Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 941 (ih) To establish a congressional commemorative medal for organ donors and their families. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 941 (ih) To establish a congressional commemorative medal for organ donors and their families. [Introduced in House] ...
(3) the Schuylkill River Valley played a significant role
in the struggle for nationhood;
(4) the Schuylkill River Valley developed a prosperous and
productive agricultural economy that survives today;
(5) the Schuylkill River Valley developed a charcoal iron
industry that made Pennsylvania the center of the iron industry
within the North American colonies;
(6) the Schuylkill River Valley developed into a
significant anthracite mining region that continues to thrive
today;
(7) the Schuylkill River Valley developed early
transportation systems, including the Schuylkill Canal and the
Reading Railroad;
(8) the Schuylkill River Valley developed a significant
industrial base, including textile mills and iron works;
(9) there is a longstanding commitment to--
(A) repairing the environmental damage to the river
and its surrounding caused by the largely unregulated
industrial activity; and
(B) completing the Schuylkill River Trail along the
128-mile corridor of the Schuylkill Valley;
(10) there is a need to provide assistance for the
preservation and promotion of the significance of the
Schuylkill River as a system for transportation, agriculture,
industry, commerce, and immigration; and
(11)(A) the Department of the Interior is responsible for
protecting the Nation's cultural and historical resources; and
(B) there are significant examples of such resources within
the Schuylkill River Valley to merit the involvement of the
Federal Government in the development of programs and projects,
in cooperation with the Schuylkill River Greenway Association,
the State of Pennsylvania, and other local and governmental
bodies, to adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this
heritage for future generations, while providing opportunities
for education and revitalization.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this title are--
(1) to foster a close working relationship with all levels
of government, the private sector, and the local communities in
the Schuylkill River Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania and
enable the communities to conserve their heritage while
continuing to pursue economic opportunities; and
(2) to conserve, interpret, and develop the historical,
cultural, natural, and recreational resources related to the
industrial and cultural heritage of the Schuylkill River Valley
of southeastern Pennsylvania.
SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Cooperative agreement.--The term ``cooperative
agreement'' means the cooperative agreement entered into under
section 204(d).
(2) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area established by
section 204.
(3) Management entity.--The term ``management entity''
means the management entity of the Heritage Area appointed
under section 204(c).
(4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under
section 205.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
Pennsylvania.
SEC. 204. ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) In General.--For the purpose of preserving and interpreting for
the educational and inspirational benefit of present and future
generations certain land and structures with unique and significant
historical and cultural value associated with the early development of
the Schuylkill River Valley, there is established the Schuylkill River
Valley National Heritage Area.
(b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall be comprised of the
Schuylkill River watershed within the counties of Schuylkill, Berks,
Montgomery, Chester, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as delineated by
the Secretary.
(c) Management Entity.--The management entity for the Heritage Area
shall be the Schuylkill River Greenway Association.
(d) Cooperative Agreement.--
(1) In general.--To carry out this title, the Secretary
shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the management
entity.
(2) Contents.--The cooperative agreement shall include
information relating to the objectives and management of the
Heritage Area, including--
(A) a description of the goals and objectives of
the Heritage Area, including a description of the
approach to conservation and interpretation of the
Heritage Area;
(B) an identification and description of the
management entity that will administer the Heritage
Area; and
(C) a description of the role of the State.
SEC. 205. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this title, the management entity shall submit to the Secretary for
approval a management plan for the Heritage Area that presents
comprehensive recommendations for the conservation, funding,
management, and development of the Heritage Area.
(b) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
(1) take into consideration State, county, and local plans;
(2) involve residents, public agencies, and private
organizations working in the Heritage Area;
(3) specify, as of the date of the plan, existing and
potential sources of funding to protect, manage, and develop
the Heritage Area; and
(4) include--
(A) actions to be undertaken by units of government
and private organizations to protect the resources of
the Heritage Area;
(B) an inventory of the resources contained in the
Heritage Area, including a list of any property in the
Heritage Area that is related to the themes of the
Heritage Area and that should be preserved, restored,
managed, developed, or maintained because of its natural, cultural,
historical, recreational, or scenic significance;
(C) a recommendation of policies for resource
management that considers and details application of
appropriate land and water management techniques,
including the development of intergovernmental
cooperative agreements to protect the historical,
cultural, recreational, and natural resources of the
Heritage Area in a manner consistent with supporting
appropriate and compatible economic viability;
(D) a program for implementation of the management
plan by the management entity;
(E) an analysis of ways in which local, State, and
Federal programs may best be coordinated to promote the
purposes of this title; and
(F) an interpretation plan for the Heritage Area.
(c) Disqualification From Funding.--If a management plan is not
submitted to the Secretary on or before the date that is 3 years after
the date of enactment of this title, the Heritage Area shall be
ineligible to receive Federal funding under this title until the date
on which the Secretary receives the management plan.
(d) Update of Plan.--In lieu of developing an original management
plan, the management entity may update and submit to the Secretary the
Schuylkill Heritage Corridor Management Action Plan that was approved
by the State in March, 1995, to meet the requirements of this section.
