I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1594

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability 

and feasibility of establishing the St. Croix National Heritage Area 

in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 3, 2003

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study 

of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the St. 

Croix National Heritage Area in St. Croix, United States 

Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. ST. CROIX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘St. Croix National Heritage Area Study Act’’. 

6 (b) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior, in con7 sultation with appropriate State historic preservation offi8 cers, States historical societies, and other appropriate or-
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1 ganizations, shall conduct a study regarding the suitability 

2 and feasibility of designating the island of St. Croix as 

3 the St. Croix National Heritage Area. The study shall in4 clude analysis, documentation, and determination regard5 ing whether the island of St. Croix—

6 (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and 

7 cultural resources that together represent distinctive 

8 aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, 

9 conservation, interpretation, and continuing use, and 

10 are best managed through partnerships among pub11 lic and private entities and by combining diverse and 

12 sometimes noncontiguous resources and active com13 munities; 

14 (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and 

15 folklife that are a valuable part of the national story; 

16 (3) provides outstanding opportunities to con17 serve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic features; 

18 (4) provides outstanding recreational and edu19 cational opportunities; 

20 (5) contains resources important to the identi21 fied theme or themes of the island of St. Croix that 

22 retain a degree of integrity capable of supporting in23 terpretation; 

24 (6) includes residents, business interests, non25 profit organizations, and local and State govern-
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1 ments that are involved in the planning, have devel2 oped a conceptual financial plan that outlines the 

3 roles of all participants (including the Federal Gov4 ernment), and have demonstrated support for the 

5 concept of a national heritage area; 

6 (7) has a potential management entity to work 

7 in partnership with residents, business interests, 

8 nonprofit organizations, and local and State govern9 ments to develop a national heritage area consistent 

10 with continued local and State economic activity; 

11 and 

12 (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is sup13 ported by the public. 

14 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 3 fiscal years after the 

15 date on which funds are first made available for this sec16 tion, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Com17 mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives and 

18 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 

19 Senate a report on the findings, conclusions, and rec20 ommendations of the study.

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