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ESTABLISHMENT OF MISCELLANEOUS

HERITAGE AREAS

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1994

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS

AND PUBLIC LANDS,

Washington, DC.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Bruce F. Vento (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

STATEMENT OF HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

Mr. VENTO. The subcommittee will come to order.

We are meeting today to hear five bills that are related in that they seek to establish heritage areas in different States.

As the staff and members recall, the committee has reported to the House legislation providing for an American Heritage Areas Partnership Program, H.R. 3707, which would establish the criteria. And, obviously, I think it also puts in place a template in which we can measure or judge other proposals that are now coming before us.

However, it is not a law. It has only passed the committee. And even that has a long way to go before it is enacted. Nevertheless, it does provide us with at least some reference point for discussions between the minority and majority, and we have had a lot of input from the administration, for which I am grateful.

And today, of course, we have many local groups that have already begun working to complete studies and nominations pending the enactment of some generic legislation, if indeed we have not already anticipated that. Some have been under way for a long time, and further delay would endanger the resources contained in proposed areas and disrupt the coalitions formed to assist these projects. So we have to try to make adjustments, obviously, between that overall policy which we are trying to use as a reference point and these measures that have been under study sometimes for 5 and 6 years.

We have five such proposals today: H.R. 2949, to establish_the Augusta Canal National Heritage Corridor, introduced by Congressman Don Johnson; H.R. 1685, to establish in the Department of the Interior the Essex Heritage District Commission, introduced by Peter Torkildsen and others; H.R. 3144, to provide for the Steel Industry Heritage projects, introduced by Congressman Coyne and others; H.R. 3988, to establish the Coal Mining Heritage Act, intro

(1)

103D CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

H. R. 2949

To establish the Augusta Canal National Heritage Corridor in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 6, 1993

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

I

A BILL

To establish the Augusta Canal National Heritage Corridor

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in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

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Congress finds that:

(1) The Augusta Canal National Historic Landmark in the State of Georgia, listed on the National

Register of Historic Places, is one of the last un

spoiled and undeveloped areas in the State of Geor

gia and has remained largely intact, including excel

lent water quality, beautiful rural landscapes,

[blocks in formation]

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architecturally significant mill structures and mill villages, and large acreage of parks and other per

manent open space.

(2) The beautiful rural landscapes, scenic vistas and excellent water quality of the Augusta Canal contain significant undeveloped recreational opportunities for people throughout the United States.

(3) The existing mill sites and other structures throughout the Augusta Canal were instrumental in the development of the cotton textile industry in the south.

(4) Several significant sites associated with Native Americans, the American Revolution, and Afri

can Americans are located within the area.

(5) Many local, regional and State agencies, businesses, and private citizens have expressed an overwhelming desire to combine forces to work cooperatively to preserve and enhance resources regionwide and better plan for the future.

20 SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

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It is the purpose of this Act to provide a management 22 framework to assist the State of Georgia, its units of local 23 and regional government, and citizens in the development 24 and implementation of integrated cultural, historical, and 25 recreational land resource management programs in order

HR 2949 IH

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