National Heritage Areas Act of 2006

National Heritage Areas Act of 2006 - Title I: Soda Ash Royalty Reduction - Soda Ash Royalty Reduction Act of 2006 - (Sec. 102) Lowers, for a five-year period, the royalty rate on the quantity or gross value of the output of sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market from federal land to two percent.

(Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress, after four years, on the effects of such royalty reduction, including: (1) the amount of sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market from federal land during such four-year period; (2) the number of jobs that have been created or maintained during the royalty reduction period; (3) the total amount of royalty paid to the United States on the quantity or gross value of the output of sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market produced during that four-year period, and the portion of such royalty paid to States; and (4) a recommendation of whether the reduced royalty rate should apply after the end of the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Title II: Establishment of National Heritage Areas - Subtitle A: Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area - Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area Act - (Sec. 204) Establishes the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, which shall include the counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Taos, in New Mexico.

Designates Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, Inc., as the Area's management entity which: (1) shall develop, submit, and implement a management plan that includes recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and development, and interpretation of the resources of the Area; (2) may provide assistance to tribal and local governments and other entities to carry out the plan; and (3) shall not use federal funds received under this subtitle to acquire real property or an interest in real property.

(Sec. 206) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance to develop and implement the management plan.

(Sec. 207) Specifies private property protections. Prohibits anything in this subtitle from: (1) restricting an Indian tribe from protecting cultural or religious sites on tribal lands; or (2) diminishing federal trust responsibilities to Indian tribes.

(Sec. 208) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 209) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

Subtitle B: Atchafalaya National Heritage Area - Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act - (Sec. 213) Establishes the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in Louisiana.

Designates the Atchafalaya Trace Commission as the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area.

(Sec. 214) Prohibits the use of federal funds received under this subtitle to acquire real property or an interest in real property.

(Sec. 215) Requires the Commission to develop and implement a management plan that incorporates an integrated and cooperative approach to protect, interpret, and enhance the resources of the Heritage Area.

(Sec. 216) Establishes a procedure for the voluntary inclusion of private property in the Heritage Area.

(Sec. 217) Specifies private property protections.

(Sec. 218) Declares the effect of this Act with regard to certain authorities and powers.

(Sec. 220) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum, unless the Secretary of the Interior determines that no reasonable means are available through which the local coordinating entity can meet its cost sharing requirement.

(Sec. 221) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance to the Commission under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this Act.

Subtitle C: Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area - Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Act - (Sec. 234) Establishes the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in Georgia. Designates the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance as the Area's local coordinating entity.

(Sec. 235) Prohibits the use of federal funds made available under this title to acquire real property or an interest in real property.

(Sec. 236) Requires the Alliance to develop and submit a management plan for the Heritage Area that incorporates an integrated and cooperative approach to protect, interpret, and enhance the resources of the Area. Provides for such plan to be based upon the preferred concept in the document entitled "Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Feasibility Study," dated February 28, 2001.

(Sec. 237) Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the Area for the development and implementation of the management plan.

(Sec. 238) Specifies the effect of this Act on certain authorities for occupational, safety, conservation, and environmental regulations and land use regulations.

(Sec. 239) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 240) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to make provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 241) Specifies private property protections.

Subtitle D: Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area - Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Act - (Sec. 254) Establishes the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area in Utah.

(Sec. 255) Designates the Board of Directors of the Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance as the Heritage Area's local coordinating entity.

Prohibits the Alliance from using federal funds received under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest in real property.

(Sec. 256) Requires the Board to develop and submit a management plan for the Area. Requires the management plan to provide for recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area and to include an interpretive plan for such Area.

(Sec. 257) Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance and grants to: (1) units of government, non-profit organizations, and other persons; and (2) the Board for developing and implementing the management plan. Prohibits the Secretary, as a condition of the award of technical assistance or grants, from requiring any recipient of such assistance or grant to enact or modify any land use restrictions.

(Sec. 258A) Specifies private property protections.

