I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4156
To establish the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the State of West
Virginia, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 3, 2000
Mr. MOLLOHAN (for himself, Mr. RAHALL, and Mr. WISE) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources
A BILL
To establish the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the
State of West Virginia, 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 ‘‘Wheeling National
Heritage Area Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) the area in and around Wheeling, West Vir-
ginia, possesses important historical, cultural, and
natural resources, representing major heritage
themes of transportation, commerce and industry,
and Victorian culture in the United States;
(2) the city of Wheeling has played an impor-
tant part in the settlement of this country by serving
as—
(A) the western terminus of the National
Road of the early 1800’s;
(B) the ‘‘Crossroads of America’’ through-
out the nineteenth century;
(C) one of the few major inland ports in
the nineteenth century; and
(D) the site for the establishment of the
Restored State of Virginia, and later the State
of West Virginia, during the Civil War and as
the first capital of the new State of West Vir-
ginia;
(3) the city of Wheeling has played an impor-
tant role in the industrial and commercial heritage
of the United States, through the development and
maintenance of many industries crucial to the Na-
tion’s expansion, including iron and steel, textile
manufacturing, boat building, glass manufacturing,
and stogie and chewing tobacco manufacturing fa-
cilities, many of which are industries that continue
to play an important role in the national economy;
(4) the city of Wheeling has retained its na-
tional heritage themes with the designations of the
old custom house (now Independence Hall) and the
historic suspension bridge as National Historic
Landmarks; with five historic districts; and many in-
dividual properties in the Wheeling area listed or eli-
gible for nomination to the National Register of His-
toric Places;
(5) the heritage themes and number and diver-
sity of Wheeling’s remaining resources should be ap-
propriately retained, enhanced, and interpreted for
the education, benefit, and inspiration of the people
of the United States; and
(6) in 1992 a comprehensive plan for the devel-
opment and administration of the Wheeling National
Heritage Area was completed for the National Park
Service, the city of Wheeling, and the Wheeling Na-
tional Heritage Task Force, including—
(A) an inventory of the natural and cul-
tural resources in the city of Wheeling;
(B) criteria for preserving and interpreting
significant natural and historic resources;
(C) a strategy for the conservation, preser-
vation, and reuse of the historical and cultural
resources in the city of Wheeling and the sur-
rounding region;
(D) an implementation agenda by which
the State of West Virginia and local govern-
ments can coordinate their resources; and
(E) a complete description of the manage-
ment entity responsible for implementing the
comprehensive plan.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to recognize the special importance of the
history and development of the Wheeling area in the
cultural heritage of the Nation;
(2) to provide a framework to assist the city of
Wheeling and other public and private entities and
individuals in the appropriate preservation, enhance-
ment, and interpretation of significant resources in
the Wheeling area emblematic of Wheeling’s con-
tributions to the Nation’s cultural heritage;
(3) to allow for limited Federal, State, and local
capital contributions for planning and infrastructure
investments to complete the Wheeling National Her-
itage Area, in partnership with the State of West
Virginia, the city of Wheeling, and other appropriate
public and private entities; and
(b) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The management entity
for the heritage area shall be the Wheeling National Herit-
age Area Corporation, a nonprofit corporation chartered
in the State of West Virginia.
