[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 233 Engrossed in House (EH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 233
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To designate certain National Forest System lands in the Mendocino and
Six Rivers National Forests and certain Bureau of Land Management lands
in Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa Counties in the State of
California as wilderness, to designate the Elkhorn Ridge Potential
Wilderness Area, to designate certain segments of the Black Butte River
in Mendocino County, California as a wild or scenic river, and for
other purposes.
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 233
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To designate certain National Forest System lands in the Mendocino and
Six Rivers National Forests and certain Bureau of Land Management lands
in Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa Counties in the State of
California as wilderness, to designate the Elkhorn Ridge Potential
Wilderness Area, to designate certain segments of the Black Butte River
in Mendocino County, California as a wild or scenic river, 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 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Northern
California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
Sec. 3. Designation of wilderness areas.
Sec. 4. Administration of wilderness areas.
Sec. 5. Release of wilderness study areas.
Sec. 6. Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area.
Sec. 7. Wild and scenic river designation.
Sec. 8. King Range National Conservation Area boundary adjustment.
Sec. 9. Cow Mountain Recreation Area, Lake and Mendocino Counties,
California.
Sec. 10. Continuation of traditional commercial surf fishing, Redwood
National and State Parks.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means--
(1) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(2) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the
following areas in the State of California are designated as wilderness
areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Snow mountain wilderness addition.--
(A) In general.--Certain land in the Mendocino
National Forest, comprising approximately 23,706 acres,
as generally depicted on the maps described in
subparagraph (B), is incorporated in and shall
considered to be a part of the ``Snow Mountain
Wilderness'', as designated by section 101(a)(31) of
the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132
note; Public Law 98-425).
(B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in
subparagraph (A) are--
(i) the map entitled ``Skeleton Glade Unit,
Snow Mountain Proposed Wilderness Addition,
Mendocino National Forest'' and dated April 21,
2005; and
(ii) the map entitled ``Bear Creek/Deafy
Glade Unit, Snow Mountain Wilderness Addition,
Mendocino National Forest'' and dated July 21,
2006.
(2) Sanhedrin wilderness.--Certain land in the Mendocino
National Forest, comprising approximately 10,571 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Sanhedrin Proposed
Wilderness, Mendocino National Forest'' and dated April 21,
2005, which shall be known as the ``Sanhedrin Wilderness''.
(3) Yuki wilderness.--Certain land in the Mendocino
National Forest and certain land administered by the Bureau of
Land Management in Lake and Mendocino Counties, California,
together comprising approximately 53,887 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ``Yuki Proposed Wilderness'' and
dated May 23, 2005, which shall be known as the ``Yuki
Wilderness''.
(4) Yolla bolly-middle eel wilderness addition.--Certain
land in the Mendocino National Forest and certain land
administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Mendocino
County, California, together comprising approximately 27,036
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Middle Fork
Eel, Smokehouse and Big Butte Units, Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel
Proposed Wilderness Addition'' and dated June 7, 2005, is
incorporated in and shall considered to be a part of the Yolla
Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, as designated by section 3 of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1132).
(5) Siskiyou wilderness addition.--
(A) In general.--Certain land in the Six Rivers
National Forest, comprising approximately 30,122 acres,
as generally depicted on the maps described in
subparagraph (B), is incorporated in and shall be
considered to be a part of the Siskiyou Wilderness, as
designated by section 101(a)(30) of the California
Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law
98-425).
(B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in
subparagraph (A) are--
(i) the map entitled ``Bear Basin Butte
Unit, Siskiyou Proposed Wilderness Additions,
Six Rivers National Forest'' and dated June 28,
2005; and
(ii) the map entitled ``Blue Creek Unit,
Siskiyou Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six
Rivers National Forest'' and dated July 21,
2006;
(6) Mount lassic wilderness.--Certain land in the Six
Rivers National Forest, comprising approximately 7,279 acres,
as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Mt. Lassic Proposed
Wilderness'' and dated June 7, 2005, which shall be known as
the ``Mount Lassic Wilderness''.
(7) Trinity alps wilderness addition.--
(A) In general.--Certain land in the Six Rivers
National Forest, comprising approximately 22,863 acres,
as generally depicted on the maps described in
subparagraph (B) and which is incorporated in and shall
be considered to be a part of the Trinity Alps
Wilderness as designated by section 101(a)(34) of the
California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;
Public Law 98-425).
(B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in
subparagraph (A) are--
(i) the map entitled ``East Fork Unit,
Trinity Alps Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six
Rivers National Forest'' and dated September
17, 2004;
(ii) the map entitled ``Horse Linto Unit,
Trinity Alps Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six
Rivers National Forest'' and dated September
17, 2004; and
(iii) the map entitled ``Red Cap Unit,
Trinity Alps Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six
Rivers National Forest'' and dated June 7,
2005.
