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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1891 Introduced in House (IH)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 1891

   To provide for the establishment of the Ohio River Corridor Study 
                  Commission, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 20, 1995

 Mr. Hamilton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To provide for the establishment of the Ohio River Corridor Study 
                  Commission, and for other purposes.
    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 ``Ohio River Corridor Study Commission 
Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The amenities and resources of the Ohio River, which 
        flows through six States from its headwaters in the 
        Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to its confluence with the 
        Mississippi River and comprises a chain of commercial, 
        industrial, historical, archaeological, natural, recreational, 
        scenic, wildlife, urban, rural, cultural, and economic areas, 
        are of major significance and importance to the Nation.
            (2) The national interest is served by--
                    (A) preserving, protecting, and improving such 
                amenities and resources for the benefit of the people 
                of the United States; and
                    (B) improving the coordination between all levels 
                of government in the Ohio River Corridor.
            (3) The preservation, protection, and improvement of such 
        amenities and resources are failing to be fully realized 
        despite efforts by the States through which the Ohio flows, 
        political subdivisions of such States, and volunteer 
        associations and private businesses in such States.
            (4) Existing Federal agency programs are offering 
        insufficient coordination to State and local planning and 
        regulatory authorities to provide for resource management and 
        economic development in a manner that is consistent with the 
        protection and public use of the Corridor's amenities and 
        resources.
            (5) The national Government should assist in the 
        coordination, preservation, and interpretation activities of 
        public and private entities with respect to the significant 
        amenities and resources associated with the Ohio River.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) focus attention on the unique and nationally 
        significant resources of the Ohio River Corridor;
            (2) provide a means and a stimulus for coordinating the 
        preservation, protection, improvement, enjoyment, and 
        utilization of the resources of the Ohio River Corridor; and
            (3) establish a national entity to gather, assess, and 
        disseminate information on the historic, economic, natural, 
        recreational, scenic, and cultural opportunities in the Ohio 
        River Corridor.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``Commission'' means the Ohio River Corridor 
        Study Commission established by section 4.
            (2) The terms ``Ohio River Corridor'' and ``Corridor'' mean 
        the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, 
        Illinois, and an area extending from the river's edge to the 
        landward boundary of each county along its designated length.
            (3) The term ``Ohio River State'' means any of the States 
        of Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and 
        Pennsylvania.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established a commission to be known as the Ohio River 
Corridor Study Commission.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Study.--The Commission shall study and make recommendations 
regarding--
            (1) the feasibility of establishing an Ohio River National 
        Heritage Corridor for the Ohio River Corridor; and
            (2) the preservation, protection, improvement, enjoyment, 
        and utilization of the historic, economic, natural, 
        recreational, scenic, and cultural resources of the Corridor 
        consistent with the purposes of this Act.
    (b) Information Collection; Consultation.--As part of the study 
conducted under subsection (a), the Commission shall--
            (1) assess the preservation, protection, improvement, 
        enjoyment, and utilization potential of the
         historic, economic, natural, recreational, scenic, and 
cultural resources of the Corridor;
            (2) collect information dealing with ongoing activities, 
        management plans, and opportunities regarding historic, 
        economic, natural, recreational, scenic, and cultural resources 
        in the Corridor;
            (3) make such information available to Federal agencies, 
        States, and political subdivisions thereof, tribal governments, 
        educational institutions, volunteer associations, and private 
        businesses to assist such entities in undertaking activities to 
        preserve, protect, improve, or utilize the historic, economic, 
        natural, recreational, scenic, or cultural resources of the 
        Corridor;
            (4) consult with the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation 
        Commission and the Ohio River Basin Commission, and cooperate 
        with the commissions and such associations in the performance 
        of its duties;
            (5) provide a forum for the consideration of resource 
        issues relating to the Corridor;
            (6) seek and encourage the participation of affected State 
        and local governments, interested citizens, public officials, 
        groups, agencies, educational institutions, and others in the 
        preservation, protection, improvement, enjoyment, and 
        utilization of the Corridor's resources;
            (7) recommend methods and means for educating the general 
        population about the national importance and value of the Ohio 
        River as a natural resource and national treasure; and
            (8) make the Commission accessible to such groups, 
        agencies, and citizens by holding at least one well-publicized 
        public hearing in every State within the Corridor.
    (c) Report.--The Commission shall prepare a report--
            (1) specifying the results of the study conducted under 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) containing--
                    (A) a description of the Ohio River Corridor and 
                the proposed boundaries of an Ohio River National 
                Heritage Corridor (if so recommended) showing the 
                corridor and such zones as may be appropriate;
                    (B) an inventory and assessment of the historic, 
                economic, natural, recreational, scenic, and cultural 
                resources of the Corridor;
                    (C) specific preservation and interpretation goals;
                    (D) proposed management strategies whereby the 
                funds, data, personnel, and authorities of public and 
                private entities may be combined and coordinated in 
                furtherance of the purposes of this Act; and
                    (E) such recommendations as the Commission may deem 
                appropriate with respect to subparagraphs (A) through 
                (D) and with respect to public access to and 
                interpretation of the natural and cultural resources of 
                the river and related outdoor recreation opportunities.