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The duties of the management en-
tity shall be to—
(A) manage the heritage area in accord-
ance with the plan;
(B) implement and coordinate the rec-
ommendations contained in the plan;
(C) ensure integrated operation of the her-
itage area;
(D) conserve and interpret the historic and
cultural resources of the heritage area;
(E) direct and coordinate the diverse con-
servation, development, programming, edu-
cational, and interpretive activities within the
heritage area; and
(F) work with the State and local govern-
ments to ensure that the plan is formally adopt-
ed by the City and recognized by the State.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—To the extent practicable,
the management entity shall—
(1) implement the recommendations contained
in the plan in a timely manner pursuant to the
schedule identified in the plan;
(2) coordinate its activities with the City, the
State, and the Secretary;
(3) ensure the conservation and interpretation
of the heritage area’s historical, cultural, and nat-
ural resources, including—
(A) assisting the City and the State in the
preservation of sites, buildings, and objects
within the heritage area which are listed or eli-
gible for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places;
(B) assisting the City, the State, or a non-
profit organization in the restoration of any his-
toric building in the heritage area;
(C) increasing public awareness of and ap-
preciation for the natural, cultural, and historic
resources of the heritage area;
(D) assisting the State or City in design-
ing, establishing, and maintaining appropriate
interpretive facilities and exhibits in the herit-
age area;
(E) assisting in the enhancement of public
awareness and appreciation for the historical,
archaeological, and geologic resources and sites
in the heritage area; and
(F) encouraging the City and other local
governments to adopt land use policies con-
sistent with the goals of the plan, and to take
actions to implement those policies;
(4) encourage intergovernmental cooperation in
the achievement of these objectives;
(5) develop recommendations for design stand-
ards within the heritage area; and
(6) seek to create public-private partnerships to
finance projects and initiatives within the heritage
area.
(c) AUTHORITIES.—The management entity may, for
the purposes of implementing the plan, use Federal funds
made available by this Act to—
(1) make loans or grants to the State, City, or
other appropriate public or private organizations, en-
tities, or persons;
(2) enter into cooperative agreements with, or
provide technical assistance to Federal agencies, the
State, City, or other appropriate public or private
organizations, entities, or persons;
(3) hire and compensate such staff as the man-
agement entity deems necessary;
(4) obtain money from any source under any
program or law requiring the recipient of such
money to make a contribution in order to receive
such money;
(5) spend funds on promotion and marketing
consistent with the resources and associated values
of the heritage area in order to promote increased
visitation; and
(6) contract for goods and services.
(d) ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the management entity may not acquire
any real property or interest therein within the her-
itage area, other than the leasing of facilities.
(2) CONDITIONS FOR ACQUISITION.—(A) Sub-
ject to subparagraph (B), the management entity
may acquire real property, or an interest therein,
within the heritage area by gift or devise, or by pur-
chase from a willing seller with money which was do-
nated, bequeathed, appropriated, or otherwise made
available to the management entity on the condition
that such money be used to purchase real property,
or interest therein, within the heritage area.
(B) Any real property or interest therein ac-
quired by the management entity pursuant to this
paragraph shall be conveyed in perpetuity by the
management entity to an appropriate public or pri-
vate entity, as determined by the management enti-
ty. Any such conveyance shall be made as soon as
practicable after acquisition, without consideration,
and on the condition that the real property or inter-
est therein so conveyed shall be used for public pur-
poses.
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) INTERPRETIVE SUPPORT.—The Secretary may,
upon request of the management entity, provide appro-
priate interpretive, planning, educational, staffing, exhib-
its, and other materials or support for the heritage area,
consistent with the plan and as appropriate to the re-
sources and associated values of the heritage area.
(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall,
upon request of the management entity and consistent
with the plan, provide technical assistance to the manage-
ment entity.
(c) 
COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS, 
LOANS, 
AND
GRANTS.—The Secretary may, in consultation with the
management entity and consistent with the management
plan, make loans and grants to, and enter into cooperative
agreements with the management entity, the State, City,
nonprofit organization or any person.
(d) PLAN AMENDMENTS.—No amendments to the
plan may be made unless such amendments are approved
by the Secretary. The Secretary shall consult with the
management entity in reviewing any proposed amend-
ments.
SEC. 7. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
Any Federal department, agency, or other entity con-
ducting or supporting activities directly affecting the herit-
age 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 extent practicable, coordinate
such activities directly with the duties of the Sec-
retary and the management entity; and
(3) to the extent practicable, conduct or support
such activities in a manner which the management
entity determines will not have an adverse effect on
the heritage area.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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