103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1348
AN ACT
To establish the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley
National Heritage Corridor in the State of Connecticut,
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 ‘‘Quinebaug and
Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor Act
of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that:
(1) The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley
in the State of Connecticut is one of the last un-
spoiled and undeveloped areas in the Northeastern
United States and has remained largely intact, in-
cluding important aboriginal archaeological sites, ex-
cellent water quality, beautiful rural landscapes,
architecturally significant mill structures and mill
villages, and large acreage of parks and other per-
manent open space.
(2) The State of Connecticut ranks last among
the 50 States in the amount of federally protected
park and open space lands within its borders and
lags far behind the other northeastern States in the
amount of land set-aside for public recreation.
(3) The beautiful rural landscapes, scenic vistas
and excellent water quality of the Quinebaug and
Shetucket Rivers contain significant undeveloped
recreational opportunities for people throughout the
United States.
(4) The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley
is within a 2-hour drive of the major metropolitan
areas of New York City, Hartford, Providence,
Worcester, Springfield, and Boston. With the Presi-
dent’s Commission on Americans Outdoors reporting
that Americans are taking shorter ‘‘closer-to-home’’
vacations, the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Val-
ley represents important close-by recreational oppor-
tunities for significant population.
(5) The existing mill sites and other structures
throughout the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers
Valley were instrumental in the development of the
industrial revolution.
(6) The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley
contains a vast number of discovered and unre-
covered Native American and colonial archaeological
sites significant to the history of North America and
the United States.
(7) The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley
represents one of the last traditional upland farming
and mill village communities in the northeastern
United States.
(8) The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley
played a nationally significant role in the cultural
evolution of the prewar colonial period. Leading the
transformation from Puritan to Yankee, the ‘‘Great
Awakening’’ religious revival and early political de-
velopment leading up to and during the War of
Independence.
(9) Many local, regional and State agencies,
businesses, and private citizens and the New Eng-
land Governors’ Conference have expressed an over-
whelming desire to combine forces: to work coopera-
tively to preserve and enhance resources region-wide
and better plan for the future.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUINEBAUG AND SHETUCKET
RIVERS VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE COR-
RIDOR; PURPOSE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established in
the State of Connecticut the Quinebaug and Shetucket
Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to pro-
vide a management framework to assist the State of Con-
necticut, its units of local and regional government and
citizens in the development and implementation of inte-
grated cultural, historical, and recreational land resource
management programs in order to retain, enhance, and
interpret the significant features of the lands, water, and
structures of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley
in the State of Connecticut.
SEC. 4. BOUNDARIES AND ADMINISTRATION.
(a) BOUNDARIES.—The Boundaries of the Corridor
shall include the towns of Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury,
Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Franklin, Griswold, Hamp-
ton, Killingly, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mansfield, Norwich,
Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Scotland, Sprague,
Sterling, Thompson, Voluntown, Windham, and Wood-
stock. As soon as practical after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall publish in
the Federal Register a detailed description and map of
boundaries established under this subsection.
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Corridor shall be admin-
istered in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 5. QUINEBAUG AND SHETUCKET RIVERS VALLEY NA-
TIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established
within the Department of the Interior the Quinebaug and
Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor Com-
mission (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’).
The Commission shall assist appropriate Federal, State,
regional planning organizations, and local authorities in
the development and implementation of an integrated re-
source management plan for the lands and water as speci-
fied in section 3.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
prised of 19 members appointed not later than 6 months
after the date of enactment of this Act as follows:
(1) The Director of the National Park Service
ex officio (or his delegate).
(2) 3 individuals appointed by the Secretary
after consultation with the governor, who shall rep-
resent the interests of—
(A) the Connecticut Department of Envi-
ronmental Protection,
(B) the Connecticut Historical Commis-
sion, and
(C) the Connecticut Department of Eco-
nomic Development.
(3) 6 individuals representing the interests of
local government or regional planning organizations
from Connecticut appointed by the Secretary after
consultation with the Governor, of whom, 3 shall be
representatives of the 3 regional planning organiza-
tions within the Corridor region and 3 shall be local
elected officials from the region.
(4) 9 individuals from the general public, who
are citizens of the State of Connecticut, appointed
by the Secretary, after consultation with the Gov-
ernor, representing conservation, business, tourism,
and recreational interests.
A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner
in which the original appointments were made.
(c) TERMS.—(1) Members of the Commission shall
be appointed for terms of 3 years and may be reappointed.
(2) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring
before the expiration of the term for which his predecessor
was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder
of such term. Any member of the Commission appointed
for a definite term may serve after the expiration of his
term until his successor has taken office.
(d) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission
shall receive no pay on account of their service on the
Commission but while away from their homes or regular
places of business in the performance of services for the
Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
in the same manner as persons employed intermittently
in the Government service are allowed expenses under sec-
tion 5703 of title 5, United State Code.
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Commis-
sion shall be elected by the members of the Commission.
(f) QUORUM.—(1) 8 members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(2) The affirmative vote of not less than 10 members
of the Commission shall be required to approve the budget
of the Commission.
