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Union Calendar No. 156

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1776

[Report No. 107–256]

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in west

Houston, Texas.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 9, 2001

Mr. GREEN of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Resources

OCTOBER 30, 2001

Additional sponsors: Mr. BENTSEN, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, and Mr.

LAMPSON

OCTOBER 30, 2001

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 9, 2001]

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou

National Heritage Area in west Houston, Texas.
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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 ‘‘Buffalo Bayou National

5 Heritage Area Study Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING BUF7 FALO BAYOU, TEXAS.

8 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:

9 (1) The area beginning at Shepherd Drive in

10 west Houston, Texas, and extending to the Turning

11 Basin, commonly referred to as the ‘‘Buffalo Bayou’’,

12 made a unique contribution to the cultural, political,

13 and industrial development of the United States.

14 (2) The Buffalo Bayou is distinctive as the first

15 spine of modern industrial development in Texas and

16 one of the first along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

17 (3) The Buffalo Bayou played a significant role

18 in the struggle for Texas independence.

19 (4) The Buffalo Bayou developed a prosperous

20 and productive shipping industry that survives today.

21 (5) The Buffalo Bayou led in the development of

22 Texas’ petrochemical industry that made Houston the

23 center of the early oil boom in America.
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1 (6) The Buffalo Bayou developed a sophisticated

2 shipping system, leading to the formation of the mod3 ern day Houston Ship Channel.

4 (7) The Buffalo Bayou developed a significant

5 industrial base, and served as the focal point for the

6 new city of Houston.

7 (8) There is a longstanding commitment by the

8 Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc., to complete the Buf9 falo Bayou Trail along the 12-mile segment of the

10 Buffalo Bayou.

11 (9) There is a need for assistance for the preser12 vation and promotion of the significance of the Buf13 falo Bayou as a system for transportation, industry,

14 commerce, and immigration.

15 (10) The Department of the Interior is respon16 sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and histor17 ical resources. There are significant examples of such

18 resources within the Buffalo Bayou region to merit

19 the involvement of the Federal Government in the de20 velopment of programs and projects, in cooperation

21 with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc., the State

22 of Texas, and other local and governmental entities,

23 to adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this her24 itage for future generations, while providing opportu25 nities for education and revitalization.
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1 (b) STUDY.—

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con3 sultation with the State of Texas, the City of Hous4 ton, and other appropriate organizations, carry out a

5 study regarding the suitability and feasibility of es6 tablishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area

7 in Houston, Texas.

8 (2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include anal9 ysis and documentation regarding whether the Study

10 Area—

11 (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic,

12 and cultural resources that together represent

13 distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy

14 of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and

15 continuing use, and are best managed through

16 partnerships among public and private entities

17 and by combining diverse and sometimes non18 contiguous resources and active communities;

19 (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and

20 folklife that are a valuable part of the national

21 story;

22 (C) provides outstanding opportunities to

23 conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic fea24 tures;
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1 (D) provides outstanding recreational and

2 educational opportunities;

3 (E) contains resources important to the

4 identified theme or themes of the Study Area

5 that retain a degree of integrity capable of sup6 porting interpretation;

7 (F) includes residents, business interests,

8 nonprofit organizations, and local and State

9 governments that are involved in the planning,

10 have developed a conceptual financial plan that

11 outlines the roles for all participants, including

12 the Federal Government, and have demonstrated

13 support for the concept of a national heritage

14 area;

15 (G) has a potential management entity to

16 work in partnership with residents, business in17 terests, nonprofit organizations, and local and

18 State governments to develop a national heritage

19 area consistent with continued local and State

20 economic activity; and

21 (H) has a conceptual boundary map that is

22 supported by the public.

23 (c) BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.—The Study

24 Area shall be comprised of sites in Houston, Texas, in an

25 area roughly bounded by Shepherd Drive and extending to
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1 the Turning Basin, commonly referred to as the ‘‘Buffalo

2 Bayou’’.

3 (d) SUBMISSION OF STUDY RESULTS.—Not later than

4 3 years after funds are first made available for this section,

5 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources

6 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on En7 ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describ8 ing the results of the study.

Union Calendar No. 156

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1776

[Report No. 107–256]

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study

the suitability and feasibility of establishing theBuffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in westHouston, Texas.

OCTOBER 30, 2001

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,

and ordered to be printed