391 
(4) recommend policies and strategies for re-
source management that consider and detail the ap-
plication of appropriate land and water management 
techniques, including the development of intergov-
ernmental and interagency cooperative agreements 
to protect the natural, historical, cultural, edu-
cational, scenic, and recreational resources of the 
National Heritage Area. 
(c) DEADLINE.—If a proposed management plan is 
not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the local coordi-
nating entity shall be ineligible to receive additional fund-
ing under this title until the date that the Secretary re-
ceives and approves the management plan. 
(d) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT 
PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of receipt of the management plan 
under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation 
with the State, shall approve or disapprove the man-
agement plan. 
(2) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—In determining 
whether to approve the management plan, the Sec-
retary shall consider whether—
392 
(A) the local coordinating entity is rep-
resentative of the diverse interests of the Na-
tional Heritage Area; 
(B) the local coordinating entity has af-
forded adequate opportunity, including public 
hearings, for public and governmental involve-
ment in the preparation of the management 
plan; and 
(C) the resource protection and interpreta-
tion strategies contained in the management 
plan, if implemented, would adequately protect 
the natural, historical, and cultural resources of 
the National Heritage Area. 
(3) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL.—If the 
Secretary disapproves the management plan under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
(A) advise the local coordinating entity in 
writing of the reasons for the disapproval; 
(B) make recommendations for revisions to 
the management plan; and 
(C) not later than 180 days after the re-
ceipt of any proposed revision of the manage-
ment plan from the local coordinating entity, 
approve or disapprove the proposed revision. 
(4) AMENDMENTS.—
393 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
prove or disapprove each amendment to the 
management plan that the Secretary determines 
make a substantial change to the management 
plan. 
(B) USE
OF
FUNDS.—The local coordi-
nating entity shall not use Federal funds au-
thorized by this title to carry out any amend-
ments to the management plan until the Sec-
retary has approved the amendments. 
SEC. 2206. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this title affects the 
authority of a Federal agency to provide technical or fi-
nancial 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 National Heritage Area is en-
couraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the 
Secretary and the local coordinating entity to the max-
imum extent practicable. 
(c) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Nothing in this 
title— 
(1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regu-
lation authorizing a Federal agency to manage Fed-
394 
eral land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agen-
cy; 
(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land man-
ager to implement an approved land use plan within 
the boundaries of the National Heritage Area; or 
(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized 
use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Fed-
eral agency. 
SEC. 2207. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTEC-
TIONS. 
Nothing in this title— 
(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 National Her-
itage Area; 
(2) requires any property owner— 
(A) to permit public access (including ac-
cess by Federal or State agencies) to the prop-
erty of the property owner; or 
(B) to modify public access or use of prop-
erty of the property owner under any other 
Federal or State law;
395 
(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, 
approved land use plan, or other regulatory author-
ity of any Federal or State agency; 
(4) conveys any land use or other regulatory 
authority to the local coordinating entity; 
(5) authorizes or implies the reservation or ap-
propriation of water or water rights; 
(6) enlarges or diminishes the treaty rights of 
any Indian Tribe within the National Heritage Area; 
(7) diminishes— 
(A) the authority of the State to manage 
fish and wildlife, including the regulation of 
fishing and hunting within the National Herit-
age Area; or 
(B) the authority of Indian Tribes to regu-
late members of Indian Tribes with respect to 
fishing, hunting, and gathering in the exercise 
of treaty rights; or 
(8) 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.
396 
SEC. 2208. EVALUATION AND REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years before the 
date on which authority for Federal funding terminates 
for the National Heritage Area, the Secretary shall— 
(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplish-
ments of the National 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 the au-
thorizing legislation for the National Heritage 
Area; and 
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of 
the approved management plan for the National 
Heritage Area; 
(2) analyze the Federal, State, and private in-
vestments in the National Heritage Area to deter-
mine the impact of the investments; and 
(3) review the management structure, partner-
ship relationships, and funding of the National Her-
itage Area for purposes of identifying the critical 
components for sustainability of the National Herit-
age Area.
397 
(c) REPORT.—Based on the evaluation conducted 
under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives a report that includes recommendations 
for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, 
with respect to the National Heritage Area. 
SEC. 2209. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this title $10,000,000, of which not 
more than $1,000,000 may be made available for any fis-
cal year. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available under 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. 
(c) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 
total cost of any activity under this title shall be not 
more than 50 percent. 
(2) FORM.—The non-Federal contribution of 
the total cost of any activity under this title may be 
in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or serv-
ices fairly valued.
398 
SEC. 2210. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 
The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance 
under this title terminates on the date that is 15 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
TITLE 
XXIII—ADDITIONS 
TO 
ROUGH MOUNTAIN AND RICH 
HOLE WILDERNESSES 
SEC. 2301. ADDITIONS TO ROUGH MOUNTAIN AND RICH 
HOLE WILDERNESSES. 
