text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Atchafalaya National Heritage Area 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) The Atchafalaya Basin area of Louisiana, designated by 
          the Louisiana Legislature as the ``Atchafalaya Trace State 
          Heritage Area'' and consisting of the area described in section 
          5(b), is an area in which natural, scenic, cultural, and 
          historic resources form a cohesive and nationally distinctive 
          landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by 
          geography.
              (2) The significance of the area is enhanced by the 
          continued use of the area by people whose traditions have 
          helped shape the landscape.
              (3) There is a national interest in conserving, restoring, 
          promoting, and interpreting the benefits of the area for the 
          residents of, and visitors to, the area.
              (4) The area represents an assemblage of rich and varied 
          resources forming a unique aspect of the heritage of the United 
          States.
              (5) The area reflects a complex mixture of people and their 
          origins, traditions, customs, beliefs, and folkways of interest 
          to the public.
              (6) The land and water of the area offer outstanding 
          recreational opportunities, educational experiences, and 
          potential for interpretation and scientific research.
              (7) Local governments of the area support the establishment 
          of a national heritage area.
  
  SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
  
      The purposes of this Act are--
              (1) to conserve, restore, promote, and interpret the 
          significant resource values and functions of the Atchafalaya 
          Basin area and advance sustainable economic development of the 
          area;
              (2) to foster a close working relationship with all levels 
          of government, the private sector, and the local communities in 
          the area so as to enable those communities to conserve their 
          heritage while continuing to pursue economic opportunities; and
              (3) to establish, in partnership with the State, local 
          communities, preservation organizations, private corporations, 
          and landowners in the Heritage Area, the Atchafalaya Trace 
          State Heritage Area, as eligible parishes designated by the 
          Louisiana Legislature, as the Atchafalaya National Heritage 
          Area.
  
  SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
          Atchafalaya National Heritage Area established by section 5(a).
              (2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
          coordinating entity'' means the local coordinating entity for 
          the Heritage Area designated by section 5(c).
              (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
          the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under 
          section 7.
              (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior.
              (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
          Louisiana.
  
  SEC. 5. ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State the 
  Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.
      (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall consist of parishes that 
  are consistent with the tradition, purposes, goals, and culture of the 
  Heritage Area as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the 
  State. The Secretary shall give priority consideration to those 
  parishes in Atchafalaya State Heritage Area.
      (c) Local Coordinating Entity.--
              (1) In general.--The Atchafalaya Trace Commission shall be 
          the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area.
              (2) Composition.--The local coordinating entity shall be 
          composed of 1 member appointed by the governing authority of 
          each parish within the Heritage Area.
  
  SEC. 6. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.
  
      (a) Authorities.--For the purposes of developing and implementing 
  the management plan approved by the Secretary, the local coordinating 
  entity may--
              (1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
          with, the State, units of local government, and private 
          organizations;
              (2) hire and compensate staff; and
              (3) enter into contracts for goods and services.
      (b) Duties.--The local coordinating entity shall--
              (1) submit to the Secretary for approval a management plan;
              (2) implement the management plan, including providing 
          assistance to units of government and others in--
                      (A) carrying out programs that recognize important 
                  resource values within the Heritage Area;
                      (B) encouraging sustainable economic development 
                  within the Heritage Area;
                      (C) establishing and maintaining interpretive sites 
                  within the Heritage Area; and
                      (D) increasing public awareness and appreciation 
                  for the natural, historic, and cultural resources of 
                  the Heritage Area;
              (3) adopt bylaws governing the conduct of the local 
          coordinating entity; and
              (4) for any year for which Federal funds are received under 
          this Act, submit to the Secretary a report that describes, for 
          the year--
                      (A) the accomplishments of the local coordinating 
                  entity; and
                      (B) the expenses and income of the local 
                  coordinating entity.
      (c) Acquisition of Real Property.--No Federal funds authorized 
  under this Act may be used to acquire real property or any interest in 
  real property.
      (d) Public Meetings.--The local coordinating entity shall conduct 
  public meetings at least quarterly.
  
