I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 975 
To establish the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in the State 
of Washington, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2019 
Mr. KILMER (for himself and Mr. HECK) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Maritime Washington National Heritage 
Area in the State of Washington, 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 ‘‘Maritime Washington 
National Heritage Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘local coordinating entity’’ means the local coordi-
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nating entity for the National Heritage Area des-
ignated by section 3(d). 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan for the Na-
tional Heritage Area required under section 4. 
(3) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Maritime Washington National Heritage 
Area Proposed Boundary’’, numbered 584/125,484, 
and dated August 2014. 
(4) NATIONAL
HERITAGE
AREA.—The term 
‘‘National Heritage Area’’ means the Maritime 
Washington National Heritage Area established by 
section 3(a). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Washington. 
SEC. 3. MARITIME WASHINGTON NATIONAL HERITAGE 
AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
State the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area. 
(b) BOUNDARIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The National Heritage Area 
shall consist of land located in the counties of 
Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, Island, 
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King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson, 
Clallam, and Grays Harbor in the State that is at 
least partially located within the area that is 1⁄4-mile 
landward of the shoreline, as generally depicted on 
the map. 
(2) REVISION.—The boundaries of the National 
Heritage Area established under paragraph (1) may 
be revised if the revision is— 
(A) proposed in the management plan; 
(B) approved by the Secretary in accord-
ance with section 4; and 
(C) placed on file in accordance with sub-
section (c). 
(c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map shall be on file 
and available for public inspection in the appropriate of-
fices of— 
(1) the National Park Service; and 
(2) the local coordinating entity. 
(d) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The Wash-
ington Trust for Historic Preservation shall be the local 
coordinating entity for the National Heritage Area. 
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity 
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shall submit to the Secretary for approval a proposed 
management plan for the National Heritage Area. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The management plan shall— 
(1) incorporate an integrated and cooperative 
approach for the protection, enhancement, and inter-
pretation of the natural, cultural, historical, scenic, 
and recreational resources of the National Heritage 
Area; 
(2) take into consideration State and local 
plans; 
(3) include— 
(A) an inventory of— 
(i) the resources located in the Na-
tional Heritage Area; and 
(ii) any other property in the National 
Heritage Area that— 
(I) is related to the themes of the 
National Heritage Area; and 
(II) should be preserved, re-
stored, managed, or maintained be-
cause of the significance of the prop-
erty; 
(B) comprehensive policies, strategies and 
recommendations for the conservation, funding, 
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management, and development of the National 
Heritage Area; 
(C) a description of actions that govern-
ments, private organizations, and individuals 
have agreed to take to protect the natural, cul-
tural, and historical resources of the National 
Heritage Area; 
(D) a program of implementation for the 
management plan by the local coordinating en-
tity that includes a description of— 
(i) actions to facilitate ongoing col-
laboration among partners to promote 
plans for resource protection, restoration, 
and construction; and 
(ii) specific commitments for imple-
mentation that have been made by the 
local coordinating entity or any govern-
ment, organization, or individual for the 
first 5 years of operation of the National 
Heritage Area; 
(E) the identification of sources of funding 
for carrying out the management plan; 
(F) analysis and recommendations for 
means by which Federal, State, and local pro-
grams may best be coordinated to carry out this 
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section, including a description of the role of 
the National Park Service in the National Her-
itage Area; and 
(G) an interpretive plan for the National 
Heritage Area; and 
(4) recommend policies and strategies for re-
source management that consider and detail the ap-
plication of appropriate land and water management 
techniques, including the development of intergov-
ernmental and interagency cooperative agreements 
to protect the natural, cultural, historical, scenic, 
recreational, and educational resources of the Na-
tional Heritage Area. 
(c) DEADLINE.—If a proposed management plan is 
not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the local coordi-
nating entity shall be ineligible to receive additional fund-
ing under this Act until the date on which the Secretary 
receives and approves the management plan. 
(d) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT 
PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of receipt of the management plan 
under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation 
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with the State, shall approve or disapprove the man-
agement plan. 
(2) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—In determining 
whether to approve the management plan, the Sec-
retary shall consider whether— 
(A) the local coordinating entity is rep-
resentative of the diverse interests of the Na-
tional Heritage Area, including governments, 
natural and historical resource protection orga-
nizations, educational institutions, businesses, 
and recreational organizations; 
(B) the local coordinating entity has af-
forded adequate opportunity, including public 
hearings, for public and governmental involve-
ment in the preparation of the management 
plan; and 
(C) the resource protection and interpreta-
tion strategies contained in the management 
plan, if implemented, would adequately protect 
the natural, cultural, and historical resources of 
the National Heritage Area. 
(3) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL.—If the 
Secretary disapproves the management plan under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
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(1) to make grants to the State or a political 
subdivision of the State, nonprofit organizations, 
and other persons; 
(2) to enter into cooperative agreements with, 
or provide technical assistance to, the State or a po-
litical subdivision of the State, nonprofit organiza-
tions, and other interested parties; 
(3) to hire and compensate staff, which shall in-
clude individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, 
and historical resources protection and heritage pro-
gramming; 
(4) to obtain money or services from any 
source, including any money or services that are pro-
vided under any other Federal law or program; 
(5) to contract for goods or services; and 
(6) to undertake to be a catalyst for any other 
activity that— 
(A) furthers the purposes of the National 
Heritage Area; and 
(B) is consistent with the approved man-
agement plan. 
(b) DUTIES.—The local coordinating entity shall— 
(1) in accordance with section 4, prepare and 
submit a management plan to the Secretary; 
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(2) assist units of local government, regional 
planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations 
in carrying out the approved management plan by— 
(A) carrying out programs and projects 
that recognize, protect, and enhance important 
resource values in the National Heritage Area; 
(B) establishing and maintaining interpre-
tive exhibits and programs in the National Her-
itage Area; 
(C) developing recreational and educational 
opportunities in the National Heritage Area; 
(D) increasing public awareness of, and 
appreciation for, natural, cultural, historical, 
and scenic resources of the National Heritage 
Area; 
(E) identifying and restoring historic sites 
and buildings in the National Heritage Area 
that are consistent with National Heritage Area 
themes; 
(F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and ap-
propriate signs identifying points of public ac-
cess and sites of interest are posted throughout 
the National Heritage Area; and 
(G) promoting a wide range of partner-
ships among governments, organizations, and 
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individuals to further the National Heritage 
Area; 
(3) consider the interests of diverse units of 
government, businesses, organizations, and individ-
uals in the National Heritage Area in the prepara-
tion and implementation of the management plan; 
(4) conduct meetings open to the public at least 
semiannually regarding the development and imple-
mentation of the management plan; 
(5) for any year for which Federal funds have 
been received under this section— 
(A) submit to the Secretary an annual re-
port that describes the activities, expenses, and 
income of the local coordinating entity (includ-
ing grants from the local coordinating entity to 
any other entities during the year that the re-
port is made); 
(B) make available to the Secretary for 
audit all records relating to the expenditure of 
the funds and any matching funds; and 
(C) require, with respect to all agreements 
authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by 
other organizations, that the organizations re-
ceiving the funds make available to the Sec-
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retary for audit all records concerning the ex-
penditure of the funds; and 
(6) encourage, by appropriate means, economic 
viability that is consistent with the National Herit-
age Area. 
(c) PROHIBITION ON THE ACQUISITION OF REAL 
PROPERTY.—The local coordinating entity shall not use 
Federal funds made available under section 9 to acquire 
real property or any interest in real property. 
SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act affects the au-
thority of a Federal agency to provide technical or finan-
cial 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 National Heritage Area is en-
couraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the 
Secretary and the local coordinating entity, to the max-
imum extent practicable. 
(c) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Nothing in this 
Act— 
(1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regu-
lation authorizing a Federal agency to manage Fed-
eral land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agen-
cy; 
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(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land man-
ager to implement an approved land use plan within 
the boundaries of the National Heritage Area; or 
(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized 
use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Fed-
eral agency. 
SEC. 7. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTEC-
TIONS. 
Nothing in this Act— 
(1) abridges the rights of any owner of public 
or private property, including the right to refrain 
from participating in any plan, project, program, or 
activity conducted within the National Heritage 
Area; 
(2) requires any property owner— 
(A) to permit public access (including ac-
cess by Federal, State, or local agencies) to the 
property of the property owner; or 
(B) to modify public access or use of prop-
erty 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 author-
ity of any Federal, State, tribal, or local agency; 
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(4) conveys any land use or other regulatory 
authority to the local coordinating entity; 
(5) authorizes or implies the reservation or ap-
propriation of water or water rights; 
(6) diminishes the authority of the State to 
manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of 
fishing and hunting within the National Heritage 
Area; or 
(7) 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. 
SEC. 8. EVALUATION AND REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years before the 
date on which authority for Federal funding terminates 
for the National Heritage Area, the Secretary shall— 
(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplish-
ments of the National Heritage Area; and 
(2) prepare a report in accordance with sub-
section (c). 
(b) EVALUATION.—An evaluation conducted under 
subsection (a)(1) shall— 
(1) assess the progress of the local coordinating 
entity with respect to— 
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(A) accomplishing the purposes of the Na-
tional Heritage Area; and 
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of 
the management plan; 
(2) analyze the investments of Federal, State, 
tribal, and local government and private entities in 
the National Heritage Area to determine the impact 
of the investments; and 
(3) review the management structure, partner-
ship relationships, and funding of the National Her-
itage Area for purposes of identifying the critical 
components for sustainability of the National Herit-
age Area. 
(c) REPORT.—Based on the evaluation conducted 
under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives a report that includes recommendations 
for the future role of the National Park Service with re-
spect to the National Heritage Area. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not 
more than $1,000,000 may be made available in any fiscal 
year. 
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(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 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 under this Act may 
be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or 
services fairly valued. 
(d) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority of 
the Secretary to provide assistance under this Act termi-
nates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
Æ 
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