[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 903 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 903


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 6, 2007

   Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
    To provide for a study of options for protecting the open space 
  characteristics of certain lands in and adjacent to the Arapaho and 
    Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, 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; FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Colorado Northern 
Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Rising dramatically from the Great Plains, the Front 
        Range of the Rocky Mountains provides a scenic mountain 
        backdrop to many communities in the Denver metropolitan area 
        and elsewhere in Colorado. The portion of the range within and 
        adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests also 
        includes a diverse array of wildlife habitats and provides many 
        opportunities for outdoor recreation.
            (2) The open space character of this mountain backdrop is 
        an important esthetic and economic asset for adjoining 
        communities, making them attractive locations for homes and 
        businesses.
            (3) Rapid population growth in the northern Front Range 
        area of Colorado is increasing recreational use of the Arapaho 
        and Roosevelt National Forests and is also placing increased 
        pressure for development of other lands within and adjacent to 
        that national forest.
            (4) Efforts by local governments and other entities have 
        provided important protection for portions of this mountain 
        backdrop, especially in the northern Denver metropolitan area. 
        However, some portions of the mountain backdrop in this part of 
        Colorado remain unprotected and are at risk of losing their 
        open space qualities.
            (5) It is in the national interest for the Federal 
        Government, in collaboration with local communities, to assist 
        in identifying options for increasing the protection of the 
        mountain backdrop in the northern Front Range area of Colorado.
    (c) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to identify options that 
may be available to assist in maintaining the open space 
characteristics of lands that are part of the mountain backdrop of 
communities in the northern section of the Front Range area of 
Colorado.

SEC. 2. COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN BACKDROP STUDY.

    (a) Study and Report.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Chief of the Forest Service and in consultation with the State and 
local officials and agencies specified in subsection (c), shall review 
the lands within the study area and, not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, shall report to such officials and 
to Congress regarding the following:
            (1) The present ownership of such lands.
            (2) Which undeveloped land may be at risk of development.
            (3) Actions that could be taken by the United States, the 
        State of Colorado or a political subdivision of such State, or 
        any other parties to preserve the open and undeveloped 
        character of such lands.
    (b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the following 
definitions apply:
            (1) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means those lands 
        in southern Boulder, northern Jefferson, and northern Gilpin 
        Counties, Colorado, that are situated west of Colorado State 
        Highway 93, south and east of Colorado State Highway 119, and 
        north of Colorado State Highway 46, excluding lands within the 
        city limits of the cities of Boulder or Golden, Colorado, as 
        generally depicted on the map entitled ``Northern Front Range 
        Mountain Backdrop Study Area'' dated April, 2006.
            (2) Undeveloped land.--The term ``undeveloped land'' means 
        land that--
                    (A) is located within the study area;
                    (B) is free or primarily free of structures; and
                    (C) the development of which is likely to adversely 
                affect the scenic, wildlife, or recreational value of 
                the study area.
    (c) Consultations.--In implementing this Act, the Secretary shall 
consult with the following:
            (1) The Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
            (2) Colorado State Forest Service.
            (3) Colorado State Conservation Board.
            (4) Great Outdoors Colorado.
            (5) The Boards of County Commissioners of Boulder, 
        Jefferson, and Gilpin Counties, Colorado.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
as authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to take any action that 
would affect the use of any lands not owned by the United States.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 5, 2007.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.