Title: Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area Study Act
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area Study Act
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating a specified study area, composed of certain counties in Kentucky and other areas of Kentucky that have similar aspects to those areas and are adjacent to or in their vicinity, as the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2985 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2985

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess 
  the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in the 
State of Kentucky as the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 5, 2019

 Mr. McConnell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess 
  the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in the 
State of Kentucky as the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage 
Area Study Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
        Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Kentucky.
            (4) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means--
                    (A) Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, 
                Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Floyd, 
                Green, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, 
                Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Magoffin, 
                Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, 
                Owsley, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, 
                Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe Counties in the 
                State; and
                    (B) any other areas in the State that--
                            (i) have heritage aspects that are similar 
                        to the heritage aspects of the areas described 
                        in subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) are adjacent to, or in the vicinity 
                        of, the areas described in that subparagraph.

SEC. 3. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with State and 
local historic preservation officers, State and local historical 
societies, State and local tourism offices, and other appropriate 
organizations and governmental agencies, shall conduct a study to 
assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as 
a National Heritage Area, to be known as the ``Kentucky Wildlands 
National Heritage Area''.
    (b) Requirements.--The study shall include analysis, documentation, 
and determinations on whether the study area--
            (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
        resources that--
                    (A) represent distinctive aspects of the heritage 
                of the United States;
                    (B) are worthy of recognition, conservation, 
                interpretation, and continuing use; and
                    (C) would be best managed--
                            (i) through partnerships among public and 
                        private entities; and
                            (ii) by linking diverse and sometimes 
                        noncontiguous resources and active communities;
            (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife 
        that are a valuable part of the story of the United States;
            (3) provides outstanding opportunities--
                    (A) to conserve natural, historic, cultural, or 
                scenic features; and
                    (B) for recreation and education;
            (4) contains resources that--
                    (A) are important to any identified themes of the 
                study area; and
                    (B) retain a degree of integrity capable of 
                supporting interpretation;
            (5) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
        organizations, and State and local governments that--
                    (A) are involved in the planning of the Heritage 
                Area;
                    (B) have developed a conceptual financial plan that 
                outlines the roles of all participants in the Heritage 
                Area, including the Federal Government; and
                    (C) have demonstrated support for the designation 
                of the Heritage Area;
            (6) has a potential management entity to work in 
        partnership with the individuals and entities described in 
        paragraph (5) to develop the Heritage Area while encouraging 
        State and local economic activity;
            (7) could impact the rights of private property owners with 
        respect to private property; and
            (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
        public.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made 
available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report 
that describes--
            (1) the findings of the study under section 3; and
            (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
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