Caddo Lake National Heritage Area Act of 2018
This bill establishes the Caddo Lake National Heritage Area in Louisiana and Texas.
The bill designates the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission as the management entity for the area.
The commission shall submit a management plan for the area. Such plan must contain an inventory of the cultural, natural, historical, educational, scenic, and recreational resources in the area, including a list of the property that is related to the area's themes and that should be conserved, enhanced, managed, or developed.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5957 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5957
To establish the Caddo Lake National Heritage Area, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 24, 2018
Mr. Gohmert (for himself, Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, and Mr. Ratcliffe)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Caddo Lake National Heritage Area, 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 ``Caddo Lake National Heritage Area
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Caddo lake heritage area commission.--The term ``Caddo
Lake Heritage Area Commission'' means the management entity for
the Heritage Area.
(2) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
Caddo Lake National Heritage Area established by section 3(a).
(3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under
section 4.
(4) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map prepared under
section 3(b).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States
of--
(A) Louisiana; and
(B) Texas.
SEC. 3. CADDO LAKE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the States the Caddo
Lake National Heritage Area.
(b) Boundaries.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map depicting the boundaries
of the Heritage Area.
(c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of--
(1) the National Park Service; and
(2) the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission.
(d) Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission.--The Caddo Lake Heritage
Area Commission shall--
(1) serve as the management entity for the Heritage Area;
(2) oversee the development of the management plan; and
(3) be governed by a board of directors that shall--
(A) include members that represent a geographic
balance across the applicable counties and the States;
(B) be composed of not fewer than 7, and not more
than 15, members elected by the membership of the Caddo
Lake Heritage Area Commission;
(C) be selected to represent a balanced group of
diverse interests, including--
(i) the forest industry;
(ii) the energy or mineral resources
industry;
(iii) environmental interests;
(iv) cultural heritage interests;
(v) tourism interests; and
(vi) regional agency partners;
(D) exercise all corporate powers of the Caddo Lake
Heritage Area Commission;
(E) manage the activities and affairs of the Caddo
Lake Heritage Area Commission; and
(F) subject to any limitations in the articles and
bylaws of the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission, this
Act, and any other applicable Federal or State law,
establish the policies of the Caddo Lake Heritage Area
Commission.
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission shall develop and
submit to the Secretary for approval a management plan for the Heritage
Area.
(b) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
(1) describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and
recommendations for--
(A) presenting to the citizens of the United States
the heritage of the region; and
(B) encouraging the long-term resource
conservation, enhancement, interpretation, funding,
management, and development of the Heritage Area;
(2) take into consideration and coordinate Federal, State,
and local plans to present a unified historic preservation and
interpretation plan for the Heritage Area;
(3) involve residents, public agencies, and private
organizations of the Heritage Area;
(4) describe actions that units of government, private
organizations, and citizens recommend for the conservation,
enhancement, interpretation, funding, management, and
development of the resources of the Heritage Area;
(5) identify--
(A) existing and potential sources of funding for
the conservation, enhancement, interpretation,
management, and development of the resources of the
Heritage Area; and
(B) economic development strategies for the
conservation, enhancement, interpretation, funding,
management, and development of the resources of the
Heritage Area;
(6) include--
(A) an inventory of the cultural, natural,
historical, educational, scenic, and recreational
resources contained in the Heritage Area, including a
list of property that--
(i) is related to the themes of the
Heritage Area; and
(ii) should be conserved, enhanced,
managed, or developed;
(B) a recommendation of policies and strategies for
resource management and conservation, including the
development of intergovernmental cooperative agreements
to manage and conserve the cultural, natural,
historical, educational, scenic, and recreational
resources of the Heritage Area;
(C) a program of strategies and actions to
implement the management plan that includes--
(i) performance goals;
(ii) resource conservation plans;
(iii) enhancement strategies;
(iv) interpretation strategies; and
(v) specific commitments for implementation
that have been made by the Caddo Lake Heritage
Area Commission or any government,
organization, business, or individual;
(D) an analysis of, and recommendations for, means
by which Federal, State, and local programs may best be
coordinated to further the purposes of this Act,
including an analysis of the role of the National Park
Service and other Federal agencies associated with the
Heritage Area;
(E) a business plan that--
(i) describes the role, operation,
financing, and functions of--
(I) the Caddo Lake Heritage Area
Commission; and
(II) each of the major activities
included in the management plan; and
(ii) provides adequate assurances that the
Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission has the
partnerships and financial and other resources
necessary to implement the management plan; and
(F) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area; and
(7) describe any revisions to the boundaries of the
Heritage Area--
(A) proposed by the Caddo Lake Heritage Area
Commission; and
(B) requested by the affected local government.
(c) Approval of Management Plan.--
(1) Review.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
receipt of the management plan under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove the management
plan.
(2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve the
management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
(A) the management plan meets all requirements
described in subsection (b); and
(B) the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission has
afforded adequate opportunity, including public
hearings, for public and governmental involvement in
the preparation of the management plan.
(d) Action Following Disapproval.--If the Secretary disapproves the
management plan under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall--
(1) advise the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission in
writing of the reasons for the disapproval;
(2) make recommendations for revisions to the management
plan; and
(3) not later than 180 days after the date of receipt of a
proposed revision to the management plan, approve or disapprove
the proposed revision.
