[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2463 Referred in House (RFH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2463
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 19, 2006
Referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To designate certain land in New England as wilderness for inclusion in
the National Wilderness Preservation system and certain land as a
National Recreation Area, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``New England
Wilderness Act of 2006''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Section 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--NEW HAMPSHIRE
Sec. 101. Definition of State.
Sec. 102. Designation of wilderness areas.
Sec. 103. Map and description.
Sec. 104. Administration.
TITLE II--VERMONT
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Subtitle A--Designation of Wilderness Areas
Sec. 211. Designation.
Sec. 212. Map and description.
Sec. 213. Administration.
Subtitle B--Moosalamoo National Recreation Area
Sec. 221. Designation.
Sec. 222. Map and description.
Sec. 223. Administration of National Recreation Area.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
TITLE I--NEW HAMPSHIRE
SEC. 101. DEFINITION OF STATE.
In this title, the term ``State'' means the State of New Hampshire.
SEC. 102. 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).
SEC. 103. 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 102 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.
SEC. 104. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Administration.--Subject to valid existing rights, each
wilderness area designated under this title 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 title, 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 title 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 102 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).
TITLE II--VERMONT
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Management plan.--The term ``Management Plan'' means
the Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Vermont.
Subtitle A--Designation of Wilderness Areas
SEC. 211. DESIGNATION.
In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the
following areas in the State are designated as wilderness areas and as
components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Certain Federal land managed by the United States
Forest Service, comprising approximately 28,491 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Glastenbury
Wilderness--Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be
known as the ``Glastenbury Wilderness''.
(2) Certain Federal land managed by the United States
Forest Service, comprising approximately 12,333 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Joseph Battell
Wilderness--Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be
known as the ``Joseph Battell Wilderness''.
(3) Certain Federal land managed by the United States
Forest Service, comprising approximately 3,757 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Breadloaf Wilderness
Additions--Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be
known as the ``Breadloaf Wilderness''.
(4) Certain Federal land managed by the United States
Forest Service, comprising approximately 2,338 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Lye Brook Wilderness
Additions--Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be
known as the ``Lye Brook Wilderness''.
(5) Certain Federal land managed by the United States
Forest Service, comprising approximately 752 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Peru Peak Wilderness
Additions--Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be
known as the ``Peru Peak Wilderness''.
(6) Certain Federal land managed by the United States
Forest Service, comprising approximately 47 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ``Big Branch Wilderness
Additions--Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be
known as the ``Big Branch Wilderness''.
SEC. 212. 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 211 with--
(1) the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives; and
(3) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate.
(b) Force of Law.--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.
SEC. 213. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Administration.--Subject to valid rights in existence on the
date of enactment of this Act, each wilderness area designated under
this subtitle and in the Green Mountain National Forest (as of the date
of enactment of this Act) shall be administered by the Secretary in
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(b) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this subtitle affects the
jurisdiction of the State with respect to wildlife and fish on the
public land located in the State, including the stocking of fish in
rivers and streams in the State to support the Connecticut River
Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program.
(c) Trails.--The Forest Service shall allow the continuance of --
(1) the Appalachian National Scenic Trail;
(2) the Long Trail;
(3) the Catamount Trail; and
(4) the marking and maintenance of associated trails and
trail structures of the Trails referred to in this subsection,
consistent with the management direction (including objectives,
standards, guidelines, and agreements with partners)
established for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Long
Trail, and Catamount Trail under the Management Plan.
Subtitle B--Moosalamoo National Recreation Area
SEC. 221. DESIGNATION.
Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service,
comprising approximately 15,857 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Moosalamoo National Recreation Area--Proposed'', dated
September 2006, is designated as the ``Moosalamoo National Recreation
Area''.
SEC. 222. 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
the national recreation area designated by section 221 with--
(1) the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives; and
(3) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate.
(b) Force of Law.--A map and legal description filed under
subsection (a) shall have the same force and effect as if included in
this subtitle, 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.
SEC. 223. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.
(a) In General.--Subject to valid rights existing on the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall administer the Moosalamoo
National Recreation Area in accordance with--
(1) laws (including rules and regulations) applicable to
units of the National Forest System; and
(2) the management direction (including objectives,
standards, and guidelines) established for the Moosalamoo
Recreation and Education Management Area under the Management
Plan.
(b) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this subtitle affects the
jurisdiction of the State with respect to wildlife and fish on the
public land located in the State.
(c) Escarpment and Ecological Areas.--Nothing in this subtitle
prevents the Secretary from managing the Green Mountain Escarpment
Management Area and the Ecological Special Areas, as described in the
Management Plan.
Passed the Senate September 19, 2006.
Attest:
EMILY J. REYNOLDS,
Secretary.