← Back to Bills
S. 627Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act

Sponsored by Maria CantwellSen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Introduced March 14, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:42 PM UTC

The Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act creates a federally recognized heritage area along Washington’s coast, covering parts of 13 counties within a quarter‑mile of the shoreline. It designates the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation as the local coordinating entity and requires a management plan to guide protection, interpretation, and promotion of the area’s natural, cultural, and historic resources. The law provides up to $10 million in federal funding (no more than $1 million per year) to support the plan and related activities.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area and sets its boundaries based on a specific map covering 13 coastal counties.
  • Names the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation as the local coordinating entity responsible for overseeing the heritage area.
  • Requires the coordinating entity to submit a comprehensive management plan within three years, covering resource inventories, conservation strategies, funding sources, and implementation actions.
  • Mandates Secretary of the Interior approval of the management plan within 180 days, with criteria focused on representation, public involvement, and resource protection.
  • Authorizes up to $10 million in federal funds (max $1 million per fiscal year) with a 50 percent cost‑share limit; funds may be used for grants, technical assistance, staffing, and related activities but not for acquiring real property.
  • Prohibits the act from affecting private property rights, existing land‑use regulations, tribal treaty rights, or state wildlife management authority.
  • Requires a performance evaluation and report three years before the 15‑year funding authority expires.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

March 14, 2017

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 14, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

March 14, 2017

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in SenateIssued March 14, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 627

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 14, 2017

Ms. Cantwell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To establish the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in the State of Washington, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Local coordinating entity

The term local coordinating entity means the local coordinating entity for the National Heritage Area designated by section 3(d).

(2)

Management plan

The term management plan means the management plan for the National Heritage Area required under section 4.

(3)

Map

The term map means the map entitled Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Proposed Boundary, numbered 584/125,484, and dated August 2014.

(4)

National heritage area

The term National Heritage Area means the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area established by section 3(a).

(5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(6)

State

The term State means the State of Washington.

3.

Maritime Washington National Heritage Area

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the State the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area.

(b)

Boundaries

(1)

In general

The National Heritage Area shall consist of land located in the counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, Island, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, and Grays Harbor in the State that is at least partially located within the area that is 1/4-mile landward of the shoreline, as generally depicted on the map.

(2)

Revision

The boundaries of the National Heritage Area established under paragraph (1) may be revised if the revision is—

(A)

proposed in the management plan;

(B)

approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 4; and

(C)

placed on file in accordance with subsection (c).

(c)

Availability of map

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of—

(1)

the National Park Service; and

(2)

the local coordinating entity.

(d)

Local coordinating entity

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation shall be the local coordinating entity for the National Heritage Area.

4.

Management plan

(a)

In general

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the National Heritage Area.

(b)

Requirements

The management plan shall—

(1)

incorporate an integrated and cooperative approach for the protection, enhancement, and interpretation of the natural, cultural, historical, scenic, and recreational resources of the National Heritage Area;

(2)

take into consideration State and local plans;

(3)

include—

(A)

an inventory of—

(i)

the resources located in the National Heritage Area; and

(ii)

any other property in the National Heritage Area that—

(I)

is related to the themes of the National Heritage Area; and

(II)

should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained because of the significance of the property;

(B)

comprehensive policies, strategies and recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the National Heritage Area;

(C)

a description of actions that governments, private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to protect the natural, cultural, and historical resources of the National Heritage Area;

(D)

a program of implementation for the management plan by the local coordinating entity that includes a description of—

(i)

actions to facilitate ongoing collaboration among partners to promote plans for resource protection, restoration, and construction; and

(ii)

specific commitments for implementation that have been made by the local coordinating entity or any government, organization, or individual for the first 5 years of operation of the National Heritage Area;

(E)

the identification of sources of funding for carrying out the management plan;

(F)

analysis and recommendations for means by which Federal, State, and local programs may best be coordinated to carry out this section, including a description of the role of the National Park Service in the National Heritage Area; and

(G)

an interpretive plan for the National Heritage Area; and

(4)

recommend policies and strategies for resource management that consider and detail the application of appropriate land and water management techniques, including the development of intergovernmental and interagency cooperative agreements to protect the natural, cultural, historical, scenic, recreational, and educational resources of the National Heritage Area.

(c)

Deadline

If a proposed management plan is not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity shall be ineligible to receive additional funding under this Act until the date on which the Secretary receives and approves the management plan.

(d)

Approval or disapproval of management plan

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of receipt of the management plan under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall approve or disapprove the management plan.

(2)

Criteria for approval

In determining whether to approve the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether—

(A)

the local coordinating entity is representative of the diverse interests of the National Heritage Area, including governments, natural and historical resource protection organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and recreational organizations;

(B)

the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate opportunity, including public hearings, for public and governmental involvement in the preparation of the management plan; and

(C)

the resource protection and interpretation strategies contained in the management plan, if implemented, would adequately protect the natural, cultural, and historical resources of the National Heritage Area.

