[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2463 Referred in House (RFH)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2463


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                    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.