(8) Cache creek wilderness.--Certain land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management in Lake County, California,
comprising approximately 27,245 acres, as generally depicted on
the map entitled ``Cache Creek Wilderness Area'' and dated July
22, 2006, which shall be known as the ``Cache Creek
Wilderness''.
(9) Cedar roughs wilderness.--Certain land administered by
the Bureau of Land Management in Napa County, California,
comprising approximately 6,350 acres, as generally depicted on
the map entitled ``Cedar Roughs Wilderness Area'' and dated
September 27, 2004, which shall be known as the ``Cedar Roughs
Wilderness''.
(10) South fork eel river wilderness.--Certain land
administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Mendocino
County, California, comprising approximately 12,915 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``South Fork Eel River
Wilderness Area and Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness'' and
dated June 16, 2005, which shall be known as the ``South Fork
Eel River Wilderness''.
(11) King range wilderness.--
(A) In general.--Certain land administered by the
Bureau of Land Management in Humboldt and Mendocino
Counties, California, comprising approximately 42,585
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``King
Range Wilderness'', and dated November 12, 2004, which
shall be known as the ``King Range Wilderness''.
(B) Applicable law.--With respect to the wilderness
designated by subparagraph (A), in the case of a
conflict between this Act and Public Law 91-476 (16
U.S.C. 460y et seq.), the more restrictive provision
shall control.
(12) Rocks and islands.--
(A) In general.--All Federally-owned rocks, islets,
and islands (whether named or unnamed and surveyed or
unsurveyed) that are located--
(i) not more than 3 geographic miles off
the coast of the King Range National
Conservation Area; and
(ii) above mean high tide.
(B) Applicable law.--In the case of a conflict
between this Act and Proclamation No. 7264 (65 Fed.
Reg. 2821), the more restrictive provision shall
control.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
(a) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, each area
designated as wilderness by section 3 shall be administered by the
Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.), except that--
(1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall
be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of
Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the
Secretary that has jurisdiction over the wilderness.
(b) Map and Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a
legal description of each wilderness area designated by section
3 with--
(A) the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate.
(2) Force of law.--A map and legal description filed under
paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct
errors in the map and legal description.
(3) Public availability.--Each map and legal description
filed under paragraph (1) shall be filed and made available for
public inspection in the appropriate office of the Secretary.
(c) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land within
the boundary of a wilderness area designated by this Act that is
acquired by the Federal Government shall--
(1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is
located; and
(2) be managed in accordance with this Act, the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and any other applicable law.
(d) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid rights in existence on the date
of enactment of this Act, the Federal land designated as wilderness by
this Act is withdrawn from all forms of--
(1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land
laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and
geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
(e) Fire, Insect, and Disease Management Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may take such measures in
the wilderness areas designated by this Act as are necessary
for the control and prevention of fire, insects, and diseases,
in accordance with--
(A) section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)); and
(B) House Report No. 98-40 of the 98th Congress.
(2) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review existing
policies applicable to the wilderness areas designated by this
Act to ensure that authorized approval procedures for any fire
management measures allow a timely and efficient response to
fire emergencies in the wilderness areas.
(f) Access to Private Property.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide any owner of
private property within the boundary of a wilderness area
designated by this Act adequate access to such property to
ensure the reasonable use and enjoyment of the property by the
owner.
(2) King range wilderness.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B),
within the wilderness designated by section 3(11), the
access route depicted on the map for private landowners
shall also be available for persons invited by the
private landowners.
(B) Limitation.--Nothing in subparagraph (A)
requires the Secretary to provide any access to the
landowners or persons invited by the landowners beyond
the access that would be available if the wilderness
had not been designated.
(g) Snow Sensors and Stream Gauges.--If the Secretary determines
that hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological instrumentation is
appropriate to further the scientific, educational, and conservation
purposes of the wilderness areas designated by this Act, nothing in
this Act prevents the installation and maintenance of the
instrumentation within the wilderness areas.
(h) Military Activities.--Nothing in this Act precludes low-level
overflights of military aircraft, the designation of new units of
special airspace, or the use or establishment of military flight
training routes over wilderness areas designated by this Act.
(i) Livestock.--Grazing of livestock and the maintenance of
existing facilities related to grazing in wilderness areas designated
by this Act, where established before the date of enactment of this
Act, shall be permitted to continue in accordance with--
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(d)(4)); and
(2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of the report of
the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of
Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress
(H. Rept. 101-405).
(j) Fish and Wildlife Management.--
(1) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary may
carry out management activities to maintain or restore fish and
wildlife populations and fish and wildlife habitats in
wilderness areas designated by this Act if such activities
are--
(A) consistent with applicable wilderness
management plans; and
(B) carried out in accordance with applicable
guidelines and policies.
