,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cahe ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #bf1 #bjac,mr4 ,gene ,green of ,texas 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,jackson ,lee1 ,mr4 ,al ,green of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,olson1 and ,mr4 ,stockman7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,buffalo ,bayou ,national ,heritage ,area in the ,state of ,texas1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,buffalo ,bayou ,national ,heritage ,area ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,heritage area ,the term ,heritage ,area means the ,buffalo ,bayou ,national ,heritage ,area1 established in this ,act4 7#b7 ,management entity ,the term management entity means the management entity for the ,heritage ,area designated by this ,act4 7#c7 ,management plan ,the term management plan means the management plan for the ,heritage ,area required under this ,act4 7#d7 ,map ,the term map means the map entitled ,buffalo ,bayou ,national ,heritage ,area ,proposed ,boundary1 numbered ,t#aa_/aja1eib1 and dated ,march #bjaj4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means the ,state of ,texas4 #c4 ,buffalo ,bayou ,national ,heritage ,area 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,state the ,buffalo ,bayou ,national ,heritage ,area4 7b7 ,boundaries ,the ,heritage ,area shall consist of areas included in the map in ,harris ,county1 ,texas4 7c7 ,map ,a map of the ,heritage ,area shall be-- 7#a7 included in the management plan2 and 7#b7 on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the ,national ,park ,service4 7d7 ,management entity ,the management entity for the ,heritage ,area shall be the ,buffalo ,bayou ,national ,heritage ,area ,corporation4 #d4 ,administration ,the management entity shall-- 7#a7 in accordance with section #e1 prepare and submit a management plan for the ,heritage ,area to the ,secretary2 7#b7 assist units of local government1 regional planning organizations1 and nonprofit organizations in carrying out the approved management plan by-- 7,a7 carrying out programs and projects that recognize1 protect1 and enhance important resource values in the ,heritage ,area2 7,b7 establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs in the ,heritage ,area2 7,c7 developing recreational and educational opportunities in the ,heritage ,area2 7,d7 increasing public awareness of1 and appreciation for1 natural1 historical1 scenic1 and cultural resources of the ,heritage ,area2 7,e7 protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings in the ,heritage ,area that are consistent with ,heritage ,area themes2 7,f7 ensuring that clear1 consistent1 and appropriate signs identifying points of public access1 and sites of interest are posted throughout the ,heritage ,area2 and 7,g7 promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments1 organizations1 and individuals to further the ,heritage ,area2 7#c7 consider the interests of diverse units of government1 businesses1 organizations1 and individuals in the ,heritage ,area in the preparation and implementation of the management plan2 7#d7 conduct meetings open to the public at least semiannually regarding the development and implementation of the management plan2 and 7#e7 submit an annual report to the ,secretary that describes the activities1 expenses1 and income of the management entity 7including grants to any other entities during the year that the report is made74 #e4 ,management plan 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the management entity shall submit to the ,secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the ,heritage ,area4 7b7 ,requirements ,the management plan shall-- 7#a7 incorporate an integrated and cooperative approach for the protection1 enhancement1 and interpretation of the natural1 cultural1 historic1 scenic1 and recreational resources of the ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 take into consideration ,state and local plans2 7#c7 include-- 7,a7 an inventory of-- 7i7 the resources located in the core area described in section #d7;b72 and 7ii7 any other property in the core area that-- 7,i7 is related to the themes of the ,heritage ,area2 and 7,,ii7 should be preserved1 restored1 managed1 or maintained because of the significance of the property2 7,b7 comprehensive policies1 strategies1 and recommendations for conservation1 funding1 management1 and development of the ,heritage ,area2 7,c7 a description of actions that governments1 private organizations1 and individuals have agreed to take to protect the natural1 historical1 and cultural resources of the ,heritage ,area2 7,d7 a program of implementation for the management plan by the management entity that includes a description of actions to facilitate ongoing collaboration among partners to-- 7i7 promote plans for resource protection1 restoration1 and construction2 and 7ii7 specific commitments for implementation that have been made by the management entity or any government1 organization1 or individual for the first #e years of operation2 7,e7 the identification of sources of funding for carrying out the management plan2 7,f7 analysis and recommendations for means by which local1 ,state1 and ,federal programs1 including the role of the ,national ,park ,service in the ,heritage ,area1 may best be coordinated to carry out this ,act2 and 7,g7 an interpretive plan for the ,heritage ,area2 and 7#d7 recommend policies and strategies for resource management that consider and detail the application of appropriate land and water management techniques1 including the development of intergovernmental and interagency cooperative agreements to protect the natural1 historical1 cultural1 educational1 scenic1 and recreational resources of the ,heritage ,area4 7c7 ,deadline ,if a proposed management plan is not submitted to the ,secretary by the date that is #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the management