Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Chattahoochee National Forest Act of 2007

Mountaintown National Scenic Area, Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia

(a)

Establishment

There is hereby established in the Chattahoochee National Forest in the State of Georgia the Mountaintown National Scenic Area (in this section referred to as the scenic area) consisting of approximately 13,382 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Mountaintown Proposed Scenic Area—Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia and dated May 3, 2006. (b)

Map and descriptions

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a final map and boundary description of the scenic area. The map and description 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 boundary description. The map and boundary description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service. In the case of any discrepancy between the acreage and the map referred to in subsection (a) and the map and boundary description required by this subsection, the map and boundary description required by this subsection shall control. (c)

Management

(1)

Purposes

The Secretary shall manage the scenic area for the purposes of— (A)ensuring the appropriate protection and preservation of the scenic quality, water quality, natural characteristics, and water resources of the area; (B)protecting and managing vegetation in the area to provide wildlife and fish habitat, consistent with subparagraph (A); (C)providing parcels within the area that may develop characteristics of old-growth forests; and (D)providing a variety of recreation opportunities, consistent with the preceding purposes. (2)

Priority

In the case of a conflict between the management purposes specified in paragraph (1) and the laws and regulations generally applicable to the National Forest System, the management purposes shall take precedence. (d)

Management plan

Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a management plan for the scenic area as an amendment to the land and resource management plan for the Chattahoochee National Forest. The amendment shall conform to the requirements of this section. Nothing in this section shall require the Secretary to revise the land and resource management plan for the Chattahoochee National Forest pursuant to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604). (e)

Roads

After the date of the enactment of this Act, no new roads shall be constructed or established within the scenic area, except that this prohibition shall not be construed to deny access to private lands or interests therein in the scenic area. (f)

Vegetation management

No timber harvest shall be allowed within the scenic area, except as may be necessary in the control of fire, insects, and diseases and to provide for public safety and trail access. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary may engage in vegetation manipulation practices for maintenance of existing wildlife clearings and visual quality. Firewood may be harvested for personal use along perimeter roads under such conditions as the Secretary may impose. (g)

Motorized travel

Motorized travel shall not be permitted within the scenic area, except that the Secretary may authorize motorized travel within the scenic area as necessary for administrative use in furtherance of the management purposes specified in subsection (c)(1) and in support of wildlife management projects in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act. (h)

Fire

Wildfires in the scenic area shall be suppressed in a manner consistent with the management purposes specified in subsection (c)(1), using such means as the Secretary considers appropriate. (i)

Insects and disease

Insect and disease outbreaks may be controlled in the scenic area to maintain scenic quality, prevent tree mortality, reduce hazards to visitors, or protect private lands. (j)

Water

The scenic area shall be administered so as to maintain or enhance existing water quality. (k)

Mining withdrawal

Subject to valid existing rights, all federally owned lands in the scenic area are hereby withdrawn from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws of the United States and from leasing claims under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws of the United States, including amendments to such laws.

Designation of additional National Forest System land as wilderness in Georgia

(a)

Designation

In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following lands in the State of Georgia, which are administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as part of the Chattahoochee National Forest and comprise approximately 8,448 acres, as generally depicted on the maps dated May 3, 2006, and entitled Proposed Wilderness Additions—Chattahoochee National Forest, are hereby designated as wilderness and incorporated into the existing wilderness area to which they adjoin: (1)Three additions to the existing Southern Nantahala Wilderness: Ben Gap, consisting of 1,294 acres, Shoal Branch, consisting of 412, and Tate Branch, consisting of 1,085 acres. (2)One addition to the existing Blood Mountain Wilderness: Cedar Mountain, consisting of 561 acres. (3)Two additions to the existing Brasstown Wilderness: Duck Branch, consisting of 190 acres, and Wilson Cove, consisting of 563 acres. (4)One addition to the existing Ellicott Rock Wilderness: Ellicott Rock Addition, consisting of 562 acres. (5)Two additions to the existing Cohutta Wilderness: Foster Branch, consisting of 165 acres, and Ken Mountain, consisting of 527 acres. (6)One addition to the existing Raven Cliffs Wilderness: Helton Creek, consisting of 2,451 acres. (7)One addition to the existing Tray Mountain Wilderness: Tripp Branch, consisting of 638 acres. (b)

Maps and legal descriptions

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress final maps and boundary descriptions of the lands designated as wilderness by this section. The maps and descriptions 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 maps and boundary descriptions. The maps and boundary descriptions shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service. (c)

Administration

(1)

In general

Subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall administer the lands designated as wilderness by this section in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this section. (2)

Effective date of wilderness act

With respect to the land designated as wilderness by this section, 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. (3)

Fish and wildlife

As provided in section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State of Georgia with respect to fish and wildlife in the Chattahoochee National Forest. (4)

Withdrawal

Subject to valid existing rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal land designated as wilderness by this section is withdrawn from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.