§120103 National Heritage Area Studies and Designation

Summary

The Secretary may study or review any proposed National Heritage Area to see if it is suitable and feasible, but only if money is available. The study can be done by the Secretary, working with state and local preservation and history groups and other agencies, or by outside people or groups if the Secretary certifies the finished study meets the rules. The Secretary must decide within 1 year whether an outside study meets those rules. A study must show that the area has natural, historic, or cultural resources that reflect U.S. heritage, are worth recognizing and protecting, and would work best through partnerships that link different places and communities. It must also show traditions and local culture are important, offer chances for conservation, recreation, and education, have resources tied to the area’s themes that can still be interpreted, involve a wide group of local partners with a basic financial plan (including the Federal role) and clear local support, have a possible management group to work with partners and help the local economy, and include a public-backed boundary map. The Secretary must send a report to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee describing public support or opposition, the study findings, and recommendations. If the Secretary does the study, the report is due within 3 years after funds are first provided. If an outside group did the study, the report is due within 180 days after the Secretary certifies the study. An area can only be made a National Heritage Area by an Act of Congress.