[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3343-S3344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CLELAND:
  S. 679. A bill to establish the Arabia Mountain National Heritage 
Area in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
establish the Arabia Mountain National heritage Area in the State of 
Georgia. The significance of this area and the need to act now is 
underscored by Metro Atlanta's unprecedented rate of growth. In fact, 
it has been said that Atlanta is the fastest growing city in 
civilization.
  The area surrounding Arabia Mountain is located only 20 minutes east 
of Atlanta, near my home town of Lithonia. I speak from personal 
experience when I say that this area has seen the effects of Metro 
Atlanta's unbridled expansion, particularly in the past decade. As a 
result, vital open spaces and farmlands have all but disappeared.
  I believe it is essential to preserve what remains of significant 
natural, cultural, and historic resources in this region. The terrain 
surrounding Arabia Mountain contains a diverse ecosystem consisting of 
rare plant species, wetlands, pine and oak forests, streams and a lake. 
Additionally, this area is home to many historic sites, structure, and 
cultural landscapes, including the last remaining farm in DeKalb 
County. On a personal note, I can remember when this town was known as 
the dairy belt of Georgia. Now, we are down to a single working farm.
  My legislation reflects what has been a real grass roots effort to 
preserve this vital landscape. Over the past several years, local 
citizens have been working in conjunction with city, county, and State 
officials to move forward with plans to preserve these resources. In 
fact, this project has already benefited from significant private 
contributions of land, money, and professional services which have 
enabled the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance to produce a 
detailed feasibility study which was released on February 28, 2001. 
However, local efforts to protect and preserve the resources of the 
area will not fully materialize without the technical assistance of 
Federal agencies.
  Under my bill, the National Park Service, NPS, will be authorized to 
provide essential technical support in order to develop and implement a 
plan to manage the natural, cultural, historical, scenic, and 
recreational resources of the heritage area. Taking into account the 
diverse interests of the governmental, business, and nonprofit groups 
within the area, the management plan will assist the local governments 
in adopting land use policies which maximize the many resources of the 
region.
  I have personally visited this area, and I must reiterate my strong 
interest in this important preservation effort. I ask unanimous consent 
that the text of the bill be printed in the Record, and urge my 
colleagues to join me in enacting this legislation.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 679

       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 ``Arabia Mountain National 
     Heritage Area Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Arabia Mountain area contains a variety of natural, 
     cultural, historical, scenic, and recreational resources that 
     together represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the 
     United States that are worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use;
       (2) the best methods for managing the resources of the 
     Arabia Mountain area would be through partnerships between 
     public and private entities that combine diverse resources 
     and active communities;
       (3) Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, a 535-acre 
     park in DeKalb County, Georgia--
       (A) protects granite outcrop ecosystems, wetland, and pine 
     and oak forests; and
       (B) includes federally-protected plant species;
       (4) Panola Mountain, a national natural landmark, located 
     in the 860-acre Panola Mountain State Conservation Park, is a 
     rare example of a pristine granite outcrop;
       (5) the archeological site at Miners Creek Preserve along 
     the South River contains documented evidence of early human 
     activity;
       (6) the city of Lithonia, Georgia, and related sites of 
     Arabia Mountain and Stone Mountain possess sites that display 
     the history of granite mining as an industry and culture in 
     Georgia, and the impact of that industry on the United 
     States;
       (7) the community of Klondike is eligible for designation 
     as a National Historic District; and
       (8) the city of Lithonia has 2 structures listed on the 
     National Register of Historic Places.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to recognize, preserve, promote, interpret, and make 
     available for the benefit of the public the natural, 
     cultural, historical, scenic, and recreational resources in 
     the area that includes Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain, 
     Miners Creek, and other significant sites and communities; 
     and
       (2) to assist the State of Georgia and the counties of 
     DeKalb, Rockdale, and Henry in the State in developing and 
     implementing an integrated cultural, historical, and land 
     resource management program to protect, enhance, and 
     interpret the significant resources within the heritage area.

      SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Heritage area.--The term ``heritage area'' means the 
     Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area established by section 
     4.
       (2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' 
     means the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance or a 
     successor of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance.
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan for the heritage area developed under 
     section 6.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Georgia.

      SEC. 4. ARABIA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Arabia 
     Mountain National Heritage Area in the State.
       (b) Boundaries.--The heritage area shall consist of certain 
     parcels of land in the counties of DeKalb, Rockdale, and 
     Henry in the State, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
     ``The Preferred Concept'' contained in the document entitled 
     ``Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Feasibility Study'', 
     dated February 28, 2001.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (d) Management Entity.--The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area 
     Alliance shall be the management entity for the heritage 
     area.

      SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

       (a) Authorities.--For purposes of developing and 
     implementing the management plan, the management entity may--
       (1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
     with, the State, political subdivisions of the State, and 
     private organizations;
       (2) hire and compensate staff; and
       (3) enter into contracts for goods and services.
       (b) Duties.--
       (1) Management plan.--

[[Page S3344]]

       (A) In general.--The management entity shall develop and 
     submit to the Secretary the management plan.
       (B) Considerations.--In developing and implementing the 
     management plan, the management entity shall consider the 
     interests of diverse governmental, business, and nonprofit 
     groups within the heritage area.
       (2) Priorities.--The management entity shall give priority 
     to implementing actions described in the management plan, 
     including--
       (A) assisting units of government and nonprofit 
     organizations in preserving resources within the heritage 
     area; and
       (B) encouraging local governments to adopt land use 
     policies consistent with the management of the heritage area 
     and the goals of the management plan.
       (3) Public meetings.--The management entity shall conduct 
     public meetings at least quarterly on the implementation of 
     the management plan.
       (4) Annual report.--For any year in which Federal funds 
     have been made available under this Act, the management 
     entity shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that 
     describes--
       (A) the accomplishments of the management entity; and
       (B) the expenses and income of the management entity.
       (5) Audit.--The management entity shall--
       (A) make available to the Secretary for audit all records 
     relating to the expenditure of Federal funds and any matching 
     funds; and
       (B) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing 
     expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the 
     receiving organizations make available to the Secretary for 
     audit all records concerning the expenditure of those funds.
       (c) Use of Federal Funds.--
       (1) In general.--The management entity shall not use 
     Federal funds made available under this Act to acquire real 
     property or an interest in real property.
       (2) Other sources.--Nothing in this Act precludes the 
     management entity from using Federal funds made available 
     under other Federal laws for any purpose for which the funds 
     are authorized to be used.

      SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--The management entity shall develop a 
     management plan for the heritage area that incorporates an 
     integrated and cooperative approach to protect, interpret, 
     and enhance the natural, cultural, historical, scenic, and 
     recreational resources of the heritage area.
       (b) Basis.--The management plan shall be based on the 
     preferred concept in the document entitled ``Arabia Mountain 
     National Heritage Area Feasibility Study'', dated February 
     28, 2001.
       (c) Consideration of Other Plans and Actions.--The 
     management plan shall--
       (1) take into consideration State and local plans; and
       (2) involve residents, public agencies, and private 
     organizations in the heritage area.
       (d) Requirements.--The management plan shall include--
       (1) an inventory of the resources in the heritage area, 
     including--
       (A) a list of property in the heritage area that--
       (i) relates to the purposes of the heritage area; and
       (ii) should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained 
     because of the significance of the property; and
       (B) an assessment of cultural landscapes within the 
     heritage area;
       (2) provisions for the protection, interpretation, and 
     enjoyment of the resources of the heritage area consistent 
     with the purposes of this Act;
       (3) an interpretation plan for the heritage area;
       (4) a program for implementation of the management plan 
     that includes--
       (A) actions to be carried out by units of government, 
     private organizations, and public-private partnerships to 
     protect the resources of the heritage area; and
       (B) the identification of existing and potential sources of 
     funding for implementing the plan; and
       (5) a description and evaluation of the management entity, 
     including the membership and organizational structure of the 
     management entity.
       (e) Submission to Secretary for Approval.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the management entity shall submit the 
     management plan to the Secretary for approval.
       (2) Effect of failure to submit.--If a management plan is 
     not submitted to the Secretary by the date specified in 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not provide any additional 
     funding under this Act until such date as a management plan 
     for the heritage area is submitted to the Secretary.
       (f) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receiving the 
     management plan submitted under subsection (e), the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall approve or 
     disapprove the management plan.
       (2) Action following disapproval.--
       (A) Revision.--If the Secretary disapproves a management 
     plan submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       (i) advise the management entity in writing of the reasons 
     for the disapproval;
       (ii) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan; and
       (iii) allow the management entity to submit to the 
     Secretary revisions to the management plan.
       (B) Deadline for approval of revision.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date on which a revision is submitted under 
     subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall approve or 
     disapprove the revision.
       (g) Revision of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--After approval by the Secretary of a 
     management plan, the management entity shall periodically--
       (A) review the management plan; and
       (B) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by the 
     Secretary, the recommendations of the management entity for 
     any revisions to the management plan that the management 
     entity considers to be appropriate.
       (2) Expenditure of funds.--No funds made available under 
     this Act shall be used to implement any revision proposed by 
     the management entity under paragraph (1)(B) until the 
     Secretary approves the revision.

      SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--At the request of the management entity, 
     the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance 
     to the heritage area to develop and implement the management 
     plan.
       (b) Priority.--In providing assistance under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall give priority to actions that 
     facilitate--
       (1) the conservation of the significant natural, cultural, 
     historical, scenic, and recreational resources that support 
     the purposes of the heritage area; and
       (2) the provision of educational, interpretive, and 
     recreational opportunities that are consistent with the 
     resources and associated values of the heritage area.

      SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.-- There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act $10,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be used in 
     any fiscal year; and
       (b) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
     project or activity carried out using funds made available 
     under this Act shall not exceed 50 percent.

      SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to make any grant or provide 
     any assistance under this Act terminates on September 30, 
     2016.
                                 ______