(Sec. 259) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 260) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this Act.

Subtitle E: Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area - Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area Act - (Sec. 264) Establishes the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area in Kansas and Missouri.

Designates the Territorial Kansas Heritage Alliance as the local coordinating entity for the Area (so long as that Alliance is composed of not less than 25% of Missouri residents).

Requires the Alliance to develop and submit a management plan for the Area, which shall contain a comprehensive program for the conservation, interpretation, funding, management, and development of such Area.

Requires the local coordinating entity to conduct public meetings at least quarterly on the implementation of the management plan. Requires not less than 25% of such meetings to be conducted in Missouri.

Prohibits the use of any federal funds made available under this subtitle to acquire real property or an interest in real property.

(Sec. 265) Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance for the development and implementation of the management plan.

(Sec. 266) Specifies: (1) private property protections; and (2) the effect of this subtitle on certain authorities for occupational, safety, conservation, and environmental regulations and land use regulations.

(Sec. 268) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 269) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this Act.

Subtitle F: Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area - Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Act - (Sec. 274) Establishes the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

(Sec. 275) Designates the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, Inc., as the Area's management entity, which shall: (1) prepare and submit a management plan which includes policies, strategies, and recommendations for conservation, funding, management, development, and interpretation of the Area; and (2) assist local governments, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the plan.

Prohibits the management entity from using federal funds received under this subtitle to acquire real property.

(Sec. 277) Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the Area and enter into cooperative agreements with the management entity to develop and implement the plan.

(Sec. 279) Specifies private property protections.

(Sec. 280A) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 280B) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this subtitle.

Subtitle G: Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership - Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Act of 2006 - (Sec. 284) Establishes the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership within Vermont and New York.

Directs the Partnership's management entity, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, to develop a management plan for the Partnership that includes: (1) recommendations for funding, managing, and developing the Partnership; (2) a description of activities to be carried out by public and private organizations to protect the Partnership's resources; (3) an assessment of the organizational capacity of the Program to achieve the goals for implementation; and (4) recommendations for collaboration with Canada and the Province of Quebec in implementing this subtitle.

Authorizes the Program to enter into partnerships with, and make grants to, various public and private entities to carry out this subtitle. Allows the Secretary to provide assistance to the Program to carry out this subtitle.

Prohibits the Program from using federal funds made available under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest in real property.

(Sec. 285) Specifies private property protections.

(Sec. 287) Specifies that nothing in this subtitle: (1) grants zoning powers or land use to the Program; or (2) obstructs or limits private business development activities or resource development activities.

(Sec. 288) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 289) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle after 15 years after enactment of this Act.

Subtitle H: Great Basin National Heritage Route - Great Basin National Heritage Route Act - (Sec. 291C) Establishes the Great Basin National Heritage Route to provide the public with access to certain historical, cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources in White Pine County, Nevada, Millard County, Utah, and the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation in Nevada.

Designates the Great Basin Heritage Route Partnership as the Route's local coordinating entity.

(Sec. 291D) Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Partnership regarding Route objectives and management.

(Sec. 291E) Requires the Partnership to develop and submit a management plan for the Route.

(Sec. 291F) Prohibits the Partnership from: (1) using federal funds made available under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest in real property; and (2 ) regulating land use within the Route.

(Sec. 291G) Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to develop and implement the management plan and the memorandum of understanding.

(Sec. 291H) Specifies the effect of this subtitle with regard to: (1) land use regulations; and (2) the applicability of federal law to the Route.

(Sec. 291I) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 291J) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after the enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 291K) Specifies private property protections.

Subtitle I: Gullah/Geechee Heritage Corridor - Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act - (Sec. 295C) Establishes the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor to: (1) recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by African-Americans known as the Gullah/Geechee who settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia; (2) assist state and local governments and public and private entities in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia in interpreting the story of the Gullah/Geechee and preserving Gullah/Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and music; and (3) assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with the Gullah/Geechee for the benefit and education of the public.

