Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act”.
Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act
A BILL
To establish the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in the State of Washington, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Heritage area— The term Heritage Area means the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area established by section 4.
Local coordinating entity— The term local coordinating entity means the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area designated by section 4(b).
Management plan— The term management plan means the management plan for the Heritage Area specified in section 6.
Map— The term map means the undated overview map entitled “Washington State Maritime Heritage Area Proposed Boundary” and the associated index maps.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
State— The term State means the State of Washington.
Sec. 3 Purposes
The purposes of this Act are—
to encourage and strengthen partnerships and collaboration among maritime interests for the purpose of economic development and heritage tourism;
to recognize that waterfronts are both a foundational part of Washington’s heritage and dynamic places that are constantly adapting to new opportunities and challenges;
to recognize, interpret, and conserve the diverse and abundant nationally significant maritime-related objects, sites, structures, places, events, and activities that collectively form a distinctive landscape in western Washington State’s ports and coastal communities;
to recognize and interpret the impact of this nationally important maritime landscape on Native American and European-American heritage;
to preserve landscapes, communities, traditions, historic sites, and natural features in the Heritage Area associated with this maritime history;
to promote heritage, cultural, and recreational tourism, and to develop educational, interpretive, recreational, and cultural programs through partnerships for the benefit of visitors and the general public; and
to provide appropriate linkages between Federal, State, and local historic sites, and communities, governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals that stimulate appropriate and compatible economic vitality within the Heritage Area, without modifying the authority of any State, tribal, or local government to regulate land use, public land policy, or private activity.
Sec. 4 Maritime Washington National Heritage Area
Establishment— There is established the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in the counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, Island, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, and Grays Harbor in the State of Washington.
Boundaries—
In general— The Heritage Area shall consist of Federal, State, local, and tribal lands that allow public access and are at least partly located within one-quarter mile landward of the shoreline, as generally depicted on the map.
Revision— The boundaries of the Heritage Area may be revised if the revision is—
proposed in the management plan;
approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 5; and
placed on file in accordance with paragraph 3.
Availability of map— The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service and the local coordinating entity.
Local coordinating entity— The local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area shall be the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Advisory Council, operating under the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.
Sec. 5 Duties and authorities of the local coordinating entity
Duties of the local coordinating entity— To further the purposes of the Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity shall—
prepare and submit to the Secretary in accordance with section 6, a management plan for the Heritage Area;
assist willing partners, such as units of State, local, and tribal governments, regional planning organizations and private organizations, in implementing the approved management plan by—
advocating for and carrying out programs and projects that recognize and protect important resource values within the Heritage Area;
promoting, developing, and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs within the Heritage Area;
promoting or developing recreational and educational opportunities in the Heritage Area;
increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for, natural, historic, scenic, recreational, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;
advocating for the protection and preservation of historic sites, structures, objects, and buildings in the Heritage Area that are consistent with the themes of the Heritage Area;
ensuring that signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are posted throughout the Heritage Area; and
promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals to further the purposes of the Heritage Area;
consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage Area in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;
undertake an open and transparent process for the development and implementation of the management plan by holding regular public meetings;
submit an annual report to the Secretary for each fiscal year in which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act specifying—
the goals and accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;
the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity;
the amounts and sources of matching funds;
the amounts leveraged with Federal funds and sources of the leveraged funds;
grants made to any other entities during the fiscal year; and
critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area;
make available for audit for any fiscal year for which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act, all information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching funds;
in all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available for audit all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds; and
encourage and strengthen partnerships and collaboration among maritime interests, by appropriate means, for economic development and heritage tourism consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area.
Authorities— The local coordinating entity may, subject to the prior approval of the Secretary, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use Federal funds made available under this Act to—
make grants to the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;
enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide technical assistance to, the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, Federal agencies, and other interested parties;
hire and compensate staff;
obtain funds or services from any source, including funds and services provided under any other Federal law or program;
contract for goods or services; and
support activities of partners and any other activities that further the purposes of the Heritage Area and are consistent with the approved management plan.
Prohibition on the acquisition of real property— The local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire any interest in real property.
Sec. 6 Management plan
In general— Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to develop the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the Heritage Area.
