Downeast Maine National Heritage Area Act

To establish the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area in the State of Maine, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area Act 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) the area in Maine known as Downeast Maine (2) dramatic changes have occurred on many levels over the last several centuries in Downeast Maine, but even after 10,000 years— (A) the economy and well-being of Downeast Maine depends on the same natural resources that have existed for centuries; and (B) the culture of Downeast Maine continues to be shaped by those resources; (3) dependence on the natural resources in Downeast Maine for economic, community, and environmental health has led to habitat conservation and species restoration initiatives that allow natural systems and cultural associations to remain intact in Downeast Maine; (4) coastal fisheries, forest products, agriculture, wild blueberries, subsistence harvests, outdoor recreation, tourism, and habitat conservation are the heart of the culture and economy of Downeast Maine; (5) traditions of trade and culture from the past can be experienced firsthand in Downeast Maine; (6) the Downeast Maine way of life is visible— (A) in historic districts, working waterfronts, and community festivals in Downeast Maine; and (B) at the 51 historical societies and museums located in Downeast Maine; (7) Passamaquoddy language and arts and traditions from the fishing, logging, maritime, and wild blueberry industries are preserved in audio and photographic collections in Downeast Maine; (8) markets and galleries in Downeast Maine showcase arts, foods, and utilitarian products created with the natural resources of the area that can be purchased directly from the producer; (9) community festivals in Downeast Maine celebrate the nature-based culture of Downeast Maine; (10) lighthouses and watercraft dominate the coastal scenery in Downeast Maine; and (11) the scenic byways and network of land and water trails in Downeast Maine provide a physical experience of unique geologic features, waterways, wildlife, and working landscapes, such as wild blueberry fields and forests. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Heritage area The term Heritage Area (2) Local coordinating entity The term local coordinating entity (3) Management plan The term management plan (4) Secretary The term Secretary (5) State The term State 4. Downeast Maine National Heritage Area (a) Establishment There is established the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area in the State. (b) Boundaries The Heritage Area shall consist of Hancock and Washington Counties in the State. 5. Designation of local coordinating entity (a) Local coordinating entity The Sunrise County Economic Council shall be the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area. (b) Authorities of local coordinating entity The local coordinating entity may, for purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use Federal funds made available under this Act— (1) to prepare reports, studies, interpretive exhibits and programs, historic preservation projects, and other activities recommended in the management plan for the Heritage Area; (2) to make grants to the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons; (3) to enter into cooperative agreements with the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other organizations; (4) to hire and compensate staff; (5) to obtain funds or services from any source, including funds and services provided under any other Federal program or law; and (6) to contract for goods and services. (c) Duties of local coordinating entity To further the purposes of the Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity shall— (1) prepare a management plan for the Heritage Area in accordance with section 6; (2) give priority to the implementation of actions, goals, and strategies set forth in the management plan, including assisting units of government and other persons in— (A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize and protect important resource values in the Heritage Area; (B) encouraging economic viability in the Heritage Area in accordance with the goals of the management plan; (C) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits in the Heritage Area; (D) developing heritage-based recreational and educational opportunities for residents and visitors in the Heritage Area; (E) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; (F) restoring historic buildings that are— (i) located in the Heritage Area; and (ii) related to the themes of the Heritage Area; and (G) installing throughout the Heritage Area clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identifying public access points and sites of interest; (3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, tourism officials, private property owners, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area in developing and implementing the management plan; (4) conduct public meetings at least semiannually regarding the development and implementation of the management plan; and (5) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are received under this Act— (A) submit to the Secretary an annual report that describes— (i) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity; (ii) the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity; and (iii) the entities to which the local coordinating entity made any grants; (B) make available for audit all records relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds and any matching funds; and (C) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available for audit all records relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds. 6. Management plan (a) In general Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the local coordinating entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a management plan for the Heritage Area. (b) Contents The management plan for the Heritage Area shall— (1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, and recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area; (2) take into consideration existing State and local plans; (3) specify the existing and potential sources of funding to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area; (4) include an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area relating to the themes of the Heritage Area that should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or maintained; and (5) include an analysis of, and recommendations for, ways in which Federal, State, and local programs, may best be coordinated to further the purposes of this Act, including recommendations for the role of the National Park Service in the Heritage Area. (c) Disqualification from funding If a proposed management plan is not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the local coordinating entity may not receive additional funding under this Act until the date on which the Secretary receives the proposed management plan. (d) Approval and disapproval of management plan (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date on which the local coordinating entity submits the management plan to the Secretary, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the proposed management plan. (2) Considerations In determining whether to approve or disapprove the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether— (A) the local coordinating entity is representative of the diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including governments, natural and historic resource protection organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and recreational organizations; (B) the local coordinating entity has provided adequate opportunities (including public meetings) for public and governmental involvement in the preparation of the management plan; (C) the resource protection and interpretation strategies contained in the management plan, if implemented, would adequately protect the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; and (D) the management plan is supported by the appropriate State and local officials, the cooperation of which is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State and local aspects of the management plan. (3) Disapproval and revisions (A) In general If the Secretary disapproves a proposed management plan, the Secretary shall— (i) advise the local coordinating entity, in writing, of the reasons for the disapproval; and (ii) make recommendations for revision of the proposed management plan. (B) Approval or disapproval The Secretary shall approve or disapprove a revised management plan not later than 180 days after the date on which the revised management plan is submitted. (e) Approval of amendments (1) In general The Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove substantial amendments to the management plan in accordance with subsection (d). (2) Funding Funds appropriated under this Act may not be expended to implement any changes made by an amendment to the management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment. 7. Relationship to other Federal agencies (a) In general Nothing in this Act affects the authority of a Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law. (b) Consultation and coordination The head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the local coordinating entity to the extent practicable. (c) Other Federal agencies Nothing in this Act— (1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regulation authorizing a Federal agency to manage Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency; (2) limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or (3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency. 8. Private property and regulatory protections Nothing in this Act— (1) abridges 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 Heritage Area; (2) requires any property owner to permit public access (including access by Federal, State, or local agencies) to the property of the property owner, or to modify public access or use of property of the property owner under any other Federal, State, or local law; (3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved land use plan, or other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency, or conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity; (4) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights; (5) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or (6) creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property. 9. Evaluation; report (a) In General Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall— (1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; and (2) prepare a report in accordance with subsection (c). (b) Evaluation An evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1) shall— (1) assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to— (A) accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the Heritage Area; and (B) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the Heritage Area; (2) analyze the Federal, State, local, and private investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and (3) review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area. (c) Report (1) In general Based on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area. (2) Required analysis If the report prepared under paragraph (1) recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of— (A) ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; and (B) the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination. (3) Submission to congress On completion of the report, the Secretary shall submit the report to— (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. 10. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There is authorized to be appropriated for the Heritage Area $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year. (b) Availability Amounts made available under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. (c) Cost-Sharing requirement (1) In general The Federal share of the total cost of any activity carried out using funds made available under this Act shall be not more than 50 percent. (2) Form The non-Federal share of the total cost of any activity carried out using funds made available under this Act may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued. 11. Termination of authority The authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Downeast Maine National Heritage Area Act This bill establishes the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area in Hancock and Washington Counties in Maine and designates the Sunrise County Economic Council as the local coordinating entity for the heritage area. The council shall prepare a management plan for the heritage area, which must include comprehensive policies, strategies, and recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the heritage area.