I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1862
To establish the Oil Region National Heritage Area. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 29, 2003
Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. ENGLISH, 
Mr. DOYLE, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. MURTHA, Ms. HART, 
Mr. PLATTS, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. GERLACH, 
Mr. FATTAH, Mr. HOLDEN, and Mr. SHERWOOD) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Oil Region National Heritage Area Act’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this Act, the 
following definitions shall apply: 
(1) HERITAGE
AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage 
Area’’ means the Oil Region National Heritage Area 
established in section 3(a).
(2) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The term ‘‘man-
agement entity’’ means the Oil Heritage Region, 
Inc., or its successor entity. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Oil Region of Northwestern Pennsyl-
vania, with numerous sites and districts listed on the 
National Register of Historic Places, and designated 
by the Governor of Pennsylvania as one of the State 
Heritage Park Areas, is a region with tremendous 
physical and natural resources and possesses a story 
of State, national, and international significance. 
(2) The single event of Colonel Edwin Drake’s 
drilling of the world’s first successful oil well in 
1859 has affected the industrial, natural, social, and 
political structures of the modern world. 
(3) Six national historic districts are located 
within the State Heritage Park boundary, in 
Emlenton, Franklin, Oil City, and Titusville, as well 
as 17 separate National Register sites. 
(4) The Allegheny River, which was designated 
as a component of the national wild and scenic riv-
ers system in 1992 by Public Law 102–271, tra-
verses the Oil Region and connects several of its 
major sites, as do some of the river’s tributaries 
such as Oil Creek, French Creek, and Sandy Creek. 
(5) The unspoiled rural character of the Oil Re-
gion provides many natural and recreational re-
sources, scenic vistas, and excellent water quality for 
people throughout the United States to enjoy. 
(6) Remnants of the oil industry, visible on the 
landscape to this day, provide a direct link to the 
past for visitors, as do the historic valley settle-
ments, riverbed settlements, plateau developments, 
farmlands, and industrial landscapes. 
(7) The Oil Region also represents a cross sec-
tion of American history associated with Native 
Americans, frontier settlements, the French and In-
dian War, African Americans and the Underground 
Railroad, and immigration of Swedish and Polish in-
dividuals, among others. 
(8) Involvement by the Federal Government 
shall serve to enhance the efforts of the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania, local subdivisions of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, volunteer organiza-
tions, and private businesses, to promote the cul-
tural, national, and recreational resources of the re-
gion in order to fulfill their full potential.
poration which shall oversee the development of a manage-
ment plan in accordance with section 5(b). 
SEC. 4. COMPACT. 
To carry out the purposes of this Act, the Secretary 
shall enter into a compact with the management entity. 
The compact shall include information relating to the ob-
jectives and management of the area, including a discus-
sion of the goals and objectives of the Heritage Area, in-
cluding an explanation of the proposed approach to con-
servation and interpretation and a general outline of the 
protection measures committed to by the Secretary and 
management entity. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTI-
TY. 
(a) AUTHORITIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—
The management entity may use funds made available 
under this Act for purposes of preparing, updating, and 
implementing the management plan developed under sub-
section (b). Such purposes may include—
(1) making grants to, and entering into cooper-
ative agreements with, States and their political sub-
divisions, private organizations, or any other person;
(2) hiring and compensating staff; and 
(3) undertaking initiatives that advance the 
purposes of the Heritage Area.
(6) recommends policies for resource manage-
ment which consider and detail application of appro-
priate land and water management techniques, in-
cluding, but not limited to, the development of inter-
governmental and interagency cooperative agree-
ments to protect the Heritage Area’s historical, cul-
tural, recreational, and natural resources in a man-
ner consistent with supporting appropriate and com-
patible economic viability; 
(7) describes a program for implementation of 
the management plan by the management entity, in-
cluding plans for restoration and construction, and 
specific commitments for that implementation that 
have been made by the management entity and any 
other persons for the first 5 years of implementa-
tion; 
(8) includes an analysis of ways in which local, 
State, and Federal programs, including the role for 
the National Park Service in the Heritage Area, may 
best be coordinated to promote the purposes of this 
Act; 
(9) lists any revisions to the boundaries of the 
Heritage Area proposed by the management entity 
and requested by the affected local government; and
(10) includes an interpretation plan for the 
Heritage Area. 
(c) DEADLINE; TERMINATION OF FUNDING.—
(1) DEADLINE.—The management entity shall 
submit the management plan to the Secretary within 
2 years after the funds are made available for this 
Act. 
(2) TERMINATION OF FUNDING.—If a manage-
ment plan is not submitted to the Secretary in ac-
cordance with this subsection, the management enti-
ty shall not qualify for Federal assistance under this 
Act. 
(d) DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The man-
agement entity shall—
(1) give priority to implementing actions set 
forth in the compact and management plan; 
(2) assist units of government, regional plan-
ning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in—
(A) establishing and maintaining interpre-
tive exhibits in the Heritage Area; 
(B) developing recreational resources in 
the Heritage Area; 
(C) increasing public awareness of and ap-
preciation for the natural, historical, and archi-
tectural resources and sites in the Heritage 
Area; 
(D) the restoration of any historic building 
relating to the themes of the Heritage Area; 
(E) ensuring that clear, consistent, and en-
vironmentally appropriate signs identifying ac-
cess points and sites of interest are put in place 
throughout the Heritage Area; and 
(F) carrying out other actions that the 
management entity determines to be advisable 
to fulfill the purposes of this Act. 
