S. 2576

STATUS:

July 9, 2014.--Introduced.
July 23, 2014.--Hearing by subcommittee. (56)

S.2576

Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act (Introduced in Senate - IS)

S 2576 IS

113th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 2576

To establish the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in the State of Washington, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 9, 2014

Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mrs. MURRAY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To establish the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in the State of Washington, 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 `Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act'.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) HERITAGE AREA- The term `Heritage Area' means the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area established by section 4.

(2) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY- The term `local coordinating entity' means the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area designated by section 4(b)(4).

(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN- The term `management plan' means the management plan for the Heritage Area described in section 6.

(4) MAP- The term `map' means the undated overview map entitled `Washington State Maritime Heritage Area Proposed Boundary' and the associated index maps.

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

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

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are--

(1) to encourage and strengthen partnerships and collaboration among maritime interests for the purpose of economic development and heritage tourism;

(2) to recognize that waterfronts are both a foundational part of the heritage of the State and dynamic places that are constantly adapting to new opportunities and challenges;

(3) to recognize, interpret, and conserve the diverse and abundant nationally significant maritime-related objects, sites, structures, places, events, and activities that collectively form a distinctive landscape in ports and coastal communities located in the western part of the State;

(4) to recognize and interpret the impact of that nationally important maritime landscape on Native American and European-American heritage;

(5) to preserve landscapes, communities, traditions, historic sites, and natural features in the Heritage Area associated with that maritime history;

(6) to promote heritage, cultural, and recreational tourism, and to develop educational, interpretive, recreational, and cultural programs through partnerships for the benefit of visitors and the general public; and

(7) to provide appropriate linkages between Federal, State, and local historic sites, and communities, governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals that stimulate appropriate and compatible economic vitality within the Heritage Area, without modifying the authority of any State, tribal, or local government to regulate land use, public land policy, or private activity.

SEC. 4. MARITIME WASHINGTON NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

(a) Establishment- There is established the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in the counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, Island, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, and Grays Harbor in the State.

(b) Boundaries-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Heritage Area shall consist of Federal, State, local, and tribal land that--

(A) allows public access; and

(B) is at least partly located within the area that is 1/4 -mile landward of the shoreline, as generally depicted on the map.

(2) REVISION- The boundaries of the Heritage Area may be revised if the revision is--

(A) proposed in the management plan;

(B) approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 5; and

(3) AVAILABILITY OF MAP- The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service and the local coordinating entity.

(4) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY- The local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area shall be the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Advisory Council, operating under the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.

SEC. 5. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

(a) Duties- To support the purposes of the Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity shall--

(1) prepare and submit to the Secretary in accordance with section 6, a management plan for the Heritage Area;

(2) assist willing partners, such as units of State, local, and tribal government, regional planning organizations, and private organizations, in implementing the approved management plan by--

(A) advocating for and carrying out programs and projects that recognize and protect important resource values within the Heritage Area;

(B) promoting, developing, and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs within the Heritage Area;

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

(E) advocating for the protection and preservation of historic sites, structures, objects, and buildings in the Heritage Area that are consistent with the themes of the Heritage Area;

(F) ensuring that signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are posted throughout the Heritage Area; and

(G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals to support the purposes of the Heritage Area;

(3) take into consideration the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage Area in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;

(4) ensure an open and transparent process for the development and implementation of the management plan by holding regular public meetings;

(5) submit to the Secretary an annual report for each fiscal year during which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act that describes, with respect to the reporting period--

(A) the goals and accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;

(B) the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity;

(D) the amounts leveraged with Federal funds and sources of the leveraged funds;

(E) grants made to any other entities; and

(F) critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area;

(6) make available for audit for any fiscal year for which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act all information pertaining to the expenditure of those funds and any matching funds;

(7) in all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations, ensure that the receiving organizations make available for audit all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure of the funds; and

(8) encourage and strengthen partnerships and collaboration among maritime interests by appropriate means for economic development and heritage tourism, consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area.

(b) Authorities- Subject to the prior approval of the Secretary, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, the local coordinating entity may use Federal funds made available under this Act--

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

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

(3) to hire and compensate staff;

(4) to obtain funds or services from any source, including funds and services provided under any other Federal law or program;

(5) to contract for goods or services; and

(6) to support activities of partners and any other activities that--

(A) support the purposes of the Heritage Area; and

(B) are consistent with the approved management plan.

(c) Prohibition on Acquisition of Real Property- The local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire any interest in real property.

SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

(a) In General- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to develop the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the Heritage Area.

