IB 
Union Calendar No. 515 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2991 
[Report No. 115–670] 
To establish the Susquehanna National Heritage Area in the State of 
Pennsylvania, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 21, 2017 
Mr. SMUCKER (for himself, Mr. MEEHAN, and Mr. PERRY) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
MAY 11, 2018 
Additional sponsors: Mr. DENT, Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, Mr. MARINO, 
Mr. BARLETTA, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. THOMPSON of 
Pennsylvania, Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, 
Mr. ROTHFUS, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. DENHAM, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of 
Illinois, Mr. MACARTHUR, and Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania 
MAY 11, 2018 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 21, 2017] 
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A BILL 
To establish the Susquehanna National Heritage Area in 
the State of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes. 
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(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Heritage Area shall include 
Lancaster and York Counties, Pennsylvania. 
SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY. 
(a) LOCAL
COORDINATING
ENTITY.—The Susque-
hanna Heritage Corporation, a nonprofit organization es-
tablished under the laws of the State, shall be the local co-
ordinating entity for the Heritage Area. 
(b) AUTHORITIES
OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTI-
TY.—The local coordinating entity may, for purposes of 
preparing and implementing the management plan— 
(1) prepare reports, studies, interpretive exhibits 
and programs, historic preservation projects, and 
other activities recommended in the management plan 
for the Heritage Area; 
(2) make grants to the State, political subdivi-
sions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other 
persons; 
(3) enter into cooperative agreements with the 
State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit or-
ganizations, and other organizations; 
(4) hire and compensate staff; 
(5) obtain funds or services from any source, in-
cluding funds and services provided under any Fed-
eral program or law, in which case the Federal share 
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of the cost of any activity carried out using Federal 
funds shall not be more than 50 percent; and 
(6) to contract for goods and services. 
(c) DUTIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—To 
further the purposes of the Heritage Area, the local coordi-
nating entity shall— 
(1) prepare a management plan for the Heritage 
Area in accordance with section 5; 
(2) give priority to the implementation of ac-
tions, goals, and strategies set forth in the manage-
ment plan, including assisting units of government 
and other persons in— 
(A) carrying out programs and projects 
that recognize and protect important resource 
values in the Heritage Area; 
(B) encouraging economic viability in the 
Heritage Area in accordance with the goals of 
the management plan; 
(C) establishing and maintaining interpre-
tive exhibits in the Heritage Area; 
(D) developing heritage-based recreational 
and educational opportunities for residents and 
visitors in the Heritage Area; 
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(E) increasing public awareness of and ap-
preciation for the natural, historic, and cultural 
resources of the Heritage Area; 
(F) restoring historic buildings that are— 
(i) located in the Heritage Area; and 
(ii) related to the themes of the Herit-
age Area; and 
(G) installing throughout the Heritage Area 
clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identi-
fying public access points and sites of interest; 
(3) consider the interests of diverse units of gov-
ernment, businesses, tourism officials, private prop-
erty owners, and nonprofit groups within the Herit-
age Area in developing and implementing the man-
agement plan; 
(4) conduct public meetings at least semiannu-
ally regarding the development and implementation 
of the management plan; and 
(5) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds 
are expended for the Heritage Area— 
(A) submit to the Secretary an annual re-
port that describes— 
(i) the accomplishments of the local co-
ordinating entity; 
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(ii) the expenses and income of the 
local coordinating entity; and 
(iii) the entities to which the local co-
ordinating entity made any grants; 
(B) make available for audit all records re-
lating to the expenditure of the Federal funds 
and any matching funds; and 
(C) require, with respect to all agreements 
authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by 
other organizations, that the receiving organiza-
tions make available for audit all records relat-
ing to the expenditure of the Federal funds. 
(d) PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF REAL PROP-
ERTY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The local coordinating entity 
shall not use Federal funds to acquire real property 
or any interest in real property. 
(2) OTHER SOURCES.—Nothing in this Act pre-
cludes the local coordinating entity from using funds 
from other sources for authorized purposes, including 
the acquisition of real property or any interest in real 
property. 
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date on which funds are first made available to carry out 
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this Act, the local coordinating entity shall prepare and 
submit to the Secretary a management plan for the Herit-
age Area. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The management plan for the Herit-
age Area shall— 
(1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, 
and recommendations for the conservation, funding, 
management, and development of the Heritage Area; 
(2) include a description of actions and commit-
ments that governments, private organizations, and 
citizens will take to protect, enhance, and interpret 
the natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources of 
the Heritage Area; 
(3) describe a program of implementation for the 
management plan that includes— 
(A) performance goals and ongoing per-
formance evaluation; 
(B) plans for resource protection, enhance-
ment and interpretation; and 
(C) specific commitments for implementa-
tion that have been made by the local coordi-
nating entity or any government, organization, 
business or individual; 
(4) include an interpretative plan for the Herit-
age Area; 
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(5) take into consideration existing State, coun-
ty, and local plans; 
(6) specify the existing and potential sources of 
funding to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage 
Area; 
(7) include an inventory of the natural, historic, 
cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational re-
sources of the Heritage Area relating to the themes of 
the Heritage Area that should be preserved, restored, 
managed, developed, or maintained; and 
(8) include an analysis of, and recommendations 
for, ways in which Federal, State, and local pro-
grams, may best be coordinated to further the pur-
poses of this Act, including recommendations for the 
role of the National Park Service in the Heritage 
Area. 
