A bill to establish the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the Augusta Canal National Landmark in the State of 
        Georgia, listed on the National Historic Register of Historic 
        Places, and designated by the Governor of Georgia as one of 4 
        regionally important resources in the State, is one of the last 
        unspoiled areas in the State of Georgia;
            (2) the Augusta Canal National Historic Landmark possesses 
        excellent water quality, beautiful rural and historic cultural 
        landscapes, architecturally significant mill structures and 
        mill villages, and large acreages of parks and permanent open 
        space;
            (3) 3 national historic districts, the Harrisburg, Laney 
        Walker, and Greene Street districts, and 2 national historic 
        landmarks, Stallings Island, located in the Savannah River, and 
        Meadow Garden, are connected by the Augusta Canal Area;
            (4) the beautiful rural landscapes and historic cultural 
        landscapes, scenic vistas and excellent water quality of the 
        Augusta Canal contain significant undeveloped recreational 
        opportunities for people throughout the United States;
            (5) the Augusta Canal and related mill sites, structures, 
        and associated neighborhoods are representative of the 
        development of the cotton textile industry and associated 
        agriculture and trade in the South;
            (6) the transformation of the agrarian economy of the area 
        into an early industrial economy was precipitated by the 
        development and use of the Augusta Canal;
            (7) several significant sites associated with the American 
        Revolution, the Civil War, Native Americans, Colonial 
        Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans, and Irish 
        Americans are located within the Augusta Canal area;
            (8) despite the efforts by the State of Georgia, political 
        subdivisions of the State, volunteer organizations, and private 
        businesses, the cultural, historical, natural, and recreational 
        resources of the area have not realized full potential and may 
        be lost without assistance from the Federal Government;
            (9) the Secretary of the Interior considers this landmark 
        to be threatened and has designated it a priority for 
        protection;
            (10) many local, regional, and State agencies, businesses, 
        and private citizens have expressed an overwhelming desire to 
        combine forces to work cooperatively to preserve and enhance 
        the resources of the Augusta Canal National Historic Landmark 
        and better plan for its future; and
            (11) the Augusta Canal Authority, a public body established 
        under the law of the State of Georgia, would be an appropriate 
        management entity for a National Heritage Area established in 
        the area of the Augusta Canal.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to provide a cooperative management 
framework to assist the State of Georgia, its units of local 
government, and area citizens in retaining, enhancing, and interpreting 
the significant features of the lands, water, and structures of the 
Augusta Canal, in a manner that is consistent with positive economic 
impact and development for the benefit and inspiration of present and 
future generations in the State of Georgia and the United States.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF AUGUSTA CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State of Georgia 
the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (referred to in this Act as 
the ``Heritage Area'').
    (b) Boundaries.--
            (1) In general.--The Heritage Area shall include the land 
        generally depicted on the map entitled ``The Augusta Canal'', 
        numbered AUCA-80,000, and dated August 1994, which shall be on 
        file and available for public inspection in the Office of the 
        Director of the National Park Service, Washington, D.C.
            (2) Legal description.--As soon as practicable after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
        (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall prepare 
        and place on file with the map described in paragraph (1) a 
        legal description of the boundaries of the Heritage Area.

SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT.

    The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Park 
Service, shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the Augusta 
Canal Authority, a public body established under the law of the State 
of Georgia, providing for the management of the Heritage Area by the 
Augusta Canal Authority under terms and conditions stated in the 
cooperative agreement.

