To establish the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area in the State of Utah, and for other purposes.

April 11, 2003

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

To establish the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area in the State of Utah, 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 `National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--

(1) the historical, cultural, and natural heritage legacies of Mormon colonization and settlement are nationally significant;

(2) in the area starting along the Highway 89 corridor at the Arizona border, passing through Kane, Garfield, Piute, Sevier, Wayne, and Sanpete Counties in the State of Utah, and terminating in Fairview, Utah, there are a variety of heritage resources that demonstrate--

(A) the colonization of the western United States; and

(B) the expansion of the United States as a major world power;

(3) the great relocation to the western United States was facilitated by--

(A) the 1,400 mile trek from Illinois to the Great Salt Lake by the Mormon pioneers; and

(B) the subsequent colonization effort in Nevada, Utah, the southeast corner of Idaho, the southwest corner of Wyoming, large areas of southeastern Oregon, much of southern California, and areas along the eastern border of California;

(4) the 250-mile Highway 89 corridor from Kanab to Fairview, Utah, contains some of the best features of the Mormon colonization experience in the United States;

(5) the landscape, architecture, traditions, beliefs, folk life, products, and events along Highway 89 convey the heritage of the pioneer settlement;

(6) the Boulder Loop, Capitol Reef National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Highway 89 area convey the compelling story of how early settlers--

(A) interacted with Native Americans; and

(B) established towns and cities in a harsh, yet spectacular, natural environment;

(7) the colonization and settlement of the Mormon settlers opened up vast amounts of natural resources, including coal, uranium, silver, gold, and copper;

(8) the Mormon colonization played a significant role in the history and progress of the development and settlement of the western United States; and

(9) the artisans, crafters, innkeepers, outfitters, historic landscape, customs, national parks, and architecture in the Heritage Area make the Heritage Area unique.

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this Act is to establish the Heritage Area to--

(1) foster a close working relationship with all levels of government, the private sector, residents, business interests, and local communities in the State;

(2) empower communities in the State to conserve, preserve, and enhance the heritage of the communities while strengthening future economic opportunities;

(3) conserve, interpret, and develop the historical, cultural, natural, and recreational resources within the Heritage Area; and

(4) expand, foster, and develop heritage businesses and products relating to the cultural heritage of the Heritage Area.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) ALLIANCE- The term `Alliance' means the Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance.

(2) BOARD- The term `Board' means the Board of Directors of the Alliance.

(3) HERITAGE AREA- The term `Heritage Area' means the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area established by section 4(a).

(4) MANAGEMENT PLAN- The term `management plan' means the plan developed by the Board under section 6(a).

(5) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.

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

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MORMON PIONEER HERITAGE AREA.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area.

(b) BOUNDARIES-

(1) IN GENERAL- The boundaries of the Heritage Area shall include areas in the State that are--

(A) related to the corridors--

(i) from the Arizona border northward through Kanab, Utah, and to the intersection of Highway 89 and Highway 12, including Highway 12 and Highway 24 as those highways loop off Highway 89 and rejoin Highway 89 at Sigurd;

(ii) from Highway 89 at the intersection of Highway 12 through Panguitch, Junction, Marysvale, and Sevier County to Sigurd;

(iii) continuing northward along Highway 89 through Axtell and Sterling, Sanpete County, to Fairview, Sanpete County, at the junction with Utah Highway 31; and

(iv) continuing northward along Highway 89 through Fairview and Thistle Junction, to the junction with Highway 6; and

(B) located in the following communities: Kanab, Mt. Carmel, Orderville, Glendale, Alton, Cannonville, Tropic, Henrieville, Escalante, Boulder, Teasdale, Fruita, Hanksville, Torrey, Bicknell, Loa, Hatch, Panquitch, Circleville, Antimony, Junction, Marysvale, Koosharem, Sevier, Joseph, Monroe, Elsinore, Richfield, Glenwood, Sigurd, Aurora, Salina, Mayfield, Sterling, Gunnison, Fayette, Manti, Ephraim, Spring City, Mt. Pleasant, Moroni, Fountain Green, and Fairview.

(2) MAP- The Secretary shall prepare a map of the Heritage Area, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Director of the National Park Service.

(3) NOTICE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS- The Alliance shall provide to the government of each city, town, and county that has jurisdiction over property proposed to be included in the Heritage Area written notice of the proposed inclusion.

(c) ADMINISTRATION- The Heritage Area shall be administered in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF ALLIANCE AS MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Alliance shall be the management entity for the Heritage Area.

(b) FEDERAL FUNDING-

(1) AUTHORIZATION TO RECEIVE FUNDS- The Alliance may receive amounts made available to carry out this Act.

(2) DISQUALIFICATION- If a management plan is not submitted to the Secretary as required under section 6 within the time period specified in that section, the Alliance may not receive Federal funding under this Act until a management plan is submitted to the Secretary.

(c) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS- The Alliance may, for the purposes of developing and implementing the management plan, use Federal funds made available under this Act--

(1) to make grants and loans to the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;

(2) to enter into cooperative agreements with or provide technical assistance to the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other organizations;

(3) to hire and compensate staff;

(4) to obtain funds from any source under any program or law requiring the recipient of funds to make a contribution in order to receive the funds; and

(5) to contract for goods and services.

(d) PROHIBITION OF ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY- The Alliance may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property or any interest in real property.

SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT OF THE HERITAGE AREA.

(a) HERITAGE AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN-

(1) DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION FOR REVIEW- Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board, with public participation, shall develop and submit for review to the Secretary a management plan for the Heritage Area.

