National Heritage Area Act of 2015

To authorize a National Heritage Area Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the National Heritage Area Act of 2015 (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings and purposes. Sec. 3. Definitions. Sec. 4. National Heritage Area System. Sec. 5. Feasibility studies. Sec. 6. Management plan. Sec. 7. Designation. Sec. 8. Evaluation. Sec. 9. Local coordinating entities. Sec. 10. Relationship to other Federal agencies. Sec. 11. Property owners and regulatory protections. Sec. 12. Funding. Sec. 13. Sunset. 2. Findings and purposes (a) Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Certain areas of the United States tell nationally significant stories; they illustrate significant aspects of our heritage; possess exceptional natural, cultural, scenic, and historic resources; and represent the diversity of our national character. (2) In these areas, the interaction of natural processes, geography, history, cultural traditions, and economic and social forces form distinctive landscapes that should be recognized, conserved, enhanced, and interpreted to improve the quality of life in the regions and to provide opportunities for public appreciation, education, enjoyment, and economic sustainability. (3) Local initiatives based on community and regional visions, involving public/private partnerships, are critical to conserving, enhancing, and interpreting natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources related to our American heritage. These initiatives should be encouraged and supported by the Federal Government with the concurrence of the relevant Federal land management agencies and tribal governments by providing financial and technical assistance. (4) Partnerships among Federal, State, tribal, and local governments, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and citizens provide the most viable framework to recognize, conserve, enhance, and interpret the resources of places that have made important contributions to the national story. (5) Communities and regions need assistance to set resource stewardship and interpretive goals, and to implement strategies for resource conservation and renewed economic viability in these areas. (6) A unified national process as well as certain standards for designation of National Heritage Areas need to be established to provide a consistent framework. The process should include a system for approval of heritage area management plans. (7) National Heritage Areas located near or encompassing units of the National Park System provide an additional basis for public enjoyment of parks and park-related resources, and it is appropriate for these parks to participate in, assist with, and benefit from local heritage initiatives that conserve and interpret resources over a larger area beyond the park’s boundaries. (8) It is in the national interest, and will benefit future generations, to establish a system of National Heritage Areas to encourage natural and cultural resource conservation, interpretation, enhancement, and economic sustainability, and for full public understanding and appreciation of the many resources, places, events, and peoples that have contributed to the rich heritage of this Nation. (b) Purposes The purposes of this Act are to— (1) establish a system of regional and community-based National Heritage Areas to conserve, enhance, and interpret natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources that together tell nationally significant stories representing our country’s heritage; (2) promote public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the many places, events, and people that have contributed to our diverse national story; (3) promote innovative and partnership-driven management strategies that recognize regional values, to encourage locally tailored resource stewardship and interpretation, to develop economically viable and innovative approaches to community conservation, and to provide for the effective leveraging of Federal funds with State, local, tribal, and private funding sources; (4) provide unified national standards and processes for conducting feasibility studies, designating National Heritage Areas, and approving heritage area management plans; (5) provide appropriate linkages among units of the National Park System, and communities, governments, and organizations within National Heritage Areas to conserve, enhance, and interpret resources outside of park boundaries; and (6) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial and technical assistance to local coordinating entities that act as a catalyst for diverse regions, communities, organizations, and citizens to undertake projects and programs for resource stewardship and interpretation. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Feasibility study The term feasibility study (2) Local coordinating entity The term local coordinating entity (3) Management plan The term management plan (4) National heritage area The term National Heritage Area (5) Proposed national heritage area The term proposed National Heritage Area (6) Secretary The term Secretary (7) National Heritage Area System The term National Heritage Area System (8) Tribal government The term tribal government 25 U.S.C. 479a (9) Tribal lands The term tribal lands (A) all lands within the exterior boundaries of any Indian reservation; (B) all lands the title to which is held by the United States in trust for an Indian tribe or lands the title to which is held by an Indian tribe subject to a restriction by the United States against alienation; and (C) all dependent Indian communities. 4. National Heritage Area System (a) In general In order to recognize certain areas of the United States that tell nationally significant stories and to conserve, enhance, and interpret the areas’ natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources that together illustrate significant aspects of our country’s heritage, there is established a National Heritage Area System through which the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of National Heritage Areas. (b) National Heritage Area System The National Heritage Area System shall be composed of the following: (1) National Heritage Areas designated before the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) National Heritage Areas designated under this Act. (c) Relationship to the national park system (1) Relationship to national park units The Secretary shall— (A) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, participation and assistance by any unit of the National Park System located near or encompassed by any National Heritage Area in local initiatives for that National Heritage Area that conserve and interpret resources consistent with an approved management plan for the National Heritage Area; and (B) work with National Heritage Areas to promote public enjoyment of units of the National Park System and park-related resources. (2) Applicability of laws National Heritage Areas shall not be— (A) considered to be units of the National Park System; or (B) subject to the authorities applicable to units of the National Park System. (d) Duties Under the National Heritage Area System, the Secretary