[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY ACT

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 1227) to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and 
feasibility of establishing the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area in 
the State of New York, and for other purposes, which had been reported 
from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with amendments, as 
follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in 
italic)

                                S. 1227

       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 ``Niagara Falls National 
     Heritage Area Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       [(2) Study area.--
       [(A) In general.--The term ``study area'' means the segment 
     of the Niagara River in Niagara County, New York, that 
     extends from Niagara Falls, New York, to the mouth of the 
     Niagara River at Lake Ontario.
       [(B) Inclusion.--The term ``study area'' includes land in 
     any municipality that is adjacent to the Niagara River in 
     Niagara County, New York.]
       (2) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means lands in 
     Niagara County, New York, along and in the vicinity of the 
     Niagara River.

     SEC. 3. NIAGARA [RIVER] FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of the 
     suitability and feasibility of establishing a heritage area 
     in the State of New York to be known as the ``Niagara Falls 
     National Heritage Area''.
       (b) Analyses and Documentation.--The study shall include 
     analysis and documentation of whether the study area--
       (1) contains an assemblage of natural, historical, scenic, 
     and cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of 
     the heritage of the United States that--
       (A) are worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continued use; and
       (B) would best be managed--
       (i) through partnerships among public and private entities; 
     and
       (ii) by combining 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 to conserve natural, 
     historical, scenic, or cultural features;
       (4) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
     opportunities;
       (5) contains resources important to the identified theme of 
     the study area that retain a degree of integrity capable of 
     supporting interpretation;
       (6) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and State and local governments that--
       (A) are involved in planning a national heritage area;
       (B) have developed a conceptual financial plan for a 
     national heritage area that outlines the roles for all 
     participants, including the Federal Government; and
       (C) have demonstrated support for the concept of a national 
     heritage area;
       (7) has a potential management entity to work in 
     partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and State and local governments to develop a 
     national heritage area consistent with continued State and 
     local economic activity; and
       (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
     public.
       (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary 
     shall consult with--
       (1) State and local agencies; and
       (2) interested organizations within the study area.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date 
     on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes the 
     findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study under 
     subsection (a).
       [(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $300,000.]

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated $300,000 to carry 
     out this Act.
  The committee amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1227) as amended, was read the third time and passed.
  (The bill will be printed in a future edition of the Record.)

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