Title 54 — National Park Service and Related ProgramsRelease 119-73not60

§120104 Evaluation

Title 54 › Subtitle Subtitle I— National Park System › Chapter 1201— NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA SYSTEM › § 120104

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may, from time to time, evaluate a National Heritage Area and send a report about it to two Congressional committees. If an evaluation is done, it must check how well the local coordinating group is meeting the area's purpose and following its management plan. The evaluation must also look at money and support from the federal, State, local, Tribal, and private sectors to see their effect. It must review the area's management, partnerships, and funding to find what is essential for keeping the area going. The report must recommend the Service’s future role. If the Secretary suggests keeping federal money, the report must explain ways to cut or stop that funding over time and how long that would take. If the Secretary suggests stopping federal funding, the report must describe likely effects on conservation, interpretation, and long-term survival.

Full Legal Text

Title 54, §120104

National Park Service and Related Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)At reasonable and appropriate intervals, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may—

(1)conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of a National Heritage Area in accordance with subsection (b); and

(2)prepare and submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that includes recommendations for the continued role of the Service with respect to each National Heritage Area in accordance with subsection (c).

(b)An evaluation under subsection (a)(1) shall—

(1)assess the progress of the applicable local coordinating entity of a National Heritage Area with respect to—

(A)accomplishing the purposes of the applicable National Heritage Area; and

(B)achieving the goals and objectives of the management plan;

(2)analyze Federal, State, local, Tribal government, and private investments in the National Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and

(3)review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the National Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the National Heritage Area.

(c)Each report under subsection (a)(2) shall include—

(1)if the report contains a recommendation of the Secretary that Federal funding for the applicable National Heritage Area should be continued, an analysis of—

(A)any means by which that Federal funding may be reduced or eliminated over time; and

(B)the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination of Federal funding; or

(2)if the report contains a recommendation of the Secretary that Federal funding for the applicable National Heritage Area should be eliminated, a description of potential impacts on conservation, interpretation, and sustainability in the applicable National Heritage Area.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

54 U.S.C. § 120104

Title 54 — National Park Service and Related Programs

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60