IB
Union Calendar No. 156
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1776
[Report No. 107–256]
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasi-
bility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in west
Houston, Texas.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 9, 2001
Mr. GREEN of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
OCTOBER 30, 2001
Additional sponsors: Mr. BENTSEN, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, and Mr.
LAMPSON
OCTOBER 30, 2001
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 May 9, 2001]
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suit-
ability and feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou
National Heritage Area in west Houston, Texas.
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 ‘‘Buffalo Bayou National
Heritage Area Study Act’’.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING BUF-
FALO 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 productive 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 mod-
ern 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 Buf-
falo Bayou Trail along the 12-mile segment of the
Buffalo Bayou.
(9) There is a need for assistance for the preser-
vation and promotion of the significance of the Buf-
falo Bayou as a system for transportation, industry,
commerce, and immigration.
(10) The Department of the Interior is respon-
sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and histor-
ical resources. There are significant examples of such
resources within the Buffalo Bayou region to merit
the involvement of the Federal Government in the de-
velopment of programs and projects, in cooperation
with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc., the State
of Texas, and other local and governmental entities,
to adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this her-
itage for future generations, while providing opportu-
nities for education and revitalization.
(b) STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con-
sultation with the State of Texas, the City of Hous-
ton, and other appropriate organizations, carry out a
study regarding the suitability and feasibility of es-
tablishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area
in Houston, Texas.
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include anal-
ysis and documentation 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 non-
contiguous 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 natural, historic, cultural, or scenic fea-
tures;
(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 sup-
porting 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 in-
terests, 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 shall submit to the Committee on Resources
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describ-
ing the results of the study.
Union Calendar No. 156
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1776
[Report No. 107–256]
A BILL
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.
OCTOBER 30, 2001
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed