[106th Congress Public Law 319]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ319.106]
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YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT OF 2000
[[Page 114 STAT. 1280]]
Public Law 106-319
106th Congress
An Act
To establish the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. <<NOTE: Oct. 19,
2000 - [H.R. 2833]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Yuma Crossing National
Heritage Area Act of 2000. 16 USC 461 note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Yuma Crossing
National Heritage Area Act of 2000''.
(b) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area established in section 3.
(2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' shall
mean the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Board of Directors
referred to section 3(c).
(3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' shall
mean the management plan for the Yuma Crossing National Heritage
Area.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Certain events that led to the establishment of the Yuma
Crossing as a natural crossing place on the Colorado River and
to its development as an important landmark in America's
westward expansion during the mid-19th century are of national
historic and cultural significance in terms of their
contribution to the development of the new United States of
America.
(2) It is in the national interest to promote, preserve, and
protect physical remnants of a community with almost 500 years
of recorded history which has outstanding cultural, historic,
and architectural value for the education and benefit of present
and future generations.
(3) The designation of the Yuma Crossing as a national
heritage area would preserve Yuma's history and provide related
educational opportunities, provide recreational opportunities,
preserve natural resources, and improve the city and county of
Yuma's ability to serve visitors and enhance the local economy
through the completion of the major projects identified within
the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.
(4) The Department of the Interior is responsible for
protecting the Nation's cultural and historic resources. There
are significant examples of these resources within the Yuma
region
[[Page 114 STAT. 1281]]
to merit the involvement of the Federal Government in developing
programs and projects, in cooperation with the Yuma Crossing
National Heritage Area and other local and governmental bodies,
to adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this heritage for
future generations while providing opportunities for education,
revitalization, and economic development.
(5) The city of Yuma, the Arizona State Parks Board,
agencies of the Federal Government, corporate entities, and
citizens have completed a study and master plan for the Yuma
Crossing to determine the extent of its historic resources,
preserve and interpret these historic resources, and assess the
opportunities available to enhance the cultural experience for
region's visitors and residents.
(6) The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Board of
Directors would be an appropriate management entity for a
heritage area established in the region.
(b) Purpose.--The objectives of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage
Area are as follows:
(1) To recognize the role of the Yuma Crossing in the
development of the United States, with particular emphasis on
the roll of the crossing as an important landmark in the
westward expansion during the mid-19th century.
(2) To promote, interpret, and develop the physical and
recreational resources of the communities surrounding the Yuma
Crossing, which has almost 500 years of recorded history and
outstanding cultural, historic, and architectural assets, for
the education and benefit of present and future generations.
(3) To foster a close working relationship with all levels
of government, the private sector, and the local communities in
the Yuma community and empower the community to conserve its
heritage while continuing to pursue economic opportunities.
(4) To provide recreational opportunities for visitors to
the Yuma Crossing and preserve natural resources within the
Heritage Area.
(5) To improve the Yuma region's ability to serve visitors
and enhance the local economy through the completion of the
major projects identified within the Heritage Area.
SEC. 3. YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Yuma Crossing
National Heritage Area.
(b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall be comprised of those
portions of the Yuma region totaling approximately 21 square miles,
encompassing over 150 identified historic, geologic, and cultural
resources, and bounded--
(1) on the west, by the Colorado River (including the
crossing point of the Army of the West);
(2) on the east, by Avenue 7E;
(3) on the north, by the Colorado River; and
(4) on the south, by the 12th Street alignment.
(c) Management Entity.--The management entity for the Heritage Area
shall be the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Board of Directors
which shall include representatives from a broad cross-section of the
individuals, agencies, organizations, and governments that were involved
in the planning and development of the Heritage Area before the date of
the enactment of this Act.
[[Page 114 STAT. 1282]]
SEC. 4. COMPACT.
(a) In General.--To carry out the purposes of this Act, the
Secretary of the Interior shall enter into a compact with the management
entity.
(b) Components of Compact.--The compact shall include information
relating to the objectives and management of the Heritage Area,
including each of the following:
(1) A discussion of the goals and objects of the Heritage
Area.
(2) An explanation of the proposed approach to conservation
and interpretation of the Heritage Area.
(3) A general outline of the protection measures to which
the management entity commits.
SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) Authorities of the Management Entity.--The management entity
may, for purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use
funds made available through this Act for the following:
(1) To make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements
with, States and their political subdivisions, private
organizations, or any person.
(2) To hire and compensate staff.
(3) To enter into contracts for goods and services.
(b) Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--Taking into consideration existing State,
county, and local plans, the management entity shall develop a
management plan for the Heritage Area.
