II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2463 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 28, 2006 Mr. Sununu (for himself and Mr. Gregg) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To designate as wilderness certain National Forest System land in the State of New Hampshire.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 2006.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (2)

State

The term State means the State of New Hampshire.

3.

Designation of wilderness areas

In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following Federal land in the State is designated as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1)Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 23,700 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Wild River Wilderness—White Mountain National Forest, dated February 6, 2006, which shall be known as the Wild River Wilderness. (2)Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 10,800 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Sandwich Range Wilderness Additions—White Mountain National Forest, dated February 6, 2006, and which are incorporated in the Sandwich Range Wilderness, as designated by the New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98–323; 98 Stat. 259).

4.

Map and description

(a)

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 the committees of appropriate jurisdiction in the Senate and the House of Representatives. (b)

Force and effect

A map and legal description filed under subsection (a) 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 description. (c)

Public availability

Each map and legal description filed under subsection (a) shall be filed and made available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service.

5.

Administration

(a)

Administration

Subject to valid existing rights, each wilderness area designated under this section shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with— (1)the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and (2)the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). (b)

Effective date of Wilderness Act

With respect to any wilderness area designated by this Act, any reference in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act. (c)

Fish and wildlife

As provided in section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this Act affects any jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with respect to wildlife and fish in the State. (d)

Withdrawal

Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land in the wilderness areas designated by section 3 are withdrawn from— (1)all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2)location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3)disposition under the mineral leasing laws (including geothermal leasing laws).