government; and (C) have demonstrated support for the designation of the Heritage Area; (6) has a potential management entity to work in partnership with the individuals and entities described in paragraph (5) to develop the Heritage Area while encouraging State and local economic activity; and (7) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the public.
SEC. 4. REPORT. Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall 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 that describes— (1) the findings of the study under section 3; and (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.