,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #hfi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #g1 #bjac ,mr4 ,shelby 7for himself and ,mr4 ,sessions7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #c4 ,designation of ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area4 ,sec4 #d4 ,local coordinating entity4 ,sec4 #e4 ,management plan4 ,sec4 #f4 ,evaluation2 report4 ,sec4 #g4 ,relationship to other ,federal agencies4 ,sec4 #h4 ,private property and regulatory protections4 ,sec4 #i4 ,use of ,federal funds from other sources4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,local coordinating entity ,the term local coordinating entity means the ,center for the ,study of the ,black ,belt at the ,university of ,west ,alabama4 7#b7 ,management plan ,the term management plan means the plan prepared by the local coordinating entity for the ,national ,heritage ,area in accordance with this ,act4 7#c7 ,national ,heritage ,area ,the term ,national ,heritage ,area means the ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area established by this ,act4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #c4 ,designation of ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area 7a7 ,establishment ,there is hereby established the ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area in the ,state of ,alabama4 7b7 ,boundaries ,the ,national ,heritage ,area shall consist of sites as designated by the management plan within a core area located in ,alabama1 consisting of ,bibb1 ,bullock1 ,butler1 ,choctaw1 ,clarke1 ,conecuh1 ,dallas1 ,greene1 ,hale1 ,lowndes1 ,macon1 ,marengo1 ,monroe1 ,montgomery1 ,perry1 ,pickens1 ,sumter1 ,washington1 and ,wilcox counties4 #d4 ,local coordinating entity 7a7 ,designation ,the ,center for the ,study of the ,black ,belt at the ,university of ,west ,alabama shall be the local coordinating entity for the ,national ,heritage ,area4 7b7 ,duties ,to further the purposes of the ,national ,heritage ,area1 the local coordinating entity shall-- 7#a7 submit a management plan to the ,secretary in accordance with this ,act2 7#b7 submit an annual report to the ,secretary specifying-- 7,a7 the specific performance goals and accomplishments of the local coordinating entity2 7,b7 the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity2 7,c7 the amounts and sources of matching funds2 7,d7 the amounts of non-,federal funds leveraged with ,federal funds and sources of the leveraging2 and 7,e7 grants made to any other entities during the fiscal year2 7#c7 make available for audit1 for each fiscal year for which the local coordinating entity receives ,federal funds1 all information pertaining to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds2 and 7#d7 encourage economic viability and sustainability that is consistent with the purposes of the ,national ,heritage ,area4 7c7 ,authorities ,for the purposes of preparing and implementing the approved management plan1 the local coordinating entity may-- 7#a7 make grants to political jurisdictions1 nonprofit organizations1 and other parties within the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 enter into cooperative agreements with or provide technical assistance to political jurisdictions1 nonprofit organizations1 ,federal agencies1 and other interested parties2 7#c7 hire and compensate staff1 including individuals with expertise in-- 7,a7 natural1 historical1 cultural1 educational1 scenic1 and recreational resource conservation2 7,b7 economic and community development2 and 7,c7 heritage planning2 7#d7 obtain funds or services from any source1 including other ,federal programs2 7#e7 contract for goods or services2 and 7#f7 support activities of partners and any other activities that further the purposes of the ,national ,heritage ,area and are consistent with the approved management plan4 #e4 ,management plan 7a7 ,requirements ,the management plan shall-- 7#a7 describe comprehensive policies1 goals1 strategies1 and recommendations for telling the story of the heritage of the area covered by the ,national ,heritage ,area and encouraging long-term resource protection1 enhancement1 interpretation1 funding1 management1 and development of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 include a description of actions and commitments that ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments1 private organizations1 and citizens plan to take to protect1 enhance1 interpret1 fund1 manage1 and develop the natural1 historical1 cultural1 educational1 scenic1 and recreational resources of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#c7 specify existing and potential sources of funding or economic development strategies to protect1 enhance1 interpret1 fund1 manage1 and develop the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#d7 include an inventory of the natural1 historical1 cultural1 educational1 scenic1 and recreational resources of the ,national ,heritage ,area related to the national importance and themes of the ,national ,heritage ,area that should be protected1 enhanced1 interpreted1 funded1 managed1 and developed2 7#e7 include recommendations for resource management policies and strategies1 including the development of intergovernmental and interagency agreements to protect1 enhance1 interpret1 fund1 manage1 and develop the natural1 historical1 cultural1 educational1 scenic1 and recreational resources of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#f7 describe a program for implementation of the management plan1 including-- 7,a7 performance goals2 7,b7 plans for resource protection1 enhancement1 interpretation1 funding1 management1 and development2 and 7,c7 specific commitments for implementation that have been made by the local coordinating entity or any ,federal1 ,state1 or local government agency1 organization1 business1 or individual2 7#g7 include an analysis of1 and recommendations for1 means by which ,federal1 ,state1 and local programs may best be coordinated 7including the role of the ,national ,park ,service and other ,federal agencies associated with the ,national ,heritage ,area7 to further the purposes of this ,act2 and 7#h7 include a business plan that-- 7,a7 describes the role1 operation1 financing1 and functions of the local coordinating entity and of each of the major