AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

SEC. 291F. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.(a) Authorities.—The local coordinating entity may, for purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use funds made available under this subtitle to—(1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, a State (including a political subdivision), an Indian tribe, a private organization, or any person; and(2) hire and compensate staff.(b) Duties.—In addition to developing the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall—(1) give priority to implementing the memorandum of understanding and the management plan, including taking steps to—(A) assist units of government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in—(i) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits along the Heritage Route;(ii) developing recreational resources along the Heritage Route;(iii) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the archaeological, historical, cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources and sites along the Heritage Route; and(iv) if requested by the owner, restoring, stabilizing, or rehabilitating any private, public, or tribal historical building relating to the themes of the Heritage Route;(B) encourage economic viability and diversity along the Heritage Route in accordance with the objectives of the management plan; and(C) encourage the installation of clear, consistent, and environmentally appropriate signage identifying access points and sites of interest along the Heritage Route;(2) consider the interests of diverse governmental, business, and nonprofit groups associated with the Heritage Route;(3) conduct public meetings in the region of the Heritage Route at least semiannually regarding the implementation of the management plan;(4) submit substantial amendments (including any increase of more than 20 percent in the cost estimates for implementation) to the management plan to the Secretary for approval by the Secretary; and120 STAT. 1830(5) for any year for which Federal funds are received under this subtitle—(A) submit to the Secretary a report that describes, for the year—(i) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;(ii) the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity; and(iii) each entity to which any loan or grant was made;(B) make available for audit all records pertaining to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and(C) require, for all agreements authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by any entity, that the receiving entity make available for audit all records pertaining to the expenditure of the funds.(c) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.—The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds made available under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest in real property.(d) Prohibition on the Regulation of Land Use.—The local coordinating entity shall not regulate land use within the Heritage Route.