OPERATING COMMITTEES
for which the NPS has
coordinating responsibility
__________________________________________________________________________________
An
operating committee is any committee established to perform primarily
“operational” as opposed to “advisory” functions. Operational functions
are those specifically authorized by statute or Presidential directive, such as
making or implementing Government decisions or policy. A committee is
designated operational so long as the operational functions it performs constitute
the primary mission of the committee. It may perform advisory functions
as long as they are subordinate to the operational functions. Operating
committees are not, themselves, subject to the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act; however, any advisory committees created by an
operating committee would be subject to the Act.
The
Secretary of the Interior has assigned to the National Park Service
coordinating responsibilities for operating committees that have some
connection to the NPS mission.
Coordination is often carried out by NPS staff at the park or regional
office level. The Office of Policy works
closely with the park or region to process nominations for appointment by the
Secretary and to prepare a charter under which the committee will
function. Some of the operating
committees that the NPS is responsible for take the form of commissions that
have some degree of planning and management responsibilities for designated
National Heritage Areas. Through its
National Heritage Areas Program, the National Park Service provides technical
assistance as well as financial assistance to National Heritage Areas for a
limited number of years following designation.
More information about National Heritage Areas can be found at http://www.nps.gov/history/heritageareas/.
The
following is a list of current operating committees for which the NPS has
coordinating responsibility.
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None
INTERMOUNTAIN
REGION
None
KEWEENAW NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
COMMISSION
The Keweenaw
National Historical Park Advisory Commission provides leadership, education and
financial support for the protection, preservation and interpretation of
resources related to the story of copper mining on Michigan's Keweenaw
Peninsula. The seven-member Commission was established in 1992 by
Section 9 of Public Law 102-543, and as amended in 1999 by Public Law
106-134. There is no statutory termination date for the Commission. Charter
NATIONAL
CAPITAL REGION
None
NORTHEAST REGION
Connecticut,
Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia
BLACKSTONE
RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR COMMISSION
In 1986, the 19-member Blackstone River Valley National
Heritage Corridor Commission was established by Section 3 of Public Law 99-647
to assist Federal, State and local authorities in the development and
implementation of an integrated resource management plan for lands and waters
in the Blackstone River Corridor in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In 1999, the heritage area was redesignated
as the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. In 2006, Congress enacted Public Law 109-338, to reauthorize
the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
Commission for an additional five years.
It also directed the National Park Service to conduct a special resource
study of the region to evaluate the possibility of designating one or more
resources within the Corridor as a National Park Service unit. After receiving a one-year extension, the
Commission is now set to sunset on October 12, 2012 unless reauthorized. There is also interest in having a non-profit
organization manage the heritage area.
BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS PARTNERSHIP
The 13-member Boston
Harbor Islands Partnership was established by subsection 1029(e) of Public Law
104-333, to coordinate the activities of Federal, State, and local authorities and
the private sector in the development and implementation of an integrated
resource management plan for the recreation area. The Secretary and the
Partnership assist the owners and managers of lands and waters within the
recreation area to ensure that existing programs, services, and activities that
promote the National Recreation Area are supported. There is no statutory
termination date for the Partnership. Charter
ERIE CANALWAY
NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR COMMISSION
The Erie Canalway
National Heritage Corridor Commission and staff, in partnership with the
National Park Service, collaborate with communities and organizations to
preserve and interpret our heritage, invite visitors to explore what makes it
unique, and ensure a vibrant future for the 2.7 million New Yorkers who call
the Erie Canalway home. The 27-member Commission was
established in 2000 by Public Law 106-554 to work with Federal, State and local
authorities to develop and implement a comprehensive preservation and
management Canalway Plan. The Commission has been extended until 2015. The Commission has also created a non-profit
arm, the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, to assist the
Commission in fundraising and strategic planning. Charter
NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA COMMISSION
Designated
by Congress in 2008, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area stretches from the
western boundary of Wheatfield, New York to the mouth of the Niagara River on
Lake Ontario, including the communities of Niagara Falls, Youngstown, and
Lewiston. The region is home to natural
wonders, rich cultural traditions, and nationally significant historical sites. The 17-member Commission was created in May 2008 by Section
427, Title IV, Subtitle B of Public Law 110-229, the
Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008.
The purpose of the Commission was to assist in the preparation and
development of a management plan for the heritage area; the plan was approved
on August 23, 2012. The Commission will
sunset on May 8, 2013. Discussions on a
successor management entity are ongoing.
Charter
PACIFIC WEST REGION
America
None
SOUTHEAST REGION
Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina,
Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands
Gullah/Geechee
Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Established
in 2006, the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage
Corridor preserves and interprets the culture and history of Africans and
African-Americans who settled in areas of coastal Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, and North Carolina. The
Corridor provides an opportunity to understand and celebrate the unique
language, religious beliefs, folklore, rituals, and foods of the Gullah/Geechee people. The
15-member Commission was established by Public Law 109-338, to assist Federal,
State, and local authorities in the development and implementation of a
management plan providing guidance for conserving the significant cultural,
historical, and natural resources of the Heritage Corridor; and to provide
educational and interpretive opportunities consistent with the purposes of the
Heritage Corridor. The Commission will
terminate on October 12, 2016. Charter
New Orleans Jazz tells the story of the people and places
that helped shape the birth and development of jazz music and jazz culture in
New Orleans. The
17-member Commission was established in 1994 by Sec. 1207, Title XII of Public
Law 103-433, to assist the National Park Service in furthering the purposes of
the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, and to implement the document
entitled, “New Orleans Jazz Special Resource Study.” Since
that time, the New Orleans Jazz Commission did have a limited role in
implementing the general management plan and parts of the resource study. The
Commission is no longer a functioning entity.
The park is reviewing options to reinstitute the Commission, and to
fulfill the charter. As of August 2012,
no determination has been made. There is no statutory termination date for the
Commission. Charter
WASHINGTON
OFFICE (WASO)
None