I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 567

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability 

and feasibility of establishing the Northern Neck National Heritage Area 

in Virginia, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2003

Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study 

of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Northern Neck National Heritage Area in Virginia, 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. NORTHERN NECK NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA 

4 STUDY AND REPORT. 

5 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

6 ‘‘Northern Neck National Heritage Area Study Act’’. 

7 (b) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior, in con8 sultation with appropriate State historic preservation offi-
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1 cers, States historical societies, and other appropriate or2 ganizations, shall conduct a study regarding the suitability 

3 and feasibility of designating the study area described in 

4 subsection (c) as the Northern Neck National Heritage 

5 Area. The study shall include analysis, documentation, 

6 and determination regarding whether the study area—

7 (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and 

8 cultural resources that together represent distinctive 

9 aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, 

10 conservation, interpretation, and continuing use, and 

11 are best managed through partnerships among pub12 lic and private entities and by combining diverse and 

13 sometimes noncontiguous resources and active com14 munities; 

15 (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and 

16 folklife that are a valuable part of the national story; 

17 (3) provides outstanding opportunities to con18 serve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic features; 

19 (4) provides outstanding recreational and edu20 cational opportunities; 

21 (5) contains resources important to the identi22 fied theme or themes of the study area that retain 

23 a degree of integrity capable of supporting interpre24 tation; 
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1 (6) includes residents, business interests, non2 profit organizations, and local and State govern3 ments that are involved in the planning, have devel4 oped a conceptual financial plan that outlines the 

5 roles of all participants (including the Federal Gov6 ernment), and have demonstrated support for the 

7 concept of a national heritage area; 

8 (7) has a potential management entity to work 

9 in partnership with residents, business interests, 

10 nonprofit organizations, and local and State govern11 ments to develop a national heritage area consistent 

12 with continued local and State economic activity; 

13 and 

14 (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is sup15 ported by the public. 

16 (c) BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.—The study 

17 area referred to in subsection (b) shall be comprised of 

18 the following: 

19 (1) The part of Virginia between the Potomac 

20 and the Rappahannock Rivers in eastern coastal Vir21 ginia. 

22 (2) Westmoreland, Northumberland, Richmond, 

23 King George, and Lancaster Counties, Virginia. 

24 (3) Other areas that have heritage aspects that 

25 are similar to those aspects that are in the areas de-
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1 scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) and which are ad2 jacent to or in the vicinity of those areas. 

3 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 fiscal years after the 

4 date on which funds are first made available for this sec5 tion, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Com6 mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives and 

7 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 

8 Senate a report on the findings, conclusions, and rec9 ommendations of the study.

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