H. R. 4236—179
SEC. 806. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL HERITAGE
CORRIDOR COMMITTEE.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Committee may, for the purpose of carrying
out this title, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the
Committee considers appropriate. The Committee may not issue
subpoenas or exercise any subpoena authority.
(b) BYLAWS.—The Committee may make such bylaws and rules,
consistent with this title, as it considers necessary to carry out
its functions under this title.
(c) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any member or agent
of the Committee, if so authorized by the Committee, may take
any action which the Committee is authorized to take by this
title.
(d) CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Upon submission of a draft
Corridor Management Plan to the Committee from the management
entity, the Committee shall, within 60 days, review such plan
for consistency with the purposes of this title and endorse the
plan or return it to the management entity for revision. Upon
endorsement of the Corridor Management Plan, the Committee
shall submit such plan to the Secretary for approval pursuant
to section 808.
(e) REVIEW OF BUDGET.—The Committee shall review on an
annual basis the proposed expenditures of Federal funds by the
management entity for consistency with the purpose of this title
and the Corridor Management Plan.
SEC. 807. MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) ENTITY.—Upon petition, the Secretary is authorized to
recognize the Ohio & Erie Canal Association as the management
entity for the Heritage Corridor.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for designation as the
management entity of the corridor, an entity must possess the
legal ability to—
(1) receive Federal funds for use in preparing and
implementing the management plan for the corridor;
(2) disburse Federal funds to other units of government
or other organizations for use in preparing and implementing
the management plan for the corridor;
(3) account for all Federal funds received or disbursed;
and
(4) sign agreements with the Federal Government.
(c) FEDERAL FUNDING.—
(1) AUTHORIZATION TO RECEIVE.—The management entity
is authorized to receive appropriated Federal funds.
(2) DISQUALIFICATION.—If a management plan for the
corridor is not submitted to the Secretary as required under
section 808 within the time specified herein, the management
entity shall cease to be eligible for Federal funding under
this title until such a plan regarding the corridor is submitted
to the Secretary.
(d) AUTHORITIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The management
entity of the corridor may, for purposes of preparing and implement-
ing the management plan for the corridor, use Federal funds made
available under this title—
H. R. 4236—180
(1) to make grants and loans to the State of Ohio, its
political subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, and other
persons;
(2) to enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide
technical assistance to, Federal agencies, the State of Ohio,
its political subdivision, nonprofit organizations, and other
persons;
(3) to hire and compensate staff;
(4) to obtain money from any source under any program
or law requiring the recipient of such money to make a contribu-
tion in order to receive such money; and
(5) to contract for goods and services.
(e) PROHIBITION
OF ACQUISITION
OF REAL PROPERTY.—The
management entity for the corridor may not use Federal funds
received under this title to acquire real property or any interest
in real property.
SEC. 808. DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN.—
(1) SUBMISSION FOR REVIEW BY COMMITTEE.—Within 3 years
after the date on which the Secretary has recognized the
management entity for the corridor, the management entity
shall develop and submit for review to the Committee a
management plan for the corridor.
(2) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—A management plan submitted
under this title shall present comprehensive recommendations
for the conservation, funding, management, and development
of the corridor. The plan shall be prepared with public participa-
tion. The plan shall take into consideration existing Federal,
State, county, and local plans and involve residents, public
agencies, and private organizations in the corridor. The plan
shall include a description of actions that units of government
and private organizations are recommended to take to protect
the resources of the corridor. The plan shall specify existing
and potential sources of funding for the conservation, manage-
ment, and development of the corridor. The plan also shall
include the following, as appropriate:
(A) An inventory of the resources contained in the
corridor, including a list of property in the corridor that
should be conserved, restored, managed, developed, or
maintained because of the natural, cultural, or historic
significance of the property as it relates to the themes
of the corridor.
(B) A recommendation of policies for resource manage-
ment that consider and detail the application of appropriate
land and water management techniques, including (but
not limited to) the development of intergovernmental
cooperative agreements to manage the historical, cultural,
and natural resources and recreational opportunities of
the corridor in a manner consistent with the support of
appropriate and compatible economic viability.
(C) A program, including plans for restoration and
construction, for implementation of the management plan
by the management entity and specific commitments, for
the first six years of operation of the plan by the partners
identified in said plan.
H. R. 4236—181
(D) An analysis of means by which Federal, State,
and local programs may best be coordinated to promote
the purposes of this title.
(E) An interpretive plan for the corridor.
