IIB

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1776

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

OCTOBER 31, 2001

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural

Resources

AN ACT

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.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2

HR 1776 RFS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Buffalo Bayou Na3 tional Heritage Area Study Act’’.

4 SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING BUF5 FALO BAYOU, TEXAS.

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

7 (1) The area beginning at Shepherd Drive in

8 west Houston, Texas, and extending to the Turning

9 Basin, commonly referred to as the ‘‘Buffalo

10 Bayou’’, made a unique contribution to the cultural,

11 political, and industrial development of the United

12 States.

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

14 spine of modern industrial development in Texas and

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

16 (3) The Buffalo Bayou played a significant role

17 in the struggle for Texas independence.

18 (4) The Buffalo Bayou developed a prosperous

19 and productive shipping industry that survives

20 today.

21 (5) The Buffalo Bayou led in the development

22 of Texas’ petrochemical industry that made Houston

23 the center of the early oil boom in America.

24 (6) The Buffalo Bayou developed a sophisti25 cated shipping system, leading to the formation of

26 the modern day Houston Ship Channel.
3

HR 1776 RFS

1 (7) The Buffalo Bayou developed a significant

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

3 new city of Houston.

4 (8) There is a longstanding commitment by the

5 Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc., to complete the

6 Buffalo Bayou Trail along the 12-mile segment of

7 the Buffalo Bayou.

8 (9) There is a need for assistance for the pres9 ervation and promotion of the significance of the

10 Buffalo Bayou as a system for transportation, in11 dustry, commerce, and immigration.

12 (10) The Department of the Interior is respon13 sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and histor14 ical resources. There are significant examples of

15 such resources within the Buffalo Bayou region to

16 merit the involvement of the Federal Government in

17 the development of programs and projects, in co18 operation with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc.,

19 the State of Texas, and other local and govern20 mental entities, to adequately conserve, protect, and

21 interpret this heritage for future generations, while

22 providing opportunities for education and revitaliza23 tion.

24 (b) STUDY.—
4

HR 1776 RFS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con2 sultation with the State of Texas, the City of Hous3 ton, and other appropriate organizations, carry out

4 a study regarding the suitability and feasibility of

5 establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage

6 Area in Houston, Texas.

7 (2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include anal8 ysis and documentation regarding whether the Study

9 Area—

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

11 and cultural resources that together represent

12 distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy

13 of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and

14 continuing use, and are best managed through

15 partnerships among public and private entities

16 and by combining diverse and sometimes non17 contiguous resources and active communities;

18 (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs,

19 and folklife that are a valuable part of the na20 tional story;

21 (C) provides outstanding opportunities to

22 conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic

23 features;

24 (D) provides outstanding recreational and

25 educational opportunities;
5

HR 1776 RFS

1 (E) contains resources important to the

2 identified theme or themes of the Study Area

3 that retain a degree of integrity capable of sup4 porting interpretation;

5 (F) includes residents, business interests,

6 nonprofit organizations, and local and State

7 governments that are involved in the planning,

8 have developed a conceptual financial plan that

9 outlines the roles for all participants, including

10 the Federal Government, and have dem11 onstrated support for the concept of a national

12 heritage area;

13 (G) has a potential management entity to

14 work in partnership with residents, business in15 terests, nonprofit organizations, and local and

16 State governments to develop a national herit17 age area consistent with continued local and

18 State economic activity; and

19 (H) has a conceptual boundary map that is

20 supported by the public.

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

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

23 area roughly bounded by Shepherd Drive and extending

24 to the Turning Basin, commonly referred to as the ‘‘Buf25 falo Bayou’’.
6

HR 1776 RFS

1 (d) SUBMISSION OF STUDY RESULTS.—Not later

2 than 3 years after funds are first made available for this

3 section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on

4 Resources of the House of Representatives and the Com5 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate

6 a report describing the results of the study.

Passed the House of Representatives October 30,

2001.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.