II

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 1227

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

and feasibility of establishing the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area

in the State of New York, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JULY 24, 2001

Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. CLINTON) introduced the following bill;

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a

study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing

the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area in the State

of New York, 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. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Niagara Falls National

5 Heritage Area Study Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

7 In this Act:
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1 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means

2 the Secretary of the Interior.

3 (2) STUDY AREA.—

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘study area’’

5 means the segment of the Niagara River in Ni6 agara County, New York, that extends from Ni7 agara Falls, New York, to the mouth of the Ni8 agara River at Lake Ontario.

9 (B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘study area’’

10 includes land in any municipality that is adja11 cent to the Niagara River in Niagara County,

12 New York.

13 SEC. 3. NIAGARA RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY.

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a

15 study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing a

16 heritage area in the State of New York to be known as

17 the ‘‘Niagara Falls National Heritage Area’’.

18 (b) ANALYSES AND DOCUMENTATION.—The study

19 shall include analysis and documentation of whether the

20 study area—

21 (1) contains an assemblage of natural, histor22 ical, scenic, and cultural resources that represent

23 distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United

24 States that—
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1 (A) are worthy of recognition, conserva2 tion, interpretation, and continued use; and

3 (B) would best be managed—

4 (i) through partnerships among public

5 and private entities; and

6 (ii) by combining diverse and some7 times noncontiguous resources and active

8 communities;

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

10 folklife that are a valuable part of the story of the

11 United States;

12 (3) provides outstanding opportunities to con13 serve natural, historical, scenic, or cultural features;

14 (4) provides outstanding recreational and edu15 cational opportunities;

16 (5) contains resources important to the identi17 fied theme of the study area that retain a degree of

18 integrity capable of supporting interpretation;

19 (6) includes residents, business interests, non20 profit organizations, and State and local govern21 ments that—

22 (A) are involved in planning a national

23 heritage area;

24 (B) have developed a conceptual financial

25 plan for a national heritage area that outlines
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1 the roles for all participants, including the Fed2 eral Government; and

3 (C) have demonstrated support for the

4 concept of a national heritage area;

5 (7) has a potential management entity to work

6 in partnership with residents, business interests,

7 nonprofit organizations, and State and local govern8 ments to develop a national heritage area consistent

9 with continued State and local economic activity;

10 and

11 (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is sup12 ported by the public.

13 (c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study, the

14 Secretary shall consult with—

15 (1) State and local agencies; and

16 (2) interested organizations within the study

17 area.

18 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 fiscal years after the

19 date on which funds are made available to carry out this

20 Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Re21 sources of the House of Representatives and the Com22 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate

23 a report that describes the findings, conclusions, and rec24 ommendations of the study under subsection (a).
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1 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is

2 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section

3 $300,000.

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