SEC. 206. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) Authorities of the Management Entity.--For purposes of
preparing and implementing the management plan, the management entity
may--
(1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements
with, the State and political subdivisions of the State,
private organizations, or any person; and
(2) hire and compensate staff.
(b) Duties of the Management Entity.--The management entity shall--
(1) develop and submit the management plan under section
205;
(2) give priority to implementing actions set forth in the
cooperative agreement and the management plan, including taking
steps to--
(A) assist units of government, regional planning
organizations, and nonprofit organizations in--
(i) preserving the Heritage Area;
(ii) establishing and maintaining
interpretive exhibits in the Heritage Area;
(iii) developing recreational resources in
the Heritage Area;
(iv) increasing public awareness of and,
appreciation for, the natural, historical, and
architectural resources and sites in the
Heritage Area;
(v) restoring historic buildings relating
to the themes of the Heritage Area; and
(vi) ensuring that clear, consistent, and
environmentally appropriate signs identifying
access points and sites of interest are
installed throughout the Heritage Area;
(B) encourage economic viability in the Heritage
Area consistent with the goals of the management plan;
and
(C) encourage local governments to adopt land use
policies consistent with the management of the Heritage
Area and the goals of the management plan;
(3) consider the interests of diverse governmental,
business, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area;
(4) conduct public meetings at least quarterly regarding
the implementation of the management plan;
(5) submit substantial changes (including any increase of
more than 20 percent in the cost estimates for implementation)
to the management plan to the Secretary for the approval of the
Secretary; and
(6) for any fiscal year in which Federal funds are received
under this title--
(A) submit to the Secretary a report describing--
(i) the accomplishments of the management
entity;
(ii) the expenses and income of the
management entity; and
(iii) each entity to which the management
entity made any grant during the fiscal year;
(B) make available for audit all records pertaining
to the expenditure of Federal funds and any matching
funds, and require, for all agreements authorizing
expenditure of Federal funds by organizations other
than the management entity, that the receiving
organizations make available for audit all records
pertaining to the expenditure of such funds; and
(C) require, for all agreements authorizing
expenditure of Federal funds by organizations other
than the management entity, that the receiving
organizations make available for audit all records
pertaining to the expenditure of Federal funds.
(c) Use of Federal Funds.--
(1) In general.--The management entity shall not use
Federal funds received under this title to acquire real
property or an interest in real property.
(2) Other sources.--Nothing in this title precludes the
management entity from using Federal funds from other sources
for their permittee purposes.
(d) Spending for Non-Federally Owned Property.--The management entity
may spend Federal funds directly on non-federally owned property to
further the purposes of this title, especially in assisting units of
government in appropriate treatment of districts, sites, buildings,
structures, and objects listed or eligible for listing on the National
Register of Historic Places.
SEC. 207. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
(1) In general.--At the request of the management entity,
the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to
the Heritage Area to develop and implement the management plan.
(2) Priorities.--In assisting the management entity, the
Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in--
(A) conserving the significant natural, historical,
and cultural resources that support the themes of the
Heritage Area; and
(B) providing educational, interpretive, and
recreational opportunities consistent with the
resources and associated values of the Heritage Area.
(b) Approval and Disapproval of Cooperative Agreements and Management
Plans.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receiving a
cooperative agreement or management plan submitted under this
title, the Secretary, in consultation with the Governor of the
State, shall approve or disapprove the cooperative agreement or
management plan.
(2) Management plan contents.--In reviewing the plan, the
Secretary shall consider whether the composition of the
management entity and the plan adequately reflect diverse
interest of the region, including those of--
(A) local elected officials,
(B) the State,
(C) business and industry groups,
(D) organizations interested in the protection of
natural and cultural resources, and
(E) other community organizations and individual
stakeholders.
(3) Action following disapproval.--
(A) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves a
cooperative agreement or management plan, the Secretary
shall--
(i) advise the management entity in writing
of the reasons for the disapproval; and
(ii) make recommendations for revisions in
the cooperative agreement of plan.
(B) Time period for disapproval.--Not later than 90
days after the date on which a revision described under
subparagraph (A)(ii) is submitted, the Secretary shall
approve or disapprove the proposed revision.
(c) Approval of Amendments.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and approve
substantial amendments to the management plan.
(2) Funding expenditure limitation.--Funds appropriated
under this title may not be expended to implement any
substantial amendment until the Secretary approves the
amendment.
SEC. 208. CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF ANTHRACITE COAL REGION.
(a) In General.--The management entities of heritage areas (other
than the Heritage Area) in the anthracite coal region in the State
shall cooperate in the management of the Heritage Area.
(b) Funding.--Management entities described in subsection (a) may
use funds appropriated for management of the Heritage Area to carry out
this section.
SEC. 209. SUNSET.
The Secretary may not make any grant or provide any assistance
under this title after the date that is 15 years after the date of
enactment of this title.
SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this title not more than $10,000,000, of which not more than
$1,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for any 1 fiscal year.
(b) Federal Share.--Federal funding provided under this title may
not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any project or activity
funded under this title.
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