(e) Amendments.--The Secretary shall review and approve or
disapprove each amendment to the management plan that the Secretary
determines may substantially alter the purposes of the Heritage Area.
(f) Effect of Inaction.--If the Secretary does not approve or
disapprove a management plan or a revision or change to a management
plan by the date that is 180 days after the date on which the
management plan or revision or change to the management plan is
submitted, the management plan, revision, or change shall be considered
to have been approved by the Secretary.
SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE CADDO LAKE HERITAGE AREA
COMMISSION.
(a) Authorities.--For purposes of preparing and carrying out the
management plan, the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission may--
(1) make grants to--
(A) political jurisdictions of the States;
(B) nonprofit organizations; and
(C) other persons or entities located in the
Heritage Area;
(2) enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide
technical assistance to--
(A) political jurisdictions of the States;
(B) nonprofit organizations;
(C) the heads of Federal agencies; and
(D) other interested persons or entities;
(3) hire and compensate staff who have demonstrated
expertise in the fields of--
(A) cultural, natural, and historical resources
conservation;
(B) economic and community development;
(C) forestry; or
(D) heritage planning;
(4) obtain money or services from any source, including any
money or services provided under any other Federal program or
law, in which case the Federal share of the cost of any
activity carried out using Federal funds shall be not more than
50 percent;
(5) contract for goods or services; and
(6) support activities of partners and any other activities
that--
(A) further the purposes of the Heritage Area; and
(B) are consistent with the management plan.
(b) Duties.--In addition to developing the management plan, the
Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission shall--
(1) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds have been
expended for the Heritage Area by the Caddo Lake Heritage Area
Commission under this Act--
(A) submit to the Secretary an annual report that
describes--
(i) the specific performance goals and
accomplishments of the Caddo Lake Heritage Area
Commission;
(ii) the expenses and income of the Caddo
Lake Heritage Area Commission;
(iii) the amounts and sources of matching
funds;
(iv) the amounts leveraged with Federal
funds and the sources of the leveraging; and
(v) any grants made to any other entities
during the fiscal year; and
(B) make available for audit by Congress, the
Secretary, and appropriate units of government, all
records pertaining to the expenditure of the funds and
any matching funds; and
(2) encourage, by appropriate means and consistent with the
purposes of the Heritage Area, the economic viability of the
Heritage Area.
(c) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The Caddo
Lake Heritage Area Commission shall not use Federal funds to acquire
real property or any interest in real property.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--On request of the Caddo
Lake Heritage Area Commission, the Secretary may provide technical and
financial assistance, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, to
the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission for--
(1) the development and implementation of the management
plan; and
(2) other initiatives of the Caddo Lake Heritage Area
Commission.
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--To carry out this Act, the Secretary may
enter into cooperative agreements with the Caddo Lake Heritage
Area Commission and other public and private entities to
provide assistance under subsection (a).
(2) Requirements.--A cooperative agreement entered into
under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum--
(A) establish the goals and objectives of the
Heritage Area; and
(B) include--
(i) a proposal relating to the conservation
and interpretation of the Heritage Area; and
(ii) a general outline describing each
measure agreed to by the Secretary and the
Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission.
SEC. 7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this Act affects the authority of any
Federal official to provide technical or financial assistance under any
other law.
(b) Consultation and Coordination.--The head of any Federal agency
planning to conduct an activity that may have an impact on the Heritage
Area shall, to the maximum extent practicable--
(1) consult with the Secretary and the Caddo Lake Heritage
Area Commission regarding the activity; and
(2) coordinate the activity with the Secretary and the
Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission.
(c) Effect on Other Federal Agencies.--Nothing in this Act--
(1) modifies, alters, or amends any law (including a
regulation) authorizing a Federal agency to manage Federal 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. 8. PROPERTY OWNERS 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--
(A) to permit public access (including Federal,
Tribal, State, or local government access) to the
property of the property owner; or
(B) to modify any provisions of Federal, Tribal,
State, or local law with regard to public access or use
of private land;
(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, any
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 Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission;
(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;
(7) 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;
(8) abridges, or authorizes the Secretary or the Caddo Lake
Heritage Area Commission to abridge, valid rights to timber
harvesting; or
(9) abridges, restricts, or alters the rights of any
property owner with regard to the property of the property
owner.
SEC. 9. EVALUATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
approval of the management plan under section 4(c), the Secretary
shall--
(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the
Heritage Area; and
(2) prepare a report in accordance with subsection (c).
(b) Evaluation Components.--An evaluation prepared under subsection
(a)(1) shall--
(1) assess the progress of the Caddo Lake Heritage Area
Commission with respect to--
(A) accomplishing the purposes of the authorizing
legislation for the Heritage Area; and
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of the
approved management plan for the Heritage Area;
(2) analyze the State, local, and private investments in
the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the
investments; and
(3) 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.
(c) Report.--Based on the evaluation conducted under subsection
(a)(1), the Secretary shall 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 future role of the National Park Service, if
any, with respect to the Heritage Area.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.
The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this Act
terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of
this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
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