Maine Acadian Culture Preservation Act
PL 101-543 (S.1756), enacted 11/08/1990

PUBLIC LAW 101-543—NOV. 8, 1990 
104 STAT. 2389 
Public Law 101-543 
101st Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the preservation and interpretation of sites associated with Acadian 
Nov. o, IgSn) 
culture in the State of Maine. 
[S. 1756] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Q ^ ^ Acadian 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Preservation 
Act. 
This Act may be cited as the "Maine Acadian Culture Preserva- 
16 USC 461 note, 
tion Act". 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
16 USC 461 note. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) recognize an important contribution made to American 
culture and history by the Acadian immigrants from France 
who settled in Nova Scotia and, following expulsion by the 
British in 1755, resettled in various North American colonies, 
including the territory that eventually became the State of 
Maine; 
(2) assist local and State governments and other public and 
private entities in the State of Maine in interpreting the story 
of the State's Acadian settlers and their descendants as well as 
preserving Acadian music, arts, crafts, and folklore; and 
(3) assist in identifying, gathering, and preserving sites, 
historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with the Aca-
dians in Maine for the benefit and education of the public. 
SEC. 3. MAINE ACADIAN CULTURE PRESERVATION COMMISSION. 
16 USC 461 note. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the Maine Aca-
dian Culture Preservation Commission (hereafter in this Act re-
ferred to as the "Commission"), which shall consist of 11 members 
appointed by the Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this Act 
referred to as the "Secretary") not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, as follows: 
(1) One member, who shall serve as Chair, appointed from 
among recommendations submitted by the Governor of the 
State of Maine. 
(2) One member appointed from among recommendations 
submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 
State of Maine. 
(3) One member appointed from among recommendations 
submitted by the President of the Senate of the State of Maine. 
(4) One member appointed from among recommendations 
submitted by the Chancellor of the University of Maine System. 
(5) Three members appointed from among recommendations 
submitted by State and local historic, cultural or historic 
preservation organizations. 
(6) Four members who are nationally recognized experts in 
fields of history, historic preservation, anthropology, and folk-
lore, appointed by the Secretary. 
49-139 O - 90 (543) 
104 STAT. 2390 
PUBLIC LAW 101-543—NOV. 8, 1990 
(b) TERMS.—(1) Members of the Commission shall be appointed for 
terms not to exceed 3 years. 
(2) The Secretary may stagger the terms of initial appointments to 
the Commission in order to assure continuity in operation. 
(3) Any member of the Commission may serve after the expiration 
of his or her term until a successor is appointed. A vacancy in the 
Commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(c) VOTING.—The Commission shall act and advise by affirmative 
vote of a majority of its members. 
(d) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission shall receive no 
pay on account of their service on the Commission, but while away 
from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of 
services for the Commission, members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
the same manner £is persons employed intermittently in Govern-
ment service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(e) EXEMPTION FROM CHARTER RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
14(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall 
not apply to the Commission. 
(f) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 10 years from 
the date of enactment of this Act, 
(g) SUPPORT.—The Director of the National Park Service is au-
thorized to provide such staff support and technical services as may 
be necessary to carry out the functions of the Commission. 
16 u s e 461 note. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall advise the Secretary with respect to— 
(1) the selection of sites for interpretation and preservation by 
means of cooperative agreements pursuant to section 6; and 
(2) the development and implementation of an interpretive 
program of the Acadian culture in the State of Maine pursuant 
to section 7(d). 
16 u s e 461 note. 
SEC. 5. STUDY. 
Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall prepare and transmit to the Committee on Interior and 
Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United 
States Senate a comprehensive study of Acadian culture in Maine. 
16 u s e 461 note. 
SEC. 6. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the 
Secretary is authorized, after consultation with the Commission, to 
enter into cooperative agreements with the owners of properties of 
natural, historical, or cultural significance associated with the Aca-
dian people in the State of Maine, pursuant to which agreements 
the Secretary may mark, interpret, restore, and provide technical 
assistance for the preservation of such properties and pursuant to 
which the Secretary may provide assistance, including management 
services and program implementation. 
PUBLIC LAW 101-543—NOV. 8, 1990 
104 STAT. 2391 
(b) RIGHT OF ACCESS.—Each cooperative agreement shall provide Public lands, 
that the Secretary, through the National Park Service, shall have 
the right of access at all reasonable times to all public portions of 
the property covered by the agreement for the purpose of conducting 
visitors through such properties and interpreting them to the public. 
(c) ALTERATION OF PROPERTIES.—Each cooperative agreement shall 
provide that no changes or alterations shall be made in the property 
covered by the agreement except by mutual agreement between the 
Secretary and the other party to the agreement. 
SEC. 7. ACADIAN CULTURAL CENTER. 
16 USC 461 note. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized, after completion of 
the study required by section 5, to establish a center for the 
preservation and interpretation of Acadian culture within the State 
of Maine. 
(b) ACQUISITION OF LAND.—The Secretary is authorized to acquire 
lands and interests therein, not to exceed 20 acres in total, by 
donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange 
and to develop, operate, and maintain facilities and to develop and 
operate programs at the center in furtherance of the purposes of 
this Act. 
(c) OPERATION.—The Secretary may contract with public and pri-
vate entities for the operation of the center in accordance with 
program standards approved by the Secretary. 
(d) INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM.—In coordination with the Commis-
sion, the Secretary shall develop an interpretive program of the 
Acadian culture in the State of Maine. 
(e) STATUTORY AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall administer prop-
erties acquired and cooperative agreements entered into pursuant to 
this Act in accordance with the Act entitled "An Act to establish a 
National Park Service, and for other purposes", approved August 
25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) and other statutory authority for the 
conservation and management of natural, historical, and cultural 
resources. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
16 USC 461 note. 
(a) COMMISSION.—For the purposes of carrying out the functions of 
the Commission, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary, not to exceed $250,000. 
(b) OTHER PURPOSES.—(1) To carry out the other purposes of this 
Act, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary, subject to the limitations of paragraph (2). 
104 STAT. 2392 
PUBLIC LAW 101-543—NOV. 8, 1990 
(2) With respect to cooperative gigreements entered into pursuant 
to section 6, and the provisions dealing with the Acadian Cultural 
Center in subsections 7 (a) through (c), the Secretary is authorized to 
expend not more than 50 percent of the aggregate cost of performing 
those functions. The remainder of such cost shall be paid by non-
Federal funds. 
Approved November 8,1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1756: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 101-742 (Cbmm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 101-308 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 136 (1990): 
June 14, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 27, considered and passed House, amended. 
Oct. 16, Senate concurred in House amendment with amendments. 
Oct. 18, House concurred in certain Senate amendments and disagreed to 
others. 
Oct. 23, Senate receded from its amendments.