I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1891
To provide for the establishment of the Ohio River Corridor Study
Commission, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 20, 1995
Mr. HAMILTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of the Ohio River Corridor
Study Commission, 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 ‘‘Ohio River Corridor
Study Commission Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The amenities and resources of the Ohio
River, which flows through six States from its head-
waters in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to its
confluence with the Mississippi River and comprises
a chain of commercial, industrial, historical, archae-
ological, natural, recreational, scenic, wildlife, urban,
rural, cultural, and economic areas, are of major
significance and importance to the Nation.
(2) The national interest is served by—
(A) preserving, protecting, and improving
such amenities and resources for the benefit of
the people of the United States; and
(B) improving the coordination between all
levels of government in the Ohio River Corridor.
(3) The preservation, protection, and improve-
ment of such amenities and resources are failing to
be fully realized despite efforts by the States
through which the Ohio flows, political subdivisions
of such States, and volunteer associations and pri-
vate businesses in such States.
(4) Existing Federal agency programs are offer-
ing insufficient coordination to State and local plan-
ning and regulatory authorities to provide for re-
source management and economic development in a
manner that is consistent with the protection and
public use of the Corridor’s amenities and resources.
(5) The national Government should assist in
the coordination, preservation, and interpretation ac-
tivities of public and private entities with respect to
the significant amenities and resources associated
with the Ohio River.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to—
(1) focus attention on the unique and nationally
significant resources of the Ohio River Corridor;
(2) provide a means and a stimulus for coordi-
nating the preservation, protection, improvement,
enjoyment, and utilization of the resources of the
Ohio River Corridor; and
(3) establish a national entity to gather, assess,
and disseminate information on the historic, eco-
nomic, natural, recreational, scenic, and cultural
opportunities in the Ohio River Corridor.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Ohio
River Corridor Study Commission established by sec-
tion 4.
(2) The terms ‘‘Ohio River Corridor’’ and ‘‘Cor-
ridor’’ mean the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Penn-
sylvania, to Cairo, Illinois, and an area extending
from the river’s edge to the landward boundary of
each county along its designated length.
(3) The term ‘‘Ohio River State’’ means any of
the States of Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West
Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Ohio River Corridor Study Commission.
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall study and make
recommendations regarding—
(1) the feasibility of establishing an Ohio River
National Heritage Corridor for the Ohio River Cor-
ridor; and
(2) the preservation, protection, improvement,
enjoyment, and utilization of the historic, economic,
natural, recreational, scenic, and cultural resources
of the Corridor consistent with the purposes of this
Act.
(b) INFORMATION COLLECTION; CONSULTATION.—
As part of the study conducted under subsection (a), the
Commission shall—
(1) assess the preservation, protection, improve-
ment, enjoyment, and utilization potential of the his-
toric, economic, natural, recreational, scenic, and
cultural resources of the Corridor;
(2) collect information dealing with ongoing ac-
tivities, management plans, and opportunities re-
garding historic, economic, natural, recreational, sce-
nic, and cultural resources in the Corridor;
(3) make such information available to Federal
agencies, States, and political subdivisions thereof,
tribal governments, educational institutions, volun-
teer associations, and private businesses to assist
such entities in undertaking activities to preserve,
protect, improve, or utilize the historic, economic,
natural, recreational, scenic, or cultural resources of
the Corridor;
(4) consult with the Ohio River Valley Water
Sanitation Commission and the Ohio River Basin
Commission, and cooperate with the commissions
and such associations in the performance of its
duties;
(5) provide a forum for the consideration of
resource issues relating to the Corridor;
(6) seek and encourage the participation of af-
fected State and local governments, interested citi-
zens, public officials, groups, agencies, educational
institutions, and others in the preservation, protec-
tion, improvement, enjoyment, and utilization of the
Corridor’s resources;
(7) recommend methods and means for educat-
ing the general population about the national impor-
tance and value of the Ohio River as a natural
resource and national treasure; and
(8) make the Commission accessible to such
groups, agencies, and citizens by holding at least one
well-publicized public hearing in every State within
the Corridor.
