I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5853 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess 
the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land as the Great 
Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2020 
Mr. MCEACHIN (for himself, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. MURPHY of North Caro-
lina, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, and Mrs. LURIA) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
study to assess the suitability and feasibility of desig-
nating certain land as the Great Dismal Swamp 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 ‘‘Great Dismal Swamp 
National Heritage Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) HERITAGE
AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage 
Area’’ means the Great Dismal Swamp National 
Heritage Area. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) STATES.—The term ‘‘States’’ means the 
States of Virginia and North Carolina. 
(4) STUDY
AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 
means— 
(A) the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, 
Portsmouth, and Suffolk in the State of Vir-
ginia; 
(B) Isle of Wight County in the State of 
Virginia; 
(C) 
Camden, 
Currituck, 
Gates, 
and 
Pasquotank counties in the State of North 
Carolina; and 
(D) any other areas in the States that— 
(i) have heritage aspects that are 
similar to the areas described in subpara-
graphs (A), (B), or (C); and 
(ii) are adjacent to, or in the vicinity 
of, those areas. 
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SEC. 3. STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with State and local organizations and governmental agen-
cies, Tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and 
other appropriate entities, shall conduct a study to assess 
the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area 
as a National Heritage Area, to be known as the ‘‘Great 
Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The study shall include anal-
ysis, documentation, and determinations on whether the 
study area— 
(1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and 
cultural resources that— 
(A) represent distinctive aspects of the 
people and cultures of the United States; 
(B) are worthy of recognition, conserva-
tion, interpretation, and continuing use; and 
(C) would be best managed— 
(i) through partnerships among public 
and private entities; and 
(ii) by linking diverse and sometimes 
noncontiguous resources and active com-
munities; 
(2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and 
folklife that are a valuable part of the story of the 
United States; 
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(3) provides outstanding opportunities— 
(A) to conserve natural, historic, cultural, 
or scenic features; and 
(B) for recreation and education; 
(4) contains resources that— 
(A) are important to any identified themes 
of the study area; and 
(B) retain a degree of integrity capable of 
supporting interpretation; 
(5) includes residents, business interests, non-
profit organizations, and State, local, and Tribal 
governments, and other appropriate entities that— 
(A) are involved in the planning of the 
Heritage Area; 
(B) have developed a conceptual financial 
plan that outlines the roles of all participants in 
the Heritage Area, including the Federal Gov-
ernment; and 
(C) have demonstrated support for the des-
ignation of the Heritage Area; 
(6) has a potential management entity to work 
in partnership with the individuals and entities de-
scribed in paragraph (5) to develop the Heritage 
Area while encouraging State and local economic ac-
tivity; and 
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(7) has a conceptual boundary map that is sup-
ported by the public. 
SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds 
are first made available to carry out this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
a report that describes— 
(1) the findings of the study under section 3; 
and 
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 
Secretary. 
Æ 
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