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tural 
heritage 
of 
the 
counties 
of 
Trumbull, 
Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuya-
hoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa 
and Ashland in Ohio. 
(8) The Department of the Interior is respon-
sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and histor-
ical resources. There are significant examples of 
such resources within these counties and what was 
once the Western Reserve to merit the involvement 
of the Federal Government in the development of 
programs and projects, in cooperation with the State 
of Ohio and other local governmental entities, to 
adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this her-
itage for future generations, while providing oppor-
tunities for education and revitalization. 
(b) STUDY.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, 
and Conservation Assistance Program, Midwest Re-
gion, and in consultation with the State of Ohio, the 
counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Por-
tage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, 
Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland, and 
other appropriate organizations, shall carry out a 
study regarding the suitability and feasibility of es-
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tablishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area in 
these counties in Ohio. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include anal-
ysis and documentation regarding whether the Study 
Area— 
(A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, 
and cultural resources that together represent 
distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy 
of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and 
continuing use, and are best managed through 
partnerships among public and private entities 
and by combining diverse and sometimes non-
contiguous resources and active communities; 
(B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, 
and folklife that are a valuable part of the na-
tional story; 
(C) provides outstanding opportunities to 
conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic 
features; 
(D) provides outstanding recreational and 
educational opportunities; 
(E) contains resources important to the 
identified theme or themes of the Study Area 
that retain a degree of integrity capable of sup-
porting interpretation;
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(F) includes residents, business interests, 
nonprofit organizations, and local and State 
governments that are involved in the planning, 
have developed a conceptual financial plan that 
outlines the roles for all participants, including 
the Federal Government, and have dem-
onstrated support for the concept of a national 
heritage area; 
(G) has a potential management entity to 
work in partnership with residents, business in-
terests, nonprofit organizations, and local and 
State governments to develop a national herit-
age area consistent with continued local and 
State economic activity; 
(H) has a conceptual boundary map that is 
supported by the public; and 
(I) has potential or actual impact on pri-
vate property located within or abutting the 
Study Area. 
(c) BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.—The Study 
Area shall be comprised of the counties of Trumbull, 
Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga,
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Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ash-
land in Ohio. 
Passed the House of Representatives March 14, 
2005. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.