,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccfc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bg1 #bjbj,mr4 ,shelby 7for himself and ,mr4 ,jones7 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 title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,local coordinating entity ,the term ,local ,coordinating ,entity means the local coordinating entity for the ,national ,heritage ,area designated by section #c7;b74 7#b7 ,management plan ,the term management plan means the management plan for the ,national ,heritage ,area prepared under section #e4 7#c7 ,map ,the term map means the map entitled ,alabama ,black ,belt ,heritage ,area ,boundary4 7#d7 ,national ,heritage ,area ,the term ,national ,heritage ,area means the ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area established by section #c7;a74 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means the ,state of ,alabama4 #c4 ,establishment of ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area 7a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,state the ,alabama ,black ,belt ,national ,heritage ,area consisting of land in ,bibb1 ,bullock1 ,butler1 ,choctaw1 ,clarke1 ,conecuh1 ,dallas1 ,greene1 ,hale1 ,lowndes1 ,macon1 ,marengo1 ,monroe1 ,montgomery1 ,perry1 ,pickens1 ,sumter1 ,washington1 and ,wilcox counties in the ,state1 as generally depicted in the management plan4 7b7 ,local coordinating entity ,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 #d4 ,administration 7a7 ,authorities ,for purposes of carrying out the management plan1 the ,secretary 7acting through the ,local ,coordinating ,entity7 may use amounts made available under section #i-- 7#a7 to make grants to the ,state1 political subdivisions of the ,state1 ,indian ,tribes with jurisdiction over land in the ,state1 nonprofit organizations1 and other persons2 7#b7 to enter into cooperative agreements with1 or provide technical assistance to1 the ,state1 political subdivisions of the ,state1 ,indian ,tribes1 nonprofit organizations1 and other interested persons2 7#c7 to hire and compensate staff1 which shall include individuals with expertise in natural1 cultural1 and historical resources protection and heritage programming2 7#d7 to obtain money or services from any source1 including any money or services that are provided under any other ,federal law or program2 7#e7 to contract for goods or services2 and 7#f7 to undertake any other activity that-- 7,a7 furthers the purposes of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 and 7,b7 is consistent with the approved management plan4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,local ,coordinating ,entity shall-- 7#a7 assist ,federal agencies1 the ,state1 political subdivisions of the ,state1 ,indian ,tribes1 regional planning organizations1 nonprofit organizations1 and other interested persons 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 ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,b7 establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs in the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,c7 developing recreational and educational opportunities in the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,d7 increasing public awareness of1 and appreciation for1 natural1 historical1 scenic1 and cultural resources of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,e7 protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings in the ,national ,heritage ,area that are consistent with the themes of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,f7 ensuring that clear1 consistent1 and appropriate signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are posted throughout the ,national ,heritage ,area2 and 7,g7 promoting a wide range of partnerships among the ,federal ,government1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 organizations1 and individuals to further the purposes of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 consider the interests of diverse units of government1 businesses1 organizations1 and individuals in the ,national ,heritage ,area in the preparation and implementation of the management plan2 7#c7 conduct meetings open to the public not less frequently than semiannually regarding the preparation and implementation of the management plan2 7#d7 for any year that ,federal funds have been received under this subsection-- 7,a7 submit to the ,secretary an annual report that describes1 with respect to the reporting period-- 7i7 the activities1 expenses1 and income of the ,local ,coordinating ,entity2 and 7ii7 any grants made to any other entities2 7,b7 make available to the ,secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds2 and 7,c7 require1 with respect to all agreements authorizing the expenditure of ,federal funds by any other organization1 that the organization receiving the funds make available to the ,secretary for audit all records concerning the expenditure of the funds2 and 7#e7 encourage1 by appropriate means and consistent with the purposes of the ,national ,heritage ,area1 the economic viability of the ,national ,heritage ,area4 7c7 ,prohibition on the acquisition of real property ,the ,local ,coordinating ,entity shall not use ,federal funds made available under section #i to acquire real property or any interest in real property4 #e4 ,management plan 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,local ,coordinating ,entity shall prepare and submit to the ,secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the ,national ,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 ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 take into consideration other applicable ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal plans and treaty rights2 7#c7 include-- 7,a7 an inventory of-- 7i7 the resources located in the ,national ,heritage ,area2 and 7ii7 any other property in the ,national ,heritage ,area that-- 7,i7 