[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2140 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2140

       To expand the boundary of the Mount Rainier National Park.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 26, 2004

  Ms. Cantwell (for herself and Mrs. Murray) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To expand the boundary of the Mount Rainier National Park.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding and Making Mount Rainier 
National Park More Accessible Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Carbon River watershed within Pierce County in the 
        State of Washington has unique qualities of ecological, 
        economic, and educational importance, including clean water, 
        productive salmon streams, important wildlife habitat, active 
        geologic processes, outdoor recreational opportunities, and 
        diverse economic opportunities.
            (2) Mount Rainier National Park is one of the premier 
        attractions in the State of Washington, providing recreational, 
        educational, and economic opportunities that will be enhanced 
        by the construction of new campgrounds and visitor contact 
        facilities in the Carbon River valley outside old-growth forest 
        habitats and above the flood plain.
            (3) Coordination of management across national forest and 
        national park lands in this corridor will enhance the 
        conservation of the forest ecosystem and public enjoyment of 
        these public lands.
            (4) Protection and development of historic and recreational 
        facilities in the Carbon River valley, such as trails and 
        visitor centers, can be facilitated by the National Park 
        Service.

SEC. 3. MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.

    (a) Boundary Adjustment.--The boundary of Mount Rainier National 
Park is modified to include the area within the boundary generally 
depicted on the map entitled ``Mount Rainier National Park, Carbon 
River Boundary Adjustment,'' numbered 105/92,002B, and dated June 2003. 
The Secretary of the Interior shall keep the map on file in the 
appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
    (b) Land Acquisition.--The Secretary of the Interior may acquire, 
only with consent of the owner, by donation, purchase with donated or 
appropriated funds or exchange--
            (1) land or interests in land, totaling not more than 800 
        acres, and improvements thereon within the boundary generally 
        depicted on the map referred to in subsection (a) for 
        development of camping and other recreational facilities; and
            (2) land or interests in land, totaling not more than one 
        acre, and improvements thereon in the vicinity of Wilkeson, 
        Washington, for a facility to serve visitors to public lands 
        along the Carbon and Mowich Corridors.
    (c) Administration of Acquired Lands.--Lands acquired under this 
section shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as part 
of Mount Rainier National Park in accordance with applicable laws and 
regulations.

SEC. 4. ASSOCIATED LANDS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall manage that portion of the Mt. 
Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest lying adjacent to Mt. Rainier National 
Park, as identified on the map referred to in section 3(a), to maintain 
the area's natural setting in a manner consistent with the area's 
designation as part of a late successional reserve.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.
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