I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2949

To establish the Augusta Canal National Heritage Corridor in the State

of Georgia, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 6, 1993

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To establish the Augusta Canal National Heritage Corridor

in the State of Georgia, 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. FINDINGS.

4 Congress finds that:

5 (1) The Augusta Canal National Historic Land6 mark in the State of Georgia, listed on the National

7 Register of Historic Places, is one of the last un8 spoiled and undeveloped areas in the State of Geor9 gia and has remained largely intact, including excel10 lent water quality, beautiful rural landscapes,
2

•HR 2949 IH

1 architecturally significant mill structures and mill

2 villages, and large acreage of parks and other per3 manent open space.

4 (2) The beautiful rural landscapes, scenic vistas

5 and excellent water quality of the Augusta Canal

6 contain significant undeveloped recreational opportu7 nities for people throughout the United States.

8 (3) The existing mill sites and other structures

9 throughout the Augusta Canal were instrumental in

10 the development of the cotton textile industry in the

11 south.

12 (4) Several significant sites associated with Na13 tive Americans, the American Revolution, and Afri14 can Americans are located within the area.

15 (5) Many local, regional and State agencies,

16 businesses, and private citizens have expressed an

17 overwhelming desire to combine forces to work coop18 eratively to preserve and enhance resources region19 wide and better plan for the future.

20 SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

21 It is the purpose of this Act to provide a management

22 framework to assist the State of Georgia, its units of local

23 and regional government, and citizens in the development

24 and implementation of integrated cultural, historical, and

25 recreational land resource management programs in order
3

•HR 2949 IH

1 to retain, enhance, and interpret the significant features

2 of the lands, water, and structures of the Augusta Canal

3 in the State of Georgia.

4 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF AUGUSTA CANAL NATIONAL

5 HERITAGE CORRIDOR; PURPOSE.

6 There is hereby established in the State of Georgia

7 the Augusta Canal National Heritage Corridor (hereafter

8 in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Corridor’’). The Corridor

9 shall consist of that area in the State of Georgia known

10 as the Augusta Canal, as generally depicted on the map

11 entitled ‘‘The Augusta Canal Master Plan’’ and dated

12 March 5, 1993, which shall be on file and available for

13 public inspection in the Office of the Director of the Na14 tional Park Service.

15 SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

16 (a) PREPARATION OF PLAN.—Within 1 year after the

17 date of enactment of this Act, the Augusta Canal Author18 ity shall submit a management plan to the Secretary of

19 the Interior (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec20 retary’’) for his review and concurrence. The Plan shall

21 be based on existing Federal, State, and local plans, and

22 shall coordinate those plans and present an integrated

23 plan for the protection, enhancement and interpretation

24 of the Corridor’s cultural, natural, scenic and recreational
4

•HR 2949 IH

1 resources. The Secretary is authorized to provide technical

2 assistance in the preparation of the Plan.

3 (b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Upon concurrence with the

4 Plan, the Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative

5 agreements with the State of Georgia, the Augusta Canal

6 Authority or other political subdivisions thereof, or with

7 any person or organization to provide technical assistance

8 in the protection, enhancement and interpretation of the

9 resources identified in the Plan.

10 SEC. 5. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES.

11 Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activi12 ties directly affecting the Corridor shall—

13 (1) consult with the Secretary and the Augusta

14 Canal Authority with respect to such activities;

15 (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Au16 gusta Canal Authority with respect to such activities

17 and, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate

18 such activities; and

19 (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct

20 or support such activities in a manner which the

21 Secretary and Augusta Canal Authority determines

22 will not have an adverse effect on the Corridor.

Æ