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) Preparation of Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Augusta Canal Authority shall prepare and 
submit to the Secretary for review and approval a plan for the 
management and administration of the Heritage Area.
    (b) Contents.--The plan shall be based on Federal, State, and local 
plans in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, including the 
Augusta Canal Master Plan. The Augusta Canal Authority shall coordinate 
and combine such plans and present an integrated and cooperative 
approach for the protection, enhancement, and interpretation of the 
cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage 
Area.
    (c) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical and financial 
assistance in the preparation of the management plan.
    (d) Approval.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after receipt of 
        the plan submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
        approve or disapprove the plan.
            (2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve a plan, 
        the Secretary shall consider--
                    (A) whether the planning area has strong local 
                support for the study from a diversity of landowners, 
                business interests, nonprofit organizations, and 
                governments within the proposed study area;
                    (B) whether the proposal is consistent with and 
                complements continued economic activity in the area;
                    (C) whether the planning area has a high potential 
                for effective partnership mechanisms;
                    (D) whether the plan improperly infringes on 
                private property rights; and
                    (E) whether the plan will take appropriate action 
                to ensure private property rights are observed.
            (3) Disapproval.--
                    (A) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves the 
                management plan, the Secretary shall notify the Augusta 
                Canal Authority of the disapproval in writing.
                    (B) Contents.--A notification under subparagraph 
                (A) shall include--
                            (i) the reasons for the disapproval; and
                            (ii) recommendations for revision.
                    (C) Revised plan.--The Augusta Canal Authority 
                shall revise and resubmit the management plan to the 
                Secretary for approval. Not later than 180 days after 
                receipt of the revised plan, the Secretary shall 
                approve or disapprove the plan as provided in paragraph 
                (2). The Augusta Canal Authority shall revise and 
                submit the management plan until the management plan is 
                approved by the Secretary.
    (e) Implementation.--
            (1) In general.--Upon approval of the management plan as 
        provided in subsection (d), the Secretary, in conjunction with 
        the Augusta Canal Authority, shall take appropriate steps to 
        implement the management plan.
            (2) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary is authorized to 
        enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Georgia, 
        political subdivisions of the State, the Augusta Canal 
        Authority, or any organization or individual to implement the 
        management plan.
    (f) Economic Development.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Augusta Canal Authority, the State of Georgia, and the city of Augusta 
and other political subdivisions of the State of Georgia should 
encourage, by appropriate means, enhanced economic and industrial 
development in the area consistent with the goals of the Augusta Canal 
Master Plan.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES.

    Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activities directly 
affecting the Heritage Area shall--
            (1) consult with the Secretary and the Augusta Canal 
        Authority with respect to such activities;
            (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Augusta Canal 
        Authority with respect to such activities;
            (3) coordinate such activities with the Secretary and the 
        Augusta Canal Authority; and
            (4) conduct or support such activities in a manner that the 
        Secretary and the Augusta Canal Authority determine will not 
        have an adverse effect on the Heritage Area.

SEC. 7. ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.

    The Augusta Canal Authority may not use any Federal funds that it 
may receive to acquire real property or an interest in real property.

SEC. 8. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Occupational, Safety, Conservation, and Environmental 
Regulation.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to--
            (1) impose any occupational, safety, conservation, or 
        environmental regulation on the Heritage Area that is more 
        stringent than the regulations that would be applicable to the 
        Heritage Area but for the establishment of the Heritage Area 
        under section 3; or
            (2) authorize any Federal agency to promulgate an 
        occupational, safety, conservation, or environmental regulation 
        for the Heritage Area that is more stringent than the 
        regulations applicable to the Heritage Area in existence on the 
        date of enactment of this Act, solely as a result of the 
        establishment of the Heritage Area under section 3.
    (b) Land Use Regulation.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to--
            (1) modify, enlarge, or diminish any authority of Federal, 
        State, and local governments to regulate any use of land as 
        provided for by current law or regulation; or
            (2) grant powers of zoning or land use to the Augusta Canal 
        Authority.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.

Summary: Establishes the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area in Georgia. 
Requires the Augusta Canal Authority to prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Interior for review and approval a plan for the management of the Area, based on existing Federal, State, and local plans in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.  Directs the Authority to coordinate and combine such plans and present an integrated and cooperative approach for the protection, enhancement, and interpretation of the Area's cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources. 
Prohibits the Authority from using any Federal funds to acquire real property or interest in such property.  Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to:  (1) authorize Federal agencies to promulgate an occupational, safety, conservation, or environmental regulation for the Area that is more stringent than existing applicable regulations, solely as a result of the establishment of the Area; (2) modify, enlarge, or diminish the authority of Federal, State, and local governments to regulate any use of land as provided for by current law or regulation; or (3) grant powers of zoning or land use to the Authority. 
Authorizes appropriations.