(c) REPORT.—The Commission shall prepare a re-
port—
(1) specifying the results of the study con-
ducted under subsection (a); and
(2) containing—
(A) a description of the Ohio River Cor-
ridor and the proposed boundaries of an Ohio
River National Heritage Corridor (if so rec-
ommended) showing the corridor and such
zones as may be appropriate;
(B) an inventory and assessment of the
historic, economic, natural, recreational, scenic,
and cultural resources of the Corridor;
(C) specific preservation and interpretation
goals;
(D) 
proposed 
management 
strategies
whereby the funds, data, personnel, and au-
be first appointed not later than 45 days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment
is made.
(d) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall be
appointed for the life of the Commission.
(e) PAY.—Members of the Commission shall serve
without pay.
(f) REIMBURSEMENT
OF EXPENSES.—While away
from their homes or regular places of business in the per-
formance of services for the Commission, members of the
Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including a
per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, in the same
manner as persons employed intermittently in Government
service are allowed travel expenses under section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code.
(g) QUORUM.—(1) Seven members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
members may hold hearings.
(2) A member of the Commission may vote by means
of a signed proxy exercised by another member of the
Commission, but any member so voting shall not be con-
sidered present for purposes of establishing a quorum.
(h) CHAIRPERSON.—As the first item of business at
the first meeting of the Commission, the members of the
Commission shall elect a chairperson of the Commission
from among the members appointed under subsection
(a)(6).
(i) MEETINGS.—(1) The Commission shall meet at
the call of the chairperson or a majority of the members.
(2) Not later than 30 days after the members of the
Commission are first appointed, the Commission shall hold
its first meeting.
(3) The Director of the National Park Service (or
designee) shall select the date of the first meeting and
shall serve as chairperson until the election of the chair-
person under subsection (h).
(j) TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.—With the advice and
consent of the Commission members, the chairperson may
appoint a technical committee with representation from
the various interest groups, professional agencies, or advo-
cacy groups within the Ohio River States with each State
having at least one member.
(k) WAIVER.—The provisions of section 14(b) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) are here-
by waived with respect to the Commission.
SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULT-
ANTS; PERSONNEL OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) LEAD AGENCY.—The National Park Service
shall, if personnel are available, staff and advise the Com-
mission.
(b) STAFF.—The Commission, if National Park Serv-
ice personnel are not available, with advice from the Direc-
tor of the National Park Service (or designee), may ap-
point and fix the pay of such staff as the Commission con-
siders appropriate, subject to—
(1) the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service; and
(2) the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classifica-
tion and General Schedule pay rates.
(c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission,
with advice from the Director of the National Park Service
(or designee), may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States
Code.
(d) PERSONNEL OF STATES AND POLITICAL SUB-
DIVISIONS.—The Commission may—
(1) accept the services of personnel detailed
from an Ohio River State or a political subdivision
thereof; and
(2) reimburse such State or such subdivision
for such services.
(e) PERSONNEL OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—On an as
needed basis, at the request of the Commission, with the
advice of the Director of the National Park Service (or
designee), the head of any Federal agency may detail, on
a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency
to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying
out its duties under this Act.
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—For the purpose of
carrying out this Act, the Commission may hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
considers appropriate.
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may, if so authorized by
the Commission, take any action which the Commission
is authorized to take by this section.
(c) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other departments and agencies of the United
States.
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Ad-
ministrator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission on a reimbursable basis such administrative sup-
port services as the Commission may request.
SEC. 9. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS.
(a) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than two years
after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit to the President, the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate,
and the Governor of each Ohio River State a report de-
scribing the progress of the Commission in carrying out
the duties of the Commission under section 5.
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than three years after
the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the Com-
mission shall submit to the President, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, the President of the Senate,
and the Governor of each Ohio River State the report
required by section 5(c).
SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
Notwithstanding section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Ad-
visory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Commission
shall cease to exist 90 days after submitting the report
required by section 5(c) and submitted under section 9(b).
SEC. 11. CONSENT TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSED COMPACTS.
The Congress hereby consents to the negotiation by
any State referred to in section 3 with one or more of
any other such State of proposed interstate agreements
or compacts among such States in furtherance of the pur-
poses of this Act or the study referred to in section 5 or
any material component thereof.
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Park Service to for the Commission to carry out
this Act $500,000, to be available until expended in the
course of the three years in which the Commission is in
existence.
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