[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1170 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1170

 To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation 
                                 Area.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 6, 2005

 Mr. Domenici (for himself and Mr. Bingaman) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation 
                                 Area.

    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 ``Fort Stanton-Snowy River National 
Cave Conservation Area Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Conservation area.--The term ``Conservation Area'' 
        means the Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation 
        Area established by section 3(a).
            (2) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
        the management plan developed for the Conservation Area under 
        section 4(c).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of 
        Land Management.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT STANTON-SNOWY RIVER NATIONAL CAVE 
              CONSERVATION AREA.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Fort Stanton-Snowy River 
National Cave Conservation Area in Lincoln County, New Mexico, to 
secure, protect, and conserve subterranean natural and unique features 
and environs for scientific, educational, and other appropriate public 
uses.
    (b) Boundaries.--The Conservation Area shall include--
            (1) the minimum subsurface area necessary to provide for 
        the Fort Stanton Cave, including the Snowy River passage in its 
        entirety (which may include other significant caves); and
            (2) the minimum surface acreage, as determined by the 
        Secretary, that is necessary to provide access to the cave 
        entrance.
    (c) Map and Legal Description.--
            (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map and 
        legal description of the Conservation Area.
            (2) Effect.--The map and legal description of the 
        Conservation Area shall have the same force and effect as if 
        included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct any 
        minor errors in the map and legal description.
            (3) Public availability.--The map and legal description of 
        the Conservation Area shall be available for public inspection 
        in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF CONSERVATION AREA.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the Conservation 
Area--
            (1) in accordance with the laws (including regulations) 
        applicable to public land and the management plan required by 
        this Act; and
            (2) in a manner that provides for--
                    (A) the conservation and protection of the natural 
                and unique features and environs for scientific, 
                educational, and other appropriate public uses of the 
                Conservation Area;
                    (B) public access, as appropriate, while providing 
                for the protection of the cave resources and for public 
                safety;
                    (C) the continuation of other existing uses and new 
                uses of the Conservation Area that do not substantially 
                impair the purposes for which the Conservation Area is 
                established;
                    (D) the protection of new caves within the 
                Conservation Area, such as the Snowy River passage 
                within Fort Stanton Cave;
                    (E) the continuation of such uses on the surface 
                acreage as exist under management action in place prior 
                to designation of the Conservation Area by this Act; 
                and
                    (F) scientific investigation and research 
                opportunities within the Conservation Area, including 
                through partnerships with colleges, universities, 
                schools, scientific institutions, researchers, and 
                scientists to conduct research and provide educational 
                and interpretive services within the Conservation Area.
    (b) Withdrawals.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal 
surface and subsurface land within the Conservation Area and all land 
and interests in the surface and subsurface land that are acquired by 
the United States after the date of enactment of this Act for inclusion 
in the Conservation Area, are withdrawn from--
            (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under 
        the general land laws;
            (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
            (3) operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal 
        leasing laws.
    (c) Management Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a 
        comprehensive plan for the long-term management of the 
        Conservation Area.
            (2) Purposes.--The management plan shall--
                    (A) describe the appropriate uses and management of 
                the Conservation Area;
                    (B) incorporate, as appropriate, decisions 
                contained in any other management or activity plan for 
                the land within or adjacent to the Conservation Area;
                    (C) take into consideration any information 
                developed in studies of the land and resources within 
                or adjacent to the Conservation Area; and
                    (D) engage in a cooperative agreement with Lincoln 
                County, New Mexico, to address the historical 
                involvement of the local community in the 
                interpretation and protection of the resources of the 
                Conservation Area.
    (d) Activities Outside Conservation Area.--
            (1) In general.--The fact that an activity or use is not 
        permitted inside the Conservation Area shall not preclude--
                    (A) the conduct of the activity on land, or the use 
                of land for the activity, outside the boundary of the 
                Conservation Area, consistent with other applicable 
                laws (including regulations); or
                    (B) any activity or use, including new uses, on the 
                surface land above the Conservation Area or on any land 
                appurtenant to that surface land.
            (2) Management.--The surface land described in paragraph 
        (1)(B) shall continue to be managed for multiple uses in 
        accordance with all applicable laws (including regulations).
    (e) Research and Interpretive Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may establish facilities 
        for--
                    (A) the conduct of scientific research; and
                    (B) the interpretation of the historical, cultural, 
                scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational 
                resources of the Conservation Area.
            (2) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may enter into 
        cooperative agreements with the State of New Mexico and other 
        institutions and organizations to carry out the purposes of 
        this Act.
    (f) Water Rights.--Nothing in this Act constitutes an express or 
implied reservation of any water right.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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