S. 1387

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act of 2005

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II

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1387

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 13, 2005

Mr. Chafee (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Reed) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To provide for an update of the Cultural Heritage and Land Management Plan for the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, to extend the authority of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, to authorize the undertaking of a special resource study of sites and landscape features within the Corridor, and to authorize additional appropriations for the Corridor.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act of 2005.

2.

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

(a)

Commission membership

Section 3(b) of Public Law 99–647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended—

(1)

by striking nineteen members and inserting 25 members;

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

by striking six and inserting 6; and

(B)

by striking Department of Environmental Management Directors from Rhode Island and Massachusetts and inserting the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs;

(3)

in paragraph (3)—

(A)

by striking four each place it appears and inserting 5; and

(B)

by striking and after the semicolon;

(4)

in paragraph (4)—

(A)

by striking two each place it appears and inserting 3; and

(B)

by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(5)

by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

(5)

1 representative of a nongovernmental organization from Massachusetts and 1 from Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Secretary, which have expertise in historic preservation, conservation, outdoor recreation, cultural conservation, traditional arts, community development, or tourism.

.

(b)

Quorum

Section 3(f)(1) of Public Law 99–647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by striking Ten and inserting 13.

(c)

Update of plan

Section 6 of Public Law 99–647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Update of plan

(1)

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall update the plan under subsection (a).

(2)

In updating the plan under paragraph (1), the Commission shall take into account the findings and recommendations included in the Blackstone Sustainability Study conducted by the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute.”

(3)

The update shall include—

(A)

performance goals; and

(B)

an analysis of—

(i)

options for preserving, enhancing, and interpreting the resources of the Corridor;

(ii)

the partnerships that sustain those resources; and

(iii)

the funding program for the Corridor.

(4)
(A)

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove any changes to the plan proposed in the update in accordance with subsection (b).

(B)

Minor revisions to the plan shall not be subject to the approval of the Secretary.

.

(d)

Extension of commission

Public Law 99–647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by striking section 7 and inserting the following:

7.

Termination of commission

The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act of 2005.

.

(e)

Special resource study

Section 8 of Public Law 99–647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Special Resource Study

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of sites and associated landscape features within the boundaries of the Corridor that contribute to the understanding of the Corridor as the birthplace of the industrial revolution in the United States.

(2)

Evaluation

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall complete the study under paragraph (1) to evaluate the possibility of—

(A)

designating 1 or more site or landscape feature as a unit of the National Park System; and

(B)

coordinating and complementing actions by the Commission, local governments, and State and Federal agencies, in the preservation and interpretation of significant resources within the Corridor.

(3)

Coordination

The Secretary shall coordinate the Study with the Commission.

(4)

Report

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the study under paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes—

(A)

the findings of the study; and

(B)

the conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

.

(f)

Authorization of appropriations

Section 10 of Public Law 99–647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking $650,000 and inserting $1,000,000; and

(2)

by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b)

Development funds

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 8(c) not more than $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2006 through 2016, to remain available until expended.

(c)

Special Resource Study

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out section 8(d).

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