To establish the Oil Region National Heritage Area.

April 11, 2003

Mr. SANTORUM (for himself and Mr. SPECTER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

To establish the Oil Region National Heritage Area.

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 `Oil Region National Heritage Area Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--

(1) the Oil Region of northwestern Pennsylvania--

(A) contains numerous sites and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and

(B) is designated by the Governor of Pennsylvania as a State Heritage Park Area;

(2) the Oil Region--

(A) is a region with tremendous physical and natural resources; and

(B) possesses a story of State, national, and international significance;

(3) the drilling of the world's first successful oil well by Colonel Edwin Drake in 1859 has affected the industrial, natural, social, and political structures of the modern world;

(4) 6 national historic districts and 17 separate National Register sites are located in Emlenton, Franklin, Oil City, and Titusville, Pennsylvania, within the State Heritage Park boundary;

(5) the Allegheny River, which was designated as a component of the national wild and scenic rivers system in 1992 by Public Law 102-271 (16 U.S.C. 1274 note; 106 Stat. 108), and several of the tributaries of the River, such as Oil Creek, French Creek, and Sandy Creek, traverse, and connect several major sites within, the Oil Region;

(6) the unspoiled rural character of the Oil Region provides many natural and recreational resources, scenic vistas, and excellent water quality for the public to enjoy;

(7) remnants of the oil industry that remain visible on the landscape of the Oil Region, as well as historic valley settlements, riverbed settlements, plateau developments, farmland, and industrial landscapes, provide a direct link to the past for visitors;

(8) the Oil Region represents a cross section of the history of the United States as that history relates to--

(A) Native Americans;

(B) frontier settlements;

(C) the French and Indian War;

(D) African Americans and the Underground Railroad; and

(E) the immigration of Swedish and Polish individuals; and

(9) involvement by the Federal Government would enhance the efforts of the State (including political subdivisions), volunteer organizations, and private entities in promoting cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the Oil Region.

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this Act is to establish a cooperative management framework to assist the State in conserving, enhancing, and interpreting the significant features of the land, water, and structures of the Oil Region in a manner that is consistent with compatible economic development for the benefit and inspiration of present and future generations.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) COMPACT- The term `compact' means the compact between the Secretary and the management entity described in section 5.

(2) HERITAGE AREA- The term `Heritage Area' means the Oil Region National Heritage Area established by section 4(a).

(3) MANAGEMENT ENTITY- The term `management entity' means the Oil Heritage Region, Inc. (or a successor entity).

(4) MANAGEMENT PLAN- The term `management plan' means the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under section 7.

(5) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service.

(6) STATE- The term `State' means the State of Pennsylvania.

SEC. 4. OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established the Oil Region National Heritage Area in the State.

(b) BOUNDARIES-

(1) IN GENERAL- The boundaries of the Heritage Area shall be the boundaries of the land depicted on the map entitled `Oil Region National Heritage Area', numbered OIRE/20,000, and dated October, 2000.

(2) AVAILABILITY OF MAP- The map described in paragraph (1) shall be on file in the appropriate offices of the Secretary.

(3) PUBLICATION- As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a detailed description and map of the boundaries established under this subsection.

SEC. 5. COMPACT.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall enter into a compact with the management entity to carry out this Act.

(b) COMPONENTS- The compact shall include--

(1) information relating to the objectives and management of the Heritage Area; and

(2) a description of the goals and objectives of the Heritage Area that includes--

(A) an explanation of the proposed approach to conservation and interpretation; and

(B) a general outline of the protection measures on which the Secretary and management entity agree.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

(a) IN GENERAL- The management entity shall--

(1) develop a management plan for the Heritage Area in accordance with section 7;

(2) give priority to implementing actions described in the compact and management plan;

(3) assist units of government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in--

(A) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits in the Heritage Area;

(B) developing recreational resources in the Heritage Area;

(C) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the natural, historical, and architectural resources and sites in the Heritage Area;

(D) restoring any historic buildings relating to the themes of the Heritage Area;

(E) ensuring that clear, consistent, and environmentally appropriate signs identifying access points and sites of interest are installed at appropriate locations throughout the Heritage Area; and

(F) carrying out other actions in furtherance of the purposes of this Act, as determined to be appropriate by the management entity;

(4) encourage, using appropriate means, economic viability in the Heritage Area in accordance with the goals of the management plan;

(5) consider the interests of diverse governmental, business, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area; and

(6) with respect to any year for which Federal funds have been provided to implement the management plan under subsection (b)--

(A) conduct public meetings at least annually regarding the implementation of the management plan;

(B) submit to the Secretary an annual report that, for the year for which the report is submitted--

(i) describes accomplishments, expenses, and income of the management entity; and

(ii) identifies each person that received a grant from the management entity; and

(C) require, with respect to each agreement entered into by the management entity that authorizes the expenditure of Federal funds by any other person, that the person making the expenditure make available to the management entity for audit all records pertaining to the expenditure of those funds.

