West Virginia during the Civil War years and as the first capital of the new State of West Virginia. (3) The City of Wheeling has also played an important role in the industrial and commercial heritage of the United States, through the development and maintenance of many industries crucial to the Nation's expansion, including iron and steel, textile manufacturing, boat building, glass manufacturing, and stogie and chewing tobacco manufacturing facilities, many of which are industries that continue to play an important role in the Nation's economy.

(4) The City of Wheeling has retained its national heritage themes with the designations of the old custom house, now Independence Hall, as a National Historic Landmark; with the designation of the historic suspension bridge as a National Historic Landmark; with five historic districts, and many individual properties in the Wheeling area listed or eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

(5) The heritage themes and number and diversity of Wheeling's remaining resources should be appropriately retained, enhanced, and interpreted for the education, benefit, and inspiration of the people of the United States.

(6) In 1992 a comprehensive plan for the development and administration of the Wheeling National Heritage Area was completed for the National Park Service, the City of Wheeling, and the Wheeling National Heritage Task Force, including

(A) an inventory of the natural and cultural resources in the City of Wheeling;

(B) criteria for preserving and interpreting significant natural and historic resources;

(C) a strategy for the conservation, preservation, and reuse of the historical and cultural resources in the City of Wheeling and the region; and

(D) an implementation agenda by which the State of West Virginia and local governments can program their resources as well as a complete description of the management entity responsibility for implementing the plan.

(b) PURPOSES.-The purposes of this Act are to

(1) recognize the special importance of the history and development of the Wheeling area in the cultural heritage of the Nation;

(2) provide a framework to assist the City of Wheeling and other public and private entities and individuals in the appropriate preservation, enhancement, and interpretation of significant resources in the Wheeling area emblematic of Wheeling's contributions to the Nation's cultural heritage.

(3) allow for limited Federal, State and local capital contributions for planning and infrastructure investments to create the Wheeling National Heritage Area,

in partnership with the State of West Virginia and the City of Wheeling, and its designees; and

(4) provide for an economically self-sustaining National Heritage Area not dependent on Federal assistance beyond the initial years necessary to establish the heritage area.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Act the term

(1) "corporation" means the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation as described in section 5 of this Act;

(2) "heritage area" means the Wheeling National Heritage Area established in section 4 of this Act;

(3) "plan" refers to the plan for the Wheeling National Heritage Area, prepared for the Wheeling National Heritage Area Task Force, the City of Wheeling, and the National Park Service, published in August 1992; and

(4) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, there is hereby established the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the State of West Virginia. The heritage area shall include those lands and waters as generally depicted on the map entitled, "Boundary Map; Wheeling National Heritage Area, Wheeling, West Virginia" dated March 1994, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

SEC. 5. WHEELING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA CORPORATION.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.-There is hereby established the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation. The Corporation shall be structured as a private, non-profit, taxempt entity.

(b) MISSION-The Corporation's primary mission shall be to implement and coordinate the recommendations contained in the plan, ensure integrated operation of the heritage area, conserve and interpret the historic and cultural resources of the heritage area, and to become a financially self-sustaining entity. In support of its primary mission, the Corporation shall also direct and coordinate the diverse conservation, development, programming, educational, and interpretive activities within the heritage

area.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE CORPORATION.

(a) RECOGNITION OF PLAN.-The Corporation shall work with the State of West Virginia and local governments to ensure that the plan is formally adopted by the City of Wheeling and recognized by the State of West Virginia.

(b) IMPLEMENTATION.-In implementing the plan, the Corporation shall, to the extent practicable

West Virginia during the Civil War years and as the first capital of the new State of West Virginia. (3) The City of Wheeling has also played an important role in the industrial and commercial heritage of the United States, through the development and maintenance of many industries crucial to the Nation's expansion, including iron and steel, textile manufacturing, boat building, glass manufacturing, and stogie and chewing tobacco manufacturing facilities, many of which are industries that continue to play an important role in the Nation's economy.

(4) The City of Wheeling has retained its national heritage themes with the designations of the old custom house, now Independence Hall, as a National Historic Landmark; with the designation of the historic suspension bridge as a National Historic Landmark; with five historic districts, and many individual properties in the Wheeling area listed or eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

(5) The heritage themes and number and diversity of Wheeling's remaining resources should be appropriately retained, enhanced, and interpreted for the education, benefit, and inspiration of the people of the United States.

