II

Calendar No. 447

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1227

[Report No. 107–179]

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

JUNE 26, 2002

Reported by Mr. BINGAMAN, with amendments

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

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,
2

S 1227 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

3 Heritage Area Study Act’’.

4 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

5 In this Act:

6 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means

7 the Secretary of the Interior.

8 (2) STUDY AREA.—

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

10 means the segment of the Niagara River in Ni11 agara County, New York, that extends from Ni12 agara Falls, New York, to the mouth of the Ni13 agara River at Lake Ontario.

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

15 includes land in any municipality that is adja16 cent to the Niagara River in Niagara County,

17 New York.

18 (2) STUDY AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ means

19 lands in Niagara County, New York, along and in the

20 vicinity of the Niagara River.

21 SEC. 3. NIAGARA RIVER FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

22 STUDY.

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

24 study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing a

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

26 the ‘‘Niagara Falls National Heritage Area’’.
3

S 1227 RS

1 (b) ANALYSES AND DOCUMENTATION.—The study

2 shall include analysis and documentation of whether the

3 study area—

4 (1) contains an assemblage of natural, histor5 ical, scenic, and cultural resources that represent

6 distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United

7 States that—

8 (A) are worthy of recognition, conserva9 tion, interpretation, and continued use; and

10 (B) would best be managed—

11 (i) through partnerships among public

12 and private entities; and

13 (ii) by combining diverse and some14 times noncontiguous resources and active

15 communities;

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

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

18 United States;

19 (3) provides outstanding opportunities to con20 serve natural, historical, scenic, or cultural features;

21 (4) provides outstanding recreational and edu22 cational opportunities;

23 (5) contains resources important to the identi24 fied theme of the study area that retain a degree of

25 integrity capable of supporting interpretation;
4

S 1227 RS

1 (6) includes residents, business interests, non2 profit organizations, and State and local govern3 ments that—

4 (A) are involved in planning a national

5 heritage area;

6 (B) have developed a conceptual financial

7 plan for a national heritage area that outlines

8 the roles for all participants, including the Fed9 eral Government; and

10 (C) have demonstrated support for the

11 concept of a national heritage area;

12 (7) has a potential management entity to work

13 in partnership with residents, business interests,

14 nonprofit organizations, and State and local govern15 ments to develop a national heritage area consistent

16 with continued State and local economic activity;

17 and

18 (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is sup19 ported by the public.

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

21 Secretary shall consult with—

22 (1) State and local agencies; and

23 (2) interested organizations within the study

24 area.
5

S 1227 RS

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

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

3 Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Re4 sources of the House of Representatives and the Com5 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate

6 a report that describes the findings, conclusions, and rec7 ommendations of the study under subsection (a).

8 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is

9 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section

10 $300,000.

11 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

12 There is authorized to be appropriated $300,000 to

13 carry out this Act.
Calendar No. 447

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1227

[Report No. 107–179]

A BILL

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

establishing the Niagara Falls National HeritageArea in the State of New York, and for otherpurposes.

JUNE 26, 2002

Reported with amendments