[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2565 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2565

   To designate certain National Forest System land in the State of 
 Vermont for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation system 
               and designate a National Recreation Area.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 6, 2006

Mr. Jeffords (for himself and Mr. Leahy) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To designate certain National Forest System land in the State of 
 Vermont for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation system 
               and designate a National Recreation 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 ``Vermont Wilderness Act of 2006''.

SEC. 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 Vermont.

                TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS

SEC. 101. 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 March 2006, which shall be known 
        as the ``Glastenbury Wilderness''.
            (2) Certain Federal land managed by the United States 
        Forest Service, comprising approximately 12,437 acres, as 
        generally depicted on the map entitled ``Joseph Battell 
        Wilderness--Proposed'', dated March 2006, which shall be known 
        as the ``Joseph Battell Wilderness''.
            (3) Certain Federal land managed by the United States 
        Forest Service, comprising approximately 4,223 acres, as 
        generally depicted on the map entitled ``Breadloaf Wilderness 
        Additions--Proposed'', dated March 2006, which shall be known 
        as the ``Breadloaf Wilderness''.
            (4) Certain Federal land managed by the United States 
        Forest Service, comprising approximately 2,171 acres, as 
        generally depicted on the map entitled ``Lye Brook Wilderness 
        Additions--Proposed'', dated March 2006, which shall be known 
        as the ``Lye Brook Wilderness''.
            (5) Certain Federal land managed by the United States 
        Forest Service, comprising approximately 797 acres, as 
        generally depicted on the map entitled ``Peru Peak Wilderness 
        Additions--Proposed'', dated March 2006, which shall be known 
        as the ``Peru Peak Wilderness''.
            (6) Certain Federal land managed by the United States 
        Forest Service, comprising approximately 42 acres, as generally 
        depicted on the map entitled ``Big Branch Wilderness 
        Additions--Proposed'', dated March 2006, which shall be known 
        as the ``Big Branch Wilderness''.

SEC. 102. 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 101 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. 103. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Administration.--Subject to valid rights in existence on the 
date of enactment of this Act, 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) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this title 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--
            (1) lakes and ponds in the State that the State has 
        historically stocked; and
            (2) rivers and streams in the State to support the 
        Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program.
    (c) Trails.--
            (1) In general.--The Forest Service shall permit the use of 
        minimum tools and traditional, trail-specific methods to mark 
        and maintain--
                    (A) the Appalachian National Scenic Trail;
                    (B) the Long Trail;
                    (C) the Catamount Trail; and
                    (D) associated trails and structures of the Trails 
                specified in this subsection, as generally depicted on 
                the map entitled ``Trails within the Green Mountain 
                National Forest Wilderness Areas'' and dated April 
                2006.
            (2) Catamount trail relocation and completion.--For the 
        segment of the Catamount Trail that is located in the Lye Brook 
        Wilderness, the Secretary--
                    (A) may waive the requirements described in 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) shall assist the efforts of the Catamount Trail 
                Association to relocate and complete the construction 
                of the Catamount Trail.

             TITLE II--MOOSALAMOO NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

SEC. 201. DESIGNATION.

    Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service, 
comprising approximately 16,890 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled ``Moosalamoo National Recreation Area--Proposed'', dated March 
2006, are designated as the ``Moosalamoo National Recreation Area''.

SEC. 202. 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 201 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 title, 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. 203. 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 objectives described or specified in the Green 
        Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan--
                    (A) to provide a showcase for multiple use 
                management of the National Forest System;
                    (B) to provide outstanding educational and 
                interpretation opportunities in the areas of ecological 
                processes and forest management;
                    (C) to provide for public enjoyment of the area for 
                outdoor recreation and other benefits; and
                    (D) to manage for the other resource values present 
                in the Area, in a manner that does not impair the 
                public recreation values and other special attributes 
                of the Area.
    (b) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this title 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 title 
prevents the Secretary from managing the Green Mountain Escarpment 
Management Area and the Ecological Special Areas, as described in the 
Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
    (d) Comprehensive Management Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and submit a 
        comprehensive management plan for the Area designated by 
        section 201 of this title to--
                    (A) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (B) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (C) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
                Forestry of the Senate.
            (2) Administration.--In conducting the reviews and 
        preparing the comprehensive management plan required by 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) provide for full public participation; and
                    (B) consider the views of interested agencies, 
                organizations, and individuals.
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