A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Chattahoochee Trace National Heritage Corridor in Alabama and Georgia, and for other purposes.

Summary: Chattahoochee Trace National Heritage Corridor Study Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating a specified study area in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin (Alabama and Georgia) as the "Chattahoochee Trace National Heritage Corridor."

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Chattahoochee Trace National 
Heritage Corridor Study Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Corridor.--The term ``Corridor'' means the 
        Chattahoochee National Heritage Corridor.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the study 
        area described in section 3(b).

SEC. 3. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with State historic 
preservation officers, State historical societies, State tourism 
offices, and other appropriate organizations or agencies, shall conduct 
a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the 
study area as the Chattahoochee Trace National Heritage Corridor.
    (b) Description of Study Area.--The study area shall include the 
portion of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin and 
surrounding areas that are comprised of the following:
            (1)(A) The cities, towns, unincorporated communities, and 
        military bases of LaFayette, Lanett, Valley, Waverly, Oak 
        Bowery, Stroud, Opelika, Auburn, Loachapokla, Salem, Smiths, 
        Phenix City, Fort Mitchell, Spring Hill, Rutherford, Hurtsboro, 
        Pittsview, Uchee, Glemnville, Seale, Cottonton, Comer, 
        Batesville, Eufaula, Clayton, Louisville, Clio, Bakerhill, Blue 
        Springs, Ariton, Skipperville, Ozark, Midland City, Fort 
        Rucker, Newton, Daleville, Abbeville, Lawrenceville, Haleburg, 
        Shorterville, Newville, Tumbleton, Headland, Columbia, Kinsey, 
        Cottonwood, Ashford, Madrid, Gordon, and Dothan, Alabama.
            (B) Chambers, Lee, Russell, Barbour, Dale, Henry, and 
        Houston counties in the State of Alabama.
            (2)(A) The cities, towns, unincorporated communities, and 
        military bases of Hogansville, LaGrange, Whitesville, 
        Mountville, West Point Pine Mountain, Hamilton, Waverly Hall, 
        Ellershie, Mulberry Grove, Columbus, Cusseta, Fort Henning, 
        Omaha, Florence, Richland, Louvale, Brooklyn, Lumpkin, 
        Georgetown, Morris, Springvale, Cuthbert, Shellman, Coleman, 
        Fort Gaines, Bluffton, Cedar Springs, Saffold, Colomokee, 
        Damascus, Blakely, Hilton, Donalsonvilie, Iron City, 
        Reynoldsville, Brinson, Bainbridge, Faceville, Fowltown, 
        Climax, and Attapulgas, Georgia.
            (B) Troup, Hats, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Stewart, 
        Randolph, Clay, Quitman, Early, Seminole, and Decatur counties 
        in the State of Georgia.
            (3) Other areas in the State of Alabama or Georgia that--
                    (A) have heritage aspects that are similar to the 
                aspects of the areas described in paragraph (1) or (2); 
                and
                    (B) are adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, the 
                areas.
    (c) 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 heritage 
                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--
                    (A) outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
                historic, cultural, or scenic features; and
                    (B) outstanding recreational and educational 
                opportunities;
            (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 and local governments that--
                    (A) are involved in the planning of the Corridor;
                    (B) have developed a conceptual financial plan that 
                outlines the roles of all participants in the Corridor, 
                including the Federal Government; and
                    (C) have demonstrated support for the designation 
                of the Corridor;
            (6) has a potential management entity to work in 
        partnership with the individuals and entities described in 
        paragraph (5) to develop the Corridor 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 the 3rd fiscal year after the date on which funds 
are first 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--
            (1) the findings of the study; and
            (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.