I

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1227

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 4, 2002

Referred to the Committee on Resources

AN ACT

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’’.
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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

2 In this Act:

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

4 the Secretary of the Interior.

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

6 means lands in Niagara County, New York, along

7 and in the vicinity of the Niagara River.

8 SEC. 3. NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY.

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

10 study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing a

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

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

13 (b) ANALYSES AND DOCUMENTATION.—The study

14 shall include analysis and documentation of whether the

15 study area—

16 (1) contains an assemblage of natural, histor17 ical, scenic, and cultural resources that represent

18 distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United

19 States that—

20 (A) are worthy of recognition, conserva21 tion, interpretation, and continued use; and

22 (B) would best be managed—

23 (i) through partnerships among public

24 and private entities; and
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1 (ii) by combining diverse and some2 times noncontiguous resources and active

3 communities;

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

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

6 United States;

7 (3) provides outstanding opportunities to con8 serve natural, historical, scenic, or cultural features;

9 (4) provides outstanding recreational and edu10 cational opportunities;

11 (5) contains resources important to the identi12 fied theme of the study area that retain a degree of

13 integrity capable of supporting interpretation;

14 (6) includes residents, business interests, non15 profit organizations, and State and local govern16 ments that—

17 (A) are involved in planning a national

18 heritage area;

19 (B) have developed a conceptual financial

20 plan for a national heritage area that outlines

21 the roles for all participants, including the Fed22 eral Government; and

23 (C) have demonstrated support for the

24 concept of a national heritage area;
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1 (7) has a potential management entity to work

2 in partnership with residents, business interests,

3 nonprofit organizations, and State and local govern4 ments to develop a national heritage area consistent

5 with continued State and local economic activity;

6 and

7 (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is sup8 ported by the public.

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

10 Secretary shall consult with—

11 (1) State and local agencies; and

12 (2) interested organizations within the study

13 area.

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

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

16 Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Re17 sources of the House of Representatives and the Com18 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate

19 a report that describes the findings, conclusions, and rec20 ommendations of the study under subsection (a).

21 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

23 carry out this Act.

Passed the Senate August 1, 2002.

Attest: JERI THOMSON,

Secretary.