activities described in the management plan2 and 7,b7 provides adequate assurances that the local coordinating entity has the partnerships and financial and other resources necessary to implement the management plan4 7b7 ,deadline ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the local coordinating entity shall submit the management plan to the ,secretary for approval4 7c7 ,approval of ,management ,plan 7#a7 ,review ,not later than #ahj days after receiving the management plan1 the ,secretary shall review and approve or disapprove the management plan on the basis of the criteria listed in paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary shall consult with the ,governor of ,alabama before approving a management plan4 7#c7 ,criteria for approval ,in determining whether to approve a management plan1 the ,secretary shall consider whether-- 7,a7 the local coordinating entity-- 7i7 represents the diverse interests of the ,national ,heritage ,area1 including ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments1 natural1 and historical resource protection organizations1 educational institutions1 businesses1 recreational organizations1 community residents1 and private property owners2 7ii7 has afforded adequate opportunity for public and ,federal1 ,state1 and local governmental involvement 7including through workshops and public meetings7 in the preparation of the management plan2 7iii7 provides for at least semiannual public meetings to ensure adequate implementation of the management plan2 and 7iv7 has demonstrated the financial capability1 in partnership with others1 to carry out the management plan2 7,b7 the management plan-- 7i7 describes resource protection1 enhancement1 interpretation1 funding1 management1 and development strategies which1 if implemented1 would adequately protect1 enhance1 interpret1 fund1 manage1 and develop the natural1 historical1 cultural1 educational1 scenic1 and recreational resources of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7ii7 would not adversely affect any activities authorized on ,federal land under public applicable laws or land use plans2 7iii7 demonstrates partnerships among the local coordinating entity1 ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments1 regional planning organizations1 nonprofit organizations1 and private sector parties for implementation of the management plan2 and 7iv7 complies with the requirements of this section2 and 7,c7 the ,secretary has received adequate assurances from the appropriate ,state and local officials whose support is needed that the ,state and local aspects of the management plan will be effectively implemented4 7#d7 ,disapproval 7,a7 ,in general ,if the ,secretary disapproves the management plan1 the ,secretary-- 7i7 shall advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval2 and 7ii7 may make recommendations to the local coordinating entity for revisions to the management plan4 7,b7 ,deadline ,not later than #ahj days after receiving a revised management plan1 the ,secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan4 7#e7 ,amendments 7,a7 ,in general ,an amendment to the approved management plan that substantially alters such plan shall be reviewed by the ,secretary and approved or disapproved in the same manner as the original management plan4 7,b7 ,implementation ,the local coordinating entity shall not implement a substantial amendment to the management plan until the ,secretary approves the amendment4 7#f7 ,authorities ,the ,secretary may-- 7,a7 provide technical assistance under the authority of this ,act for the development and implementation of the management plan2 and 7,b7 enter into cooperative agreements with interested parties to carry out this ,act4 #f4 ,evaluation2 report 7a7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the ,national ,heritage ,area4 ,an evaluation conducted under this subsection shall-- 7#a7 assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to-- 7,a7 accomplishing the purposes of this ,act for the ,national ,heritage ,area2 and 7,b7 achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan2 7#b7 analyze the ,federal1 ,state1 and local government1 and private investments in the ,national ,heritage ,area to determine the impact of the investments2 and 7#c7 review the management structure1 partnership relationships1 and funding of the ,national ,heritage ,area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the ,national ,heritage ,area4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 based on the evaluation conducted under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate4 ,the report shall include recommendations for the future role of the ,national ,park ,service1 if any1 with respect to the ,national ,heritage ,area4 #g4 ,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 ,national ,heritage ,area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the ,secretary and the local coordinating 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 ,national ,heritage ,area2 or 7#c7 modifies1 alters1 or amends any authorized use of ,federal land under the jurisdiction of a ,federal agency4 #h4 ,private property and regulatory protections ,nothing in this ,act-- 7#a7 abridges the rights of any owner of public or private property1 including the right to refrain from participating in any plan1 project1 program1 or activity conducted within the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 requires any property owner to permit public access 7including access by ,federal1 ,state1 tribal1 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 tribal1 or local law2 7#c7 alters any duly adopted land use regulation1 approved land use plan1 or other regulatory authority of any ,federal1 ,state1 tribal1 or local agency1 or conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to any local coordinating entity1 including development and management of energy1 water1 or water-related infrastructure2 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 ,national ,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 #i4 ,use of ,federal funds from other sources ,nothing in this ,act shall preclude the local coordinating entity from using ,federal funds available under other laws for the purposes for which those funds were authorized4