  SEC. 7. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
  
      (a) In General.--The local coordinating entity shall develop a 
  management plan for the Heritage Area that incorporates an integrated 
  and cooperative approach to conserve, interpret, and enhance the 
  natural, scenic, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the 
  Heritage Area consistent with local, State and Federal land use laws 
  and compatible with the economic viability of the Heritage Area.
      (b) Consideration of Other Plans and Actions.--In developing the 
  management plan, the local coordinating entity shall--
              (1) take into consideration Federal, State, and local plans 
          land use, laws, and plans; and
              (2) invite the participation of residents, public agencies, 
          and private organizations in the Heritage Area.
      (c) Contents.--The management plan shall include--
              (1) an inventory of the resources in the Heritage Area, 
          including--
                      (A) a list of property in the Heritage Area that--
                              (i) relates to the purposes of the Heritage 
                          Area; and
                              (ii) should be preserved, restored, 
                          managed, or maintained because of the 
                          significance of the property; and
                      (B) an assessment of cultural landscapes within the 
                  Heritage Area;
              (2) provisions for the conservation, interpretation, and 
          enjoyment of the resources of the Heritage Area identified in 
          the management plan and found by the Secretary to be consistent 
          with this Act and consistent with economic viability of the 
          Heritage Area;
              (3) an interpretation plan for the Heritage Area; and
              (4) a program for implementation of the management plan 
          that includes--
                      (A) actions that may be carried out by units of 
                  government, private organizations, and public-private 
                  partnerships to protect the resources of the Heritage 
                  Area; and
                      (B) the identification of existing and potential 
                  sources of funding for implementing the plan.
      (d) Submission to Secretary for Approval.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
          the enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity shall 
          submit the management plan to the Secretary for approval.
              (2) Effect of failure to submit.--If a management plan is 
          not submitted to the Secretary by the date specified in 
          paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not provide any additional 
          funding under this Act until a management plan for the Heritage 
          Area is submitted to the Secretary.
      (e) Approval.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receiving the 
          management plan submitted under subsection (d)(1), the 
          Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall approve or 
          disapprove the management plan.
              (2) Action following disapproval.--
                      (A) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves a 
                  management plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                  shall--
                              (i) advise the local coordinating entity in 
                          writing of the reasons for the disapproval;
                              (ii) make recommendations for revisions to 
                          the management plan; and
                              (iii) allow the local coordinating entity 
                          to submit to the Secretary revisions to the 
                          management plan.
                      (B) Deadline for approval of revision.--Not later 
                  than 90 days after the date on which a revision is 
                  submitted under subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary 
                  shall approve or disapprove the revision.
      (f) Revision.--
              (1) In general.--After approval by the Secretary of a 
          management plan, the local coordinating entity shall 
          periodically--
                      (A) review the management plan; and
                      (B) submit to the Secretary, for review and 
                  approval by the Secretary, the recommendations of the 
                  local coordinating entity for any revisions to the 
                  management plan that the local coordinating entity 
                  considers to be appropriate.
              (2) Expenditure of funds.--Funds made available under this 
          Act shall be used only to implement the approved management 
          plan.
  
  SEC. 8. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
  
      (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--No 
  privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or promoted by 
  the management plan for the Heritage Area until the owner of that 
  private property has been notified in writing by the management entity 
  and has given written consent to the management entity for such 
  preservation, conservation, or promotion.
      (b) Landowner Withdraw.--Any owner of private property included 
  within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have that private 
  property immediately removed from the boundary by submitting a written 
  request to the management entity.
  
  SEC. 9. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.
  
      (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
  construed to--
              (1) require any private property owner to allow public 
          access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
          to such private property; or
              (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
          with regard to public access to or use of private property.
      (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not be 
  considered to create any liability, or to have any effect on any 
  liability under any other law, of any private property owner with 
  respect to any persons injured on that private property.
      (c) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage Area.--
  Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the owner of any 
  private property located within the boundaries of the Heritage Area to 
  participate in or be associated with the Heritage Area.
  
  SEC. 10. EFFECT OF ACT.
  
      Nothing in this Act--
              (1) grants any Federal agency regulatory authority over any 
          interest in the Heritage Area, unless cooperatively agreed to 
          by all involved parties;
              (2) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes any authority of the 
          Federal, or State, or local government to regulate any use of 
          land as provided for by law (including regulations) in 
          existence on the date of the enactment of this Act;
              (3) grants any power of zoning or land use to the local 
          coordinating entity;
              (4) imposes any environmental, occupational, safety, or 
          other rule, standard, or permitting process that is different 
          from those in effect on the date of enactment of this Act that 
          would be applicable had the Heritage Area not been established;
              (5) imposes any change in Federal environmental quality 
          standards;
              (6) abridges, restricts, or alters any applicable rule, 
          standard, or review procedure for permitting of facilities 
          within or adjacent to the Heritage Area; or
              (7) affects the continuing use and operation, where located 
          on the date of enactment of this Act, of any public or private 
          facility, including any public utility or common carrier.
  
  SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
  $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 shall be made available 
  for any fiscal year.
target: Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in Louisiana.
  
  Designates the Atchafalaya Trace Commission as the local coordinating entity of the Heritage Area.
  
  Prohibits the use of Federal funds authorized under this Act to acquire real property.
  
  Requires the Commission to develop and implement a management plan, subject to the Secretary of the Interior's approval, that incorporates an integrated and cooperative approach to conserve, interpret, and enhance the resources of the Heritage Area.
  
  Establishes a procedure for the voluntary inclusion of private property in the Heritage Area.
feat_title: To establish the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Louisiana, and for other purposes.