(Sec. 295D) Establishes the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission as the Corridor's local coordinating entity to assist federal, state, and local authorities to develop and implement a management plan for Gullah/Geechee lands and waters.

(Sec. 295E) Requires the Commission to prepare and submit a management plan for the Corridor. Authorizes the Commission to make grants to and enter into cooperative agreements with the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia , their political subdivisions, and other specified entities to prepare and implement the management plan.

(Sec. 295F) Requires the management plan to include policies, strategies, and recommendations for conservation, funding, management, development and interpretation of the Corridor.

(Sec. 295G) Provides for technical and financial assistance to the Commission for the development and implementation of the management plan.

(Sec. 295I) Requires the Commission to establish one or more Coastal Heritage Centers in the Heritage Corridor in accordance with the Low Country Gullah Culture Special Resource Study and Environmental Impact Study, December 2003, and additional appropriate sites.

(Sec. 295J) Specifies private property protections.

(Sec. 295K) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 295L) Terminates the the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this Act.

Subtitle J: Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area - Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2006 - (Sec. 297C) Establishes the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in New Jersey.

Designates the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc. as the Area's local coordinating entity.

(Sec. 297D) Directs the Association to develop and submit, and to assist local governments, regional planing organizations, and nonprofit entities in implementing, an area management plan which includes policies, strategies, and recommendations for conservation, funding, management,development, and interpretation of the Area.

(Sec. 297E) Prohibits the Association from using federal funds made available under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest in real property.

(Sec. 297F) Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to: (1) the Area to develop and implement the management plan; and (2) state or local government or nonprofit organizations for treatment of historical objects or structures that are listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Authorizes the Superintendent of Morristown National Historical Park to provide operational assistance supporting implementation of the management plan to public and private organizations within the Area, including the Association.

(Sec. 297G) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

(Sec. 297H) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this subtitle 15 years after enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 297I) Specifies private property protections.

Title III: National Heritage Area Studies - Subtitle A: Western Reserve Heritage Area Study - Western Reserve Heritage Areas Study Act - (Sec. 302) Requires the Secretary, acting through the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, Midwest Region, to conduct a study regarding the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area in the Ohio counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geague, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland.

Subtitle B: St. Croix National Heritage Area Study - St. Croix National Heritage Area Study Act - (Sec. 312) Requires the Secretary to report on the feasibility of designating the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as the St. Croix National Heritage Area.

Subtitle C: Southern Campaign of the Revolution - Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area Study Act - (Sec. 322) Directs the Secretary to study the suitability and feasibility of designating specified South Carolina counties, including specified public sites, other sites maintained by the state, and National Park Service sites in the state,and, possibly, North Carolina sites, as the Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area.

(Sec. 323) Instructs the Secretary to analyze the potential impact that designation of the area as a national heritage area is likely to have on land within the proposed area or bordering the proposed area that is privately owned.

Title IV: Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Act Amendments - Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Act Amendments of 2006 - (Sec. 402) Amends the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Act of 1984 to designate, upon the termination of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Commission, the Canal Corridor Association to be the local coordinating entity for the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. Allows the Association, for preparing and implementing the management plan developed under this title, to use federal funds made available under this title to make loans and grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, states and their political subdivisions, private organizations, or any persons.

Requires the Association to develop and submit a proposed management plan for the Corridor.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the Association for the development and implementation of the management plan.

Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share to a 50% maximum.

Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this title 15 years after enactment.

(Sec. 403) Specifies private property protections.

Title V: Mokelumne River Regional Water Storage and Conjunctive Use Project Study - (Sec. 501) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, and in consultation with the Mokelumne River Water and Power Authority, to complete and submit to specified congressional committees a study in the area of the Mokelumne River (California) to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to provide additional water supply and improve water management reliability through the development of new water storage and conjunctive use programs.

(Sec. 502) Instructs the Secretary: (1) in developing the Study, to use reports and any other relevant information supplied by the Mokelumne River Water and Power Authority, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, and other Mokelumne River Forum stakeholders; and (2) to accept in-kind contributions of goods or services from the Authority as will contribute to the conduct and completion of the Study.

