I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1188
To provide for the preservation of the coal mining heritage of southern
West Virginia, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 9, 1995
Mr. RAHALL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To provide for the preservation of the coal mining heritage
of southern West Virginia, 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 ‘‘National Coal Heritage
Area Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that:
(1) Certain events that led to the development
of southern West Virginia’s coalfields during the lat-
ter part of the 19th Century and the early part of
HR 1188 IH
the current century are of national historic and cul-
tural significance in terms of their contribution to
the industrialization of the United States, the orga-
nization of workers into trade unions and the unique
culture of the Appalachian Region.
(2) It is in the national interest to preserve and
protect physical remnants of this era for the edu-
cation and benefit of present and future generations.
(3) There is a need to provide assistance for the
preservation and promotion of those vestiges of
southern West Virginia’s coal heritage which have
outstanding cultural, historic, and architectural val-
ues.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
(A) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of preserving
and interpreting for the educational and inspirational ben-
efit of present and future generations certain lands and
structures with unique and significant historic and cul-
tural values associated with the coal mining heritage of
the State of West Virginia and the Nation there is hereby
established the National Coal Heritage Area (hereinafter
in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Area’’).
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Area shall be comprised of
the counties in the State of West Virginia that are the
subject of the study by the National Park Service, dated
HR 1188 IH
1993, entitled ‘‘A Coal Mining Heritage Study: Southern
West Virginia’’ conducted pursuant to title VI of Public
Law 100–699
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The Area shall be adminis-
tered in accordance with this Act.
SEC. 4. CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT.
The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to
as the ‘‘Secretary’’) is authorized to enter into a contrac-
tual agreement with the Governor of the State of West
Virginia, acting through the Division of Culture and His-
tory and the Division of Tourism and Parks, pursuant to
which the Secretary shall assist the State of West Vir-
ginia, its units of local government, and non-profit organi-
zations in each of the following:
(1) The development and implementation of in-
tegrated cultural, historical, and land resource man-
agement policies and programs in order to retain,
enhance, and interpret the significant values of the
lands, waters, and structures of the Area.
(2) The preservation, restoration, maintenance,
operation, interpretation, and promotion of build-
ings, structures, facilities, sites, and points of inter-
est for public use that possess cultural, historical,
and architectural values associated with the coal
mining heritage of the Area.