TITLE II—NEW AREA
ESTABLISHMENT
SEC. 201. NEW AREA STUDIES FOR UNITS OF THE NA-
TIONAL PARK SYSTEM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall undertake
and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress re-
ports of such new area studies as are herein or may here-
after be authorized by Congress for the purpose of deter-
mining the feasibility and suitability of designating areas
for addition to the National Park System and any feasible
alternatives to such action. The Secretary shall undertake
both site specific and thematic studies. All such studies
shall be made in consultation with affected agencies at the
Federal, State, and local levels, public and private organi-
zations and concerned landowners and users. Each study
shall be completed in compliance with the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 and with an appropriate
level of public involvement, including public meetings in
the vicinity of the study area.
(b) FACTORS.—All new area studies referred to in
this section shall consider each of the following—
(1) whether the resource is nationally signifi-
cant in that it represents one of the most important
examples of a particular resource type in the coun-
try,
(2) whether similar resources are already pro-
tected in the National Park System or in other Fed-
eral, State, or private ownership,
(3) whether the unit is of appropriate configu-
ration to ensure long-term resource protection and
visitor use,
(4) whether any other management entity
would be more appropriate,
(5) public use potential,
(6) resource integrity,
(7) cost-effectiveness of such designation associ-
ated with both acquisition and annual operation, and
(8) socioeconomic impacts of any designation.
(c) CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY.—When submitting
testimony or other recommendations to Congress regard-
ing any potential addition to the National Park System,
the Secretary shall specifically address all factors required
to be considered under subsection (b).
(d) REPORTS
TO CONGRESS.—Within 18 months
after the date that funds are made available for the study
of an area designated pursuant to subsection (d), the
President shall transmit to the Congress a report of such
study. Each such report shall indicate the suitability and
feasibility of authorizing the area as a unit of the National
Park System and any feasible alternative to such action.
The report shall identify a preferred alternative and also
discuss any contentious issues related to each alternative
considered.
SEC. 202. PRIORITY LIST OF POTENTIAL PARK SYSTEM AD-
DITIONS.
(a) LIST.—The National Park Service shall develop
and maintain a single list of units in order of their numeri-
cal priority for potential addition to the National Park
System. This list shall be initially comprised of areas for
which the agency has completed adequate new area studies
which are consistent with the plan developed under section
104. The list shall be updated and republished periodi-
cally.
(b) ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES.—In addition to the
factors referred to in section 201(b), the Secretary shall
consider each of the following in establishing priorities for
inclusion of new areas in the National Park System—
(1) imminence of any threats to the resource or
nature of ongoing degradation,
(2) extent to which similar resources are pro-
tected by the National Park Service or by another
entity,
(3) cost escalation factors,
(4) level of local and general public support,
and
(5) any other factors deemed appropriate by the
Secretary.
(c) TRANSMISSION
OF PRIORITY LIST
TO CON-
GRESS.—At the beginning of each Congress, the Secretary
shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives and to the President of the Senate, a copy of the
most recent numerical priority list prepared under this
section. In addition, the Secretary is encouraged to peri-
odically transmit any recommendations for new area stud-
ies which he deems appropriate. Such recommendations
should be based on an objective preliminary review of such
proposals.
(d) CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY.—When submitting
testimony or other recommendations to Congress concern-
ing any new additions to the National Park System, the
Secretary shall include the priority ranking of the area
on the nationwide priority list.
SEC. 203. REPEAL OF EXISTING STATUTE.
Section 8 of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to improve the
Administration of the national park system by the Sec-
retary of the Interior, and to clarify the authorities appli-
cable to the system, and for other purposes’’, approved
August 18, 1970 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5), is amended by striking
out the first through the seventh sentences of subsection
(a).
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000
for each fiscal year to carry out this title. Half of these
funds shall be allocated for planning purposes and the
other half shall be allocated for expansion of the congres-
sional support services. These funds shall be in addition
to any funds authorized by Congress for specific studies
directed by Congress.
TITLE 
III—ENHANCED 
NA-
TIONAL PARK SERVICE TECH-
NICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FOR PROTECTION AND MAN-
AGEMENT OF NATURAL, CUL-
TURAL, 
AND 
RECREATION
SITES
SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AMERICAN HERITAGE
SITE SYSTEM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to better protect natural,
cultural, and recreational resources of national or State
significance which do not belong in the National Park Sys-
tem, there is hereby established the American Heritage
System. This program is intended to provide recognition
for a diversity of special places of American Heritage.
These American Heritage Sites will range in complexity
from relatively small sites comprised of a single historic
structure to geographic regions and landscapes. In these
larger landscapes, the pursuit of economic opportunity and
enhancement of the quality of life of residents will often
be at least as important as stewardship of natural and
cultural resources.
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—These sites would be admin-
istered by State and local governments as well as private
entities in partnership with private landowners and com-
munity organizations, with technical assistance from the
Federal Government. Federal funds will be available on
a matching basis only, but shall not be used for either
land acquisition or for day-to-day operations and manage-
ment. The Secretary shall establish broad criteria and
guidelines governing the selection and management of
American Heritage sites.
(c) ESTABLISHMENT PROCESS.—The National Park
Service shall establish a grant program to conduct studies
of sites for potential designation as American Heritage
sites as follows:
(1) When the National Park Service receives a
request for funding by a project proponent, the
agency shall conduct a preliminary investigation of
the site, in conjunction with other State and local
entities, to determine if any further Federal involve-
ment is appropriate.
(2) If the site is found to merit further consid-
eration for potential designation, the Secretary shall
provide a grant to the project proponent to carry out
the study. The National Park Service may provide
technical assistance during the study process upon
the request of the State or local government.
(3) Based on a review of the study, the Sec-
retary shall periodically submit proposals for des-
ignation of American Heritage sites to Congress.
(d) PLAN OF OPERATIONS.—After designation, the
primary managing body (identified in the legislation des-
ignating the site) shall prepare a plan of operations which
shall be transmitted to the Secretary.
(e) ASSISTANCE.—As part of the plan implementa-
tion, special Federal technical and financial assistance
would be granted during a specified period (not to exceed
10 years), after which time the project would be expected
to rely on other funding sources, including other existing
Federal assistance programs. In addition, the Secretary
shall periodically conduct on-site evaluations of the site to
ensure its continued operation in conformance with guide-
lines of the Secretary.
(f) DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM.—The American Herit-
age Program shall be under the direction of a Deputy Di-
rector for Non-Federal Conservation and Recreation.
SEC. 302. DEFINITION OF NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.
Section 2(a) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to facilitate
the management of the National Park System and mis-
cellaneous areas administered in connection with that Sys-
tem, and for other purposes’’, approved August 8, 1953
(16 U.S.C. 1c), is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 2. (a)(1) The ‘National Park System’ shall in-
clude both designated areas and affiliated areas which are
administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the
National Park Service in accordance with a specific Act
of Congress.
‘‘(2) Designated areas of the National Park System
are those areas with Federal land ownership and where
the National Park Service has primary responsibility for
the management and protection of the site.
‘‘(3) Affiliated areas are those areas which are ad-
ministered on a partnership basis with Federal and non-
Federal funds. Federal involvement typically includes
technical assistance and may also include Federal support
for daily operation of the area and Federal land acquisi-
tion authority for a specified period of time.’’.
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HR 1508 IH——2
HR 1508 IH——3