I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 505
To establish the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area in the State 
of New Mexico, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 29, 2003
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage 
Area in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Northern Rio Grande 
National Heritage Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that—
(1) northern New Mexico encompasses a mosaic 
of cultures and history, including eight Pueblos and
the descendants of Spanish ancestors who settled in 
the area in 1598; 
(2) the combination of cultures, languages, folk 
arts, customs, and architecture make northern New 
Mexico unique; 
(3) the area includes spectacular natural, sce-
nic, and recreational resources; 
(4) there is broad support from local govern-
ments and interested individuals to establish a Na-
tional Heritage Area to coordinate and assist in the 
preservation and interpretation of these resources; 
(5) in 1991, the National Park Service study 
Alternative Concepts for Commemorating Spanish 
Colonization identified several alternatives consistent 
with the establishment of a National Heritage Area, 
including conducting a comprehensive archaeological 
and historical research program, coordinating a com-
prehensive interpretation program, and interpreting 
a cultural heritage scene; and 
(6) establishment of a National Heritage Area 
in northern New Mexico would assist local commu-
nities and residents in preserving these unique cul-
tural, historical and natural resources. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘heritage area’’ means the North-
ern Rio Grande Heritage Area; and 
(2) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. NORTHERN RIO GRANDE NATIONAL HERITAGE 
AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established 
the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area in the 
State of New Mexico.
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The heritage area shall include 
the counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Taos. 
(c) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—
(1) The Northern Rio Grande National Herit-
age Area, Inc., a non-profit corporation chartered in 
the State of New Mexico, shall serve as the manage-
ment entity for the heritage area. 
(2) The Board of Directors for the management 
entity shall include representatives of the State of 
New Mexico, the counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba 
and Taos, tribes and pueblos within the heritage 
area, the cities of Santa Fe, Espanola and Taos, and 
members of the general public. The total number of 
Board members and the number of Directors rep-
resenting State, local and tribal governments and in-
terested communities shall be established to ensure
that all parties have appropriate representation on 
the Board. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT EN-
TITY. 
(a) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—
(1) Not later than 3 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the management entity shall de-
velop and forward to the Secretary a management 
plan for the heritage area. 
(2) The management entity shall develop and 
implement the management plan in cooperation with 
affected communities, tribal and local governments 
and shall provide for public involvement in the devel-
opment and implementation of the management 
plan. 
(3) The management plan shall, at a min-
imum—
(A) provide recommendations for the con-
servation, funding, management, and develop-
ment of the resources of the heritage area; 
(B) identify sources of funding. 
(C) include an inventory of the cultural, 
historical, archaeological, natural, and rec-
reational resources of the heritage area;
(D) provide recommendations for edu-
cational and interpretive programs to inform 
the public about the resources of the heritage 
area; and 
(E) include an analysis of ways in which 
local, State, Federal, and tribal programs may 
best be coordinated to promote the purposes of 
this Act. 
(4) If the management entity fails to submit a 
management plan to the secretary as provided in 
paragraph (1), the heritage area shall no longer be 
eligible to receive Federal funding under this Act 
until such time as a plan is submitted to the Sec-
retary. 
(5) The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
the management plan within 90 days after the date 
of submission. If the Secretary disapproves the man-
agement plan, the Secretary shall advise the man-
agement entity in writing of the reasons therefore 
and shall make recommendations for revisions to the 
plan. 
(6) The management entity shall periodically 
review the management plan and submit to the Sec-
retary any recommendations for proposed revisions 
to the management plan. Any major revisions to the
management plan must be approved by the Sec-
retary. 
(b) AUTHORITY.—The management entity may make 
grants and provide technical assistance to tribal and local 
governments, and other public and private entities to carry 
out the management plan.
(c) DUTIES.—The management entity shall—
(1) give priority in implementing actions set 
forth in the management plan; 
(2) coordinate with tribal and local governments 
to better enable them to adopt land use policies con-
sistent with the goals of the management plan; 
(3) encourage by appropriate means economic 
viability in the heritage area consistent with the 
goals of the management plan; and 
(4) assist local and tribal governments and non-
profit organizations in—
(A) establishing and maintaining interpre-
tive exhibits in the heritage area; 
(B) developing recreational resources in 
the heritage area; 
(C) increasing public awareness of, and ap-
preciation for, the cultural, historical, archae-
ological and natural resources and sits in the 
heritage area;
(D) the restoration of historic structures 
related to the heritage area; and 
(E) carrying out other actions that the 
management entity determines appropriate to 
fulfill the purposes of this Act, consistent with 
the management plan. 
(d) PROHIBITION ON ACQUIRING REAL PROPERTY.—
The management entity may not use Federal funds re-
ceived under this Act to acquire real property or an inter-
est in real property. 
(e) PUBLIC MEETINGS.—The management entity 
shall hold public meetings at least annually regarding the 
implementation of the management plan. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORTS AND AUDITS.—
(1) For any year in which the management en-
tity receives Federal funds under this Act, the man-
agement entity shall submit an annual report to the 
Secretary setting forth accomplishments, expenses 
and income, and each entity to which any grant was 
made by the management entity. 
(2) The management entity shall make avail-
able to the Secretary for audit all records relating to 
the expenditure of Federal funds and any matching 
funds. The management entity shall also require, for 
all agreements authorizing expenditure of Federal
funds by other organizations, that the receiving or-
ganization make available to the Secretary for audit 
all records concerning the expenditure of those 
funds. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
(a) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary may, upon request of the management entity, 
provide technical and financial assistance to develop and 
implement the management plan. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In providing assistance under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall give priority to actions that 
facilitate—
(1) the conservation of the significant natural, 
cultural, historical, archaeological, scenic, and rec-
reational resources of the heritage area; and 
(2) the provision of educational, interpretive, 
and recreational opportunities consistent with the re-
sources and associated values of the heritage area. 
SEC. 7. SAVINGS PROVISIONS. 
(a) NO EFFECT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.—Nothing 
in this Act shall be construed—
(1) to modify, enlarge, or diminish any author-
ity of Federal, State, or local governments to regu-
late any use of privately owned lands; or
(2) to grant the management entity any author-
ity to regulate the use of privately owned lands. 
(b) TRIBAL LANDS.—Nothing in this Act shall re-
strict or limit a tribe from protecting cultural or religious 
sites on tribal lands. 
(c) AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENTS.—Nothing in this 
Act shall—
(1) modify, enlarge, or diminish any authority 
of Federal, State, tribal, or local governments to 
manage or regulate any use of land as provided for 
by law or regulation; or 
(2) authorize the management entity to assume 
any management authorities over such lands. 
(d) TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES.—Nothing in this Act 
shall diminish the Federal Government’s trust responsibil-
ities or government-to-government obligations to any fed-
erally recognized Indian tribe. 
SEC. 8. SUNSET. 
The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance 
under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not
more than $1,000,000 may be authorized to be appro-
priated for any fiscal year. 
(b) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—The Federal 
share of the total cost of any activity assisted under this 
Act shall be not more than 50 percent.
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