IB 

Union Calendar No. 386

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3257

[Report No. 108–642] 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine 

the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 7, 2003

Mr. RYAN of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2004

Additional sponsors: Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. NEY, Mr. 

STRICKLAND, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. 

GILLMOR, and Mr. RAHALL

SEPTEMBER 7, 2004

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 7, 2003] 

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area.
2

•HR 3257 RH 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Western Reserve Herit5 age Areas Study Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING THE 

7 WESTERN RESERVE, OHIO. 

8 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 

9 (1) The area that encompasses the modern-day 

10 counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, 

11 Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, 

12 Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland in Ohio with the 

13 rich history in what was once the Western Reserve, 

14 has made a unique contribution to the cultural, polit15 ical and industrial development of the United States. 

16 (2) The Western Reserve is distinctive as the 

17 land settled by the people of Connecticut after the 

18 Revolutionary War. The Western Reserve holds a 

19 unique mark as the original wilderness land of the 

20 West that many settlers migrated to in order to begin 

21 life outside of the original 13 colonies. 

22 (3) The Western Reserve played a significant 

23 role in providing land to the people of Connecticut 

24 whose property and land was destroyed during the 

25 Revolution. These settlers were descendants of the 
3

•HR 3257 RH 

1 brave immigrants who came to the Americas in the 

2 17th century. 

3 (4) The Western Reserve offered a new destina4 tion for those who moved west in search of land and 

5 prosperity. The agricultural and industrial base that 

6 began in the Western Reserve still lives strong in these 

7 prosperous and historical counties. 

8 (5) The heritage of the Western Reserve remains 

9 transfixed in the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, 

10 Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Sum11 mit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ash12 land in Ohio. The people of these counties are proud 

13 of their heritage as shown through the unwavering at14 tempts to preserve agricultural land and the indus15 trial foundation that has been embedded in this re16 gion since the establishment of the Western Reserve. 

17 Throughout these counties, historical sites, and mark18 ers preserve the unique traditions and customs of its 

19 original heritage. 

20 (6) The counties that encompass the Western Re21 serve continue to maintain a strong connection to its 

22 historic past as seen through its preservation of its 

23 local heritage, including historic homes, buildings, 

24 and centers of public gatherings. 
4

•HR 3257 RH 

1 (7) There is a need for assistance for the preser2 vation and promotion of the significance of the West3 ern Reserve as the natural, historic and cultural her4 itage of the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ash5 tabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, 

6 Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa and Ashland 

7 in Ohio. 

8 (8) The Department of the Interior is responsible 

9 for protecting the Nation’s cultural and historical re10 sources. There are significant examples of such re11 sources within these counties and what was once the 

12 Western Reserve to merit the involvement of the Fed13 eral Government in the development of programs and 

14 projects, in cooperation with the State of Ohio and 

15 other local governmental entities, to adequately con16 serve, protect, and interpret this heritage for future 

17 generations, while providing opportunities for edu18 cation and revitalization. 

19 (b) STUDY.—

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con21 sultation with the State of Ohio, the counties of 

22 Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, 

23 Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, 

24 Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland, and other appropriate or25 ganizations, carry out a study regarding the suit-
5

•HR 3257 RH 

1 ability and feasibility of establishing the Western Re2 serve Heritage Area in these counties in Ohio. 

3 (2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include anal4 ysis and documentation regarding whether the Study 

5 Area—

6 (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, 

7 and cultural resources that together represent 

8 distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy 

9 of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and 

10 continuing use, and are best managed through 

11 partnerships among public and private entities 

12 and by combining diverse and sometimes non13 contiguous resources and active communities; 

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

15 folklife that are a valuable part of the national 

16 story; 

17 (C) provides outstanding opportunities to 

18 conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic fea19 tures; 

20 (D) provides outstanding recreational and 

21 educational opportunities; 

22 (E) contains resources important to the 

23 identified theme or themes of the Study Area 

24 that retain a degree of integrity capable of sup25 porting interpretation; 
6

•HR 3257 RH 

1 (F) includes residents, business interests, 

2 nonprofit organizations, and local and State 

3 governments that are involved in the planning, 

4 have developed a conceptual financial plan that 

5 outlines the roles for all participants, including 

6 the Federal Government, and have demonstrated 

7 support for the concept of a national heritage 

8 area; 

9 (G) has a potential management entity to 

10 work in partnership with residents, business in11 terests, nonprofit organizations, and local and 

12 State governments to develop a national heritage 

13 area consistent with continued local and State 

14 economic activity; 

15 (H) has a conceptual boundary map that is 

16 supported by the public; and 

17 (I) has potential or actual impact on pri18 vate property located within or abutting the 

19 Study Area. 

20 (c) BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.—The Study 

21 Area shall be comprised of the counties of Trumbull, 

22 Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, 

23 Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ash24 land in Ohio. 

Union Calendar No. 386

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3257

[Report No. 108–642] 

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conitage Area. sibility of establishing the Western Reserve Her- duct a study to determine the suitability and feaSEPTEMBER 7, 2004

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,