[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 415 Engrossed in House (EH)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 415

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the 
 Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of 
              the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

    Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(__) Taunton River, Massachusetts.--The main stem of the Taunton 
River from its headwaters at the confluence of the Town and Matfield 
Rivers in the Town of Bridgewater downstream 40 miles to the confluence 
with the Quequechan River at the Route 195 Bridge in the City of Fall 
River, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior in 
cooperation with the Taunton River Stewardship Council as follows:
            ``(A) The 18-mile segment from the confluence of the Town 
        and Matfield Rivers to Route 24 in the Town of Raynham, as a 
        scenic river.
            ``(B) The 5-mile segment from Route 24 to 0.5 miles below 
        Weir Bridge in the City of Taunton, as a recreational river.
            ``(C) The 8-mile segment from 0.5 miles below Weir Bridge 
        to Muddy Cove in the Town of Dighton, as a scenic river.
            ``(D) The 9-mile segment from Muddy Cove to the confluence 
        with the Quequechan River at the Route 195 Bridge in the City 
        of Fall River, as a recreational river.''.

SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

    (a) Taunton River Stewardship Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Each river segment added to section 3(a) 
        of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this Act 
        shall be managed in accordance with the Taunton River 
        Stewardship Plan, dated July 2005 (including any amendment to 
        the Taunton River Stewardship Plan that the Secretary of the 
        Interior (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') 
        determines to be consistent with this Act).
            (2) Effect.--The Taunton River Stewardship Plan described 
        in paragraph (1) shall be considered to satisfy each 
        requirement relating to the comprehensive management plan 
        required under section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
        (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
    (b) Cooperative Agreements.--To provide for the long-term 
protection, preservation, and enhancement of each river segment added 
to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this 
Act, pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e) and 1282(b)(1)), the Secretary may enter 
into cooperative agreements (which may include provisions for financial 
and other assistance) with--
            (1) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including political 
        subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts);
            (2) the Taunton River Stewardship Council; and
            (3) any appropriate nonprofit organization, as determined 
        by the Secretary.
    (c) Relation to National Park System.--Notwithstanding section 
10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), each river 
segment added to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by 
section 1 of this Act shall not be--
            (1) administered as a unit of the National Park System; or
            (2) subject to the laws (including regulations) that govern 
        the administration of the National Park System.
    (d) Land Management.--
            (1) Zoning ordinances.--The zoning ordinances adopted by 
        the Towns of Bridgewater, Halifax, Middleborough, Raynham, 
        Berkley, Dighton, Freetown, and Somerset, and the Cities of 
        Taunton and Fall River, Massachusetts (including any provision 
        of the zoning ordinances relating to the conservation of 
        floodplains, wetlands, and watercourses associated with any 
        river segment added to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic 
        Rivers Act by section 1 of this Act), shall be considered to 
        satisfy each standard and requirement described in section 6(c) 
        of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)).
            (2) Villages.--For the purpose of section 6(c) of the Wild 
        and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)), each town described 
        in paragraph (1) shall be considered to be a village.
            (3) Acquisition of land.--
                    (A) Limitation of authority of secretary.--With 
                respect to each river segment added to section 3(a) of 
                the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this 
                Act, the Secretary may only acquire parcels of land--
                            (i) by donation; or
                            (ii) with the consent of the owner of the 
                        parcel of land.
                    (B) Prohibition relating to acquisition of land by 
                condemnation.--In accordance with section 6(c) of the 
                Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)), with 
                respect to each river segment added to section 3(a) of 
                the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this 
                Act, the Secretary may not acquire any parcel of land 
                by condemnation.

SEC. 3. ENERGY AND CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.

    The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Energy and private industry, shall complete and submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and Senators 
and Representatives from the States affected by the designation, a 
report using the best available data and regarding the energy resources 
available on the lands and waters included in the segments of the 
Taunton River designated under section 2 of this Act. The report 
shall--
            (1) contain the best available description of the energy 
        resources available on the land and report on the specific 
        amount of energy withdrawn from possible development; and
            (2) identify cubic feet of natural gas, natural gas 
        transmission and storage potential, megawatts of geothermal, 
        wind and solar energy that could be commercially produced, 
        annual available biomass for energy production, and any 
        megawatts of hydropower resources available, including tidal, 
        traditional dams, and in-stream flow turbines.

SEC. 4. HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING, AND RECREATIONAL SHOOTING.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the authority, 
jurisdiction, or responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to 
manage, control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under State law 
or regulations, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, trapping, 
and recreational shooting. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as 
limiting access for hunting, fishing, trapping, or recreational 
shooting.

SEC. 5. DOMESTICALLY-PRODUCED ENERGY RESOURCES.

    Nothing in this Act shall impact the supply of domestically-
produced energy resources.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 16, 2008.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
110th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 415

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the 
 Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of 
              the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.