Requirements— The management plan for the Heritage Area shall—
describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, interpretation, and development of the Heritage Area;
take into consideration existing State and local plans in the development and implementation of the management plan;
include a description of actions and commitments that governments, private organizations, and individuals plan to take to protect, enhance, and interpret the natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;
specify existing and potential sources of funding or economic development strategies to conserve, manage, and develop the Heritage Area;
include an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area relating to the stories and themes of the Heritage Area that should be protected, enhanced, managed, or developed;
recommend policies and strategies for resource management, including the development of intergovernmental and interagency agreements, to protect the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area;
describe a program for implementation of the management plan including—
performance goals;
an approximate timeline for implementation;
specific commitments for implementation; and
how the plan will be evaluated and updated;
include an analysis of, and recommendations for, ways in which Federal, State, tribal, and local programs may best be coordinated (including the role of the National Park Service and other Federal agencies associated with the Heritage Area) to further the purposes of this Act;
provide recommendations for educational and interpretive programs to inform the public about the resources of the Heritage Area; and
include a business plan that—
describes the role, operation, financing, and functions of the local coordinating entity and of each of the major activities contained in the management plan;
provides adequate assurances that the local coordinating entity has the partnerships and financial and other resources necessary to implement the management plan for the Heritage Area; and
describes goals and recommendations for sustainability of the coordinating entity through the term of the legislation.
Termination of funding— If the management plan is not submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this section, the local coordinating entity shall not qualify for additional financial assistance under this Act until such time as the management plan is submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary.
Approval of management plan—
Review— Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management plan.
Criteria for approval— In determining the approval of the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether—
the local coordinating entity represents the diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including governments, resource-related organizations, educational institutions, ports, businesses, community residents, and recreational organizations;
the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate opportunity for public and governmental involvement (including workshops and public meetings) in the preparation of the management plan;
the conservation and interpretation strategies described in the management plan, if implemented, are compatible and consistent with this Act;
the management plan would not adversely affect any activities authorized on Federal, State, local, or tribal lands under applicable laws or land-use plans;
the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the appropriate State, tribal, and local officials whose support is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State, tribal, and local aspects of the management plan;
the local coordinating entity has identified existing and potential sources of funding for implementing the management plan in partnership with others; and
provisions for long-term sustainability of the Heritage Area are in place.
Action following disapproval—
In general— If the Secretary disapproves the management plan, the Secretary—
shall advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval; and
may make recommendations to the local coordinating entity for revisions to the management plan.
Deadline— Not later than 180 days after receiving a revised management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan.
Amendments—
In general— An amendment to the management plan that substantially alters the management plan shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved or disapproved in the same manner as the original management plan.
Implementation— The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act to implement any amendment to the management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment.
Sec. 7 Duties and authorities of the secretary
Technical and financial assistance—
In general— On the request of the local coordinating entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis (as determined by the Secretary), to the local coordinating entity to develop and implement the management plan.
Cooperative agreements— The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the local coordinating entity and other public or private organizations to provide technical or financial assistance under paragraph (1).
Priority— In assisting the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in—
conserving the significant historic and cultural maritime-related resources of the Heritage Area; and
providing educational, interpretive, and recreational opportunities for the public consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area.
Evaluation; report—
In general— Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area under section 10, the Secretary shall—
conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; and
prepare a report with recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area, in accordance with paragraph (3).
Evaluation components— An evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A) shall—
assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to—
accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the Heritage Area; and
achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the Heritage Area;
analyze the Federal, State, local, and private investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and
review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area.
Recommendations—
In general— Based on the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area.
Required analysis— If the report prepared under this paragraph recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of—
ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; and
the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination.
Submission to congress— On completion of a report under this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit the report to—
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 8 Relationship to other Federal agencies
In general— Nothing in this Act affects the authority of any Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law.
Consultation and coordination— To the maximum extent practicable, the head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the local coordinating entity.
Other Federal agencies— Nothing in this Act—
modifies, alters, or amends any laws (including regulations) authorizing a Federal agency to manage land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency;
limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved land-use plan within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or
modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.
Sec. 9 Property owners and regulatory protections
Nothing in this Act—
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 Heritage Area;
requires any property owner to—
permit public access (including Federal, State, tribal, or local government access) to the property; or
modify any provisions of Federal, State, tribal, or local law with regard to public access or use of private land;
alters any duly adopted land-use regulations, approved land-use plan, or any other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency, or tribal government;
conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity;
authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights;
diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or
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.
Sec. 10 Authorization of appropriations
In general— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $500,000 shall be made available for any fiscal year.
Availability— Funds made available under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.
Cost-Sharing requirement—
In general— The Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this section shall be not more than 50 percent.
Form— The non-Federal contribution—
shall be from non-Federal sources; and
may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.
Sec. 11 Termination of financial assistance
The authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of the Act.