(g) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall hold its first
meeting not later than 90 days after the date on which
its members are appointed, and shall meet at least quar-
terly at the call of the chairperson or 10 of its members.
Meetings of the Commission shall be subject to section
552(b) of title 5, United States Code (relating to open
meetings).
(h) PROXY.—Any member of the Commission may
vote by means of a signed proxy exercised by another
member of the Commission, but any member so voting
shall not be considered present for purposes of establish-
ing a quorum.
SEC. 6. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Commission shall have
the power to appoint and fix compensation of such staff
as may be necessary to carry out its duties.
(2) Staff appointed by the Commission—
(A) shall be appointed subject to the provisions
of title 5, United States Code, governing appoint-
ments in the competitive service; and
(B) shall be paid in accordance with provisions
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of
such title relating to classification and General
Schedule pay rates.
(b) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—Subject to such
rules as may be adopted by the Commission, the Commis-
sion may procure temporary and intermittent services to
the same extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title
5, United States Code, but at rates determined by the
Commission to be reasonable.
(c) STAFF OF OTHER AGENCIES.—(1) Upon request
of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of
such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission
in carrying out the Commission’s duties.
(2) The Commission may accept the service of per-
sonnel detailed from the State, any political subdivision
and regional planning organizations, and may reimburse
the State, political subdivision, and regional planning or-
ganizations for those services.
SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS.—(1) The Commission may, for the
purposes of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and
act at such times and places, take such testimony, and
receive such evidence, as the Commission considers appro-
priate.
(2) The Commission may not issue subpoenas or ex-
ercise any subpoena authority.
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission, if so authorized by the
Commission, may take any action which the Commission
is authorized to take by this Act.
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Ad-
ministrator of the General Services Administration shall
provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis, such
administrative support services as the Commission may re-
quest.
(d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other departments and other agencies of the
United States.
(e) USE OF FUNDS TO OBTAIN MONEY.—The Com-
mission may use its funds to 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.
(f) GIFTS.—Except as provided in subsection
(g)(2)(B), the Commission may, for purposes of carrying
out its duties, seek, accept, and dispose of gifts, bequests,
or donations of money, personal property, or services, re-
ceived from any source: Provided, That such gifts are used
for public purposes.
(g) ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.—(1) Except
as provided in paragraph (2) and except with respect to
any leasing of facilities under subsection (c), the Commis-
sion may not acquire any real property or interest in real
property.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Commission may
acquire real property or interest in real property in the
Corridor—
(A) by gift or devise; or
(B) by purchase from a willing seller with
money that was given, appropriated, or bequeathed
to the Commission on the condition that such money
would be used to purchase real property, or interest
in real property, in the Corridor.
(3) Any real property or interest in real property ac-
quired by the Commission under paragraph (2) shall be
conveyed by the Commission to an appropriate public or
private land management agency, as determined by the
Commission. Any such conveyance shall be made—
(A) as soon as practicable after such acquisi-
tion;
(B) without consideration; and
(C) on the condition that the real property or
interest in real property so conveyed is used for pub-
lic purposes.
(h) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—For purposes of
carrying out the plan, the Commission may enter into co-
operative agreements with the State of Connecticut, with
any political subdivision, or with any person or organiza-
tion. Any such cooperative agreement shall, at a minimum,
establish procedures for providing notice to the Commis-
sion of any action proposed by the State, such political
subdivision, or such person which may affect implementa-
tion of the plan referred to in section 8.
SEC. 8. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) PREPARATION OF PLAN.—Within 2 years after
the Commission conducts its first meeting, it shall submit
to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Con-
necticut for review and approval of Cultural Heritage and
Corridor Management Plan. The Plan shall be based on
existing Federal, State, and local plans, but shall coordi-
nate those plans and present a unified historic preserva-
tion, interpretation, and recreational plan for the Cor-
ridor. The plan shall—
(1) provide an inventory which includes any
property in the Corridor which should be preserved,
restored, managed, developed, maintained, or ac-
quired because of its national historic or cultural or
recreational significance;
(2) recommend advisory standards and criteria
applicable to the construction, preservation, restora-
tion, alteration, and use of all properties within the
Corridor;
(3) develop an historic interpretation plan to in-
terpret the history of the Corridor;
(4) develop an inventory which includes existing
and potential recreational sites which are developed
or which could be developed along the Quinebaug
and Shetucket Rivers and their surrounding areas;
(5) recommend policies for resource manage-
ment which consider and detail application of appro-
priate land and water management techniques, in-
cluding but not limited to, the development of inter-
governmental cooperative agreements to protect the
Corridor’s historical, cultural, recreational, scenic,
and natural resources in a manner consistent with
supporting appropriate and compatible economic re-
vitalization efforts;
(6) detail ways in which local, State, and Fed-
eral programs may best be coordinated to promote
the purposes of this Act; and
(7) contain a program for implementation of
the Plan by the State and its political subdivisions.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN.—After review and
approval of the Plan by the Secretary and the Governor
as provided in subsection (a), the Commission shall imple-
