Why do we need a National Heritage Act when we already have a National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.  See FR Notice at the end of this press release.

For Immediate Release

July 15, 2004

Thomas' National Heritage Bill
Moves To Full Senate

WASHINGTON, DC—The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today approved a bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.). The bill, The National Heritage Partnership Act, S. 2543, establishes restrictions and criteria for National Heritage Areas in the United States. Senator Thomas is chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over this issue.

“My bill reigns in the growth of this program by establishing clear guidelines, caps the amount of federal money an area can receive, and specifically includes language that protects the rights of individual property owners. The bill intends to uphold private property owner's rights, not degrade them,” Thomas said. “At the present time, there are no federal guidelines requiring what a heritage bill must contain. The current system is draining resources from other important programs.”

National Heritage Areas represent proposals initiated by local individuals to obtain Congressional recognition for their community. Often times this is done as a means to promote economic development and tourism. Designated areas qualify for federal funds to promote these sites.

Since 1984, 24 National Heritage Areas have been created. These areas range in scope from the National Oil Heritage Area which includes a small area in Pennsylvania to one that literally engulfs the entire state of Tennessee. Though they receive federal designation, none of the Heritage Areas establish any type of federal zoning or federal land management.

Each of the current Heritage Areas came are a result of an Act of Congress over the past two decades. In the last couple of years, the number of proposals in Congress has greatly increased—currently, more than 35 bills are pending to establish individual heritage areas or study the suitability and feasibility of areas for heritage status.

The Thomas bill establishes actual criteria for this program, explicitly provides for private property rights protections and creates some fiscal controls.

“This is certainly an important national parks policy issue, otherwise we would not have dedicated so much time conducting hearings, requesting a GAO report, drafting thoughtful guidelines and holding up a slew of bills in Congress,” Thomas added. “My effort is to stop the bleeding of federal money for a program that is getting out of control and has the potential to put a huge fiscal burden on the National Park Service. It’s also about a philosophical debate about making sure the Park Service is only involved in those issues that are truly nationally important, not just handing out checks to anyone that asks.”

As Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, Senator Thomas has conducted three hearings on this issue over the past two years. In the hearing today, Thomas added that with the onslaught of proposals, it could become a massive spending spree for local communities which he argued should not be footed by taxpayers when the nationally significant criteria of a site is sometimes questionable.

Senator Thomas’ bill would:

  • Establish a National Heritage Area program within the National Park Service

  • Establishes criteria for evaluating new heritage areas

  • Prohibits use of Federal funds for acquisition of property in National Heritage Areas

  • Contains specific language to protect private property rights

  • Requires the annual reporting of fund allocation and expenditure by National Heritage Areas and provides for annual audits

  • Caps the annual appropriation for National Heritage Areas at $15 million

The Thomas bill now heads to the floor of the Senate for further consideration.

 
July 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 128)]
[Rules and Regulations]              
[Page 40544-40555]
 
Protection of Historic Properties

AGENCY: Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has
adopted amendments to the regulations setting forth how Federal
agencies take into account the effects of their undertakings on
historic properties and afford the ACHP a reasonable opportunity to
comment, pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA). Most of the amendments respond to court decisions which
held that the ACHP could not require a Federal agency to change its
determinations regarding whether its undertakings affected or adversely
affected historic properties, and that Section 106 does not apply to
undertakings that are merely subject to State or local regulation
administered pursuant to a delegation or approval by a Federal agency.
Other amendments clarify an issue regarding the time period for
objections to ``No Adverse Effect'' findings and establish that the
ACHP can propose an exemption to the Section 106 process on its own
initiative, rather than needing a Federal agency to make such a
proposal.

DATES: These amendments are effective August 5, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the
amendments, please call the Office of Federal Agency Programs at 202-
606-8503, or e-mail us at achp@achp.gov. When calling or sending an e-
mail, please state your name, affiliation and nature of your question,
so your call or e-mail can then be routed to the correct staff person.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information that follows has been
divided into five sections. The first one provides background
information introducing the agency and summarizing the history of the
rulemaking process. The second section highlights the amendments
incorporated into the final rule. The third section describes, by
section and topic, the ACHP's response to public comments on this
rulemaking. The fourth section provides the impact analysis section,
which addresses various legal requirements, including the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, the National
Environmental Policy Act, the Unfunded Mandates Act, the Congressional
Review Act and various relevant Executive Orders. Finally, the fifth
section includes the text of the actual, final amendments.

I. Background

    Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as
amended, 16 U.S.C. 470f, requires Federal agencies to take into account
the effects of their undertakings on properties included, or eligible
for inclusion, in the National Register of Historic Places (``National
Register'') and to afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
(``ACHP'') a reasonable opportunity to comment on such undertakings.
The regulations implementing Section 106 are codified at 36 CFR part
800 (2001) (``Section 106 regulations'').