H. R. 1776

One Hundred Seventh Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two

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
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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
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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.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.