Government to Study Adding Saratoga and Washington Counties to Hudson Valley National Heritage Area

This bill, the "Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act," directs the Secretary of the Interior to launch a study. The main goal? To figure out if it's feasible and makes sense to expand the existing Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (NHA) to include Saratoga and Washington Counties in New York.

Mapping the Possibilities

So, what does this actually mean on the ground? Essentially, the federal government will be taking a closer look at these two counties. As outlined in Section 2, the study involves evaluating the natural, cultural, and historic resources in Saratoga and Washington Counties to see if they fit the NHA criteria. It also requires consultation with state and local groups – think historical societies, local governments, and community organizations – to get their input. This process follows standard procedures for considering NHA designations, as referenced by the mention of 54 U.S.C. 120103(a).

Just Step One

It's important to remember this bill only authorizes the study; it doesn't automatically expand the Heritage Area. If the study eventually finds that adding these counties is a good idea, it could potentially lead to increased tourism, preservation efforts, and maybe some economic benefits for local businesses down the road. But for now, the direct impact is simply the government doing its homework to assess the potential expansion.