Wilderness areas

(a)

Designation

In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are designated as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1)The approximately 27,500 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled Indian Creek East and Indian Creek West, which shall be known as the Indian Creek Wilderness. (2)The approximately 16,007 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled Red Shirt and Red Shirt East, which shall be known as the Red Shirt Wilderness. (3)The approximately 4,518 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled Chalk Hills, which shall be known as the Chalk Hills Wilderness. (b)

Maps and Legal Description

(1)

In general

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a map and legal description for each wilderness area. (2)

Effect

Each map and legal description submitted under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct minor errors in the map or legal description. (3)

Availability

Each map and legal description submitted under paragraph (1) shall be available in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service. (c)

Administration

(1)

In general

Subject to valid existing rights, the wilderness areas shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in that Act to the effective date shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act. (2)

Withdrawal

Subject to valid existing rights, the wilderness areas are withdrawn from all forms of— (A)entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (B)location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (C)disposition under the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (3)

Continuation of livestock grazing

In the wilderness areas, the grazing of livestock and the maintenance of existing facilities related to grazing in areas in which grazing is established as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be allowed to continue, consistent with— (A)section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and (B)the guidelines set forth in House Report 96–617 to accompany H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress. (4)

Fish and wildlife management

(A)

State jurisdiction

In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this Act affects or diminishes the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife management in the wilderness areas (including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping). (B)

Management Activities

In furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), management activities to maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations and the habitats to support those populations may be carried out within the wilderness areas in accordance with relevant wilderness management plans and appropriate policies (such as those described in Appendix B of House Report 101–405 of the 101st Congress), including the occasional and temporary use of motorized vehicles, if the Secretary determines that the activities would— (i)promote healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife populations; and (ii)using the minimum tool necessary, enhance wilderness values. (5)

Fire, insects, invasive species, and diseases management activities

The Secretary may undertake such measures as are necessary to control and prevent fire, insects, invasive species, and diseases, in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), including the coordination of those activities with a State or local agency. (6)

Military activities

Nothing in this Act precludes— (A)low-level overflights of military aircraft over the wilderness areas; (B)the designation of new units of special airspace over the wilderness areas; or (C)the use or establishment of military flight training routes over the wilderness areas. (7)

Native American uses and interests

Nothing in this Act diminishes the rights of Indian tribes with respect to access to Federal land for tribal activities (including spiritual, cultural, and traditional food-gathering activities). (8)

Access to property

The Secretary shall provide any owner of private property within the boundary of a wilderness area, including the State, adequate access to the private property. (9)

Acquisition of land and interests in land

(A)

In General

Consistent with applicable law, the Secretary may acquire from willing sellers land or interests in land within the boundaries of the wilderness areas by purchase, donation, or exchange. (B)

Incorporation of acquired land

Any land or interest in land within a wilderness area that is acquired by the United States shall be added to, and administered as part of, the applicable wilderness area. (10)

Adjacent management

(A)

No protective perimeters or buffer zones

Congress does not intend for the designation of a wilderness area to result in the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around any of the wilderness areas. (B)

Nonwilderness Activities

The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses outside of a wilderness area can be seen or heard from inside of the wilderness area shall not preclude the conduct of the nonwilderness activities or uses outside the boundaries of the wilderness area.