To reauthorize the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION AND UPDATING AMENDMENTS.

    The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988 
(Public Law 100-692) is updated as follows:
            (1) In section 2, by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) The Corridor contained the only historic system of 
        the Industrial Revolution that integrated anthracite mining and 
        resource extraction, canals and railroads, commerce and heavy 
        industry, and a remarkable number of the historic elements of 
        the system are intact.''.
            (2) In section 4, by striking ``Environmental Resources'' 
        and inserting ``Conservation and Natural Resources''.
            (3) In section 8--
                    (A) in subsection (b), by inserting ``and review 
                and approval by the Secretary of the strategic plan'' 
                after ``in section 10(a)'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and the strategic plan'' after 
                ``goals of the Plan'';
                    (C) by amending the text of subsection (b)(1) to 
                read as follows: ``assisting the Commonwealth, 
                political subdivisions and non-profit agencies in 
                preserving the historic transportation system of Canals 
                and overland railroads and the maintenance of the 
                system as a trail significant to nation;'';
                    (D) in subsection (b)(2), by striking 
                ``governments'' and inserting ``agencies'';
                    (E) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``in the 
                Corridor'' and inserting ``and heighten the 
                understanding of the Corridor's nationally important 
                stories''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Stategic Plan.--The Corporation shall develop a Strategic 
Plan that takes in account the findings and recommendations of the 
study titled `Connecting Stories, Landscapes and People: Exploring the 
Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Partnership' conducted 
by the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute. The 
strategic plan shall complement the management plan for the Corridor by 
guiding future investment, strengthening and serving the partnership 
network, positioning the Corridor to take advantage of opportunities, 
and prioritizing actions.''.
            (4) In section 9, by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Corporation as Local Management Entity.--Upon the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, the local management entity for the 
corridor shall be the Corporation.
    ``(d) Implementation of Management Plan.--The Corporation will 
assume the duties of the Commission for the implementation of the 
management action plan.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--The Corporation may use Federal funds made 
available under this Act--
            ``(1) to make grants to and enter into cooperative 
        agreements with the Commonwealth, political subdivisions, 
        nonprofit organizations, and individuals;
            ``(2) to hire, train, and compensate staff;
            ``(3) to enter into contracts for goods and services; and
            ``(4) to obtain money from any source under any program or 
        law requiring the recipient of such money to make a 
        contribution in order to receive such money.''.
            (5) In section 10--
                    (A) in subsection (c), by striking ``shall assist 
                the Commission'' and inserting ``shall, upon the 
                Corporation's request, assist'';
                    (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``Commission'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``Corporation''; 
                and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Transition MOU.--The Secretary shall enter into a memorandum 
of understanding with the Corporation to assure appropriate transition 
of the local management to the Corporation and coordination with the 
Corporation regarding the implementation of the management action plan.
    ``(f) Special Resource Studies.--
            ``(1) Sites and features.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
        special resource study of sites and associated landscape 
        features within the boundaries of the Corridor that contribute 
        to the understanding of the Corridor's national significance. 
        To provide appropriate context regarding the contribution of 
        anthracite mining, industries, transportation and commerce to 
        the nation's growth and industrial development, the special 
        resource study shall review the resources of the greater 
        anthracite region of Pennsylvania covered by other designated 
        national heritage areas.
            ``(2) Potential designation.--
                    ``(A) Authorization.--Not later than 3 years after 
                the date on which funds are made available to carry out 
                this subsection, the Secretary, in coordination with 
                the Corporation, shall complete the special resource 
                study to evaluate the possibility of--
                            ``(i) designating one or more site or 
                        landscape feature as a unit of the National 
                        Park System; and
                            ``(ii) coordinating and complementing 
                        actions by the Corporation, Commonwealth, 
                        political subdivisions and non-profit agencies, 
                        in the preservation and interpretation of 
                        significant resources within the Corridor and 
                        greater anthracite region.
                    ``(B) Study.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
                on which the special resource study is completed, the 
                Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of 
                the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
                that describes the findings, conclusions, and 
                recommendations of the study.''.
            (6) In section 12--
                    (A) by striking ``Commission'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``Corporation''; and
                    (B) by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2019''.
            (7) In section 13, by striking ``Commission'' and inserting 
        ``Corporation''.
            (8) In section 14--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) the term `Corporation' means the Delaware and Lehigh 
        National Heritage Corridor, Incorporated, an organization 
        described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 
        of 1986 and exempt from taxation.''.

Summary: Amends the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988 to revise the appropriate steps the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal National Heritage Corridor Commission is required to take in implementing its Cultural Heritage and Corridor Management Plan for the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal National Heritage Corridor.

Requires the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Incorporated to develop a Strategic Plan for the Corridor that takes into account the findings and recommendations of a specified study conducted by the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute. Requires the plan to compliment the Corridor's management plan.

Makes the Corporation the management entity for the Corridor, assuming the Commission's duties in implementing the management action plan.

Authorizes the Corporation to use federal funds to make grants to and enter into cooperative agreements with Pennsylvania, local governments, nonprofit corporations, and individuals.



Requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites and associated landscape features within the Corridor, including resources of the greater anthracite region of Pennsylvania covered by other designated national heritage areas, that contribute to the understanding of the Corridor's national siginificance.

Requires the Secretary, in coordination with the Corporation, to evaluate and report to specified congressional committees on the possibility of: (1) designating one or more sites or landscape features as a unit of the National Park System; and (2) coordinating and complementing actions by the Corporation, Pennsylvania, local governments, and nonprofit agencies in the preservation and interpretation of significant resources within the Corridor and greater anthracite region.

Extends the Corporation, in place of the Commission, through November 18, 2019.