FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

SEC. 291A. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.(a) Findings.—Congress finds that—(1) the natural, cultural, and historic heritage of the North American Great Basin is nationally significant;(2) communities along the Great Basin Heritage Route (including the towns of Delta, Utah, Ely, Nevada, and the surrounding communities) are located in a classic western landscape that contains long natural vistas, isolated high desert 120 STAT. 1825 valleys, mountain ranges, ranches, mines, historic railroads, archaeological sites, and tribal communities;(3) the Native American, pioneer, ranching, mining, timber, and railroad heritages associated with the Great Basin Heritage Route include the social history and living cultural traditions of a rich diversity of nationalities;(4) the pioneer, Mormon, and other religious settlements, and ranching, timber, and mining activities of the region played and continue to play a significant role in the development of the United States, shaped by—(A) the unique geography of the Great Basin;(B) an influx of people of Greek, Chinese, Basque, Serb, Croat, Italian, and Hispanic descent; and(C) a Native American presence (Western Shoshone, Northern and Southern Paiute, and Goshute) that continues in the Great Basin today;(5) the Great Basin housed internment camps for Japanese-American citizens during World War II, 1 of which, Topaz, was located along the Heritage Route;(6) the pioneer heritage of the Heritage Route includes the Pony Express route and stations, the Overland Stage, and many examples of 19th century exploration of the western United States;(7) the Native American heritage of the Heritage Route dates back thousands of years and includes—(A) archaeological sites;(B) petroglyphs and pictographs;(C) the westernmost village of the Fremont culture; and(D) communities of Western Shoshone, Paiute, and Goshute tribes;(8) the Heritage Route contains multiple biologically diverse ecological communities that are home to exceptional species such as—(A) bristlecone pines, the oldest living trees in the world;(B) wildlife adapted to harsh desert conditions;(C) unique plant communities, lakes, and streams; and(D) native Bonneville cutthroat trout;(9) the air and water quality of the Heritage Route is among the best in the United States, and the clear air permits outstanding viewing of the night skies;(10) the Heritage Route includes unique and outstanding geologic features such as numerous limestone caves, classic basin and range topography with playa lakes, alluvial fans, volcanics, cold and hot springs, and recognizable features of ancient Lake Bonneville;(11) the Heritage Route includes an unusual variety of open space and recreational and educational opportunities because of the great quantity of ranching activity and public land (including city, county, and State parks, national forests, Bureau of Land Management land, and a national park);(12) there are significant archaeological, historical, cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources in the Great Basin to merit the involvement of the Federal Government in the development, in cooperation with the Great Basin Heritage 120 STAT. 1826 Route Partnership and other local and governmental entities, of programs and projects to—(A) adequately conserve, protect, and interpret the heritage of the Great Basin for present and future generations; and(B) provide opportunities in the Great Basin for education; and(13) the Great Basin Heritage Route Partnership shall serve as the local coordinating entity for a Heritage Route established in the Great Basin.(b) Purposes.—The purposes of this subtitle are—(1) to foster a close working relationship with all levels of government, the private sector, and the local communities within White Pine County, Nevada, Millard County, Utah, and the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation;(2) to enable communities referred to in paragraph (1) to conserve their heritage while continuing to develop economic opportunities; and(3) to conserve, interpret, and develop the archaeological, historical, cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources related to the unique ranching, industrial, and cultural heritage of the Great Basin, in a manner that promotes multiple uses permitted as of the date of enactment of this Act, without managing or regulating land use.