(b) USE OF FUNDS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The management entity may use funds made available under this Act--

(A) to prepare, update, and implement the management plan; and

(B) to carry out related activities such as--

(i) making grants to, and entering into cooperative agreements with, States (including political subdivisions), private organizations, or other persons;

(ii) hiring and compensating staff; and

(iii) carrying out initiatives that advance the purposes of the Heritage Area.

(2) PROHIBITION ON THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY- The management entity shall not use any funds made available under this Act to acquire real property or an interest in real property.

SEC. 7. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

(a) IN GENERAL- The management plan shall--

(1) present comprehensive strategies and recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area;

(2)(A) take into consideration State, county, and local plans in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act; and

(B) involve residents, public agencies, and private organizations working in the Heritage Area;

(3) include a description of actions that units of government and private organizations have agreed to take to protect the resources of the Heritage Area;

(4) specify any existing and potential sources of funding to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area;

(5) include an inventory of the resources contained in the Heritage Area (including a list of any property in the Heritage Area) that--

(A) are related to the themes of the Heritage Area; and

(B) should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or maintained because of cultural, historical, natural, recreational, or scenic significance;

(6) recommend policies for resource management that take into consideration, and include, as appropriate, the application of land and water management techniques (including the development of intergovernmental and interagency cooperative agreements) to protect, in a manner compatible with the support of economic viability, the cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the Heritage Area;

(7) describe a program for implementation of the management plan by the management entity, including--

(A) plans for restoration and construction; and

(B) any specific commitments for the first 5 years of implementation that have been made by the management entity or any other person;

(8) include an analysis of ways in which Federal, State, and local programs (including the involvement of the National Park Service) may best be coordinated to promote the purposes of this Act;

(9) describe any revisions to the boundaries of the Heritage Area that are--

(A) proposed by the management entity; and

(B) requested by the affected local government; and

(10) include an interpretation plan for the Heritage Area.

(b) DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION- As a condition of the receipt of Federal assistance under this Act, not later than 2 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the management entity shall submit to the Secretary the management plan.

(c) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT PLAN-

(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the management plan from the management entity under subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with the Governor of the State, shall approve or disapprove the management plan.

(2) CRITERIA- In determining whether to approve the management plan, the Secretary shall take into consideration--

(A) the extent to which the management plan adequately preserves and protects the economic viability and the cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the Heritage Area;

(B) the level of public participation in the development of the management plan; and

(C) the extent to which the board of directors of the management entity is representative of the local government and a wide range of interested organizations and citizens.

(d) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL- If the Secretary disapproves a management plan, the Secretary shall--

(1) advise the management entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval; and

(2) make recommendations for revisions to the management plan.

(e) REVISION- Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a revised management plan from the management entity, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan.

(f) APPROVAL OF CHANGES-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall review and approve any proposed amendment to the management plan that substantially changes the management plan, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) FUNDING- Funds made available under this Act shall not be expended to implement an amendment to the management plan described in paragraph (1) until such date as the Secretary approves the amendment.

(g) EFFECT OF INACTION- If the Secretary does not approve or disapprove the management plan or a proposed amendment to the management plan within the 90-day period described in subsection (c)(1) or (e), respectively, the management plan or amendment to the management plan shall be deemed to have been approved by the Secretary.

SEC. 8. DUTIES OF SECRETARY.

(a) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may, at the request of the management entity and subject to the availability of appropriations, provide reimbursable

or nonreimbursable technical and financial assistance to the management entity to carry out this Act, including assistance in--

(A) updating and implementing the management plan; and

(B) carrying out activities of the management entity.

(2) PRIORITY- In providing assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in--

(A) the implementation of the management plan;

(B) the provision of educational assistance and advice regarding land and water management techniques to conserve the significant resources of the Heritage Area;

(C) the development and application of techniques to promote the preservation of any cultural and historic properties within the Heritage Area;

(D) the preservation, restoration, and reuse of publicly and privately owned historic buildings;

(E) the design and production of interpretive materials based on the management plan, including--

(i) guide brochures;

(ii) visitor displays;

(iii) audio-visual and interactive exhibits; and

(iv) educational curricula materials for public education; and

(F) the implementation of initiatives prior to approval of the management plan.

(b) DOCUMENTATION OF STRUCTURES- The Secretary, in cooperation with the Historic American Building Survey and the Historic American Engineering Record, shall conduct studies necessary to document the industrial, engineering, building, and architectural history of the Heritage Area.

SEC. 9. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

Any Federal agency that conducts or supports an activity that directly affects the Heritage Area shall--

(1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity with respect to the activity;

(2)(A) cooperate with the Secretary and the management entity in carrying out this Act; and

(B) to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate the activity of the Federal agency with the efforts of the Secretary and the management entity; and

(3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support the activity of the Federal agency in such manner as the Secretary and the management entity determine shall not have an adverse effect on the Heritage Area.

SEC. 10. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES.

Nothing in this Act affects the authority of the management entity to use Federal funds made available under any other Act for the purposes for which those funds are authorized.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--

(1) $1,000,000 for any fiscal year; and

(2) a total of $10,000,000.

(b) COST SHARING- The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out under this Act shall not exceed 50 percent.

SEC. 12. TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.

The authority provided by this Act terminates effective on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

END