(Sec. 503) Limits the federal share of Study costs to 50% of the total cost.

(Sec. 505) Authorizes appropriations.

Title VI: Delaware National Coastal Special Resources Study - Delaware National Coastal Special Resources Study Act - (Sec. 602) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study of the national significance, suitability, and feasibility of including sites in the coastal region of Delaware in the National Park System (NPS). Requires such study to include an analysis and any recommendations concerning the suitability and feasibility of designating one or more sites along the Delaware coast, including Fort Christina, as a unit of the NPS that relates to specified themes.

(Sec. 604) Requires a report from the Secretary to specified congressional committees on study findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Title VII: John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization - John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act of 2006 - (Sec. 702) Modifies requirements concerning the membership of the John. H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission.

Requires the Commission to update the Cultural Heritage and Land Management Plan for the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Instructs the Commission, in updating the Plan, to take into account the findings and recommendations included in the Blackstone Sustainability Study conducted by the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute. Requires that such update include: (1) performance goals; and (2) an analysis of options for preserving, enhancing, and interpreting the Corridor resources, the partnerships that sustain those resources, and the funding program for the Corridor.

Terminates the Commission five years after this Act's enactment.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites and associated landscape features within the boundaries of the Corridor that contribute to the understanding of the Corridor as the birthplace of the industrial revolution in the United States, and evaluate the possibility of: (1) designating one or more site or landscape feature as a unit of the National Park System; and (2) coordinating and complementing actions by the Commission, local governments, and state and federal agencies in the preservation and interpretation of significant resources within the Corridor. Requires coordination of such study with the Commission.

Increases the amount earmarked to the Commission for carrying out purposes related to the Corridor. Authorizes appropriations for carrying out: (1) the provision of development funds for certain projects within the Corridor through FY2016; and (2) the special resource study.

(Sec. 703) Amends federal law concerning the establishment of the Coastal Heritage Trail Route in New Jersey to revise provisions concerning the authorization of appropriations. Limits the use of funds under such act to technical assistance and the design and fabrication of interpretive materials, devices, and signs. Prohibits the use of such funds for operation, repair, or construction costs, except for the costs of constructing interpretive exhibits. Sets the maximum federal share of any project under this Act at 50%, and requires a nonfederal match. Terminates the authorities of the Secretary of the Interior under such law on September 30, 2007.

Requires the Secretary to prepare a strategic plan that describes opportunities to increase participation in the planning, development, and administration of the route and organizational options for sustaining it.

Title VIII: California Reclamation Groundwater Remediation Initiative - (Sec. 803) California Reclamation Groundwater Remediation Initiative - Establishes within the Treasury an interest bearing account to be known as the California Basins Groundwater Remediation Fund, which shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Requires the Secretary to use the Fund to provide grants to reimburse the District for the federal share of the costs associated with designing and constructing groundwater remediation projects. Prohibits the Secretary from obligating any funds appropriated to the Fund in a fiscal year until the Secretary has deposited a matching amount provided by non- federal interests of at least 35 percent for a project.

Makes each local water authority responsible for providing the non-federal amount required for projects under that authority. Allows the State of California, local government agencies, and private entities to provide all or any portion of the non-federal amount. Directs the Secretary to credit the appropriate authority with the value of all prior expenditures by non-federal interests made after January 1, 2000, that are compatible with the purposes of this section.

(Sec. 804) Terminates this title ten years after enactment of this Act.

Title IX: National Coal Heritage Area - (Sec. 901) Amends Title I of Division II of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to add Lincoln County, West Virginia, and Paint Creek and Cabin Creek in Kanawha County, West Virginia, to the National Coal Heritage Area. Requires, with respect to such Area, the Secretary of the Interior to continue a certain contractual agreement with the National Coal Heritage Area Authority rather than the Governor of West Virginia.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov