Use and access of pack and saddle animals on public lands

(a)

National Park System lands

Section 12 of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–7) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(c)

Use and access of pack and saddle animals

(1)

General rule

The Secretary of the Interior shall provide for the management of National Park System lands to preserve and facilitate the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically designated areas, where there is a historical tradition of such use. As a general rule, all trails, routes, and areas used by pack and saddle stock shall remain open and accessible for such use. The Secretary may implement a proposed reduction in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands only after complying with the full review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). (2)

Rules of construction

Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed— (A)to authorize the Secretary to refuse to issue a permit for a new use of pack and saddle stock animals, including use by a commercial outfitter or guide, without complying with applicable resource management plans and planning processes required under this Act or any other provision of law; (B)to limit the authority of the Secretary to impose a temporary emergency closure of a trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals or issue special permits; or (C)to create a preference for one recreational use for any unit of the National Park System, without consideration of the stated purpose of the unit.

(b)

Bureau of Land Management lands

Section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1732) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)

Use and access of pack and saddle animals

(1)

General rule

The Secretary shall provide for the management of public lands to preserve and facilitate the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically designated areas, where there is a historical tradition of such use. As a general rule, all trails, routes, and areas used by pack and saddle stock shall remain open and accessible for such use. The Secretary may implement a proposed reduction in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands only after complying with the full review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). (2)

Rules of construction

Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed— (A)to authorize the Secretary to refuse to issue a permit for a new use of pack and saddle stock animals, including use by a commercial outfitter or guide, without complying with applicable resource management plans and planning processes required under this Act or any other provision of law; (B)to limit the authority of the Secretary to impose a temporary emergency closure of a trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals or issue special permits; or (C)to create a preference for one recreational use for any area of the public lands, without consideration of the stated purpose of the area.

(c)

National wildlife refuge System lands

Section 4(d) of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5) (A)The Secretary shall provide for the management of System lands to preserve and facilitate the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically designated areas, where there is a historical tradition of such use. As a general rule, all trails, routes, and areas used by pack and saddle stock shall remain open and accessible for such use. The Secretary may implement a proposed reduction in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands only after complying with the full review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). (B)Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed— (i)to authorize the Secretary to refuse to issue a permit for a new use of pack and saddle stock animals, including use by a commercial outfitter or guide, without complying with applicable resource management plans and planning processes required under this Act or any other provision of law; (ii)to limit the authority of the Secretary to impose a temporary emergency closure of a trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals or issue special permits; or (iii)to create a preference for one recreational use for any unit of the System, without consideration of the stated purpose of the unit.

(d)

National Forest System lands

Section 15 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1613) is amended— (1)by inserting (a) before Regulations; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(b)

Use and access of pack and saddle animals

(1)

General rule

The Secretary shall provide for the management of National Forest System lands to preserve and facilitate the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically designated areas, where there is a historical tradition of such use. As a general rule, all trails, routes, and areas used by pack and saddle stock shall remain open and accessible for such use. The Secretary may implement a proposed reduction in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands only after complying with the full review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). (2)

Rules of construction

Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed— (A)to authorize the Secretary to refuse to issue a permit for a new use of pack and saddle stock animals, including use by a commercial outfitter or guide, without complying with applicable resource management plans and planning processes required under this Act or any other provision of law; (B)to limit the authority of the Secretary to impose a temporary emergency closure of a trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals or issue special permits; or (C)to create a preference for one recreational use for any unit of the National Forest System, without consideration of the stated purpose of the unit.

(e)

Issuance of rules

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue final rules to define the meaning of a historical tradition of use of pack and saddle stock animals on Federal lands for purposes of the amendments made by this section.