Directs the Secretary to approve or disapprove of the plan. Directs the entity to periodically review the plan and to submit amendments for approval.
Allows the entity to make grants to and provide technical assistance to tribal and local governments and other public and private entities to further the development and implementation of the plan. Directs the entity to perform certain functions in carrying out this Act, including to: (1) assist local and tribal governments and non-profits in various ways; and (2) make available to the Secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure of funds and any matching funds.
Sets forth things this Act shall not do, including that it shall not restrict an Indian tribe from protecting cultural or religious sites on tribal land.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2689 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2689
To establish the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area in the
State of Mississippi, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2003
Mr. Taylor of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Thompson of
Mississippi, and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area in the
State of Mississippi, 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 ``Mississippi Gulf Coast National
Heritage Area Act''.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the 6-county area in southern Mississippi located on
the Gulf of Mexico and in the Mississippi Coastal Plain has a
unique identity that is shaped by--
(A) the coastal and riverine environment; and
(B) the diverse cultures that have settled in the
area;
(2) the area is rich with diverse cultural and historical
significance, including--
(A) early Native American settlements; and
(B) Spanish, French, and English settlements
originating in the 1600s;
(3) the area includes spectacular natural, scenic, and
recreational resources;
(4) there is broad support from local governments and other
interested individuals for the establishment of the Mississippi
Gulf Coast National Heritage Area to coordinate and assist in
the preservation and interpretation of those resources;
(5) the Comprehensive Resource Management Plan, coordinated
by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources--
(A) is a collaborative effort of the Federal
Government and State and local governments in the area;
and
(B) is a natural foundation on which to establish
the Heritage Area; and
(6) establishment of the Heritage Area would assist local
communities and residents in preserving the unique cultural,
historical, and natural resources of the area.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area established by
section 4(a).
(2) Coordinating entity.--The term ``coordinating entity''
means the coordinating entity for the Heritage Area designated
by section 4(c).
(3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under
section 5.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
Mississippi.
SEC. 4. MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the State the
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area.
(b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall consist of the counties of
Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson in the
State.
(c) Coordinating Entity.--
(1) In general.--The Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources, in consultation with the Mississippi Department of
Archives and History, shall serve as the coordinating entity
for the Heritage Area.
(2) Oversight committee.--The coordinating entity shall
ensure that each of the 6 counties included in the Heritage
Area is appropriately represented on any oversight committee.
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the coordinating entity shall develop and submit to the
Secretary a management plan for the Heritage Area.
(b) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
(1) provide recommendations for the conservation, funding,
management, interpretation, and development of the cultural,
historical, archaeological, natural, and recreational resources
of the Heritage Area;
(2) identify sources of funding for the Heritage Area;
(3) include--
(A) an inventory of the cultural, historical,
archaeological, natural, and recreational resources of
the Heritage Area; and
(B) an analysis of ways in which Federal, State,
tribal, and local programs may best be coordinated to
promote the purposes of this Act;
(4) provide recommendations for educational and
interpretive programs to inform the public about the resources
of the Heritage Area; and
(5) involve residents of affected communities and tribal
and local governments.
(c) Failure to Submit.--If a management plan is not submitted to
the Secretary by the date specified in subsection (a), the Secretary
shall not provide any additional funding under this Act until a
management plan for the Heritage Area is submitted to the Secretary.
(d) Approval or Disapproval of the Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receipt of
the management plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall
approve or disapprove the management plan.
(2) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary
disapproves a management plan under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall--
(A) advise the coordinating entity in writing of
the reasons for disapproval;
(B) make recommendations for revision of the
management plan; and
(C) allow the coordinating entity to submit to the
Secretary revisions to the management plan.
(e) Revision.--After approval by the Secretary of the management
plan, the coordinating entity shall periodically--
(1) review the management plan; and
(2) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by the
Secretary, any recommendations for revisions to the management
plan.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF COORDINATING ENTITY.
(a) Authorities.--For purposes of developing and implementing the
management plan and otherwise carrying out this Act, the coordinating
entity may make grants to and provide technical assistance to tribal
and local governments, and other public and private entities.
(b) Duties.--In addition to developing the management plan under
section 5, in carrying out this Act, the coordinating entity shall--
(1) implement the management plan; and
(2) assist local and tribal governments and non-profit
organizations in--
(A) establishing and maintaining interpretive
exhibits in the Heritage Area;
(B) developing recreational resources in the
Heritage Area;
(C) increasing public awareness of, and
appreciation for, the cultural, historical,
archaeological, and natural resources of the Heritage
Area;
(D) restoring historic structures that relate to
the Heritage Area; and
(E) carrying out any other activity that the
coordinating entity determines to be appropriate to
carry out this Act, consistent with the management
plan;
(3) conduct public meetings at least annually regarding the
implementation of the management plan; and
(4) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are made
available under section 9--
(A) submit to the Secretary a report that
describes, for the fiscal year, the actions of the
coordinating entity in carrying out this Act;
(B) make available to the Secretary for audit all
records relating to the expenditure of funds and any
matching funds; and
(C) require, for all agreements authorizing the
expenditure of Federal funds by any entity, that the
receiving entity make available to the Secretary for
audit all records relating to the expenditure of the
funds.
(c) Prohibition on Acquisition of Real Property.--The coordinating
entity shall not use Federal funds made available under this Act to
acquire real property or any interest in real property.
SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--On the request of the coordinating entity, the
Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to the
coordinating entity for use in the development and implementation of
the management plan.
(b) Prohibition of Certain Requirements.--The Secretary may not, as
a condition of the provision of technical or financial assistance under
this section, require any recipient of the assistance to impose or
modify any land use restriction or zoning ordinance.
SEC. 8. EFFECT OF ACT.
Nothing in this Act--
(1) affects or authorizes the coordinating entity to
interfere with--
(A) the right of any person with respect to private
property; or
(B) any local zoning ordinance or land use plan;
(2) restricts an Indian tribe from protecting cultural or
religious sites on tribal land;
(3) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes the authority of any
State, tribal, or local government to regulate any use of land
under any other law (including regulations);
(4)(A) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes the authority of
the State to manage fish and wildlife in the Heritage Area,
including the regulation of fishing and hunting; or
(B) authorizes the coordinating entity to assume any
management authorities over such lands; or
(5) diminishes the trust responsibilities or government-to-
government obligations of the United States to any federally
recognized Indian tribe.
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) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the total cost
of any activity assisted under this Act shall be not more than 50
percent.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
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