Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act

This legislation would create the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area in New York. It adds 14 counties—Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates—to the National Heritage Area System. The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance would serve as the local group that coordinates the area’s work. That group must submit a management plan to the U.S. Department of the Interior within three years of the law taking effect, and federal assistance for this heritage area would end 15 years after enactment.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Communities in the 14 listed counties; Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance; the Department of the Interior.
• What changes: Establishes the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area and requires a management plan; sets a 15-year limit on federal assistance for this area.
• When: Plan due within 3 years after enactment; federal assistance ends 15 years after enactment.