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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1776 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area 
Study Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING BUFFALO BAYOU, TEXAS.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The area beginning at Shepherd Drive in west Houston, 
        Texas, and extending to the Turning Basin, commonly referred to 
        as the ``Buffalo Bayou'', made a unique contribution to the 
        cultural, political, and industrial development of the United 
        States.
            (2) The Buffalo Bayou is distinctive as the first spine of 
        modern industrial development in Texas and one of the first 
        along the Gulf of Mexico coast.
            (3) The Buffalo Bayou played a significant role in the 
        struggle for Texas independence.
            (4) The Buffalo Bayou developed a prosperous and productive 
        shipping industry that survives today.
            (5) The Buffalo Bayou led in the development of Texas' 
        petrochemical industry that made Houston the center of the 
        early oil boom in America.
            (6) The Buffalo Bayou developed a sophisticated shipping 
        system, leading to the formation of the modern day Houston Ship 
        Channel.
            (7) The Buffalo Bayou developed a significant industrial 
        base, and served as the focal point for the new city of 
        Houston.
            (8) There is a longstanding commitment by the Buffalo Bayou 
        Partnership, Inc., to complete the Buffalo Bayou Trail along 
        the 12-mile segment of the Buffalo Bayou.
            (9) There is a need for assistance for the preservation and 
        promotion of the significance of the Buffalo Bayou as a system 
        for transportation, industry, commerce, and immigration.
            (10) The Department of the Interior is responsible for 
        protecting the Nation's cultural and historical resources. 
        There are significant examples of such resources within the 
        Buffalo Bayou region to merit the involvement of the Federal 
        Government in the development of programs and projects, in 
        cooperation with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc., the State 
        of Texas, and other local and governmental entities, to 
        adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this heritage for 
        future generations, while providing opportunities for education 
        and revitalization.
    (b) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with 
        the State of Texas, the City of Houston, and other appropriate 
        organizations, carry out a study regarding the suitability and 
        feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage 
        Area in Houston, Texas.
            (2) Contents.--The study shall include analysis and 
        documentation regarding whether the Study Area--
                    (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and 
                cultural resources that together represent distinctive 
                aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, 
                conservation, interpretation, and continuing use, and 
                are best managed through partnerships among public and 
                private entities and by combining diverse and sometimes 
                noncontiguous resources and active communities;
                    (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and 
                folklife that are a valuable part of the national 
                story;
                    (C) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve 
                natural, historic, cultural, or scenic features;
                    (D) provides outstanding recreational and 
                educational opportunities;
                    (E) contains resources important to the identified 
                theme or themes of the Study Area that retain a degree 
                of integrity capable of supporting interpretation;
                    (F) includes residents, business interests, 
                nonprofit organizations, and local and State 
                governments that are involved in the planning, have 
                developed a conceptual financial plan that outlines the 
                roles for all participants, including the Federal 
                Government, and have demonstrated support for the 
                concept of a national heritage area;
                    (G) has a potential management entity to work in 
                partnership with residents, business interests, 
                nonprofit organizations, and local and State 
                governments to develop a national heritage area 
                consistent with continued local and State economic 
                activity; and
                    (H) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported 
                by the public.
    (c) Boundaries of the Study Area.--The Study Area shall be 
comprised of sites in Houston, Texas, in an area roughly bounded by 
Shepherd Drive and extending to the Turning Basin, commonly referred to 
as the ``Buffalo Bayou''.
    (d) Submission of Study Results.--Not later than 3 years after 
funds are first made available for this section, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
report describing the results of the study.

            Passed the House of Representatives October 30, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.
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