(3) encourage by appropriate means economic 
viability in the Heritage Area consistent with the 
goals of the management plan; 
(4) consider the interests of diverse govern-
mental, business, and nonprofit groups within the 
Heritage Area; and 
(5) for any year in which Federal funds have 
been provided to implement the management plan 
under subsection (b)—
(A) conduct public meetings at least annu-
ally regarding the implementation of the man-
agement plan;
(B) submit an annual report to the Sec-
retary setting forth accomplishments, expenses
and income, and each person to which any 
grant was made by the management entity in 
the year for which the report is made; and 
(C) require, for all agreements entered into 
by the management entity authorizing expendi-
ture of Federal funds by any other person, that 
the person making the expenditure make avail-
able to the management entity for audit all 
records pertaining to the expenditure of such 
funds. 
(e) PROHIBITION ON THE ACQUISITION OF REAL 
PROPERTY.—The management entity may not use Fed-
eral funds received under this Act to acquire real property 
or an interest in real property. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
(a) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—
(A) OVERALL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may, upon the request of the management enti-
ty, and subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, provide technical and financial assistance 
to the management entity to carry out its du-
ties under this Act, including updating and im-
plementing a management plan that is sub-
mitted under section 5(b) and approved by the
Secretary and, prior to such approval, providing 
assistance for initiatives. 
(B) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—If the Secretary 
has the resources available to provide technical 
assistance to the management entity to carry 
out its duties under this Act (including updat-
ing and implementing a management plan that 
is submitted under section 5(b) and approved 
by the Secretary and, prior to such approval, 
providing assistance for initiatives), upon the 
request of the management entity the Secretary 
shall provide such assistance on a reimbursable 
basis. This subparagraph does not preclude the 
Secretary from providing nonreimbursable as-
sistance under subparagraph (A). 
(2) PRIORITY.—In assisting the management 
entity, the Secretary shall give priority to actions 
that assist in the—
(A) implementation of the management 
plan; 
(B) provision of educational assistance and 
advice regarding land and water management 
techniques to conserve the significant natural 
resources of the region;
(C) development and application of tech-
niques promoting the preservation of cultural 
and historic properties; 
(D) preservation, restoration, and reuse of 
publicly and privately owned historic buildings; 
(E) design and fabrication of a wide range 
of interpretive materials based on the manage-
ment plan, including guide brochures, visitor 
displays, audio-visual and interactive exhibits, 
and educational curriculum materials for public 
education; and 
(F) implementation of initiatives prior to 
approval of the management plan. 
(3) DOCUMENTATION
OF
STRUCTURES.—The 
Secretary, acting through the Historic American 
Building Survey and the Historic American Engi-
neering Record, shall conduct studies necessary to 
document the industrial, engineering, building, and 
architectural history of the Heritage Area. 
(b) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT 
PLANS.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Governor 
of Pennsylvania, shall approve or disapprove a manage-
ment plan submitted under this Act not later than 90 days 
after receiving such plan. In approving the plan, the Sec-
retary shall take into consideration the following criteria:
(1) The extent to which the management plan 
adequately preserves and protects the natural, cul-
tural, and historical resources of the Heritage Area. 
(2) The level of public participation in the de-
velopment of the management plan. 
(3) The extent to which the board of directors 
of the management entity is representative of the 
local government and a wide range of interested or-
ganizations and citizens. 
(c) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL.—If the Sec-
retary disapproves a management plan, the Secretary shall 
advise the management entity in writing of the reasons 
for the disapproval and shall make recommendations for 
revisions in the management plan. The Secretary shall ap-
prove or disapprove a proposed revision within 90 days 
after the date it is submitted. 
(d) APPROVING CHANGES.—The Secretary shall re-
view and approve amendments to the management plan 
under section 5(b) that make substantial changes. Funds 
appropriated under this Act may not be expended to im-
plement such changes until the Secretary approves the 
amendments. 
(e) EFFECT OF INACTION.—If the Secretary does not 
approve or disapprove a management plan, revision, or 
change within 90 days after it is submitted to the Sec-
retary, then such management plan, revision, or change 
shall be deemed to have been approved by the Secretary. 
SEC. 7. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES. 
Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activi-
ties directly affecting the Heritage Area shall—
(1) consult with the Secretary and the manage-
ment entity with respect to such activities; 
(2) cooperate with the Secretary and the man-
agement entity in carrying out their duties under 
this Act and, to the maximum extent practicable, co-
ordinate such activities with the carrying out of such 
duties; and 
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct 
or support such activities in a manner that the man-
agement entity determines shall not have an adverse 
effect on the Heritage Area. 
SEC. 8. SUNSET. 
The Secretary may not make any grant or provide 
any assistance under this Act after the expiration of the 
15-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 9. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES. 
Nothing in this Act shall preclude the management 
entity from using Federal funds available under Acts other
than this Act for the purposes for which those funds were 
authorized. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act—
(1) not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal 
year; and 
(2) not more than a total of $10,000,000. 
(b) 50 PERCENT MATCH.—Financial assistance pro-
vided under this Act may not be used to pay more than 
50 percent of the total cost of any activity carried out with 
that assistance.
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