(c) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT 
PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which the local coordinating entity sub-
mits the management plan to the Secretary, the Sec-
retary shall approve or disapprove the proposed man-
agement plan. 
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(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining whether 
to approve or disapprove the management plan, the 
Secretary shall consider whether— 
(A) the local coordinating entity is rep-
resentative of the diverse interests of the Heritage 
Area, including governments, natural and his-
toric resource protection organizations, edu-
cational institutions, businesses, and recreational 
organizations; 
(B) the local coordinating entity has pro-
vided adequate opportunities (including public 
meetings) for public and governmental involve-
ment in the preparation of the management 
plan; 
(C) the resource protection and interpreta-
tion strategies contained in the management 
plan, if implemented, would adequately protect 
the natural, historic, and cultural resources of 
the Heritage Area; and 
(D) the management plan is supported by 
the appropriate State and local officials, the co-
operation of which is needed to ensure the effec-
tive implementation of the State and local as-
pects of the management plan. 
(3) DISAPPROVAL AND REVISIONS.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—If the Secretary dis-
approves a proposed management plan, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(i) advise the local coordinating entity, 
in writing, of the reasons for the dis-
approval; and 
(ii) make recommendations for revision 
of the proposed management plan. 
(B) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.—The Sec-
retary shall approve or disapprove a revised 
management plan not later than 180 days after 
the date on which the revised management plan 
is submitted. 
(d) APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS.—The Secretary shall 
review and approve or disapprove substantial amendments 
to the management plan in accordance with subsection (c). 
SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act affects the au-
thority of a Federal agency to provide technical or financial 
assistance under any other law. 
(b) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—The head of 
any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may 
have an impact on the Heritage Area is encouraged to con-
sult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and 
the local coordinating entity to the extent practicable. 
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(c) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Nothing in this 
Act— 
(1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regu-
lation authorizing a Federal agency to manage Fed-
eral land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency; 
(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land man-
ager to implement an approved land use plan within 
the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or 
(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized 
use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Fed-
eral agency. 
SEC. 7. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTEC-
TIONS. 
Nothing in this Act— 
(1) abridges the rights of any property owner 
(whether public or private), including the right to re-
frain from participating in any plan, project, pro-
gram, or activity conducted within the Heritage Area; 
(2) requires any property owner to permit public 
access (including access by Federal, State, or local 
agencies) to the property of the property owner, or to 
modify public access or use of property of the prop-
erty owner under any other Federal, State, or local 
law; 
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(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, 
approved land use plan, or other regulatory authority 
of any Federal, State, or local agency, or conveys any 
land use or other regulatory authority to the local co-
ordinating entity; 
(4) authorizes or implies the reservation or ap-
propriation of water or water rights; 
(5) affects the licensing or relicensing of facilities 
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission within 
the proposed Heritage Area or upstream or down-
stream from the proposed Heritage Area on the Sus-
quehanna River, including FERC Project No. 405- 
104; 
(6) diminishes the authority of the State to man-
age fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fish-
ing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or 
(7) creates any liability, or affects any liability 
under any other law, of any private property owner 
with respect to any person injured on the private 
property. 
SEC. 8. EVALUATION; REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the ap-
proval of the management plan under section 5(c), the Sec-
retary shall— 
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(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplish-
ments of the Heritage Area; and 
(2) prepare a report in accordance with sub-
section (c). 
(b) EVALUATION.—An evaluation conducted under 
subsection (a)(1) shall— 
(1) assess the progress of the local coordinating 
entity with respect to— 
(A) accomplishing the purposes of this Act 
for the Heritage Area; and 
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of the 
approved management plan for the Heritage 
Area; 
(2) analyze the Federal, State, local, and private 
investments in the Heritage Area to determine the le-
verage and impact of the investments; and 
(3) review the management structure, partner-
ship relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area 
for purposes of identifying the critical components for 
sustainability of the Heritage Area. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the evaluation con-
ducted under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall 
prepare a report that includes recommendations for 
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the future role of the National Park Service, if any, 
with respect to the Heritage Area. 
(2) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—On completion 
of the report, the Secretary shall submit the report 
to— 
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 
The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance 
under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
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Union Calendar No. 515 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2991 
[Report No. 115–670] 
A BILL 
To establish the Susquehanna National Heritage 
Area in the State of Pennsylvania, and for other 
purposes. 
MAY 11, 2018 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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