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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The 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 
        four 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) three 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 
        threatened and has designated it a priority for protection; and
            (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.

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 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 AND BOUNDARIES 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 those 
        lands in the States of Georgia and South Carolina commonly 
        known as the Augusta Canal, as generally depicted in the 
        ``Augusta Canal Master Plan'', dated December 31, 1993. The 
        Augusta Canal Master Plan shall be on file and available for 
        public inspection in the Office of the Director of the National 
        Park Service, Washington, D.C.
            (2) Map.--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 publish in the 
        Federal Register a detailed description and map of the 
        boundaries established under this subsection.

SEC. 4. AUGUSTA CANAL COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Augusta Canal 
Commission. Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall appoint the members of the Commission as 
follows:
            (1) Five members shall be appointed from among persons 
        serving on the Augusta Canal Authority as established in the 
        Augusta Canal Charter, by Georgia Public Law.
            (2) One member shall be appointed from recommendations 
        submitted by the mayor of the city of Augusta, Georgia.
            (3) One member shall be appointed from recommendations 
        submitted by a consensus of the Georgia congressional 
        delegation, representing Augusta, Georgia.
            (4) One member shall be appointed from recommendations 
        submitted by the Governor of the State of Georgia.
            (5) One member shall be appointed from recommendations 
        submitted by the Governor of the State of South Carolina.
    (b) Chairperson.--The Commission shall elect a chairman from among 
its members.
    (c) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) Preparation of Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Augusta Canal Commission shall prepare and 
submit to the Secretary for review and approval a plan for the 
management and administration of the Heritage Area.
    (b) Content.--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 Commission 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 is authorized to 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 pursuant to 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 Commission of the disapproval in writing. The 
                notice shall include--
                            (i) the reasons for the disapproval; and
                            (ii) recommendations for revision.
                    (B) Revised plan.--The Augusta Canal Commission 
                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 Commission 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 Commission, 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 
        Commission, or any organization or individual to implement the 
        management plan.
    (f) Economic Development.--The Augusta Commission, the State of 
Georgia, the city of Augusta, or any political subdivision of the State 
shall encourage, by appropriate means, enhanced economic and industrial 
development in the area consistent with the goals of the Augusta Canal 
Master Plan.

SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.

    (a) Construction.--Nothing in this Act is intended to impose any 
occupational, safety, conservation, or environmental regulation on the 
Heritage Area that is more stringent than the regulations that would be 
applicable to such area but for the establishment of the Heritage Area 
pursuant to section 3.
    (b) Restrictions.--No Federal agency may 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 pursuant 
to section 3.

SEC. 7. 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 
        Commission 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 Commission; and
            (4) conduct or support such activities in a manner that the 
        Secretary and the Augusta Canal Commission determine will not 
        have an adverse effect on the Heritage Area.

SEC. 8. 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. 
Establishes the Augusta Canal Commission.  Requires the Commission 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 Commission 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 Federal agencies from promulgating 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. 
Authorizes appropriations.