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IB Union Calendar No. 211 108TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1594 [Report No. 108–361] To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the St. Croix National Heritage Area in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 3, 2003 Mrs. CHRISTENSEN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources NOVEMBER 17, 2003 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 3, 2003] A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the St. Croix National Heritage Area in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 2 •HR 1594 RH SECTION 1. ST. CROIX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY. 1 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 2 ‘‘St. Croix National Heritage Area Study Act’’. 3 (b) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior, in con- 4 sultation with appropriate State historic preservation offi- 5 cers, States historical societies, and other appropriate orga- 6 nizations, shall conduct a study regarding the suitability 7 and feasibility of designating the island of St. Croix as the 8 St. Croix National Heritage Area. The study shall include 9 analysis, documentation, and determination regarding 10 whether the island of St. Croix— 11 (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and 12 cultural resources that together represent distinctive 13 aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, 14 conservation, interpretation, and continuing use, and 15 are best managed through partnerships among public 16 and private entities and by combining diverse and 17 sometimes noncontiguous resources and active com- 18 munities; 19 (2) provides outstanding opportunities to con- 20 serve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic features; 21 (3) provides outstanding recreational and edu- 22 cational opportunities; 23 (4) contains resources important to the identified 24 theme or themes of the island of St. Croix that retain 25 3 •HR 1594 RH a degree of integrity capable of supporting interpreta- 1 tion; 2 (5) includes residents, business interests, non- 3 profit organizations, and local and State governments 4 that are involved in the planning, have developed a 5 conceptual financial plan that outlines the roles of all 6 participants (including the Federal Government), and 7 have demonstrated support for the concept of a na- 8 tional heritage area; 9 (6) has a potential management entity to work 10 in partnership with residents, business interests, non- 11 profit organizations, and local and State governments 12 to develop a national heritage area consistent with 13 continued local and State economic activity; and 14 (7) has a conceptual boundary map that is sup- 15 ported by the public. 16 (c) PRIVATE PROPERTY.—In conducting the study re- 17 quired by this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall 18 analyze the potential impact that designation of the area 19 as a national heritage area is likely to have on land within 20 the proposed area or bordering the proposed area that is 21 privately owned at the time that the study is conducted. 22 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 fiscal years after the 23 date on which funds are first made available for this sec- 24 tion, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Com- 25 4 •HR 1594 RH mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the 1 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 2 a report on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations 3 as the Secretary deems appropriate. 4 Union Calendar No. 211 108TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1594 [Report No. 108–361] A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of estab- lishing the St. Croix National Heritage Area in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes. NOVEMBER 17, 2003 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com- mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed