[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 829 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 829

 To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of 
  the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 24, 1999

 Ms. DeGette introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of 
  the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Colorado 
Wilderness Act of 1999''.
    (b) Definitions.--As used in this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means 
the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as 
appropriate.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM.

    (a) Additions.--The following lands in the State of Colorado 
administered by the Bureau of Land Management or the United States 
Forest Service are hereby designated as wilderness and, therefore, as 
components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
            (1) The following areas in the Glenwood Springs Resource 
        Area:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                15,203 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Bull Gulch Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Bull Gulch 
                Wilderness.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                16,300 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Castle Peak Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Castle Peak 
                Wilderness.
                    (C) Certain lands in the Glenwood Springs Resource 
                Area which comprise approximately 312 acres, as 
                generally depicted on a map entitled ``Maroon Bells-
                Snowmass Addition Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, and which are hereby incorporated in and shall 
                be deemed to be a part of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass 
                Wilderness designated by Public Law 88-577 and Public 
                Law 96-560.
                    (D) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                38,941 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Roan Plateau Wilderness Proposal'' dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Roan Plateau 
                Wilderness.
            (2) The following areas in the Glenwood Springs Resource 
        Area and the White River National Forest:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                10,240 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Deep Creek Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Deep Creek 
                Wilderness.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                9,968 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Flat Tops Addition Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, and which are hereby incorporated in 
                and shall be deemed to be a part of the Flat Tops 
                Wilderness designated by Public Law 94-146.
                    (C) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                20,949 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Thompson Creek Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, which shall be known as the Thompson Creek 
                Wilderness.
            (3) The following lands in the Grand Junction Resource 
        Area:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                21,410 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Bangs Canyon Wilderness Proposal'', dated February, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Bangs Canyon 
                Wilderness.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                70,311 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Black 
                Ridge Canyons Wilderness.
                    (C) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                25,718 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Demaree Canyon Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, which shall be known as the Demaree Canyon 
                Wilderness.
                    (D) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                4,257 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Granite Creek Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, which shall be known as the Granite Creek 
                Wilderness.
                    (E) Certain lands in the Grand Junction Resource 
                Area which comprise approximately 14,331 acres, as 
                generally depicted on a map entitled ``Hunter Canyon 
                Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which 
                shall be known as the Hunter Canyon Wilderness.
                    (F) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                28,992 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Little Bookcliffs Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Little 
                Bookcliffs Wilderness.
                    (G) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                27,133 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``The Palisade Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as The Palisade Wilderness.
                    (H) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                24,492 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``South Shale Ridge Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the South 
                Shale Ridge Wilderness.
            (4) Certain lands in the Grand Junction and Uncompahgre 
        Resource Areas and the Uncompahgre National Forest which 
        comprise approximately 84,501 acres, as generally depicted on a 
        map entitled ``Dominguez Canyons Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Dominguez Canyons 
        Wilderness.
            (5) Certain lands in the Grand Junction Resource Area and 
        the Uncompahgre National Forest which comprise approximately 
        39,184 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ``Unaweep 
        Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which shall be 
        known as the Unaweep Wilderness.
            (6) Certain lands in the Grand Junction Resource Area, the 
        San Juan Resource Area, and the Manti-LaSal National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 30,474 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Sewemup Mesa Wilderness 
        Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the 
        Sewemup Mesa Wilderness.
            (7) Certain in the Gunnison Resource Area which comprise 
        approximately 38,527 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        entitled ``Redcloud Peak Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
        1, 1999, which shall be known as the Redcloud Peak Wilderness.
            (8) Certain lands in the Gunnison Resource Area and the 
        Gunnison National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest which 
        comprise approximately 71,382 acres, as generally depicted on a 
        map entitled ``Handies Peak Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Handies Peak 
        Wilderness.
            (9) Certain lands in the Kremmling Resource Area which 
        comprise approximately 33 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        entitled ``Platte River Addition Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        February 1, 1999, and which are hereby incorporated in and 
        shall be deemed to be part of the Platte River Addition 
        Wilderness designated by Public Law 98-550.
            (10) Certain lands in the Kremmling Resource Area, the 
        Arapaho National Forest, and the Routt National Forest which 
        comprise approximately 106,063 acres, as generally depicted on 
        a map entitled ``Troublesome Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Troublesome 
        Wilderness.
            (11) the following lands in the Little Snake Resource Area:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                50,371 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Cold Spring Mountain Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Cold 
Spring Mountain Wilderness.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                18,035 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Cross Mountain Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, which shall be known as the Cross Mountain 
                Wilderness.
                    (C) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                34,011 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Diamond Breaks Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, which shall be known as the Diamond Breaks 
                Wilderness.
                    (D) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                29,782 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Dinosaur Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Dinosaur Wilderness.
                    (E) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                90,592 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Vermillion Basin Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the 
                Vermillion Basin Wilderness.
                    (F) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                12,273 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Yampa River Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Yampa River 
                Wilderness.
            (12) Certain lands in the Royal Gorge Resource Area which 
        comprise approximately 17,552 acres, as generally depicted on a 
        map entitled ``McIntyre Hills Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the McIntyre Hills 
        Wilderness.
            (13) Certain lands in the Royal Gorge Resource Area and the 
        San Isabel National Forest which comprise approximately 44,187 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ``Grape Creek 
        Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which shall be 
        known as the Grape Creek Wilderness.
            (14) The following lands in the Royal Gorge Resource Area 
        and the Pike National Forest:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                37,390 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Beaver Creek Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Beaver Creek 
                Wilderness.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                21,809 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Browns Canyon Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, which shall be known as the Browns Canyon 
                Wilderness.
            (15) The following lands in the San Juan Resource Area:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                25,979 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Cross Canyon Wilderness Proposal'', dated February, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Cross Canyon 
                Wilderness.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                40,662 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Dolores River Canyon Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Dolores 
                River Canyon Wilderness.
                    (C) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                4,621 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Mares Tail Canyon Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Mares 
                Tail Canyon Wilderness.
                    (D) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                21,641 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``McKenna Peak Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the McKenna Peak 
                Wilderness.
                    (E) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                23,355 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``San Luis Hills Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 
                1, 1999, which shall be known as the San Luis Hills 
                Wilderness.
                    (F) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                14,504 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Weber-Menefee Mountain Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Weber-
                Menefee Mountain Wilderness.
            (16) Certain lands in the San Juan Resource Area and the 
        San Juan National Forest which comprise approximately 31,648 
        acres, as generally depleted on a map entitled ``Snaggletooth 
        Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which shall be 
        known as the Snaggletooth Wilderness.
            (17) the following lands in the San Luis Resource Area:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                1,097 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Great Sand Dunes Addition Wilderness Proposal'', 
                dated February 1, 1999, and which are hereby 
incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a part of the Great Sand 
Dunes Wilderness designated by Public Law 94-567.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                10,759 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Rio Grande Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Rio Grande 
                Wilderness.
            (18) Certain lands in the Uncompahgre Resource Area and the 
        Grand Mesa National Forest which comprise approximately 10,719 
        acres as generally depicted on a map entitled ``Adobe Badlands 
        Wilderness Area Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which shall 
        be known as the Adobe Badlands Wilderness.
            (19) Certain lands in the Uncompahgre Resource Area and the 
        Uncompahgre National Forest which comprise approximately 14,551 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ``Roubideau 
        Addition Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which 
        shall be known as the Roubideau Wilderness.
            (20) Certain lands in the Uncompahgre Resource Area which 
        comprise approximately 22,696 acres, as generally depicted on a 
        map entitled ``Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Gunnison Gorge 
        Wilderness.
            (21) The following lands in the White River Resource Area:
                    (A) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                22,574 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Black Mountain-Windy Gulch Wilderness Proposal'', 
                dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the 
                Black Mountain-Windy Gulch Wilderness.
                    (B) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                14,913 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Bull Canyon Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Bull Canyon 
                Wilderness.
                    (C) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                18,766 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Oil Spring Mountain Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
                February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Oil 
                Spring Mountain Wilderness.
                    (D) Certain lands which comprise approximately 
                20,646 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
                ``Pinyon Ridge Wilderness Proposal'', dated February 1, 
                1999, which shall be known as the Pinyon Ridge 
                Wilderness.
                    (E) Certain lands in the White River Resource Area 
                which comprise approximately 31,013 acres, as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Skull Creek Wilderness 
                Proposal'', dated February 1, 1999, which shall be 
                known as the Skull Creek Wilderness.
    (b) Maps and Descriptions.--As soon as practicable after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the appropriate Secretary shall file a map 
and a boundary description of each area designated as wilderness by 
this Act with the Committee on Resources of the United States House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the United States Senate. Each map and description shall have the same 
force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the 
appropriate Secretary is authorized to correct clerical and 
typographical errors in such boundary descriptions and maps. Such maps 
and boundary descriptions shall be on file and available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Director of the Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of the Interior, and in the Office of the Chief 
of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, as appropriate.
    (c) State and Private Lands.--Lands within the exterior boundaries 
of any wilderness area designated under this section that are owned by 
the State or by a private entity shall be included within such 
wilderness area if such lands are acquired by the United States. Such 
lands may be acquired by the United States only as provided in the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 and following).

SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, lands designated 
as wilderness by this Act shall be managed by the Secretary of 
Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, in 
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this 
Act, except that, with respect to any wilderness areas designated by 
this Act, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of 
the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (b) Grazing.--Grazing of livestock in wilderness areas designated 
by this Act shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of 
section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), as 
further interpreted by section 108 of Public Law 96-560, and, the 
guidelines set forth in Appendix A of House Report 101-405 of the 101st 
Congress.
    (c) State Jurisdiction.--As provided in section 4(d)(7) of the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the 
State of Colorado with respect to wildlife and fish in Colorado.
    (d) Water.--(1) With respect to each wilderness area designated by 
this Act, Congress hereby reserves a quantity of water sufficient to 
fulfill the purposes of this Act. The priority date of such reserved 
rights shall be the date of enactment of this Act.
    (2) The appropriate Secretary and all other officers of the United 
States shall take steps necessary to protect the rights reserved by 
paragraph (1), including the filing by the Secretary of a claim for the 
quantification of such rights in any present or future appropriate 
stream adjudication in the courts of the State of Colorado in which the 
United States is or may be joined and which is conducted in accordance 
with the McCarran Amendment (43 U.S.C. 666).
    (3) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as a relinquishment or 
reduction of any water rights reserved or appropriated by the United 
States in the State of Colorado on or before the date of enactment of 
this Act.
    (4) The Federal water rights reserved by this Act are specific to 
the wilderness areas located in the State of Colorado designated by 
this title. Nothing in this title related to reserved Federal water 
rights shall be construed as establishing a precedent with regard to 
any future designations, nor shall it constitute an interpretation of 
any other Act or any designation made pursuant thereto.
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