(a) ROUGH MOUNTAIN ADDITION.—Section 1 of 
Public Law 100–326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 
584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(21) ROUGH
MOUNTAIN
ADDITION.—Certain 
land in the George Washington National Forest 
comprising approximately 1,000 acres, as generally 
depicted as the ‘Rough Mountain Addition’ on the 
map entitled ‘GEORGE WASHINGTON NA-
TIONAL FOREST – South half – Alternative I – 
Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions – 
Land and Resources Management Plan Final Envi-
ronmental Impact Statement’ and dated March 4, 
2014, which is incorporated in the Rough Mountain 
Wilderness Area designated by paragraph (1).’’. 
(b) RICH HOLE ADDITION.—
399 
(1) POTENTIAL WILDERNESS DESIGNATION.— 
In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land in the George 
Washington National Forest comprising approxi-
mately 4,600 acres, as generally depicted as the 
‘‘Rich 
Hole 
Addition’’ 
on 
the 
map 
entitled 
‘‘GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST 
– South half – Alternative I – Selected Alternative 
Management Prescriptions – Land and Resources 
Management Plan Final Environmental Impact 
Statement’’ and dated March 4, 2014, is designated 
as a potential wilderness area for incorporation in 
the Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by section 
1(2) of Public Law 100–326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 
102 Stat. 584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002). 
(2) WILDERNESS DESIGNATION.—The potential 
wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) shall be 
designated as wilderness and incorporated in the 
Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by section 
1(2) of Public Law 100–326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 
102 Stat. 584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002) on 
the earlier of— 
(A) the date on which the Secretary pub-
lishes in the Federal Register notice that the
400 
activities permitted under paragraph (4) have 
been completed; or 
(B) the date that is 5 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(3) MANAGEMENT.—Except as provided in 
paragraph (4), the Secretary shall manage the po-
tential wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) 
in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1131 et seq.). 
(4) WATER
QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—To enhance natural 
ecosystems within the potential wilderness area 
designated by paragraph (1) by implementing 
certain activities to improve water quality and 
aquatic passage, as set forth in the Forest 
Service document entitled ‘‘Decision Notice for 
the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Man-
agement Project’’ and dated December 2015, 
the Secretary may use motorized equipment 
and mechanized transport in the potential wil-
derness area until the date on which the poten-
tial wilderness area is incorporated into the 
Rich Hole Wilderness Area under paragraph 
(2).
401 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—In carrying out sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary, to the maximum 
extent practicable, shall use the minimum tool 
or administrative practice necessary to carry 
out that subparagraph with the least amount of 
adverse impact on wilderness character and re-
sources. 
TITLE 
XXIV—AGENCY 
REPORT 
ON DEPARTMENT OF THE IN-
TERIOR 
SPECIAL 
RECRE-
ATION PERMITS BENEFITS TO 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
JUSTICE 
COMMUNITIES 
SEC. 2401. AGENCY REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF THE IN-
TERIOR SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS BEN-
EFITS TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMU-
NITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years following 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a 
report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources of the Senate on the following: 
(1) Estimated use of Department of the Inte-
rior special recreation permits by recreation service 
providers serving environmental justice communities.
402 
(2) Any national, regional, State, local, or site- 
specific policies that facilitate public lands access for 
recreational service providers serving environmental 
justice communities. 
(3) Any case studies that may provide illus-
trative examples of how Department of the Interior 
special recreation permits, partnerships, or coopera-
tive agreements are being effectively used by land 
managers for the purposes of providing public lands 
access to recreation service providers serving envi-
ronmental justice communities. 
(4) Identification of any barriers to public lands 
access for recreation service providers serving envi-
ronmental justice communities. 
(5) Any recommendations for agency policy, or 
if necessary, action by Congress to encourage and 
simplify public lands access for recreational service 
providers serving environmental justice communities. 
(b) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION BY SPECIAL RECRE-
ATION PROVIDERS.—The Secretary— 
(1) shall contact all current or prospective spe-
cial recreation providers to request a voluntary esti-
mation of how many user days are used by individ-
uals from environmental justice communities;
403 
(2) shall request from recreational service pro-
viders and interested members of the public any 
other information that supports the reporting re-
quirements in subsection (a); and 
(3) shall not use participation or information 
provided as a condition in approving or rejecting a 
Department of the Interior special recreation permit. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this title: 
(1) The term ‘‘environmental justice commu-
nity’’ means a community with significant represen-
tation of communities of color, low-income commu-
nities, or Tribal and indigenous communities, that 
experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or 
more adverse human health or environmental effects 
than other communities. 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
TITLE XXV—RENEWABLE 
ENERGY INPUTS ACCESS STUDY 
SEC. 2501. STUDY. 
The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Energy and Secretary of Commerce, shall 
conduct a study to determine whether the acreage to be 
withdrawn under this Act contains geothermal resources,