I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4607
To establish the Vancouver National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 21, 1994
Mrs. UNSOELD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To establish the Vancouver 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 ‘‘Vancouver National
Heritage Area Partnership Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The lower Columbia River basin and Van-
couver have been the focal point of a number of im-
portant periods, themes, and events in American his-
tory and pre-history, including native settlements,
westward expansion of the British colonies and the
United States from 1763–1898, political and mili-
tary affairs from 1865 to 1939, and military affairs
from 1914–1941.
(2) The Columbia River is the central feature
around which the history of the Vancouver National
Heritage Area and the entire Pacific Northwest re-
volves. The heritage area is located on the shores of
the Columbia River 78 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
The Columbia River has been an artery for commu-
nication and trade since prehistoric times.
(3) Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, a
unit of the National Park System, was founded in
1825 by the Hudson Bay Company and its develop-
ment from 1825 to 1860 was seminal to Euro-Amer-
ican settlement of the Northwest.
(4) The Vancouver Barracks served as the prin-
cipal administrative outpost of the United States
Army in the Pacific Northwest from 1849 until
World War I, served as a command post during the
Native American Wars of the mid to late 19th cen-
tury, and provided major facilities for support of
United States military ventures throughout the Pa-
cific during the Spanish American War and the two
World Wars.
(5) Pearson Airfield was the site of significant
events in the history of aviation in the Pacific
Northwest and was particularly prominent during
the interwar period between 1923–1941. Today,
Pearson Airfield continues to be an important home
to historic aircraft and historic aviation.
(6) The heritage area contains a number of dis-
covered and unrecovered archaeological sites signifi-
cant to the history of North America and the growth
of the United States.
(7) The heritage area is located close to major
metropolitan areas, including Portland, Tacoma, and
Seattle and immediately adjacent to Interstate 5, the
major north-south interstate of the Pacific North-
west.
(8) Many Federal, State, and local government
entities, as well as numerous private organizations
and individuals (A) have expressed a desire to join
forces and work together in a cooperative spirit in
order to preserve, interpret, and enhance the cul-
tural, recreational, and educational potential of the
heritage area, and (B) have already demonstrated
their ability to effectively cooperate in the course of
preparing the ‘‘Vancouver National Historical Re-
serve Feasibility Study and Environmental Assess-
ment’’, as required by Public Law 101–523.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act—
(1) to preserve, enhance, and interpret the sig-
nificant aspects of the lands, water, structures and
history of the heritage area, and
(2) to provide a partnership that will develop
and implement an integrated cultural, historical, rec-
reational, and educational land resource manage-
ment program in order to achieve these purposes.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘member agencies’’ means the en-
tities specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) of sec-
tion 5(b);
(2) the term ‘‘Partnership’’ means the Van-
couver National Heritage Area Partnership estab-
lished by section 5;
(3) the term ‘‘Pearson economic plan’’ means
the Pearson Airpark economic viability and mitiga-
tion plan required under section 10(8);
(4) the term ‘‘heritage area’’ means the Van-
couver National Heritage Area established by section
4;
(5) the term ‘‘management plan’’ means the
plan developed and submitted under section 9;
(6) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of the Interior; and
(7) the term ‘‘Chairperson’’ means the Chair-
person of the Partnership as specified in section
5(e).
SEC. 4. VANCOUVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established
the Vancouver National Heritage Area.
(b) AREAS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE HERITAGE
AREA.—The heritage area shall be comprised of approxi-
mately 366 acres of publicly owned land, as generally de-
picted on the map entitled ‘‘Vancouver National Historic
Reserve—Proposed Reserve Area’’, contained in the report
entitled ‘‘Vancouver National Historical Reserve Feasibil-
ity Study and Environmental Assessment’’ at page 97,
published by the Vancouver Historical Study Commission,
and dated April 1993. The map shall be on file and avail-
able for public inspection in the offices of the Director of
the National Park Service. The heritage area shall include
the following lands and facilities:
(1) Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
(2) Vancouver Barracks.
(3) Pearson Airfield and Museum.
(4) Officers Row.
(5) Old Apple Tree Park.
(6) Marine Park.
(7) The area of the Columbia River waterfront
identified in such map.
(8) The land and easements dedicated to the
city of Vancouver for a waterfront trail within the
Columbia Shores property.
(9) A pedestrian-only path between the Marine
Park and the southeastern corner of the heritage
area at Columbia Way.
SEC. 5. VANCOUVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA PARTNER-
SHIP.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Van-
couver National Heritage Area Partnership. The purpose
of the Partnership shall be to oversee the protection, en-
hancement, and development of the heritage area. The
Partnership shall—
(1) be a forum for cooperation and coordination
between the public agencies represented in the herit-
age area;
(2) make reasonable efforts to minimize staff-
ing, development, and operational costs to each
member agency;
(3) promote the coordinated protection, use and
interpretation of the cultural, recreational, and edu-
cational resources of the heritage area;
(4) identify additional opportunities for public
use and enjoyment of the heritage area;
(5) develop and implement a management plan
as required in section 9 for the areas specified in
section 4(b); and
(6) be formalized by the compact described in
section 8.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Partnership shall be com-
prised of five members appointed by the Secretary, in con-
sultation with member agencies, no later than six months
after the date of the enactment of this Act who represent
the interests of the following:
(1) The Department of the Interior, National
Park Service.
