I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7268 
To establish the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area in the State of 
Maine, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 29, 2022 
Mr. GOLDEN (for himself and Ms. PINGREE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area 
in the State of Maine, 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 ‘‘Downeast Maine Na-
tional Heritage Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the area in Maine known as ‘‘Downeast 
Maine’’ embodies a nationally important story of the 
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longstanding human dependence on natural re-
sources to survive and thrive; 
(2) dramatic changes have occurred on many 
levels over the last several centuries in Downeast 
Maine, but even after 10,000 years— 
(A) 
the 
economy 
and 
well-being 
of 
Downeast Maine depends on the same natural 
resources that have existed for centuries; and 
(B) the culture of Downeast Maine con-
tinues to be shaped by those resources; 
(3) dependence on the natural resources in 
Downeast Maine for economic, community, and envi-
ronmental health has led to habitat conservation and 
species restoration initiatives that allow natural sys-
tems and cultural associations to remain intact in 
Downeast Maine; 
(4) coastal fisheries, forest products, agri-
culture, wild blueberries, subsistence harvests, out-
door recreation, tourism, and habitat conservation 
are the heart of the culture and economy of 
Downeast Maine; 
(5) traditions of trade and culture from the 
past can be experienced firsthand in Downeast 
Maine; 
(6) the Downeast Maine way of life is visible— 
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(A) in historic districts, working water-
fronts, and community festivals in Downeast 
Maine; and 
(B) at the 51 historical societies and muse-
ums located in Downeast Maine; 
(7) Passamaquoddy language and arts and tra-
ditions from the fishing, logging, maritime, and wild 
blueberry industries are preserved in audio and pho-
tographic collections in Downeast Maine; 
(8) markets and galleries in Downeast Maine 
showcase arts, foods, and utilitarian products cre-
ated with the natural resources of the area that can 
be purchased directly from the producer; 
(9) community festivals in Downeast Maine cel-
ebrate the nature-based culture of Downeast Maine; 
(10) lighthouses and watercraft dominate the 
coastal scenery in Downeast Maine; and 
(11) the scenic byways and network of land and 
water trails in Downeast Maine provide a physical 
experience of unique geologic features, waterways, 
wildlife, and working landscapes, such as wild blue-
berry fields and forests. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) HERITAGE
AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage 
Area’’ means the Downeast Maine National Heritage 
Area established by section 4(a). 
(2) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘local coordinating entity’’ means the local coordi-
nating entity for the Heritage Area designated by 
section 5(a). 
(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the plan developed by the local 
coordinating entity under section 6(a). 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Maine. 
SEC. 4. DOWNEAST MAINE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
Downeast Maine National Heritage Area in the State. 
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Heritage Area shall consist 
of Hancock and Washington Counties in the State. 
SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY. 
(a) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The Sunrise 
County Economic Council shall be the local coordinating 
entity for the Heritage Area. 
(b) AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTI-
TY.—The local coordinating entity may, for purposes of 
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preparing and implementing the management plan, use 
Federal funds made available under this Act— 
(1) to prepare reports, studies, interpretive ex-
hibits and programs, historic preservation projects, 
and other activities recommended in the manage-
ment plan for the Heritage Area; 
(2) to make grants to the State, political sub-
divisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and 
other persons; 
(3) to enter into cooperative agreements with 
the State, political subdivisions of the State, non-
profit organizations, and other organizations; 
(4) to hire and compensate staff; 
(5) to obtain funds or services from any source, 
including funds and services provided under any 
other Federal program or law; and 
(6) to contract for goods and services. 
(c) DUTIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—To 
further the purposes of the Heritage Area, the local co-
ordinating entity shall— 
(1) prepare a management plan for the Herit-
age Area in accordance with section 6; 
(2) give priority to the implementation of ac-
tions, goals, and strategies set forth in the manage-
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ment plan, including assisting units of government 
and other persons in— 
(A) carrying out programs and projects 
that recognize and protect important resource 
values in the Heritage Area; 
(B) encouraging economic viability in the 
Heritage Area in accordance with the goals of 
the management plan; 
(C) establishing and maintaining interpre-
tive exhibits in the Heritage Area; 
(D) developing heritage-based recreational 
and educational opportunities for residents and 
visitors in the Heritage Area; 
(E) increasing public awareness of and ap-
preciation for the natural, historic, and cultural 
resources of the Heritage Area; 
(F) restoring historic buildings that are— 
(i) located in the Heritage Area; and 
(ii) related to the themes of the Herit-
age Area; and 
(G) installing throughout the Heritage 
Area clear, consistent, and appropriate signs 
identifying public access points and sites of in-
terest; 
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(3) consider the interests of diverse units of 
government, businesses, tourism officials, private 
property owners, and nonprofit groups within the 
Heritage Area in developing and implementing the 
management plan; 
(4) conduct public meetings at least semiannu-
ally regarding the development and implementation 
of the management plan; and 
(5) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds 
are received under this Act— 
(A) submit to the Secretary an annual re-
port that describes— 
(i) the accomplishments of the local 
coordinating entity; 
(ii) the expenses and income of the 
local coordinating entity; and 
(iii) the entities to which the local co-
ordinating entity made any grants; 
(B) make available for audit all records re-
lating to the expenditure of the Federal funds 
and any matching funds; and 
(C) require, with respect to all agreements 
authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by 
other organizations, that the receiving organiza-
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tions make available for audit all records relat-
ing to the expenditure of the Federal funds. 
SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date on which funds are first made available to carry out 
this Act, the local coordinating entity shall prepare and 
submit to the Secretary a management plan for the Herit-
age Area. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The management plan for the Her-
itage Area shall— 
(1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, 
and recommendations for the conservation, funding, 
management, and development of the Heritage Area; 
(2) take into consideration existing State and 
local plans; 
(3) specify the existing and potential sources of 
funding to protect, manage, and develop the Herit-
age Area; 
(4) include an inventory of the natural, historic, 
cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational re-
sources of the Heritage Area relating to the themes 
of the Heritage Area that should be preserved, re-
stored, managed, developed, or maintained; and 
(5) include an analysis of, and recommenda-
tions for, ways in which Federal, State, and local 
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programs, may best be coordinated to further the 
purposes of this Act, including recommendations for 
the role of the National Park Service in the Heritage 
Area. 
(c) DISQUALIFICATION FROM FUNDING.—If a pro-
posed management plan is not submitted to the Secretary 
by the date that is 3 years after the date on which funds 
are first made available to carry out this Act, the local 
coordinating entity may not receive additional funding 
under this Act until the date on which the Secretary re-
ceives the proposed management plan. 
(d) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT 
PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the local coordinating entity 
submits the management plan to the Secretary, the 
Secretary shall approve or disapprove the proposed 
management plan. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining whether 
to approve or disapprove the management plan, the 
Secretary shall consider whether— 
(A) the local coordinating entity is rep-
resentative of the diverse interests of the Herit-
age Area, including governments, natural and 
historic resource protection organizations, edu-
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cational 
institutions, 
businesses, 
and 
rec-
reational organizations; 
(B) the local coordinating entity has pro-
vided adequate opportunities (including public 
meetings) for public and governmental involve-
ment in the preparation of the management 
plan; 
(C) the resource protection and interpreta-
tion strategies contained in the management 
plan, if implemented, would adequately protect 
the natural, historic, and cultural resources of 
the Heritage Area; and 
(D) the management plan is supported by 
the appropriate State and local officials, the co-
operation of which is needed to ensure the ef-
fective implementation of the State and local 
aspects of the management plan. 
(3) DISAPPROVAL AND REVISIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—If the Secretary dis-
approves a proposed management plan, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(i) advise the local coordinating entity, 
in writing, of the reasons for the dis-
approval; and 
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(ii) make recommendations for revi-
sion of the proposed management plan. 
(B) APPROVAL
OR
DISAPPROVAL.—The 
Secretary shall approve or disapprove a revised 
management plan not later than 180 days after 
the date on which the revised management plan 
is submitted. 
(e) APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall review 
and approve or disapprove substantial amendments 
to the management plan in accordance with sub-
section (d). 
(2) FUNDING.—Funds appropriated under this 
Act may not be expended to implement any changes 
made by an amendment to the management plan 
until the Secretary approves the amendment. 
SEC. 7. 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 
may have an impact on the Heritage Area is encouraged 
to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary 
and the local coordinating entity to the extent practicable. 
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(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 the Heritage Area; or 
(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized 
use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Fed-
eral agency. 
SEC. 8. 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 the Heritage 
Area; 
(2) requires any property owner to permit pub-
lic access (including access by Federal, State, or 
local agencies) to the property of the property 
owner, or to modify public access or use of property 
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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, or local agency, or conveys 
any land use or other regulatory authority to the 
local coordinating entity; 
(4) authorizes or implies the reservation or ap-
propriation of water or water rights; 
(5) diminishes the authority of the State to 
manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of 
fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or 
(6) 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. 9. EVALUATION; REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years before the 
date on which authority for Federal funding terminates 
for the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall— 
(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplish-
ments of the Heritage Area; and 
(2) prepare a report in accordance with sub-
section (c). 
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(b) EVALUATION.—An evaluation conducted under 
subsection (a)(1) shall— 
(1) assess the progress of the local coordinating 
entity with respect to— 
(A) accomplishing the purposes of this Act 
for the Heritage Area; and 
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of 
the approved management plan for the Heritage 
Area; 
(2) analyze the Federal, State, local, and pri-
vate investments in the Heritage Area to determine 
the leverage and impact of the investments; and 
(3) review the management structure, partner-
ship relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area 
for purposes of identifying the critical components 
for sustainability of the Heritage Area. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the evaluation con-
ducted under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall 
prepare a report that includes recommendations for 
the future role of the National Park Service, if any, 
with respect to the Heritage Area. 
(2) REQUIRED ANALYSIS.—If the report pre-
pared under paragraph (1) recommends that Fed-
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eral funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, 
the report shall include an analysis of— 
(A) ways in which Federal funding for the 
Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; 
and 
(B) the appropriate time period necessary 
to achieve the recommended reduction or elimi-
nation. 
(3) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—On completion 
of the report, the Secretary shall submit the report 
to— 
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not 
more than $1,000,000 may be authorized to be appro-
priated for any fiscal year. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available under 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. 
(c) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 
total cost of any activity carried out using funds 
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made available under this Act shall be not more 
than 50 percent. 
(2) FORM.—The non-Federal share of the total 
cost of any activity carried out using funds made 
available under this Act may be in the form of in- 
kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued, 
cash, or a combination thereof. 
SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 
The authority of the Secretary to provide financial 
assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 
15 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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