SEC. 6. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 
members as follows:
            (1) The Director of the National Park Service (or 
        designee).
            (2) The Secretary of Transportation (or designee).
            (3) The Secretary of Commerce (or designee).
            (4) The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
        Service (or designee).
            (5) The Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers 
        (or designee).
            (6) One member from each Ohio River State appointed by the 
        Governor of such State.
    (b) First Appointments.--Members of the Commission required by 
subsection (a) to be appointed shall be first appointed not later than 
45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment is made.
    (d) Terms.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission.
    (e) Pay.--Members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
    (f) Reimbursement of Expenses.--While away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including a per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, in the same 
manner as persons employed intermittently in Government service are 
allowed travel expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States 
Code.
    (g) Quorum.--(1) Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
    (2) A member of the Commission may vote by means of a signed proxy 
exercised by another member of the Commission, but any member so voting 
shall not be considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum.
    (h) Chairperson.--As the first item of business at the first 
meeting of the Commission, the members of the Commission shall elect a 
chairperson of the Commission from among the members appointed under 
subsection (a)(6).
    (i) Meetings.--(1) The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
chairperson or a majority of the members.
    (2) Not later than 30 days after the members of the Commission are 
first appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
    (3) The Director of the National Park Service (or designee) shall 
select the date of the first meeting and shall serve as chairperson 
until the election of the chairperson under subsection (h).
    (j) Technical Committee.--With the advice and consent of the 
Commission members, the chairperson may appoint a technical committee 
with representation from the various interest groups, professional 
agencies, or advocacy groups within the Ohio River States with each 
State having at least one member.
    (k) Waiver.--The provisions of section 14(b) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) are hereby waived with respect 
to the Commission.
SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS; PERSONNEL OF 
              FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) Lead Agency.--The National Park Service shall, if personnel are 
available, staff and advise the Commission.
    (b) Staff.--The Commission, if National Park Service personnel are 
not available, with advice from the Director of the National Park 
Service (or designee), may appoint and fix the pay of such staff as the 
Commission considers appropriate, subject to--
            (1) the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the competitive service; and
            (2) the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
        chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General 
        Schedule pay rates.
    (c) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission, with advice from the 
Director of the National Park Service (or designee), may procure 
temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (d) Personnel of States and Political Subdivisions.--The Commission 
may--
            (1) accept the services of personnel detailed from an Ohio 
        River State or a political subdivision thereof; and
            (2) reimburse such State or such subdivision for such 
        services.
    (e) Personnel of Federal Agencies.--On an as needed basis, at the 
request of the Commission, with the advice of the Director of the 
National Park Service (or designee), the head of any Federal agency may 
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to 
the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties 
under this Act.

SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--For the purpose of carrying out this 
Act, the Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times 
and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 
Commission considers appropriate.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if so authorized by the Commission, take any action 
which the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
    (c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (d) Administrative Support Services.--The Administrator of General 
Services shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such 
administrative support services as the Commission may request.

SEC. 9. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS.

    (a) Interim Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the 
President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President 
of the Senate, and the Governor of each Ohio River State a report 
describing the progress of the Commission in carrying out the duties of 
the Commission under section 5.
    (b) Final Report.--Not later than three years after the date of the 
first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the 
President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President 
of the Senate, and the Governor of each Ohio River State the report 
required by section 5(c).

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    Notwithstanding section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Commission shall cease to exist 90 days after 
submitting the report required by section 5(c) and submitted under 
section 9(b).

SEC. 11. CONSENT TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSED COMPACTS.

    The Congress hereby consents to the negotiation by any State 
referred to in section 3 with one or more of any other such State of 
proposed interstate agreements or compacts among such States in 
furtherance of the purposes of this Act or the study referred to in 
section 5 or any material component thereof.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Park Service 
to for the Commission to carry out this Act $500,000, to be available 
until expended in the course of the three years in which the Commission 
is in existence.
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