(2) State jurisdiction.--Nothing in this Act affects the
jurisdiction of the State of California with respect to fish
and wildlife on the public land located in the State.
(k) Use by Members of Indian Tribes.--
(1) Access.--In recognition of the past use of wilderness
areas designated by this Act by members of Indian tribes for
traditional cultural and religious purposes, the Secretary
shall ensure that Indian tribes have access to the wilderness
areas for traditional cultural and religious purposes.
(2) Temporary closures.--
(A) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary, on request of an Indian tribe, may
temporarily close to the general public 1 or more
specific portions of a wilderness area to protect the
privacy of the members of the Indian tribe in the
conduct of the traditional cultural and religious
activities in the wilderness area.
(B) Requirement.--Any closure under subparagraph
(A) shall be made in such a manner as to affect the
smallest practicable area for the minimum period of
time necessary for the activity to be carried out.
(3) Applicable law.--Access to the wilderness areas under
this subsection shall be in accordance with--
(A) Public Law 95-341 (commonly known as the
``American Indian Religious Freedom Act'') (42 U.S.C.
1996 et seq.); and
(B) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(l) Adjacent Management.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in section 3 creates protective
perimeters or buffer zones around any wilderness area
designated by section 3.
(2) Nonwilderness activities.--The fact that nonwilderness
activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within a
wilderness area designated by section 3 shall not preclude the
conduct of those activities or uses outside the boundary of the
wilderness area.
(m) Cherry-Stemmed Roads.--
(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``cherry-
stemmed road'' means a road that is excluded from the
wilderness areas designated by section 3 by a non-wilderness
corridor having designated wilderness on both sides, as
generally depicted on the maps described in such section.
(2) Closures and restrictions.--The Secretary shall not--
(A) close any cherry-stemmed road that is open to
the public as of the date of the enactment of this Act;
(B) prohibit motorized access on a cherry-stemmed
road that is open to the public for motorized access as
of the date of the enactment of this Act; or
(C) prohibit mechanized access on a cherry-stemmed
road that is open to the public for mechanized access
as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Exceptions.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed as precluding the Secretary from closing or
restricting access to a cherry-stemmed road for purposes of
significant resource protection or public safety.
SEC. 5. RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603
of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782),
any portion of a wilderness study area described in subsection (b) that
is not designated as wilderness by section 3 or any previous Act has
been adequately studied for wilderness.
(b) Description of Study Areas.--The study areas referred to in
subsection (a) are--
(1) the King Range Wilderness Study Area;
(2) the Chemise Mountain Instant Study Area;
(3) the Red Mountain Wilderness Study Area;
(4) the Cedar Roughs Wilderness Study Area; and
(5) those portions of the Rocky Creek/Cache Creek
Wilderness Study Area in Lake County, California which are not
in R. 5 W., T. 12 N., sec. 22, Mount Diablo Meridian.
(c) Release.--Any portion of a wilderness study area described in
subsection (b) that is not designated as wilderness by section 3 or any
other Act enacted before the date of enactment of this Act shall not be
subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).
SEC. 6. ELKHORN RIDGE POTENTIAL WILDERNESS AREA.
(a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain public land in the State
administered by the Bureau of Land Management, compromising
approximately 11,271 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
``South Fork Eel River Wilderness Area and Elkhorn Ridge Potential
Wilderness'' and dated June 16, 2005, is designated as a potential
wilderness area.
(b) Management.--Except as provided in subsection (c) and subject
to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall manage the potential
wilderness area as wilderness until the potential wilderness area is
designated as wilderness under subsection (d).
(c) Ecological Restoration.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of ecological restoration
(including the elimination of non-native species, removal of
illegal, unused, or decommissioned roads, repair of skid
tracks, and any other activities necessary to restore the
natural ecosystems in the potential wilderness area), the
Secretary may use motorized equipment and mechanized transport
in the potential wilderness area until the potential wilderness
area is designated as wilderness under subsection (d).
(2) Limitation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall use the minimum tool or administrative practice
necessary to accomplish ecological restoration with the least
amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and resources.
(d) Eventual Wilderness Designation.--The potential wilderness area
shall be designated as wilderness and as a component of the National
Wilderness Preservation System on the earlier of--
(1) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the
Federal Register notice that the conditions in the potential
wilderness area that are incompatible with the Wilderness Act
(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) have been removed; or
(2) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(e) Administration as Wilderness.--On its designation as wilderness
under subsection (d), the potential wilderness area shall be--
(1) known as the ``Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness''; and
(2) administered in accordance with section 4 and the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
SEC. 7. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATION.
(a) Designation of Black Butte River, California.--Section 3(a) of
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(__) Black Butte River, California.--The following segments of
the Black Butte River in the State of California, to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 16 miles of Black Butte River, from the Mendocino
County Line to its confluence with Jumpoff Creek, as a wild
river.
