54 U.S.C. § 120103 — National Heritage Area studies and designation

(a) Studies.—(1) In general.—Subject to available appropriations, the Secretary^* may conduct or review a study of each proposed National Heritage Area^* to decide whether it is suitable and feasible for designation. (2) Preparation.—(A) In general.—The Secretary may conduct the study after consulting State and local historic-preservation officers, historical societies, tourism offices, and other appropriate organizations and government agencies. Interested people or entities may conduct it if the Secretary certifies that it meets paragraph (3). (B) Certification.—Within 1 year after receiving a study prepared by interested people or entities, the Secretary must review it and certify whether it meets paragraph (3). (3) Requirements.—The study must analyze, document, and decide whether the proposed area (A) has natural, historic, and cultural resources that (i) show distinctive parts of United States heritage, (ii) deserve recognition, conservation, interpretation, and continued use, and (iii) would best be managed (I) through public-private partnerships and (II) by linking diverse, sometimes noncontiguous resources and active communities; (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife that are valuable parts of the Nation’s story; (C) offers outstanding opportunities (i) to conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic features and (ii) for recreation and education; (D) has resources that (i) matter to the proposed area’s identified themes and (ii) retain enough integrity to support interpretation; (E) includes residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and State and local governments that (i) took part in planning, (ii) created a financial plan describing every participant’s role, including the Federal Government’s, and (iii) showed significant support for designation; (F) has a potential management entity that can work with those participants to develop the area while encouraging State and local economic activity; and (G) has a proposed boundary map supported by the public. (4) Report.—(A) For each study, the Secretary must report to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources. The report must describe (i) correspondence showing support for or opposition to establishing the area, (ii) the study’s findings, and (iii) the Secretary’s conclusions and recommendations. (B) Timing.—(i) For a Secretary-conducted study, the report is due within 3 years after funds first become available for the study. (ii) For a study by interested parties, the report is due within 180 days after the Secretary certifies that the study meets paragraph (3). (b) Designation.—An area may become a National Heritage Area only through an Act of Congress.