(2) CONTENTS- The management plan shall--

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

(B) take into consideration Federal, State, county, and local plans in effect on the date of enactment of this Act;

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

(D) include a description of actions that units of government and private organizations are recommended to take to protect the resources of the Heritage Area;

(E) specify existing and potential sources of Federal and non-Federal funding for the conservation, management, and development of the Heritage Area; and

(F) include--

(i) an inventory of resources in the Heritage Area that--

(I) includes a list of property in the Heritage Area that should be conserved, restored, managed, developed, or maintained because of the historical, cultural, or natural significance of the property as the property relates to the themes of the Heritage Area; and

(II) does not include any property that is privately owned unless the owner of the property consents in writing to the inclusion;

(ii) a recommendation of policies for resource management that consider the application of appropriate land and water management techniques, including policies for the development of intergovernmental cooperative agreements to manage the historical, cultural, and natural resources and recreational opportunities of the Heritage Area in a manner that is consistent with the support of appropriate and compatible economic viability;

(iii) a program for implementation of the management plan, including plans for restoration and construction;

(iv) a description of any commitments that have been made by persons interested in management of the Heritage Area;

(v) an analysis of means by which Federal, State, and local programs may

best be coordinated to promote the purposes of this Act; and

(vi) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area.

(3) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN-

(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after submission of the management plan by the Board, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management plan.

(B) DISAPPROVAL AND REVISIONS-

(i) IN GENERAL- If the Secretary disapproves the management plan, the Secretary shall--

(I) advise the Board, in writing, of the reasons for the disapproval; and

(II) make recommendations for revision of the management plan.

(ii) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL- The Secretary shall approve or disapprove proposed revisions to the management plan not later than 60 days after receipt of the revisions from the Board.

(b) PRIORITIES- The Alliance shall give priority to the implementation of actions, goals, and policies set forth in the management plan, including--

(1) assisting units of government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in--

(A) conserving the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the Heritage Area;

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

(C) developing recreational opportunities in the Heritage Area;

(D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the Heritage Area;

(E) restoring historic buildings that are--

(i) located within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; and

(ii) related to the theme of the Heritage Area; and

(F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and environmentally appropriate signs identifying access points and sites of interest are put in place throughout the Heritage Area; and

(2) consistent with the goals of the management plan, encouraging economic viability in the affected communities by appropriate means, including encouraging and soliciting the development of heritage products.

(c) CONSIDERATION OF INTERESTS OF LOCAL GROUPS- In developing and implementing the management plan, the Board shall consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, private property owners, and nonprofit organizations in the Heritage Area.

(d) PUBLIC MEETINGS- The Board shall conduct public meetings at least annually regarding the implementation of the management plan.

(e) ANNUAL REPORTS- For any fiscal year in which the Alliance receives Federal funds under this Act or in which a loan made by the Alliance with Federal funds under section 5(c)(1) is outstanding, the Alliance shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that describes--

(1) the accomplishments of the Alliance;

(2) the expenses and income of the Alliance; and

(3) the entities to which the Alliance made any loans or grants during the year for which the report is made.

(f) COOPERATION WITH AUDITS- For any fiscal year in which the Alliance receives Federal funds under this Act or in which a loan made by the Alliance with Federal funds under section 5(c)(1) is outstanding, the Alliance shall--

(1) make available for audit by Congress, the Secretary, and appropriate units of government all records and other information relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds and any matching funds; and

(2) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing expenditure of the Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available for audit all records and other information relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds.

(g) DELEGATION-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Alliance may delegate the responsibilities and actions under this section for each area identified in section 4(b)(1).

(2) REVIEW- All delegated responsibilities and actions are subject to review and approval by the Alliance.

SEC. 7. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANTS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may provide technical assistance and, subject to the availability of appropriations, grants to--

(A) units of government, nonprofit organizations, and other persons, at the request of the Alliance; and

(B) the Alliance, for use in developing and implementing the management plan.

(2) PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary may not, as a condition of the award of technical assistance or grants under this section, require any recipient of the technical assistance or a grant to enact or modify any land use restriction.

(3) DETERMINATIONS REGARDING ASSISTANCE- The Secretary shall determine whether a unit of government, nonprofit organization, or other person shall be awarded technical assistance or grants and the amount of technical assistance--

(A) based on the extent to which the assistance--

(i) fulfills the objectives of the management plan; and

(ii) achieves the purposes of this Act; and

(B) after giving special consideration to projects that provide a greater leverage of Federal funds.

(b) PROVISION OF INFORMATION- In cooperation with other Federal agencies, the Secretary shall provide the public with information concerning the location and character of the Heritage Area.

(c) OTHER ASSISTANCE- The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with public and private organizations for the purposes of implementing this section.

(d) DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES- A Federal entity conducting any activity directly affecting the Heritage Area shall--

(1) consider the potential effect of the activity on the management plan; and

(2) consult with the Alliance with respect to the activity to minimize the adverse effects of the activity on the Heritage Area.

SEC. 8. NO EFFECT ON LAND USE AUTHORITY AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.

(a) NO EFFECT ON LAND USE AUTHORITY- Nothing in this Act modifies, enlarges, or diminishes any authority of Federal, State, or local government to regulate any use of land under any other law (including regulations).

(b) NO ZONING OR LAND USE POWERS- Nothing in this Act grants powers of zoning or land use control to the Alliance.

(c) LOCAL AUTHORITY AND PRIVATE PROPERTY NOT AFFECTED- Nothing in this Act affects or authorizes the Alliance to interfere with--

(1) the right of any person with respect to private property; or

(2) any local zoning ordinance or land use plan of the State or a political subdivision of the State.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available for any fiscal year.

(b) FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using funds made available under this Act shall not exceed 50 percent.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

END