is related to the themes of the ,national ,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 the conservation1 funding1 management1 and development of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,c7 a description of activities that the ,federal ,government1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 private organizations1 and individuals have agreed to carry out to protect the natural1 historical1 cultural1 scenic1 and recreational resources of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,d7 a program of implementation for the management plan by the ,local ,coordinating ,entity that includes a description of-- 7i7 actions to facilitate ongoing collaboration among partners to promote plans for resource protection1 restoration1 and construction2 and 7ii7 specific commitments for implementation that have been made by the ,local ,coordinating ,entity or any unit of government1 organization1 or individual for the first #e years of operation of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7,e7 the identification of sources of funding to implement the management plan2 7,f7 analysis and recommendations for means by which ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal programs may be best coordinated 7including the role of the ,national ,park ,service in the ,national ,heritage ,area7 to carry out the purposes of this ,act2 and 7,g7 an interpretive plan for the ,national ,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 ,national ,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 ,local ,coordinating ,entity shall be ineligible to receive additional funding under this ,act until the date on which the ,secretary 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 ,state and ,tribal governments1 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 ,local ,coordinating ,entity is representative of the diverse interests of the ,national ,heritage ,area1 including the ,federal ,government1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 natural and historic resource protection organizations1 educational institutions1 businesses1 and recreational organizations2 7,b7 the ,local ,coordinating ,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 ,national ,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 ,local ,coordinating ,entity in writing the reasons for the disapproval2 7,b7 make recommendations to the ,local ,coordinating ,entity 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 ,local ,coordinating ,entity1 approve or disapprove the proposed revision4 7#d7 ,amendments 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall approve or disapprove each amendment to the management plan that makes a substantial change to the management plan1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,use of funds ,the ,local ,coordinating ,entity shall not use ,federal funds authorized under section #i to carry out any amendment to the management plan until the date on which the ,secretary has approved the amendment4 #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 ,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 7including regulations7 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 #g4 ,private property and regulatory protections ,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 ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#b7 requires any property owner-- 7,a7 to permit public access 7including access by ,federal1 ,state1 or local agencies7 to the property of the property owner2 or 7,b7 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 ,state1 ,tribal1 or local agency2 7#d7 conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the ,local ,coordinating ,entity2 7#e7 authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights2 7#f7 enlarges or diminishes the treaty rights of any ,indian ,tribe within the ,national ,heritage ,area2 7#g7 diminishes-- 7,a7 the authority of the ,state to manage fish and wildlife1 including the regulation of fishing and hunting1 within the ,national ,heritage ,area2 or 7,b7 the authority of ,indian ,tribes to regulate members of ,indian ,tribes with respect to fishing1 hunting1 and gathering in the exercise of treaty rights2 or 7#h7 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 ,evaluation and report 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years before the date on which authority for ,federal funding terminates for the ,national ,heritage ,area1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the ,national ,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 ,local ,coordinating ,entity with respect to-- 7,a7 accomplishing the purposes of the ,national ,heritage ,area2 and 7,b7 achieving the goals and objectives of the management plan2 7#b7 analyze the investments of the ,federal ,government1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 and private entities 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 7c7 ,report ,based on the evaluation conducted under subsection 7a77#a71 the ,secretary shall 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 ,service1 if any1 with respect to the ,national ,heritage ,area4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated for the ,national ,heritage ,area #aj1jjj1jjj1 of which not more than #a1jjj1jjj may be made available in any fiscal year4 7b7 ,availability ,amounts made available under subsection 7a7 shall remain available until expended4 7c7 ,cost-,sharing requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,federal share of the total cost of any activity under this ,act shall be not more than #ej percent4 7#b7 ,form ,the non-,federal share of the total cost of any activity under this ,act may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued4 7d7 ,termination of authority ,the authority of the ,secretary to provide assistance under this ,act terminates on the date that is #ae years after the date of enactment of this ,act4