H. R. 2628
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two
An Act
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and
feasibility of establishing the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area in Alabama,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Muscle Shoals National Heritage
Area Study Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. STUDY.
The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with appropriate
State historic preservation officers, States historical societies, and
other appropriate organizations, shall conduct a study regarding
the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area described
in section 3 as the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. The
study shall include analysis, documentation, and determination
regarding whether the study area—
(1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural
resources that together represent distinctive aspects of Amer-
ican heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, interpreta-
tion, and continuing use, and are best managed through part-
nerships among public and private entities and by combining
diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and active
communities;
(2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife that
are a valuable part of the national story;
(3) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural,
historic, cultural, or scenic features;
(4) provides outstanding recreational and educational
opportunities;
(5) contains resources important to the identified theme
or themes of the study area that retain a degree of integrity
capable of supporting interpretation;
(6) 
includes 
residents, 
business 
interests, 
nonprofit
organizations, and local and State governments that are
involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual financial
plan that outlines the roles of all participants (including the
Federal Government), and have demonstrated support for the
concept of a national heritage area;
(7) has a potential management entity to work in partner-
ship with residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations,
and local and State governments to develop a national heritage
H. R. 2628—2
area consistent with continued local and State economic
activity; and
(8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by
the public.
SEC. 3. BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.
The study area referred to in section 2 shall be comprised
of the following:
(1) The part of the Tennessee River’s watershed in northern
Alabama.
(2) The cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Muscle
Shoals City, Alabama.
(3) The towns of Anderson, Cherokee, Courtland, Leighton,
Lexington, Littleville, Red Bay, Rogersville, Russellville, Town
Creek, and Waterloo, Alabama, and their environs.
(4) Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin, and Lawrence Counties,
Alabama.
(5) Other areas that have heritage aspects that are similar
to those aspects that are in the areas described in paragraphs
(1) through (4) and which are adjacent to or in the vicinity
of those areas.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds
are first made available for this Act, the Secretary of the Interior
shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate a report on the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the study.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.