shall— (1) undertake studies as directed by Congress through legislation to assess the feasibility of designating proposed National Heritage Areas or review and comment on studies undertaken by other parties for this purpose as provided in this Act; (2) review and approve or disapprove the management plan for a National Heritage Area as provided in this Act; (3) submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate reports describing the activities conducted with respect to National Heritage Areas in accordance with this Act; and (4) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments and prepare a report with recommendations for the National Park Service’s future role with respect to each designated National Heritage Area as provided in this Act. (e) Authorities In carrying out this Act, the Secretary may— (1) provide technical and financial assistance in accordance with the provisions of section 10, and the amounts authorized under section 12, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis as determined by the Secretary in the development and implementation of management plans and for administrative functions for designated National Heritage Areas; (2) enter into cooperative agreements with other Federal agencies, State, tribal and local governments, local coordinating entities, and other interested parties to carry out the purposes of this Act; (3) provide information, promote understanding, and encourage research on National Heritage Areas in partnership with local coordinating entities; and (4) provide national oversight, analysis, coordination, technical and financial assistance, and support to ensure consistency and accountability of the National Heritage Area System. 5. Feasibility studies The Secretary, in undertaking a feasibility study, or reviewing a feasibility study conducted by others, shall apply the following criteria to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating a proposed National Heritage Area: (1) The proposed area is worthy of designation as a National Heritage Area because— (A) the area includes natural, historic, cultural, or scenic resources that are associated with nationally significant themes and events and these resources— (i) combine to form a distinct and cohesive landscape; and (ii) retain enough integrity to support the themes and events associated with the area’s national importance; and (B) the area provides opportunities to conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic resource through local and regional partnerships. (2) A conceptual boundary for the proposed area is developed based upon community input and the resources and themes that support the area’s national importance. (3) Residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and governments, including Federal land management agencies and tribal governments within the proposed area, have been involved in the feasibility study process and have demonstrated significant support through letters and other means for National Heritage Area designation. (4) A local coordinating entity has been selected to operate the proposed heritage area’s activities and the organization is supported by residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and governments within the proposed area. (5) The recommendations put forth in the feasibility study are consistent with continued economic activity within the area. 6. Management plan The plan for any National Heritage Area shall— (1) use a comprehensive planning approach that includes— (A) opportunities for stakeholders, such as community members, local and regional governments, tribes, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and others, to be involved in the planning process; (B) opportunities for stakeholders to review and comment on the draft plan; and (C) documentation of the planning and public participation processes used to develop the plan, including how it was prepared, who was involved in the process, and how and when the stakeholders were involved; (2) include an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural, or scenic resources of the National Heritage Area related to the nationally significant themes and events of the region that should be protected, enhanced, interpreted, managed, or developed; (3) identify comprehensive goals, strategies, policies, and recommendations for telling the story of the region’s heritage and encouraging long-term resource protection, enhancement, interpretation, and development; (4) include recommendations for ways in which local, State, tribal, and Federal entities may best be coordinated, including the role of the National Park Service and other Federal agencies associated with the National Heritage Area, to further the purposes of this Act; (5) outline a strategy for the local coordinating entity to achieve financial sustainability; (6) include an implementation program that identifies— (A) prioritized actions and criteria for selecting future projects; (B) the ways in which stakeholders will be involved in their implementation; (C) existing and potential sources of funding; (D) performance goals; and (E) the manner in which the plan will be evaluated and updated; and (7) include a business plan for the local coordinating entity that, at minimum, addresses management and operation, products or services offered, the target market for products and services, and revenue streams. 7. Designation (a) In general The designation of a National Heritage Area shall be— (1) by Federal statute; and (2) contingent on the prior completion of a management plan and an affirmative determination by the Secretary that the area meets the criteria required under this Act. (b) Component of the National Heritage Area System Any National Heritage Area designated under subsection (a) shall be a component of the National Heritage Area System established by this Act. 8. Evaluation (a) In general Not later than every 10 years after the date on which of the National Heritage Area occurs, the Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the National Heritage Area and prepare a report with recommendations for the National Park Service’s continued role with respect to the National Heritage Area. (b) Evaluation components An evaluation prepared under subsection (a) shall— (1) assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to— (A) accomplishing the purposes of the authorizing legislation for the National Heritage Area; and (B) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the National Heritage Area; (2) analyze the Federal, State, local, and private investments in the National Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and (3) review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the National Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the National Heritage Area. (c) Recommendations Based upon the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prepare a report with recommendations for the National Park Service’s continued role with respect to the National Heritage Area. If the report recommends that Federal funding for the National Heritage Area be— (1) continued, the report shall include an analysis of— (A) ways in which Federal funding for the National Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated over time; and (B) the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination; and (2) eliminated, the report to Congress shall include a description potential impacts on conservation, interpretation, and sustainability of the partnership. (d) Submission to congress On completion of a report under subsection (c), the Secretary shall submit the report to— (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. 