[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6553 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6553

  To clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding 
additional recreational uses of National Forest System lands subject to 
                           ski area permits.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2008

Mr. Udall of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred 
 to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Natural Resources, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding 
additional recreational uses of National Forest System lands subject to 
                           ski area permits.

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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) It is in the national interest to provide, and 
        encourage Americans to take advantage of, opportunities during 
        all four seasons to engage in outdoor recreational activities 
        that can contribute to their health and well-being.
            (2) Under current law, National Forest System lands are 
        managed in ways that not only encourage understanding and 
        appreciation of nature and the importance of conserving natural 
        resources, but also provide year-round opportunities for 
        natural resource-based outdoor developed recreation outside of 
        urban settings.
            (3) Increasing the extent to which National Forest System 
        lands can provide opportunities for outdoor recreational 
        activities will make it possible for more Americans to engage 
        in such activities.
            (4) National Forest System lands used for skiing and other 
        snow-sports can provide additional opportunities for seasonal 
        and year-round recreational activities.
            (5) Authorizing increased use of some National Forest 
        System lands for such additional activities and associated 
        facilities can reduce the impact of such activities and 
        facilities on other National Forest System lands.
            (6) It is desirable to revise the National Forest Ski Area 
        Permit Act of 1986 to reflect that snow-sports other than 
        nordic and alpine skiing may occur on National Forest System 
        lands subject to ski area permits and to clarify the authority 
        of the Secretary of Agriculture to permit appropriate 
        additional seasonal or year-round recreational activities and 
        facilities on such lands.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to amend the National 
Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to reflect that snow-sports other 
than nordic and alpine skiing may occur on National Forest System lands 
subject to ski area permits and to clarify the authority of the 
Secretary of Agriculture to permit appropriate additional seasonal or 
year-round recreational uses of lands subject to ski area permits under 
such Act.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL FOREST SKI AREA PERMIT ACT OF 1986.

    Section 3 of the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 
U.S.C. 497b) is amended as follows:
            (1) In subsection (a), by striking ``nordic and alpine ski 
        areas and facilities'' and inserting ``ski areas and associated 
        facilities''.
            (2) In subsection (b), by striking ``nordic and alpine 
        skiing operations and purposes'' and inserting ``skiing and 
        other snow-sports and such other seasonal or year-round 
        recreational activities associated with mountain resorts as the 
        Secretary may authorize pursuant to subsection (c)''.
            (3) By redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively.
            (4) By adding after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(c) Other Recreational Uses.--
            ``(1) The Secretary may authorize the holder of a ski area 
        permit issued pursuant to subsection (b) to also provide on 
        lands subject to such permit such other seasonal or year-round 
        outdoor and natural-resource based developed recreation 
        activities and associated facilities, in addition to skiing and 
        other snow-sports, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
            ``(2) Activities and facilities authorized under this 
        subsection shall encourage outdoor recreation, harmonize with 
        the natural environment to the extent practicable, and be 
        subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
            ``(3) No activity or facility shall be authorized under 
        this subsection if the Secretary determines that its 
        authorization would result in the primary recreational purpose 
        of lands subject to a ski area permit not being skiing or other 
        snow-sports.''.
            (5) In subsection (d), as redesignated, by--
                    (A) striking ``Within one year after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, the'' and inserting ``The''; and
                    (B) striking ``within 3 years of the date of 
                enactment of this Act''.

SEC. 3. OTHER LAWS.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting any authority 
of the Secretary of Agriculture, including authority with respect to 
recreational activities or facilities on National Forest System lands, 
under any law other than the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 
1986.
                                 <all>