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Special Resource Study > Criteria
> Criteria for National Heritage Areas
Criteria for National Heritage Areas
The Harriet Tubman Study law also asks us to look
at "the suitability and feasibility of ... establishing a national
heritage corridor [area] that incorporates the [seven named] sites
... and any other sites associated with Harriet Tubman." The study
team will incorporate this analysis.
"A 'National Heritage Area' is a place designated
by Congress where natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources
combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising
from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. These patterns
make national heritage areas representative of the national experience
through the physical features that remain and the traditions that
have evolved in them. Continued use of national heritage areas by
people whose traditions helped to shape the landscapes enhances
their significance."
Before a national heritage area may be designated
by Congress, a suitability-feasibility study must be done, using
these criteria:
- The area has an assemblage of natural, historic,
or cultural resources that together represent distinctive aspects
of American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, interpretation,
and continuing use, and are best managed as such an assemblage,
through partnerships among public and private entities, and by
combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and active
communities
- It reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and
folklife that are a valuable part of the nation's story
- It provides outstanding opportunities to conserve
natural, cultural, historic, and /or scenic features
- It provides outstanding recreational and educational
opportunities
- The resources important to the identified
theme or themes of the area retain a degree of integrity capable
of supporting interpretation
- Residents, business interests, non-profit
organizations, and governments within the proposed area were involved
in the planning and have demonstrated support for designation
of the area
- The proposed management entity and units of
government supporting the designation are willing to commit to
working in partnership to develop the Heritage Area
- The proposal is consistent with continued
economic activity in the area
- A conceptual boundary map has been reviewed
by the public
- The management entity proposed to plan and
implement the project is described
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