9. Local coordinating entities (a) Duties To further the purposes of the National Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity shall— (1) prepare and submit a management plan for the National Heritage Area to the Secretary in accordance with section 7; (2) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal year in which it receives Federal funds under this Act, setting forth its specific performance goals and accomplishments, expenses and income, amounts and sources of matching funds as appropriate, the amounts leveraged with Federal funds and sources of such leveraging, and grants made to any other entities during the year for which the report is made; (3) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which it receives Federal funds under this Act, all information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching funds; and (4) encourage by appropriate means economic viability and sustainability that is consistent with the purposes of the National Heritage Area. (b) Authorities The local coordinating entity may, subject to the prior approval of the Secretary, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the approved management plan for the National Heritage Area, use Federal funds made available through this Act to— (1) make grants to political jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and other parties within the National Heritage Area; (2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide technical assistance to political jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, Federal agencies, and other interested parties; (3) hire and compensate staff which may include individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, and historic resources conservation; economic and community development; and heritage planning; (4) obtain money or services from any source including any that are provided under other Federal laws or programs; (5) contract for goods or services; and (6) support activities of partners and any other activities that further the purposes of the National Heritage Area and are consistent with the approved management plan. (c) Prohibitions on the acquisition of real property The local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire any interest in real property. 10. Relationship to other Federal agencies (a) Provision of assistance This Act shall not affect the authority of any Federal official to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law. (b) Coordination The head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on a designated National Heritage Area shall consult and coordinate these activities with the Secretary and the local coordinating entity. (c) Other laws and regulations This Act shall not modify any law or regulation authorizing Federal officials to manage Federal land under their control or limit the discretion of Federal land managers to implement approved land use plans within the boundaries of a National Heritage Area, nor shall this Act be construed to modify, alter, or amend any authorized uses of these Federal lands. 11. Property owners and regulatory protections Nothing in this Act shall be construed to— (1) abridge the rights of any property owner, whether public or private, including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the National Heritage Area; (2) require any property owner to permit public access (including Federal, State, tribal, or local government access) to such property or to modify any provisions of Federal, State, tribal, or local law with regard to public access or use of private lands; (3) alter any duly adopted land use regulation or any approved land use plan or any other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency or tribal government, or to convey any land use or other regulatory authority to any local coordinating entity; (4) authorize or imply the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights; (5) diminish the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the National Heritage Area; or (6) create any liability, or to have any effect on any liability under any other law, of any private property owner with respect to any persons injured on such private property. 12. Funding (a) In general (1) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under section 9 not more than $700,000 for any fiscal year for each National Heritage Area, to remain available until expended. (2) In addition to amounts authorized in paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary— (A) not more than $300,000 for any fiscal year, to conduct feasibility studies by the National Park Service in accordance with the provisions of section 5, with not more than $100,000 allocated in the fiscal year for any one feasibility study for a proposed National Heritage Area; and (B) not more than $750,000 for any fiscal year, to conduct management plans by the National Park Service in accordance with the provisions of section 6, with not more than $250,000 allocated in the fiscal year for any one management plan for a proposed National Heritage Area. (3) Funding provided under paragraph (2) shall be in the form of grants approved by the National Park Service and provided to the local coordinating entity conducting the feasibility study or management plan. (b) Matching funds As a condition of providing financial assistance under this section to a local coordinating entity, the Secretary shall require the entity to provide matching funds— (1) equal to the amount of the financial assistance provided for designated National Heritage Areas for any fiscal year; (2) of 25 percent of the total grant amount received for feasibility study; and (3) of 50 percent of the total grant amount received for a management plan. The local coordinating entity’s matching funds shall be— (A) from non-Federal sources; or (B) made in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued. (c) Administrative There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary for technical assistance, oversight, and administrative purposes. 13. Sunset The National Heritage Area System established under this Act shall expire on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: National Heritage Area Act of 2015 Establishes a system of National Heritage Areas through which the Department of the Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of the National Heritage Areas. Specifies the criteria that Interior shall apply to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating proposed National Heritage Areas. States that designation of a National Heritage Area shall be by federal statute and contingent on the prior completion of a management plan and an affirmative determination by Interior that the area meets such criteria. Sets forth requirements for National Heritage Area management plans.