I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 455 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 9, 2009 Mr. Welch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in the State of Vermont for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2009.

2.

Designation for study

Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (_)

Missisquoi and Trout Rivers, Vermont

The approximately 25-mile segment of the upper Missisquoi from its headwaters in Lowell to the Canadian border in North Troy; the approximately 25-mile segment from the Canadian border in East Richford to Enosburg Falls; and approximately 20 miles of the Trout River from its headwaters to its confluence with the Missisquoi River. .

3.

Study and report

Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (_)

Missisquoi and Trout Rivers, Vermont

Not later than 3 years after funds are made available to carry out this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall— (A)analyze any potential impacts on the possession or use of a weapon, trap, or net, including a concealed weapon, on the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers, Vermont, described in subsection (a)(__) or on lands adjacent to that area; (B)include in the study completed under this paragraph an assessment of any effect a wild and scenic designation in the study area is likely to have on energy production, transmission, or conveyance; (C)analyze the potential impact of the designation on private lands within the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers, Vermont, described in subsection (a)(__) or adjacent to that area; (D)complete the study of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers, Vermont, described in subsection (a)(__); and (E)submit a report describing the results of that study to the appropriate committees of Congress. .

4.

Funding

Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed as authorizing appropriations to designate or otherwise create a new component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.