ment the Plan by taking appropriate steps to preserve and
interpret the historic resources, develop the recreational
resources of the Corridor and its surrounding area, and
to support public and private efforts in economic revital-
ization, consistent with the goals of the Plan. These steps
may include, but need not be limited to—
(1) assisting the State and local governmental
entities or regional planning organizations, and non-
profit organizations in preserving the Corridor and
ensuring appropriate use of lands and structures
throughout the Corridor;
(2) assisting the State and local governmental
entities or regional planning organizations, and non-
profit organizations in establishing, and maintaining
visitor centers and other interpretive exhibits in the
Corridor;
(3) assisting the State and local governmental
entities or regional planning organizations, and non-
profit organizations in developing recreational pro-
grams and resources in the Corridor;
(4) assisting the State and local governmental
entities or regional planning organizations, and non-
profit organizations in increasing public awareness
of and appreciation for the historical and architec-
tural resources and sites in the Corridor;
(5) assisting the State and local governmental
or regional planning organizations and nonprofit or-
ganizations in the restoration of any historic build-
ing in the Corridor;
(6) encouraging by appropriate means enhanced
economic and industrial development in the Corridor
consistent with the goals of the Plan;
(7) encouraging local governments to adopt
land use policies consistent with the management of
the Corridor and the goals of the Plan, and to en-
sure appropriate use of lands and structures
throughout the Corridor; and
(8) assisting the State and local governmental
entities or regional planning organizations to ensure
that clear, consistent signs identifying access points
and sites of interest are put in place throughout the
Corridor.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
(a) TERMINATION.—Except as provided in subsection
(b), the Commission shall terminate on the day occurring
5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) EXTENSION.—The Commission may be extended
for a period of not more than 5 years beginning on the
day of termination referred to in subsection (a) if, not
later than 180 days before such day—
(1) the Commission determines such extension
is necessary in order to carry out the purposes of
this Act;
(2) the Commission submits such proposed ex-
tension to the Committee on Natural Resources of
the United States House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
United States Senate; and
(3) the Secretary, in consultation with the Gov-
ernor of Connecticut, approves such extension.
SEC. 10. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) APPROVAL OF PLAN.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior, in consultation with the Governor of Connecticut,
shall approve or disapprove a Plan submitted under this
Act by the Commission not later than 60 days after receiv-
ing such Plan. The Secretary, in consultation with the
Governor, shall approve a Plan submitted if—
(1) they find the Plan, if implemented, would
adequately protect significant historical and cultural
resources of the Corridor while providing adequate
and appropriate outdoor recreational opportunities
and economic activities within the Corridor;
(2) they determine that the Commission held
public hearings and provided adequate opportunity
for public and governmental involvement in the prep-
aration of the Plan; and
(3) the Secretary receives adequate assurances
from appropriate State officials that the rec-
ommended implementation program identified in the
Plan will be initiated within a reasonable time after
date of approval of the Plan, and that such imple-
mentation program will ensure effective implementa-
tion of the State and local aspects of the Plan.
(b) DISAPPROVAL OF PLAN.—If the Secretary dis-
approves a Plan submitted to him by the Commission, he
shall advise the Commission in writing of the reasons
therefor and shall make recommendations for revisions in
the Plan. The Commission shall within 90 days of receipt
of such notice of disapproval revise and resubmit the plan
to the Secretary who shall approve or disapprove a pro-
posed revision within 60 days after the date it is submitted
to him.
(c) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of the Interior shall,
upon request of the Commission, assist the Commission
in the preparation and implementation of Plan.
SEC. 11. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES.
Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activi-
ties directly affecting the Corridor shall—
(1) consult with the Secretary and the Commis-
sion with respect to such activities;
(2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Com-
mission with respect to such activities and, to the
maximum extent practicable, coordinate such activi-
ties; and
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct
or support such activities in a manner which the
Commission determines will not have an adverse ef-
fect on the Corridor.
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) COMMISSION.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated $200,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $250,000 annu-
ally to the Commission to carry out its duties under this
Act except that the Federal contributions to the Commis-
sion shall not exceed 50 percent of the annual costs to
the Commission in carrying out those duties.
(b) SECRETARY.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated annually to the Secretary such sums as may be
necessary to carry out his duties under this Act.
SEC. 13. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) 
The 
term 
‘‘Commission’’ 
means 
the
Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National
Heritage Corridor Commission established under
section 5.
(2) The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Con-
necticut.
(3) The term ‘‘Corridor’’ means the Quinebaug
and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Cor-
ridor established under section 3.
(4) The term ‘‘Plan’’ means the Cultural Herit-
age and Corridor Management Plan to be prepared
by the Commission pursuant to section 8.
(5) The term ‘‘Governor’’ means the Governor
of the State of Connecticut.
(6) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(7) The term ‘‘regional planning organization’’
means each of the 3 regional planning organizations
established by Connecticut State statute chapter 127
and chapter 50 (the Northeast Council of Govern-
ments, the Windham Regional Planning Agency or
its successor, and the Southeastern Connecticut Re-
gional Planning Agency or its successor).
Passed the House of Representatives September 13,
1993.
Attest:
Clerk.
HR 1348 EH——2