Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 6.djvu/184

 108 STAT. 4752 PUBLIC LAW 103-449—NOV. 2, 1994 Public Law 103-449 103d Congress An Act Nov. 2, 1994 To establish the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor [H.R. 1348] in the State of Connecticut, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Historic the United States of America in Congress assembled, preservation. SckeT^'* TITLE I—QUINEBAUG AND SHETUCKET Rivers Valley RIVERS VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE KAct of CORRIDOR 1994. 16 USC 461 note. SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the "Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor Act of 1994". SEC. 102. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that— (1) the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley in the State of Connecticut is one of the last unspoiled and undeveloped areas in the Northeastern United States and has remained largely intact, including important aboriginal archaeological sites, excellent water quality, beautiful rural landscapes, architecturally significant mill structures and mill villages, and large acreages of parks and other permanent open space; (2) the State of Connecticut ranks last among the 50 States in the amount of federally protected park and open space lands within its borders and lags far behind the other Northeastern States in the amount of land set-aside for public recreation; (3) the beautiful rural landscapes, scenic vistas and excellent water quality of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers contain significant undeveloped recreational opportunities for people throughout the United States; (4) the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley is within a two-hour drive of the major metropolitan areas of New York City, Hartford, Providence, Worcester, Springfield, and Boston. With the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors reporting that Americans are taking shorter "closer-to-home" vacations, the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley represents important close-by recreational opportunities for significant population; (5) the existing mill sites and other structures throughout the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley were instrumental in the development of the industrial revolution;

