I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 522 
To establish the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Louisiana, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 2, 2005 
Mr. BAKER (for himself, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. 
JINDAL, Mr. ALEXANDER, and Mr. MELANCON) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, 
Louisiana, 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 ‘‘Atchafalaya National 
Heritage Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Atchafalaya Basin area of Louisiana, 
designated by the Louisiana Legislature as the 
‘‘Atchafalaya Trace State Heritage Area’’ and con-
sisting of the area described in section 5(b), is an 
area in which natural, scenic, cultural, and historic 
resources form a cohesive and nationally distinctive 
landscape arising from patterns of human activity 
shaped by geography. 
(2) The significance of the area is enhanced by 
the continued use of the area by people whose tradi-
tions have helped shape the landscape. 
(3) There is a national interest in conserving, 
restoring, promoting, and interpreting the benefits 
of the area for the residents of, and visitors to, the 
area. 
(4) The area represents an assemblage of rich 
and varied resources forming a unique aspect of the 
heritage of the United States. 
(5) The area reflects a complex mixture of peo-
ple and their origins, traditions, customs, beliefs, 
and folkways of interest to the public. 
(6) The land and water of the area offer out-
standing recreational opportunities, educational ex-
periences, and potential for interpretation and sci-
entific research. 
(7) Local governments of the area support the 
establishment of a national heritage area.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to conserve, restore, promote, and interpret 
the significant resource values and functions of the 
Atchafalaya Basin area and advance sustainable eco-
nomic development of the area; 
(2) to foster a close working relationship with 
all levels of government, the private sector, and the 
local communities in the area so as to enable those 
communities to conserve their heritage while con-
tinuing to pursue economic opportunities; and 
(3) to establish, in partnership with the State, 
local communities, preservation organizations, pri-
vate corporations, and landowners in the Heritage 
Area, the Atchafalaya Trace State Heritage Area, as 
eligible parishes designated by the Louisiana Legis-
lature, as the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) HERITAGE
AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage 
Area’’ means the Atchafalaya National Heritage 
Area established by section 5(a). 
(2) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘local coordinating entity’’ means the local coordi-
nating entity for the Heritage Area designated by 
section 5(c).
(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan for the 
Heritage Area developed under section 7. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Louisiana. 
SEC. 5. ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
State the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. 
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Heritage Area shall consist 
of parishes that are consistent with the tradition, pur-
poses, goals, and culture of the Heritage Area as deter-
mined by the Secretary in consultation with the State. The 
Secretary shall give priority consideration to those par-
ishes in Atchafalaya State Heritage Area. 
(c) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Atchafalaya Trace 
Commission shall be the local coordinating entity for 
the Heritage Area. 
(2) COMPOSITION.—The local coordinating enti-
ty shall be composed of 1 member appointed by the 
governing authority of each parish within the Herit-
age Area.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDI-
NATING ENTITY. 
(a) AUTHORITIES.—For the purposes of developing 
and implementing the management plan approved by the 
Secretary, the local coordinating entity may— 
(1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative 
agreements with, the State, units of local govern-
ment, and private organizations; 
(2) hire and compensate staff; and 
(3) enter into contracts for goods and services. 
(b) DUTIES.—The local coordinating entity shall— 
(1) submit to the Secretary for approval a man-
agement plan; 
(2) implement the management plan, including 
providing assistance to units of government and oth-
ers in— 
(A) carrying out programs that recognize 
important resource values within the Heritage 
Area; 
(B) encouraging sustainable economic de-
velopment within the Heritage Area; 
(C) establishing and maintaining interpre-
tive sites within the Heritage Area; and 
(D) increasing public awareness and appre-
ciation for the natural, historic, and cultural re-
sources of the Heritage Area;