[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 750 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 750

    To provide for a study of options for protecting the open space 
  characteristics of certain lands in and adjacent to the Arapaho and 
    Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 12, 2003

Mr. Udall of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                     to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To provide for a study of options for protecting the open space 
  characteristics of certain lands in and adjacent to the Arapaho and 
    Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, 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; FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Colorado Northern 
Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study Act ''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Rising dramatically from the Great Plains, the Front 
        Range of the Rocky Mountains provides a scenic mountain 
        backdrop to many communities in the Denver metropolitan area 
        and elsewhere in Colorado. The portion of the range within and 
        adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests also 
        includes a diverse array of wildlife habitats and provides many 
        opportunities for outdoor recreation.
            (2) The open space character of this mountain backdrop is 
        an important esthetic and economic asset for adjoining 
        communities, making them attractive locations for homes and 
        businesses.
            (3) Rapid population growth in the northern Front Range 
        area of Colorado is increasing recreational use of the Arapaho 
        and Roosevelt National Forests and is also placing increased 
        pressure for development of other lands within and adjacent to 
        that national forest.
            (4) Efforts by local governments and other entities have 
        provided important protection for portions of this mountain 
        backdrop, especially in the northern Denver metropolitan area. 
        However, some portions of the mountain backdrop in this part of 
        Colorado remain unprotected and are at risk of losing their 
        open space qualities.
            (5) It is in the national interest for the Federal 
        Government, in collaboration with local communities, to assist 
        in identifying options for increasing the protection of the 
        mountain backdrop in the northern Front Range area of Colorado.
    (c) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to identify options that 
may be available to assist in maintaining the open space 
characteristics of lands that are part of the mountain backdrop of 
communities in the northern section of the Front Range area of 
Colorado.

SEC. 2. COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN BACKDROP STUDY.

    (a) Study and Report.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Chief of the Forest Service and in consultation with appropriate 
State and local agencies, shall review the lands within the study area 
and not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act 
shall report to Congress regarding the following:
            (1) The present ownership of such lands.
            (2) Which undeveloped land may be at risk of development.
            (3) Identification of and recommendations concerning 
        actions that could be taken by the United States, the State of 
        Colorado, or any other parties to preserve the open and 
        undeveloped character of such lands.
    (b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act, the following 
definitions apply:
            (1) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means all lands in 
        southern Boulder, northern Jefferson, and northern Gilpin 
        Counties, Colorado, that are situated west of Colorado State 
        Highway 93, south and east of Colorado State Highway 119, and 
        north of Colorado State Highway 46, excluding lands within the 
        city limits of the cities of Boulder or Golden, Colorado.
            (2) Undeveloped land.--The term ``undeveloped land'' means 
        land that--
                    (A) is located within the study area;
                    (B) is free or primarily free of structures; and
                    (C) the development of which is likely to adversely 
                affect the scenic, wildlife, or recreational value of 
                the study area.
                                 <all>