(6) In 1992 a comprehensive plan for the development and administration of the Wheeling National Heritage Area was completed for the National Park Service, the City of Wheeling, and the Wheeling National Heritage Task Force, including—

(A) an inventory of the natural and cultural resources in the City of Wheeling;

(B) criteria for preserving and interpreting significant natural and historic resources;

(C) a strategy for the conservation, preservation, and reuse of the historical and cultural resources in the City of Wheeling and the region; and

(D) an implementation agenda by which the State of West Virginia and local governments can program their resources as well as a complete description of the management entity responsibility for implementing the plan.

(b) PURPOSES.-The purposes of this Act are to

(1) recognize the special importance of the history and development of the Wheeling area in the cultural heritage of the Nation;

(2) provide a framework to assist the City of Wheeling and other public and private entities and individuals in the appropriate preservation, enhancement, and interpretation of significant resources in the Wheeling area emblematic of Wheeling's contributions to the Nation's cultural heritage.

(3) allow for limited Federal, State and local capital contributions for planning and infrastructure investments to create the Wheeling National Heritage Area,

in partnership with the State of West Virginia and the City of Wheeling, and its designees; and

(4) provide for an economically self-sustaining National Heritage Area not dependent on Federal assistance beyond the initial years necessary to establish the heritage area.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Act the term

(1) "corporation" means the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation as described in section 5 of this Act;

(2) "heritage area" means the Wheeling National Heritage Area established in section 4 of this Act;

(3) "plan" refers to the plan for the Wheeling National Heritage Area, prepared for the Wheeling National Heritage Area Task Force, the City of Wheeling, and the National Park Service, published in August 1992; and

(4) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, there is hereby established the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the State of West Virginia. The heritage area shall include those lands and waters as generally depicted on the map entitled, "Boundary Map; Wheeling National Heritage Area, Wheeling, West Virginia" dated March 1994, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

SEC. 5. WHEELING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA CORPORA

TION.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.-There is hereby established the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation. The Corporation shall be structured as a private, non-profit, taxempt entity.

(b) MISSION-The Corporation's primary mission shall be to implement and coordinate the recommendations contained in the plan, ensure integrated operation of the heritage area, conserve and interpret the historic and cultural resources of the heritage area, and to become a financially self-sustaining entity. In support of its primary mission, the Corporation shall also direct and coordinate the diverse conservation, development, programming, educational, and interpretive activities within the heritage

area.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE CORPORATION.

(a) RECOGNITION OF PLAN.-The Corporation shall work with the State of West Virginia and local governments to ensure that the plan is formally adopted by the City of Wheeling and recognized by the State of West Virginia.

(b) IMPLEMENTATION.-In implementing the plan, the Corporation shall, to the extent practicable

(1) implement the recommendations contained in the plan in a timely fashion pursuant to schedule identified in the plan;

(2) coordinate its activities with those of the City of Wheeling, the State of West Virginia, and the Federal Government;

(3) ensure the conservation and interpretation of the heritage area's historical, cultural, and natural resources, including

(A) assisting the State of West Virginia and the City of Wheeling in appropriate preservation treatment of the sites, buildings, and objects listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places;

(B) increasing awareness and appreciation of the City of Wheeling's cultural heritage and ongoing traditions;

(C) assisting the State of West Virginia or City of Wheeling in designing, establishing, and maintaining one or more visitor centers and other interpretive exhibits in the heritage area;

(D) assisting in the enhancement of public awareness and appreciation for the historical and architectural and geological resources and sites in the heritage area;

(E) assisting the State of West Virginia (or a political subdivision thereof) or any nonprofit organization in the restoration of any historic building in the heritage area; and

(F) encouraging the City and Wheeling and other local governments to adopt land use policies consistent with the goals of the plan, and to take actions to implement those policies;

(4) cooperate with and assist entities whose_goals and purposes are consistent with the goals and purposes of the Corporation;

(5) encouraging intergovernmental and interagency cooperation in the achievement of these objectives;

(6) develop recommendations for design standards; and

(7) seek to create public/private partnerships to finance projects and initiatives within the heritage area. (c) ANNUAL REPORT AND PLAN OF OPERATIONS.-The Corporation shall submit an annual report to the Secretary, setting forth the Corporation's accomplishments, expenses and income, and the entities to which any loans and grants were made during the previous year, and a plan of operations for the upcoming year.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE CORPORATION.

(a) STAFF.-The Corporation shall have the power to appoint and fix the compensation of such staff as may be necessary to carry out its duties.

(b) DETAIL OF FEDERAL PERSONNEL.-Upon request of the Corporation, the head of any Federal agency may de