I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5989 
To establish the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2020 
Ms. SEWELL of Alabama (for herself, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. ADER-
HOLT, and Mrs. ROBY) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, 
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 ‘‘Alabama Black Belt 
National Heritage Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) NATIONAL
HERITAGE
AREA.—The term 
‘‘National Heritage Area’’ means the Alabama Black 
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Belt National Heritage Area established by section 
3. 
(2) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘Local Coordinating Entity’’ means the manage-
ment entity for the National Heritage Area des-
ignated by section 3. 
(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan for the 
Heritage Area required under section 5. 
(4) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en-
titled Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area Boundary. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Alabama. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ALABAMA BLACK BELT 
NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Alabama 
Black Belt National Heritage Area in the State of Ala-
bama, to consist of land in Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Choc-
taw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, 
Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, 
Sumter, Washington, and Wilcox counties in the State, as 
generally depicted within the management plan. 
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(b) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The Center for 
the Study of the Black Belt at the University of West Ala-
bama shall be the local coordinating entity for the Na-
tional Heritage Area designated by section 5. 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) AUTHORITIES.—For purposes of carrying out the 
management plan for the National Heritage Area des-
ignated by section 3, the Secretary, acting through the 
local coordinating entity, may use amounts made available 
under section 9— 
(1) to make grants to the State or a political 
subdivision of the State, Indian Tribes, nonprofit or-
ganizations, 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, Indian Tribes, non-
profit organizations, 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 provided 
under any other Federal law or program; 
(5) to contract for goods or services; and 
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(6) to undertake to be a catalyst for any other 
activity that furthers the National Heritage Area 
and is consistent with the approved management 
plan. 
(b) DUTIES.—The local coordinating entity for the 
National Heritage Area designated by section 3 shall— 
(1) in accordance with section 5, prepare and 
submit a management plan for the National Herit-
age Area to the Secretary; 
(2) assist Federal agencies, the State or a polit-
ical subdivision of the State, Indian Tribes, regional 
planning organizations, nonprofit organizations and 
other interested parties 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, historical, scenic, and 
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cultural resources of the National Heritage 
Area; 
(E) protecting 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 the Federal Government, State, 
Tribal, and local governments, organizations, 
and individuals to further the National Herit-
age 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 that Federal funds have been 
received under this subsection— 
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(A) submit to the Secretary an annual re-
port that describes the activities, expenses, and 
income of the local coordinating entity (includ-
ing grants to any other entities during the year 
that the report 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 expenditure of Federal funds by 
other organizations, that the organizations re-
ceiving the funds make available to the Sec-
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. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity 
of the National Heritage Area designated by section 3 
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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, historic, scenic, 
and recreational resources of the National Heritage 
Area; 
(2) take into consideration Federal, State, local, 
and Tribal plans and treaty rights; 
(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 conservation, funding, 
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management, and development of the National 
Heritage Area; 
(C) a description of actions that the Fed-
eral Government, State, Tribal, and local gov-
ernments, private organizations, and individuals 
have agreed to take to protect the natural, his-
torical, cultural, scenic, and recreational re-
sources 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; 
(E) the identification of sources of funding 
for carrying out the management plan; 
(F) analysis and recommendations for 
means by which Federal, State, local, and Trib-
al programs, including the role of the National 
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Park Service in the National Heritage Area, 
may best be coordinated to carry out this sub-
section; 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, historical, cultural, edu-
cational, scenic, and recreational resources of the 
National 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 section 5, the Secretary, in consultation with 
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State and Tribal governments, shall approve or dis-
approve the management 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 Federal, State, 
Tribal, and local governments, natural and his-
toric resource protection organizations, edu-
cational 
institutions, 
businesses, 
and 
rec-
reational 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, historical, and cultural 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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(A) advise the local coordinating entity in 
writing of the reasons for the disapproval; 
(B) make recommendations for revisions to 
the management plan; and 
(C) not later than 180 days after the re-
ceipt of any proposed revision of the manage-
ment plan from the local coordinating entity, 
approve or disapprove the proposed revision. 
(4) AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
prove or disapprove each amendment to the 
management plan that the Secretary determines 
make a substantial change to the management 
plan. 
(B) USE
OF
FUNDS.—The local coordi-
nating entity shall not use Federal funds au-
thorized by this subsection to carry out any 
amendments to the management plan until the 
Secretary has approved the amendments. 
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 
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may have an impact on a National Heritage Area des-
ignated by section 3 is encouraged to consult and coordi-
nate the activities with the Secretary and the local coordi-
nating entity to the maximum 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; 
(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land man-
ager to implement an approved land use plan within 
the boundaries of a National Heritage Area des-
ignated by section 3; 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 property owner 
(whether public or private), including the right to re-
frain from participating in any plan, project, pro-
gram, or activity conducted within a National Herit-
age Area designated by section 3; 
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(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; 
(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) enlarges or diminishes the treaty rights of 
any Indian Tribe within the National Heritage Area; 
(7) diminishes— 
(A) the authority of the State to manage 
fish and wildlife, including the regulation of 
fishing and hunting within a National Heritage 
Area designated by section 3; or 
(B) the authority of Indian Tribes to regu-
late members of Indian Tribes with respect to 
fishing, hunting, and gathering in the exercise 
of treaty rights; or 
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(8) 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.—For each of the National Heritage 
Areas designated by section 3, not later than 3 years be-
fore the date on which authority for Federal funding ter-
minates 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 management 
entity with respect to— 
(A) accomplishing the purposes of the au-
thorizing legislation for the National Heritage 
Area; and 
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of 
the approved management plan for the National 
Heritage Area; 
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(2) analyze the investments of the Federal Gov-
ernment, State, Tribal, and local governments, and 
private entities in the National Heritage Area to de-
termine 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, if any, 
with respect to the National Heritage Area. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for the National Heritage Area designated by sec-
tion 3 to carry out the purposes of this Act $10,000,000, 
of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available 
in any fiscal year. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available under 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. 
(c) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 
total cost of any activity under this Act shall be not 
more than 50 percent. 
(2) FORM.—The non-Federal contribution of 
the total cost of any activity under this Act may be 
in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or serv-
ices 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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