(b) Requirements- The management plan for the Heritage Area shall--

(1) describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, interpretation, and development of the Heritage Area;

(2) take into consideration existing State and local plans in the development and implementation of the management plan;

(3) include a description of actions and commitments that governments, private organizations, and individuals plan to take to protect, enhance, and interpret the natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;

(4) specify existing and potential sources of funding or economic development strategies to conserve, manage, and develop the Heritage Area;

(5) include an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area relating to the stories and themes of the Heritage Area that should be protected, enhanced, managed, or developed;

(6) recommend policies and strategies for resource management, including the development of intergovernmental and interagency agreements, to protect the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area;

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

(A) performance goals;

(B) an approximate timeline for implementation;

(D) how the plan will be evaluated and updated;

(8) include an analysis of, and recommendations for, ways in which Federal, State, tribal, and local programs may best be coordinated (including the role of the National Park Service and other Federal agencies associated with the Heritage Area) to support the purposes of this Act;

(9) provide recommendations for educational and interpretive programs to inform the public regarding the resources of the Heritage Area; and

(10) include a business plan that--

(A) describes the role, operation, financing, and functions of--

(i) the local coordinating entity; and

(ii) each major activity contained in the management plan;

(B) provides adequate assurances that the local coordinating entity has the partnerships and financial and other resources necessary to implement the management plan for the Heritage Area; and

(C) describes goals and recommendations for sustainability of the coordinating entity through the effective period of this Act.

(c) Termination of Funding- If the management plan is not submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this section, the local coordinating entity shall not qualify for additional financial assistance under this Act until the date on which the management plan is submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary.

(d) Approval of Management Plan-

(1) REVIEW- Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management plan.

(2) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL- In determining the approval of the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--

(A) the local coordinating entity represents the diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including governments, resource-related organizations, educational institutions, ports, businesses, community residents, and recreational organizations;

(B) the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate opportunity for public and governmental involvement (including workshops and public meetings) in the preparation of the management plan;

(C) the conservation and interpretation strategies described in the management plan, if implemented, are compatible and consistent with this Act;

(D) the management plan would not adversely affect any activities authorized on Federal, State, local, or tribal land under applicable laws or land use plans;

(E) the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the appropriate State, tribal, and local officials the support of which is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State, tribal, and local aspects of the management plan;

(F) the local coordinating entity has identified existing and potential sources of funding for implementing the management plan in partnership with others; and

(G) provisions for long-term sustainability of the Heritage Area are in place.

(3) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL-

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

(i) shall advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval; and

(ii) may make recommendations to the local coordinating entity for revisions to the management plan.

(B) DEADLINE- Not later than 180 days after receiving a revised management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan.

(4) AMENDMENTS-

(A) IN GENERAL- An amendment to the management plan that substantially alters the management plan shall be--

(i) reviewed by the Secretary; and

(ii) approved or disapproved in the same manner as the original management plan.

(B) IMPLEMENTATION- The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act to implement any amendment to the management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment.

SEC. 7. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF SECRETARY.

(a) Technical and Financial Assistance-

(1) IN GENERAL- On the request of the local coordinating entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis (as determined by the Secretary), to the local coordinating entity to develop and implement the management plan.

(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the local coordinating entity and other public or private organizations to provide technical or financial assistance under paragraph (1).

(3) PRIORITY- In providing assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in--

(A) conserving the significant historic and cultural maritime-related resources of the Heritage Area; and

(B) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational opportunities for the public, consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area.

(b) Evaluation; Report-

(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area under section 11, the Secretary shall--

(A) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; and

(B) prepare a report that includes recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area, in accordance with paragraph (3).

(2) EVALUATION COMPONENTS- An evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A) shall--

(A) assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to--

(i) accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the Heritage Area; and

(ii) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the Heritage Area;

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

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

(3) RECOMMENDATIONS-

(A) IN GENERAL- Based on the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area.

(B) REQUIRED ANALYSIS- If the report prepared under this paragraph recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of--

(i) ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; and

(ii) the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination.

(i) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(ii) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 8. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

(a) In General- Nothing in this Act affects the authority of any Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law (including regulations).

(b) Consultation and Coordination- To the maximum extent practicable, the head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the local coordinating entity.

(1) modifies, alters, or amends any laws (including regulations) authorizing a Federal agency to manage land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency;

(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or

(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.

SEC. 9. PROPERTY OWNERS AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS.

Nothing in this Act--

(1) abridges the rights of any owner of public or private property, including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the Heritage Area;

(2) requires any property owner--

(A) to permit public access (including Federal, State, tribal, or local government access) to the property; or

(B) to modify any provision of Federal, State, tribal, or local law with regard to public access or use of private land;

(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved land-use plan, or any other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency, or tribal government;

(4) conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity;

(5) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights;

(6) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or

(7) creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any private property owner with respect to any individual injured on the private property.

SEC. 10. 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 $500,000 shall be made available for any fiscal year.

(b) Availability- Funds made available under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

(1) IN GENERAL- The Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this section shall be not more than 50 percent.

(2) FORM- The non-Federal contribution--

(A) shall be from non-Federal sources; and

(B) may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.

SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

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

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