(2) Contents.--The management plan required by this
subsection shall include--
(A) comprehensive recommendations for conservation,
funding, management, and development of the Heritage
Area;
(B) actions to be undertaken by units of government
and private organizations to protect the resources of
the Heritage Area;
(C) a list of specific existing and potential
sources of funding to protect, manage, and develop the
Heritage Area;
(D) an inventory of the resources contained in the
Heritage Area, including a list of any property in the
Heritage Area that is related to the themes of the
Heritage Area and that should be preserved, restored,
managed, developed, or maintained because of its
natural, cultural, historic, recreational, or scenic
significance;
(E) a recommendation of policies for resource
management which considers and details application of
appropriate land and water management techniques,
including the development of intergovernmental
cooperative agreements to protect the historical,
cultural, recreational, and natural resources of the
Heritage Area in a manner consistent with supporting
appropriate and compatible economic viability;
(F) a program for implementation of the management
plan by the management entity, including plans for
restoration and construction, and specific commitments
of the identified partners for the first 5 years of
operation;
[[Page 114 STAT. 1283]]
(G) an analysis of ways in which local, State, and
Federal programs may best be coordinated to promote the
purposes of this Act; and
(H) an interpretation plan for the Heritage Area.
(3) Submission to secretary.--The management entity shall
submit the management plan to the Secretary for approval not
later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
If a management plan is not submitted to the Secretary as
required within the specified time, the Heritage Area shall no
longer qualify for Federal funding.
(c) Duties of Management Entity.--In addition to its duties under
subsection (b), the management entity shall--
(1) give priority to implementing actions set forth in the
compact and management plan, including steps to assist units of
government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit
organizations in preserving the Heritage Area;
(2) assist units of government, regional planning
organizations, and nonprofit organizations with--
(A) establishing and maintaining interpretive
exhibits in the Heritage Area;
(B) developing recreational resources in the
Heritage Area;
(C) increasing public awareness of and appreciation
for the natural, historical, and architectural resources
and sites in the Heritage Area;
(D) restoring any historic building relating to the
themes of the Heritage Area; and
(E) ensuring that clear, consistent, and
environmentally appropriate signs identifying access
points and sites of interest are put in place throughout
the Heritage Area;
(3) encourage, by appropriate means, economic viability in
the Heritage Area consistent with the goals of the management
plan;
(4) encourage local governments to adopt land use policies
consistent with the management of the Heritage Area and the
goals of the management plan;
(5) consider the interests of diverse governmental,
business, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area;
(6) conduct public meetings at least quarterly regarding the
implementation of the management plan; and
(7) for any year in which Federal funds have been received
under this Act, make available for audit all records pertaining
to the expenditure of such funds and any matching funds, and
require, for all agreements authorizing expenditure of Federal
funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations
make available for audit all records pertaining to the
expenditure of such funds.
(d) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The management
entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real
property or an interest in real property. Nothing in this Act shall
preclude any management entity from using Federal funds from other
sources for their permitted purposes.
(e) Spending for Non-Federally Owned Property.--The management
entity may spend Federal funds directly on non-federally owned property
to further the purposes of this Act, especially
[[Page 114 STAT. 1284]]
in assisting units of government in appropriate treatment of districts,
sites, buildings, structures, and objects listed or eligible for listing
on the National Register of Historic Places.
SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may, upon
request of the management entity, provide technical and financial
assistance to the management entity to develop and implement the
management plan. In assisting the management entity, the Secretary shall
give priority to actions that in general assist in--
(1) conserving the significant natural, historic, and
cultural resources which support the themes of the Heritage
Area; and
(2) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational
opportunities consistent with resources and associated values of
the Heritage Area.
(b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--The Secretary, in
consultation with the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Board of
Directors, shall approve or disapprove the management plan submitted
under this Act not later than 90 days after receiving such management
plan.
(c) Action Following Disapproval.--If the Secretary disapproves a
submitted compact or management plan, the Secretary shall advise the
management entity in writing of the reasons therefor and shall make
recommendations for revisions in the management plan. The Secretary
shall approve or disapprove a proposed revision within 90 days after the
date it is submitted.
(d) Approving Amendments.--The Secretary shall review substantial
amendments to the management plan for the Heritage Area. Funds
appropriated pursuant to this Act may not be expended to implement the
changes made by such amendments until the Secretary approves the
amendments.
(e) Documentation.--Subject to the availability of funds, the
Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record
shall conduct those studies necessary to document the cultural,
historic, architectural, and natural resources of the Heritage Area.
SEC. 7. SUNSET.
The Secretary may not make any grant or provide any assistance under
this Act after September 30, 2015.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated under this
Act not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year. Not more than a total
of $10,000,000 may be appropriated for the Heritage Area under this Act.
(b) 50 Percent Match.--Federal funding provided under this Act,
after the designation of the Heritage Area, may not exceed
[[Page 114 STAT. 1285]]
50 percent of the total cost of any assistance or grant provided or
authorized under this Act.
Approved October 19, 2000.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2833 (S. 1998):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-740 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-340 accompanying S. 1998 (Comm. on Energy and
Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000):
July 25, considered and passed House.
Oct. 5, considered and passed Senate.
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