Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in Arizona. Designates the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, Inc. as the management entity for the Area.
Requires the management entity to prepare and submit a management plan for the Area to the Secretary of the Interior for approval.
Prohibits the management entity from using federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property.
Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the Area for the development and implementation of the approved management plan.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1885 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1885
To establish the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in the State
of Arizona, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2007
Mr. Grijalva (for himself and Ms. Giffords) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in the State
of Arizona, 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 ``Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage
Area Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act include the following:
(1) To establish the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage
Area in the State of Arizona.
(2) To implement the recommendations of the ``Alternative
Concepts for Commemorating Spanish Colonization'' study
completed by the National Park Service in 1991, and the
``Feasibility Study for the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage
Area'' prepared by the Center for Desert Archaeology in July
2005.
(3) To provide a management framework to foster a close
working relationship with all levels of government, the private
sector, and the local communities in the region and to conserve
the region's heritage while continuing to pursue compatible
economic opportunities.
(4) To assist communities, organizations, and citizens in
the State of Arizona in identifying, preserving, interpreting,
and developing the historical, cultural, scenic, and natural
resources of the region for the educational and inspirational
benefit of current and future generations.
(5) To provide appropriate linkages between units of the
National Park System and communities, governments, and
organizations within the Heritage Area.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, established in
section 4.
(2) Management entity.--The term ``Management Entity''
means the management entity for the Heritage Area designated by
section 4(d).
(3) Management plan.--The term ``Management Plan'' means
the management plan for the Heritage Area specified in section
6.
(4) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map titled ``Boundary
Map Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area'', numbered
_______, and dated ____________.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Arizona.
SEC. 4. SANTA CRUZ VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Santa Cruz
Valley National Heritage Area in the State of Arizona.
(b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall include the portions of
the counties of Santa Cruz and Pima, as identified on the map.
(c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park
Service, Department of the Interior, and the Management entity.
(d) Management Entity.--The Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance,
Inc., shall be the management entity for the Heritage Area.
SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES, PROHIBITIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) Duties of the Management Entity.--To further the purposes of
the Heritage Area, the management entity shall--
(1) prepare and submit a management plan for the Heritage
Area to the Secretary in accordance with section 6;
(2) assist units of local and tribal governments, regional
planning organizations, non-profit organizations, private land-
owners, and other entities by--
(A) carrying out programs and projects that
recognize, protect and enhance important resources
values within the Heritage Area;
(B) establishing and maintaining interpretive
exhibits and programs in the Heritage Area;
(C) developing recreational, educational, and
economic, and community development opportunities
within the Heritage Area;
(D) increasing public awareness of, and
appreciation for, the natural, cultural, historical,
archaeological, scenic, and outdoor recreational
resources and sites in the Heritage Area;
(E) protecting and restoring historic sites and
structures, archaeological sites, and natural resources
related to the Heritage Area;
(F) ensuring that signs identifying points of
public access and sites of interest are posted
throughout the Heritage Area;
(G) promoting cultural, traditional, and nature-
themed events and attractions in the Heritage Area; and
(H) promoting a wide range of partnerships among
governments, organizations and individuals to further
the purposes of the Heritage Area;
(3) coordinate with tribal and local governments to better
enable them to participate in ways consistent with the goals of
the management plan;
(4) consider the interests of diverse units of government,
businesses, organizations and individuals in the Heritage Area
in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;
(5) conduct meetings open to the public at least semi-
annually regarding the development and implementation of the
management plan;
(6) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal
year in which the management entity receives Federal funds
under this Act, setting forth its accomplishments, expenses,
and income, including grants to any other entities during the
year for which the report is made;
(7) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which
it receives Federal funds under this Act, all information
pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching
funds; and
(8) encourage by appropriate means economic development
that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area.
(b) Authorities.--The management entity may, for the purposes of
preparing and implementing the management plan for the Heritage Area,
use Federal funds made available under this Act to--
(1) make grants to the State of Arizona, its political
subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and other
entities;
(2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide
technical assistance to the State of Arizona its political
subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, Federal
agencies, and other entities;
(3) hire and compensate staff, including individuals with
expertise in natural cultural, and historical resources
protection, economic and community development, and heritage
programming;
(4) obtain money or services from any source including any
that are provided under any other Federal law or program;
(5) contract for goods or services; and
(6) undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that
furthers the purposes of the Heritage Area and is consistent
with the approved management plan.
(c) Prohibitions on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The
management entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to
acquire real property, but may use any other source of funding,
including other Federal funding outside this authority, intended for
the acquisition of real property.
SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) Requirements.--The management plan for the Heritage Area
shall--
(1) describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and
recommendations for telling the story of the heritage of the
area covered by the Heritage Area and encourage long-term
resource protection, enhancement, interpretation, funding,
management, and development of the Heritage Area;
(2) include a description of actions and commitments that
governments, private organizations, and citizens will take to
protect, enhance, interpret, fund, manage, and develop the
natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic, and
recreational resources of the Heritage Area;
(3) specify existing and potential sources of funding or
economic development strategies to protect, enhance, interpret,
fund, manage, and develop the Heritage Area;
(4) include an inventory of the natural, historical,
cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of
the Heritage Area related to the national importance and themes
of the Heritage Area that should be protected, enhanced,
interpreted, managed, funded, and developed;
(5) recommend policies and strategies for resource
management, including the development of intergovernmental and
interagency agreements to protect, enhance, interpret, fund,
manage, and develop the natural, historical, cultural,
educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage
Area;
(6) describe a program for implementation for the
management plan, including--
(A) performance goals;
(B) plans for resource protection, enhancement,
interpretation, funding, management, and development;
and
(C) specific commitments for implementation that
have been made by the local coordinating entity or any
government agency, organization, business, or
individual;
(7) include an analysis of, and recommendations for, means
by which Federal, State, 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 further the purposes of this Act; and
(8) include a business plan that--
(A) describes the role, operation, financing, and
functions of the local coordinating entity and of each
of the major activities contained in the management
plan; and
(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.
(b) Deadline.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on
which funds are first made available to develop the management
plan after designation as a National Heritage Area, the local
coordinating entity shall submit the management plan to the
Secretary for approval.
(2) Termination of funding.--If the management plan is not
submitted to the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (1),
the local coordinating entity shall not qualify for any
additional financial assistance under this Act until such time
as the management plan is submitted to and approved by the
Secretary.
SEC. 7. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may, upon
the request of the management entity, provide technical assistance on a
reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis and financial assistance to the
Heritage Area to develop and implement the approved management plan.
The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with
the management entity and other public or private entities for this
purpose. In assisting the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall give
priority to actions that in general assist in--
(1) conserving the significant natural, historical
cultural, and scenic resources of the Heritage Area; and
(2) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational
opportunities consistent with the purposes of the Heritage
Area.
(b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove
the management plan not later than 180 days after receiving the
management plan.
(2) Criteria for approval.--In determining the approval of
the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
(A) the management entity is representative of the
diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including
governments, natural and historic resource protection
organizations, educational institutions, businesses,
and recreational organizations;
(B) the management entity has afforded adequate
opportunity, including public hearings, for public and
governmental involvement in the preparation of the
management plan;
(C) the resource protection and interpretation
strategies contained in the management plan, if
implemented, would adequately protect the natural,
historical, and cultural resources of the Heritage
Area; and
(D) the management plan is supported by the
appropriate State and local officials whose cooperation
is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the
State and local aspects of the management plan.
(3) Criteria for approval.--In determining whether to
approve a management plan for the Heritage Area, the Secretary
shall consider whether--
(A) the local coordinating entity represents the
diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including
governments, natural, and historic resource protection
organizations, educational institutions, businesses,
recreational organizations, community residents, and
private property owners;
(B) the local coordinating entity--
(i) has afforded adequate opportunity for
public and governmental involvement (including
through workshops and hearings) in the
preparation of the management plan; and
(ii) provides for at least semiannual
public meetings to ensure adequate
implementation of the management plan;
(C) the resource protection, enhancement,
interpretation, funding, management, and development
strategies described in the management plan, if
implemented, would adequately protect, enhance,
interpret, fund, manage, and develop the natural,
historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and
recreational resources of the Heritage Area;
(D) the management plan would not adversely affect
any activities authorized on Federal land under public
land laws or land use plans;
(E) the local coordinating entity has demonstrated
the financial capability, in partnership with others,
to carry out the plan;
(F) the Secretary has received adequate assurances
from the appropriate State and local officials whose
support is needed to ensure the effective
implementation of the State and local elements of the
management plan; and
(G) the management plan demonstrates partnerships
among the local coordinating entity, Federal, State,
and local governments, regional planning organizations,
nonprofit organizations, or private sector parties for
implementation of the management plan.
(4) Approval of amendments.--Substantial amendments to the
management plan shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved
in the same manner as provided for the original management
plan. The management entity shall not use Federal funds
authorized by this Act to implement any amendments until such
amendments have been approved by the Secretary.
SEC. 8. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
Any Federal agency conducting or supporting activities directly
affecting the Heritage Area is encouraged to--
(1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity
with respect to such activities;
(2) cooperate with the Secretary and the management entity
in carrying out their duties under this Act and, to the maximum
extent practicable, coordinate such activities with the
carrying out of such duties; and
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support
such activities in a manner which will not have adverse effects
on the Heritage Area.
SEC. 9. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS.
Nothing in this Act--
(1) abridges the rights of any property owner (whether
public or private), including the right to refrain from
participating in any plan, project, program, or activity
conducted within the Heritage Area;
(2) requires any property owner to permit public access
(including access by Federal, State, or local agencies) to the
property of the property owner, or to modify public access or
use of property of the property owner under any other Federal,
State, or local law;
(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved
land use plan, or other regulatory authority of any Federal,
State or local agency, or conveys any land use or other
regulatory authority to any local coordinating entity;
(4) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation
of water or water rights;
(5) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish
and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting
within the Heritage Area; or
(6) creates any liability, or affects any liability under
any other law, of any private property owner with respect to
any person injured on the private property.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be
authorized to be appropriated 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.
SEC. 11. SUNSET.
The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this Act
shall terminate on the day occurring 15 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
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