SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Buffalo Bayou Na-
tional 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 sophisti-
cated 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 pres-
ervation and promotion of the significance of the
Buffalo Bayou as a system for transportation, in-
dustry, 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 development of programs and projects, in co-
operation with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc.,
the State of Texas, and other local and govern-
mental entities, to adequately conserve, protect, and
interpret this heritage for future generations, while
providing opportunities for education and revitaliza-
tion.
(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
establishing 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 na-
tional story;
(C) provides outstanding opportunities to
conserve natural, 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 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 dem-
onstrated 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 herit-
age 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 ‘‘Buf-
falo 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 Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
a report describing the results of the study.
Passed the House of Representatives October 30,
2001.
Attest:
Clerk.