SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
(a) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—
(A) OVERALL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may, upon the request of the management entity, 
and subject to the availability of appropriations, 
provide technical and financial assistance to the 
management entity to carry out its duties under 
this Act, including updating and implementing 
a management plan that is submitted under sec-
tion 5(b) and approved by the Secretary and, 
prior to such approval, providing assistance for 
initiatives. 
(B) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—If the Secretary 
has the resources available to provide technical 
assistance to the management entity to carry out 
its duties under this Act (including updating 
and implementing a management plan that is 
submitted under section 5(b) and approved by 
the Secretary and, prior to such approval, pro-
viding assistance for initiatives), upon the re-
quest of the management entity the Secretary 
shall provide such assistance on a reimbursable 
basis. This subparagraph does not preclude the 
Secretary from providing nonreimbursable as-
sistance under subparagraph (A).
(2) PRIORITY.—In assisting the management en-
tity, the Secretary shall give priority to actions that 
assist in the—
(A) implementation of the management 
plan; 
(B) provision of educational assistance and 
advice regarding land and water management 
techniques to conserve the significant natural re-
sources of the region; 
(C) development and application of tech-
niques promoting the preservation of cultural 
and historic properties; 
(D) preservation, restoration, and reuse of 
publicly and privately owned historic buildings; 
(E) design and fabrication of a wide range 
of interpretive materials based on the manage-
ment plan, including guide brochures, visitor 
displays, audio-visual and interactive exhibits, 
and educational curriculum materials for public 
education; and 
(F) implementation of initiatives prior to 
approval of the management plan. 
(3) DOCUMENTATION OF STRUCTURES.—The Sec-
retary, acting through the Historic American Build-
ing Survey and the Historic American Engineering
Record, shall conduct studies necessary to document 
the industrial, engineering, building, and architec-
tural history of the Heritage Area. 
(b) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT 
PLANS.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Governor 
of Pennsylvania, shall approve or disapprove a manage-
ment plan submitted under this Act not later than 90 days 
after receiving such plan. In approving the plan, the Sec-
retary shall take into consideration the following criteria: 
(1) The extent to which the management plan 
adequately preserves and protects the natural, cul-
tural, and historical resources of the Heritage Area. 
(2) The level of public participation in the devel-
opment of the management plan. 
(3) The extent to which the board of directors of 
the management entity is representative of the local 
government and a wide range of interested organiza-
tions and citizens. 
(c) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL.—If the Sec-
retary disapproves a management plan, the Secretary shall 
advise the management entity in writing of the reasons for 
the disapproval and shall make recommendations for revi-
sions in the management plan. The Secretary shall approve 
or disapprove a proposed revision within 90 days after the 
date it is submitted.
(d) APPROVING CHANGES.—The Secretary shall review 
and approve amendments to the management plan under 
section 5(b) that make substantial changes. Funds appro-
priated under this Act may not be expended to implement 
such changes until the Secretary approves the amendments. 
(e) EFFECT OF INACTION.—If the Secretary does not 
approve or disapprove a management plan, revision, or 
change within 90 days after it is submitted to the Secretary, 
then such management plan, revision, or change shall be 
deemed to have been approved by the Secretary. 
SEC. 7. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES. 
Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activities 
directly affecting the Heritage Area shall—
(1) consult with the Secretary and the manage-
ment entity with respect to such activities; 
(2) cooperate with the Secretary and the man-
agement entity in carrying out their duties under this 
Act and, to the maximum extent practicable, coordi-
nate such activities with the carrying out of such du-
ties; and 
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct 
or support such activities in a manner that the man-
agement entity determines shall not have an adverse 
effect on the Heritage Area.
SEC. 8. SUNSET. 
The Secretary may not make any grant or provide any 
assistance under this Act after the expiration of the 15-year 
period beginning on the date that funds are first made 
available for this Act. 
SEC. 9. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE
PROPERTY. 
(a) NOTIFICATION AND CONSENT OF PROPERTY OWN-
ERS REQUIRED.—No privately owned property shall be pre-
served, conserved, or promoted by the management plan for 
the Heritage Area until the owner of that private property 
has been notified in writing by the management entity and 
has given written consent for such preservation, conserva-
tion, or promotion to the management entity. 
(b) LANDOWNER WITHDRAW.—Any owner of private 
property included within the boundary of the Heritage Area 
shall have their property immediately removed from the 
boundary by submitting a written request to the manage-
ment entity. 
SEC. 10. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION. 
(a) ACCESS TO PRIVATE PROPERTY.—Nothing in this 
Act shall be construed to—
(1) require any private property owner to allow 
public access (including Federal, State, or local gov-
ernment access) to such private property; or
(2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or 
local law with regard to public access to or use of pri-
vate property. 
(b) LIABILITY.—Designation of the Heritage Area 
shall not be considered to create any liability, or to have 
any effect on any liability under any other law, of any pri-
vate property owner with respect to any persons injured 
on such private property. 
(c) RECOGNITION OF AUTHORITY TO CONTROL LAND 
USE.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify the 
authority of Federal, State, or local governments to regulate 
land use. 
(d) PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS 
IN HERITAGE AREA.—Nothing in this Act shall be con-
strued to require the owner of any private property located 
within the boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate 
in or be associated with the Heritage Area. 
(e) EFFECT
OF ESTABLISHMENT.—The boundaries 
designated for the Heritage Area represent the area within 
which Federal funds appropriated for the purpose of this 
Act may be expended. The establishment of the Heritage 
Area and its boundaries shall not be construed to provide 
any nonexisting regulatory authority on land use within 
the Heritage Area or its viewshed by the Secretary, the Na-
tional Park Service, or the management entity.
SEC. 11. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES. 
Nothing in this Act shall preclude the management en-
tity from using Federal funds available under Acts other 
than this Act for the purposes for which those funds were 
authorized. 
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act—
(1) not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year; 
and 
(2) not more than a total of $10,000,000. 
(b) 50 PERCENT MATCH.—Financial assistance pro-
vided under this Act may not be used to pay more than 
50 percent of the total cost of any activity carried out with 
that assistance.
Union Calendar No. 216
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1862
[Report No. 108–366] 
A BILL 
To establish the Oil Region National Heritage 
Area. 
NOVEMBER 17, 2003
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed