owner to permit public access (including Federal, State, 
or local government access) to such private property. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify any provi-
sion of Federal, State, or local law with regard to public 
access to or use of private lands. 
(b) LIABILITY.—Designation of the Heritage Area 
shall not be considered to create any liability, or to have 
any effect on any liability under any other law, of any pri-
vate property owner with respect to any persons injured 
on such private property. 
(c) RECOGNITION OF AUTHORITY TO CONTROL LAND 
USE.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify 
any authority of Federal, State, or local governments to 
regulate land use. 
(d) PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS 
IN HERITAGE AREAS.—Nothing in this Act shall be con-
strued to require the owner of any private property located 
within the boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate 
in or be associated with the Heritage Area. 
(e) LAND USE REGULATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The management entity 
shall provide assistance and encouragement to State 
and local governments, private organizations, and 
persons to protect and promote the resources and 
values of the Heritage Area.
(2) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act— 
(A) affects the authority of the State or 
local governments to regulate under law any use 
of land; or 
(B) grants any power of zoning or land use 
to the management entity. 
(f) PRIVATE PROPERTY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The management entity 
shall be an advocate for land management practices 
consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area. 
(2) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act— 
(A) abridges the rights of any person with 
regard to private property; 
(B) affects the authority of the State or 
local government regarding private property; or 
(C) imposes any additional burden on any 
property owner. 
SEC. 9. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE 
PROPERTY. 
(a) NOTIFICATION
AND CONSENT
OF PROPERTY 
OWNERS REQUIRED.—No privately owned property shall 
be governed by the management plan for the Heritage 
Area until the owner of that private property has been 
notified in writing by the management entity and has
given written consent for such inclusion to the manage-
ment entity. 
(b) LANDOWNER WITHDRAW.—Any owner of private 
property included within the boundary of the Heritage 
Area, and not notified under subsection (a), shall have 
their property immediately removed from the boundary by 
submitting a written request to the management entity. 
SEC. 10. SAVINGS PROVISIONS. 
(a) RULES, REGULATIONS, STANDARDS, AND PER-
MIT PROCESSES.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to impose any environmental, occupational, safety, or 
other rule, regulation, standard, or permit process in the 
Heritage Area that is different from those that would be 
applicable if the Heritage Area had not been established. 
(b) WATER AND WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this 
Act shall be construed to authorize or imply the reserva-
tion or appropriation of water or water rights. 
(c) NO DIMINISHMENT
OF STATE AUTHORITY.— 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the au-
thority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including 
the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage 
Area. 
(d) EXISTING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS.—Noth-
ing in this Act shall affect any national heritage area so 
designated before the date of the enactment of this Act.