To provide for the conduct of a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Trail of the Ancients National Heritage Area in the Four Corners region of the States of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

July 15, 2005

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

To provide for the conduct of a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Trail of the Ancients National Heritage Area in the Four Corners region of the States of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

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 `Trail of the Ancients National Heritage Area Study Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--

(1) the Four Corners region, 1 of the areas of greatest archaeological interest in the United States, provides access to numerous examples of the Ancestral Puebloan culture;

(2) the Four Corners region highlights areas and sites at which--

(A) the earliest inhabitants were Paleo-Americans, nomadic people who traveled through and lived in the area as early as 10,000 B.C.; and

(B) the Ancestral Puebloan Indians lived from approximately 1 to 1300 A.D.;

(3) the region features sites that chronicle the Ute and Navajo Indian cultures;

(4) the archaeological sites of the region have been well-preserved by the semi-arid climate of the region;

(5) national and international recognition of sites in the region has contributed to the wealth of information about the people who have inhabited the area;

(6) the region features the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, and other designated byways and highways, including San Juan Skyway in the State of Colorado and the Utah Bicentennial Highway; and

(7) designating the Trail of the Ancients National Heritage Area as a unit of the National Park System--

(A) would link many of the cultural and recreation sites in the region for the benefit of the traveling public and communities in the region; and

(B) would not--

(i) impose restrictions on private property; or

(ii) require acquisition of additional land.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) HERITAGE AREA- The term `Heritage Area' means the Trail of the Ancients National Heritage Area.

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

(3) STATE- The term `State' means each of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

(4) STUDY AREA- The term `study area' means the Four Corner region, consisting of--

(A) portions of--

(i) San Juan County, Utah;

(ii) Montezuma and Dolores Counties, Colorado;

(iii) Apache and Navajo Counties, Arizona; and

(iv) San Juan and McKinley Counties, New Mexico; and

(B) portions of the reservations of the Ute Mountain Ute, Navajo, and Hopi Tribes, in the States.

SEC. 4. TRAIL OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY.

(a) In General- The Secretary, in cooperation with the Four Corners Heritage Council, shall conduct a study to assess the feasibility and suitability of designating the study area as the Trail of the Ancients National Heritage Area.

(b) Requirements- The study shall include analysis, documentation, and determinations on whether--

(1) the study area--

(A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, or recreational resources that--

(i) represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States worthy of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and continuing use; and

(ii) are best managed--

(I) through partnerships among public and private entities; and

(II) by combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and active communities;

(B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife that are a valuable part of the heritage of the United States;

(C) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, historical, cultural, or scenic features;

(D) provides outstanding recreational and educational opportunities; and

(E) has resources important to any identified theme of the study area that retain a degree of integrity capable of supporting interpretation;

(2) residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, the Federal Government, and State, local, and tribal governments within the study area--

(A) are involved in the planning of the Heritage Area;

(B) have demonstrated support for the Heritage Area; and

(C) have developed a conceptual financial plan that outlines the roles of all participants (including the Federal Government) in the management of the Heritage Area;

(3) there is a potential management entity to work in partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and Federal, State, local, and tribal governments within the study area to develop the Heritage Area consistent with continued, State, local, and tribal economic activity; and

(4) a conceptual boundary map has been developed that is supported by the public.

(c) Consultation- In conducting the study, the Secretary and the Four Corners Heritage Council shall consult with appropriate Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, interested organizations, and affected communities within the study area.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out the study, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

END