(3) 
APPROVAL
AND
DISAPPROVAL
OF
THE
CORRIDOR
MANAGEMENT PLAN.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Upon submission of the Corridor
Management Plan from the Committee. the Secretary shall
approve or disapprove said plan not later than 60 days
after receipt of the plan. If the Secretary has taken no
action after 60 days upon receipt, the plan shall be consid-
ered approved.
(B) DISAPPROVAL
AND
REVISIONS.—If the Secretary
disapproves the Corridor Management Plan, the Secretary
shall advise the Committee, in writing, of the reasons
for the disapproval and shall make recommendations for
revision of the plan. The Secretary shall approve or dis-
approve proposed revisions to the plan not later than 60
days after receipt of such revision. If the Secretary has
taken no action for 60 days after receipt, the plan shall
be considered approved.
(b) PRIORITIES.—The management entity shall give priority to
the implementation of actions, goals, and policies set forth in the
management plan for the corridor, including—
(1) assisting units of government, regional planning
organizations, and nonprofit organizations—
(A) in conserving the corridor;
(B) in establishing and maintaining interpretive
exhibits in the corridor;
(C) in developing recreational opportunities in the
corridor;
(D) in increasing public awareness of and appreciation
for the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the
corridor;
(E) in the restoration of historic buildings that are
located within the boundaries of the corridor and relate
to the themes of the corridor; and
(F) in ensuring that clear, consistent, and environ-
mentally appropriate signs identifying access points and
sites of interest are put in place throughout the corridor;
and
(2) consistent with the goals of the management plan,
encouraging economic viability in the affected communities by
appropriate means.
(c) CONSIDERATION
OF INTERESTS
OF LOCAL GROUPS.—The
management entity shall, in preparing and implementing the
management plan for the corridor, consider the interest of diverse
units of government, businesses, private property owners, and non-
profit groups within the geographic area.
(d) PUBLIC MEETINGS.—The management entity shall conduct
public meetings at least quarterly regarding the implementation
of the Corridor Management Plan.
(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The management entity shall, for any
fiscal year in which it receives Federal funds under this title or
in which a loan made by the entity with Federal funds under
section 807(d)(1) is outstanding, submit an annual report to the
Secretary setting forth its accomplishments, its expenses and
H. R. 4236—182
income, and the entities to which it made any loans and grants
during the year for which the report is made.
(f) COOPERATION WITH AUDITS.—The management entity shall,
for any fiscal year in which its receives Federal funds under this
title or in which a loan made by the entity with Federal funds
under section 807(d)(1) is outstanding, make available for audit
by the Congress, the Secretary, and appropriate units of government
all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure
of such funds and any matching funds, and require, for all agree-
ments authorizing expenditure of Federal funds by other organiza-
tions, that the receiving organizations make available for such
audit all records and other information pertaining to the expendi-
ture of such funds.
SEC. 809. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANTS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide technical
assistance and grants to units of government, nonprofit
organizations, and other persons, upon request of the manage-
ment entity of the corridor, and to the management entity,
regarding the management plan and its implementation.
(2) 
PROHIBITION
OF
CERTAIN
REQUIREMENTS.—The
Secretary may not, as a condition of the award of technical
assistance or grants under this section, require any recipient
of such technical assistance or grant to enact or modify land
use restrictions.
(3) 
DETERMINATIONS
REGARDING
ASSISTANCE.—The
Secretary shall decide if the corridor shall be awarded technical
assistance or grants and the amount of that assistance. Such
decisions shall be based on the relative degree to which the
corridor effectively fulfills the objectives contained in the
Corridor Management Plan and achieves the purposes of this
title. Such decisions shall give consideration to projects which
provide a greater leverage of Federal funds.
(b) PROVISION
OF INFORMATION.—In cooperation with other
Federal agencies, the Secretary shall provide the general public
with information regarding the location and character of the
corridor.
(c) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—Upon request, the Superintendent of
Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area may provide to public
and private organizations within the corridor (including the
management entity for the corridor) such operational assistance
as appropriate to support the implementation of the Corridor
Management Plan, subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements
with public and private organizations for the purposes of implement-
ing this subsection.
(d) DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Any Federal entity
conducting any activity directly affecting the corridor shall consider
the potential effect of the activity on the Corridor Management
Plan and shall consult with the management entity of the corridor
with respect to the activity to minimize the adverse effects of
the activity on the corridor.
SEC. 810. LACK OF EFFECT ON LAND USE REGULATION AND PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
(a) LACK OF EFFECT ON AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENTS.—Nothing
in this title shall be construed to modify, enlarge, or diminish