(3)

Action following disapproval

If the Secretary disapproves the management plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A)

advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval;

(B)

make recommendations for revisions to the management plan; and

(C)

not later than 180 days after the receipt of any proposed revision of the management plan from the local coordinating entity, approve or disapprove the proposed revision.

(4)

Amendments

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall approve or disapprove each amendment to the management plan that makes a substantial change to the management plan, as determined by the Secretary.

(B)

Use of funds

The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds authorized by this section to carry out any amendments to the management plan until the date on which the Secretary has approved the amendments.

5.

Administration

(a)

Authorities

For purposes of implementing the management plan, the Secretary, acting through the local coordinating entity, may use amounts made available under section 9—

(1)

to make grants to the State or a political subdivision of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;

(2)

to enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide technical assistance to, the State or a political subdivision of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties;

(3)

to hire and compensate staff, which shall include individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, and historical resources protection and heritage programming;

(4)

to obtain money or services from any source, including any money or services that are provided under any other Federal law or program;

(5)

to contract for goods or services; and

(6)

to undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that—

(A)

furthers the purposes of the National Heritage Area; and

(B)

is consistent with the approved management plan.

(b)

Duties

The local coordinating entity shall—

(1)

in accordance with section 4, prepare and submit a management plan to the Secretary;

(2)

assist units of local government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in carrying out the approved management plan by—

(A)

carrying out programs and projects that recognize, protect, and enhance important resource values in the National Heritage Area;

(B)

establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs in the National Heritage Area;

(C)

developing recreational and educational opportunities in the National Heritage Area;

(D)

increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for, natural, cultural, historical, and scenic resources of the National Heritage Area;

(E)

identifying and restoring historic sites and buildings in the National Heritage Area that are consistent with National Heritage Area themes;

(F)

ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are posted throughout the National Heritage Area; and

(G)

promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments, organizations, and individuals to further the National Heritage Area;

(3)

consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, organizations, and individuals in the National Heritage Area in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;

(4)

conduct meetings open to the public at least semiannually regarding the development and implementation of the management plan;

(5)

for any year for which Federal funds have been received under this section—

(A)

submit to the Secretary an annual report that describes the activities, expenses, and income of the local coordinating entity (including grants from the local coordinating entity to any other entities during the year that the report is made);

(B)

make available to the Secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and

(C)

require, with respect to all agreements authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the organizations receiving the funds make available to the Secretary for audit all records concerning the expenditure of the funds; and

(6)

encourage, by appropriate means, economic viability that is consistent with the National Heritage Area.

(c)

Prohibition on the acquisition of real property

The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds made available under section 9 to acquire real property or any interest in real property.

6.

Relationship to other Federal agencies

(a)

In general

Nothing in this Act affects the authority of a Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law.

(b)

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 practicable.

(c)

Other Federal agencies

Nothing in this Act—

(1)

modifies, alters, or amends any law or regulation authorizing a Federal agency to manage Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency;

(2)

limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of the National Heritage Area; or

(3)

modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.

7.

Private property and regulatory protections

Nothing in this Act—

(1)

abridges the rights of any owner of public or private property, including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the National Heritage Area;

(2)

requires any property owner—

(A)

to permit public access (including access by Federal, State, or local agencies) to the property of the property owner; or

(B)

to modify public access or use of property of the property owner under any other Federal, State, or local law;

(3)

alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved land use plan, or other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, tribal, or local agency;

(4)

conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity;

(5)

authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights;

(6)

alters, modifies, diminishes, or extinguishes the treaty rights of any Indian tribe within the National Heritage Area;

(7)

diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the National Heritage Area; or

(8)

creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property.

8.

Evaluation and report

(a)

In general

Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority for Federal funding terminates for the National Heritage Area, the Secretary shall—

(1)

conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the National Heritage Area; and

(2)

prepare a report in accordance with subsection (c).

(b)

Evaluation

An evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1) shall—

(1)

assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to—

(A)

accomplishing the purposes of the National Heritage Area; and

(B)

achieving the goals and objectives of the management plan;

(2)

analyze the investments of Federal, State, tribal, and local government and private entities in the National Heritage Area to determine the impact of the investments; and

(3)

review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the National Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the National Heritage Area.

(c)

Report

Based on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1), 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 Service with respect to the National Heritage Area.

9.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available in any fiscal year.

(b)

Availability

Amounts made available under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

(c)

Cost-Sharing Requirement

(1)

In general

The Federal share of the total cost of any activity carried out under this Act shall be not more than 50 percent.

(2)

Form

The non-Federal share of the total cost of any activity carried out under this Act may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.

(d)

Termination of authority

The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.