H. R. 1776
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two
An Act
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility
of establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in west Houston, Texas.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Buffalo Bayou National Heritage
Area Study Act’’.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING BUFFALO
BAYOU, TEXAS.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The area beginning at Shepherd Drive in west Houston,
Texas, and extending to the Turning Basin, commonly referred
to as the ‘‘Buffalo Bayou’’, made a unique contribution to the
cultural, political, and industrial development of the United
States.
(2) The Buffalo Bayou is distinctive as the first spine of
modern industrial development in Texas and one of the first
along the Gulf of Mexico coast.
(3) The Buffalo Bayou played a significant role in the
struggle for Texas independence.
(4) The Buffalo Bayou developed a prosperous and produc-
tive shipping industry that survives today.
(5) The Buffalo Bayou led in the development of Texas’
petrochemical industry that made Houston the center of the
early oil boom in America.
(6) The Buffalo Bayou developed a sophisticated shipping
system, leading to the formation of the modern day Houston
Ship Channel.
(7) The Buffalo Bayou developed a significant industrial
base, and served as the focal point for the new city of Houston.
(8) There is a longstanding commitment by the Buffalo
Bayou Partnership, Inc., to complete the Buffalo Bayou Trail
along the 12-mile segment of the Buffalo Bayou.
(9) There is a need for assistance for the preservation
and promotion of the significance of the Buffalo Bayou as
a system for transportation, industry, commerce, and immigra-
tion.
(10) The Department of the Interior is responsible for pro-
tecting the Nation’s cultural and historical resources. There
are significant examples of such resources within the Buffalo
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Bayou region to merit the involvement of the Federal Govern-
ment in the development of programs and projects, in coopera-
tion with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc., the State of
Texas, and other local and governmental entities, to adequately
conserve, protect, and interpret this heritage for future genera-
tions, while providing opportunities for education and revital-
ization.
(b) STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in consultation with
the State of Texas, the City of Houston, and other appropriate
organizations, carry out a study regarding the suitability and
feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage
Area in Houston, Texas.
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include analysis and docu-
mentation regarding whether the Study Area—
(A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural
resources that together represent distinctive aspects of
American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation,
interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed
through partnerships among public and private entities
and by combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous
resources and active communities;
(B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife
that are a valuable part of the national story;
(C) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve nat-
ural, historic, cultural, or scenic features;
(D) provides outstanding recreational and educational
opportunities;
(E) contains resources important to the identified
theme or themes of the Study Area that retain a degree
of integrity capable of supporting interpretation;
(F) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and local and State governments that are
involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual
financial plan that outlines the roles for all participants,
including the Federal Government, and have demonstrated
support for the concept of a national heritage area;
(G) has a potential management entity to work in
partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and local and State governments to develop
a national heritage area consistent with continued local
and State economic activity; and
(H) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported
by the public.
(c) BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.—The Study Area shall
be comprised of sites in Houston, Texas, in an area roughly bounded
by Shepherd Drive and extending to the Turning Basin, commonly
referred to as the ‘‘Buffalo Bayou’’.
(d) SUBMISSION OF STUDY RESULTS.—Not later than 3 years
after funds are first made available for this section, the Secretary
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shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate a report describing the results of the study.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.