(2) The State of Washington.
(3) Department of the Army.
(4) City of Vancouver.
(5) The general public, selected from the citi-
zenry of the State of Washington, appointed after
consultation with the Governor of the State of
Washington and the Mayor of Vancouver.
(f) QUORUM.—Three members of the Partnership
shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of not less
than three members shall be required to approve the budg-
et of the Partnership.
(g) MEETINGS.—The Partnership 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 a majority of its
members. Meetings shall be subject to section 552(b) of
title 5, United States Code.
(h) PROXY.—Any member of the Partnership may
vote by means of a signed proxy exercised by another
member of the Partnership, but any member so voting
shall not be considered present for purposes of establish-
ing a quorum.
SEC. 6. STAFF OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Partnership shall have the
power to appoint and fix compensation of such staff as
may be necessary to carry out its duties.
(b) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—Subject to such
rules as may be adopted by the Partnership, the Partner-
ship 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
Partnership to be reasonable.
(c) STAFF OF OTHER AGENCIES.—(1) Upon request
of the Partnership, the head of any Federal agency may
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of
such agency to the Partnership to assist the Partnership
in carrying out the Partnership’s duties.
(2) The Partnership may accept the service of person-
nel detailed from the State, or any political subdivision
or regional planning organization, and may reimburse the
State, political subdivision, or regional planning organiza-
tion for those services.
SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
(a) HEARINGS.—(1) The Partnership 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 Partnership considers appro-
priate.
(2) The Partnership may not issue subpoenas or exer-
cise any subpoena authority.
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Partnership, if so authorized by the
Partnership, may take any action which the Partnership
is authorized to take by this Act. Members of the Partner-
ship shall continue to exercise primary management re-
sponsibility for the facilities and lands over which they
currently have jurisdiction.
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Ad-
ministrator of the General Services Administration shall
provide to the Partnership on a reimbursable basis such
administrative support services as the Partnership may re-
quest.
(d) MAILS.—The Partnership 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 Part-
nership 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.—(1) The Partnership may, for purposes
of carrying out its duties, seek, accept, and dispose of
gifts, bequests, or donations of money, personal property,
or services, received from any source.
(2) For purposes of section 170(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, any gift to the Partnership shall
be deemed to be a gift to the United States.
(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 Partner-
ship may not acquire any real property or interest in real
property.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Partnership may
acquire real property or interest in real property in the
heritage area—
(A) by gift or devise; or
(B) by purchase from a willing seller with
money that was given, appropriated, or bequeathed
to the Partnership on the condition that such money
would be used to purchase real property, or interest
in real property, in the heritage area.
(3) Any real property or interest in real property ac-
quired by the Partnership under paragraph (2) shall be
conveyed by the Partnership to an appropriate public or
private land management agency, as determined by the
Partnership. Any such conveyance shall be made—
(A) as soon as practicable after such acquisi-
tion;
(B) with or 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) TRANSFER
OF REAL PROPERTY.—A Member
agency may transfer title of parcels of land and improve-
ments thereon to other member agencies upon rec-
ommendation of the Partnership and the approval of the
affected member agency.
(i) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—For purposes of
carrying out the management plan referred to in section
9, the Partnership may enter into cooperative agreements
with any State, or any political subdivision thereof, or with
any person or organization. Any such cooperative agree-
ment shall, at a minimum, establish procedures for provid-
ing notice to the Partnership of any action proposed by
the State, such political subdivision, or such person which
may affect implementation of the management plan re-
ferred to in section 9.
(j) ADVISORY GROUPS.—The Partnership may estab-
lish such advisory groups as it deems necessary to ensure
open communication with, and assistance from, the State,
political subdivisions of the State, regional planning orga-
nizations and interested persons.
SEC. 8. COMPACT BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE PARTNER-
SHIP.
Within 12 months after it conducts its first meeting,
the Partnership shall prepare, sign, and submit to the Sec-
retary a compact. The compact shall be prepared with
public participation. The compact shall function as a
memorandum of agreement between the members of the
Partnership. The compact shall include but is not limited
to—
(1) identification of the partners in the heritage
area;
(2) identification of the goals and objectives of
the heritage area and identification of the basic re-
sponsibilities of the members of the Partnership with
respect to the purpose of the heritage area; and
(3) a brief outline of the objectives that are
likely to be included in the management plan in
order to achieve the purpose of the heritage area.
SEC. 9. HERITAGE AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Within 36 months after it con-
ducts its first meeting, the Partnership shall develop and
submit the heritage area management plan to the Sec-
retary for review and approval. The management plan
shall define a timetable for various actions of the Partner-
ship and for development of the specific programs and fa-
cilities of the heritage area.
(2) The management plan shall require the Partner-
ship to produce an interpretive plan for the heritage area
that provides a framework for all the institutions within
the heritage area to incorporate information on the over-
lapping continuum of history represented in the heritage
area and shall address all joint facilities programs.