``(B) The 3.5 miles of Black Butte River from its
confluence with Jumpoff Creek to its confluence with Middle Eel
River, as a scenic river.
``(C) The 1.5 miles of Cold Creek from the Mendocino County
Line to its confluence with Black Butte River, as a wild
river.''.
(b) Plan; Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
submit to Congress--
(A) a fire management plan for the Black Butte
River segments designated by the amendment made by
subsection (a); and
(B) a report on the cultural and historic resources
within those segments.
(2) Transmittal to county.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall transmit to the Board of Supervisors of Mendocino County,
California, a copy of the plan and report submitted under
paragraph (1).
SEC. 8. KING RANGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
Section 9 of Public Law 91-476 (16 U.S.C. 460y-8) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(d) In addition to the land described in subsections (a) and (c),
the land identified as the King Range National Conservation Area
Additions on the map entitled `King Range Wilderness' and dated
November 12, 2004, is included in the Area.''.
SEC. 9. COW MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA, LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES,
CALIFORNIA.
(a) Establishment.--In order to enhance the recreational and scenic
values of the Cow Mountain area in Lake and Mendocino Counties,
California, while conserving the wildlife and other natural resource
values of the area, there is hereby established the Cow Mountain
Recreation Area (in this section referred to as the ``recreation
area'') consisting of approximately 51,513 acres of land in such
counties, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Cow Mountain
Recreation Area'' and dated July, 22, 2006, including the following:
(1) The ``South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area'', as
generally depicted on the map.
(2) The ``North Cow Mountain Recreation Area'', as
generally depicted on the map.
(b) Legal Descriptions; Correction of Errors.--
(1) Preparation and submission.--As soon as practicable
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Interior shall prepare a map and legal descriptions of the
boundaries of the recreation area. The Secretary shall submit
the map and legal descriptions to the Committee on Resources of
the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate.
(2) Legal effect.--The map and legal descriptions of the
recreation area shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct
clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal
descriptions. The map shall be on file and available for public
inspection in appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land
Management.
(c) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
administer the recreation area in accordance with this section
and the laws and regulations generally applicable to the public
lands, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
(2) Existing rights.--The establishment of the recreation
area shall be subject to all valid existing rights.
(d) Recreational Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
continue to authorize, maintain, and enhance the recreational
use of the land included in the recreation area, including
motorized recreation, hiking, camping, mountain biking,
sightseeing, and horseback riding, as long as such recreational
use is consistent with this section and other applicable law.
(2) Off-road and motorized recreation.--Motorized
recreation shall be a prescribed use within the South Cow
Mountain OHV Management Area, occurring only on roads and
trails designated by the Secretary for such use, except as
needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an
emergency. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as
precluding the Secretary from closing any trail or route from
use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.
(3) Mountain biking.--Mountain biking shall be a prescribed
use within the recreation area, occurring only on roads and
trails designated by the Secretary for such use. Nothing in
this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the Secretary
from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of
resource protection or public safety.
(e) Access to Private Property.--The Secretary of the Interior
shall provide any owner of private property within the boundaries of
the recreation area adequate access to the property to ensure the
reasonable use and enjoyment of the property by the owner.
(f) Land Acquisition.--
(1) Acquisition from willing persons only.--The Secretary
of the Interior may acquire lands or interests in lands in the
recreation area only by--
(A) donation;
(B) exchange with a willing party, as expressed in
a written agreement between the Secretary and the
party; or
(C) purchase from a willing seller, as expressed in
a written agreement between the Secretary and the
seller.
(2) Administration of acquired lands.--Lands or interests
in lands within or adjacent to the boundaries of the recreation
area that are acquired by the Bureau of Land Management, and
title or possession of which is vested in the United States
after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be managed
by the Secretary as part of the recreation area.
(g) Adjacent Management.--Nothing in this section creates
protective perimeters or buffer zones around the recreation area.
SEC. 10. CONTINUATION OF TRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL SURF FISHING, REDWOOD
NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS.
(a) Availability of Limited Number of Permits.--For the sole
purpose of continuing traditional commercial surf fishing, the
Secretary of the Interior shall permit the right of entry for
authorized vehicle access onto the wave slope area at that area known
as Gold Bluffs Beach, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and that
portion of the beach north and south of Redwood Creek in Redwood
National and State Parks. The number of permits issued under the
authority of this section shall be limited to the number of valid
permits that were held on the date of enactment of this Act. The
permits so issued shall be perpetual and subject to the same conditions
as the permits held on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Wave Slope Area Defined.--In this section, the term ``wave
slope area'' refers to the area that has been wet by the wave action of
the previous high tide, but does not include any vegetated areas.
Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 2006.
Attest:
Clerk.