entity shall be ineligible to receive the designation of a ,national ,heritage ,area under this ,act until the date that the ,secretary receives and approves the management plan4 7d7 ,approval or disapproval of management plan 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of receipt of the management plan under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,state1 shall approve or disapprove the management plan4 7#b7 ,criteria for approval ,in determining whether to approve the management plan1 the ,secretary shall consider whether-- 7,a7 the management entity is representative of the diverse interests of the ,heritage ,area1 including governments1 natural and historic resource protection organizations1 educational institutions1 businesses1 and recreational organizations2 7,b7 the management entity has afforded adequate opportunity1 including public hearings1 for public and governmental involvement in the preparation of the management plan2 and 7,c7 the resource protection and interpretation strategies contained in the management plan1 if implemented1 would adequately protect the natural1 historical1 and cultural resources of the ,heritage ,area4 7#c7 ,action following disapproval ,if the ,secretary disapproves the management plan under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 advise the management entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval2 7,b7 make recommendations for revisions to the management plan2 and 7,c7 not later than #ahj days after the receipt of any proposed revision of the management plan from the management entity1 approve or disapprove the proposed revision4 7#d7 ,amendments ,the ,secretary shall approve or disapprove each amendment to the management plan that the ,secretary determines makes a substantial change to the management plan4 #f4 ,relationship to other ,federal agencies 7a7 ,in general ,nothing in this ,act affects the authority of a ,federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law4 7b7 ,consultation and coordination ,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 management entity to the maximum extent practicable4 7c7 ,other ,federal agencies ,nothing in this ,act-- 7#a7 modifies1 alters1 or amends any law or regulation authorizing a ,federal agency to manage ,federal land under the jurisdiction of the ,federal agency2 7#b7 limits the discretion of a ,federal land manager to implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of the ,heritage ,area2 or 7#c7 modifies1 alters1 or amends any authorized use of ,federal land under the jurisdiction of a ,federal agency4 #g4 ,private property protection ,nothing in this ,act-- 7#a7 abridges the rights of any property owner 7whether public or private71 including the right to refrain from participating in any plan1 project1 program1 or activity conducted within the ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 requires any property owner to permit public access 7including access by ,federal1 ,state1 or local agencies7 to the property of the property owner1 or to modify public access or use of property of the property owner under any other ,federal1 ,state1 or local law2 7#c7 alters any duly adopted land use regulation1 approved land use plan1 or other regulatory authority of any ,federal1 ,state or local agency1 or conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the management entity2 7#d7 authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights2 7#e7 diminishes the authority of the ,state to manage fish and wildlife1 including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the ,heritage ,area2 or 7#f7 creates any liability1 or affects any liability under any other law1 of any private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property4 #h4 ,water rights 7a7 ,statement of policy ,nothing in this ,act is meant to modify the ,rio ,grande ,natural ,area ,act4 7b7 ,applicability ,nothing in this ,act-- 7#a7 amends1 modifies1 or is in conflict with the ,act of ,may #ca1 #aici 7#ec ,stat4 #ghe1 chapter #aee72 7#b7 authorizes the regulation of private land in the ,heritage ,area2 7#c7 authorizes the imposition of any mandatory streamflow requirements2 7#d7 creates an express or implied ,federal reserved water right2 7#e7 imposes any ,federal water quality standard within or upstream of the ,heritage ,area that is more restrictive than would be applicable had the ,heritage ,area not been established2 or 7#f7 prevents the ,state of ,texas from acquiring an instream flow through the ,heritage ,area under the terms1 conditions1 and limitations of ,state law to assist in protecting the natural environment to the extent and for the purposes authorized by ,state law4 #i4 ,evaluation ,report 7a7 ,in general ,ten years after the establishment of the ,heritage ,area1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the ,heritage ,area2 and 7#b7 prepare a report in accordance with subsection 7c74 7b7 ,evaluation ,an evaluation conducted under subsection 7a77#a7 shall-- 7#a7 assess the progress of the management entity with respect to-- 7,a7 accomplishing the purposes of this ,act for the ,heritage ,area2 and 7,b7 achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 analyze the ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and private investments in the ,heritage ,area to determine the impact of the investments2 and 7#c7 review the management structure1 partnership relationships1 and funding of the ,heritage ,area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the ,heritage ,area4 7c7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,based on the evaluation conducted under subsection 7a77#a71 the ,secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations for the future role of the ,national ,park ,service1 if any1 with respect to the ,heritage ,area4 7#b7 ,submission to congress ,on completion of the report1 the ,secretary shall submit the report to-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives4