National Heritage Areas Partnership Act
Key claim: The bill would create a nationwide Interior Department program to fund and assist locally run National Heritage Areas, while making clear those areas are not national parks and are not governed by park-service laws.
Abstract
(S243 · 109th Congress) National Heritage Areas Partnership Act - (Sec. 4) Establishes a system of National Heritage Areas through which the Secretary of the Interior shall provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of the National Heritage Areas. Provides for such system to be composed of National Heritage Areas established by Congress before, on, or after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure participation and assistance by units of the National Park System (NPS) located near or encompassed by National Heritage Areas in local initiatives for National Heritage Areas that conserve and interpret resources consistent with the approved management plan; and (2) work with National Heritage Areas to promote public enjoyment of NPs units and park-related resources. Prohibits National Heritage Areas from being: (1) considered to be NPs units; or (2) subject to the laws applicable to such units. Describes the Secretary’s duties, including: (1) conducting studies to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating proposed National Heritage Areas; (2) providing technical and financial assistance for the development and implementation of management plans; (3) submitting annual reports; and (4) conducting an evaluation and submitting a report on the accomplishments, sustainability, and recommendations for the future of each designated National Heritage Area three years before the ending of federal funding for the area under this Act. (Sec. 5) Specifies the criteria that the Secretary shall apply to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating proposed National Heritage Areas. States that designation of a National Heritage Area shall be: (1) by Act of Congress; and (2) contingent on the prior completion of a study and an affirmative determination by the Secretary that the area meets such criteria. (Sec. 7) Sets forth requirements for National Heritage Area management plans. In Latest action (2005-08-02): Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks.
Why this matters
National Heritage Areas are a lightweight federal-local partnership model for conserving landscapes tied to cultural or industrial history without the land-management footprint of a national park. A standing program would give these areas predictable Interior Department funding and technical assistance, while codifying that federal designation does not trigger park-service land-use authorities — a distinction that affects private property owners and local governments inside NHA boundaries.