1.This Act may be cited as the
Rattlesnake Mountain Public Access Act
of 2011
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)The Hanford Reach
National Monument is public land that belongs to the American people.
(2)The United States
Fish and Wildlife Service’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the
Monument restricts public access to large portions of the Monument, including
the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain.
(3)Public access to
Rattlesnake Mountain is important for educational, recreational, historical,
scientific, and cultural purposes.
(4)Rattlesnake
Mountain reaches an elevation of 3,660 feet above sea level—the highest
elevation of the Monument, and provides unparalleled scenic views over the
Monument, the Hanford Site, and the Columbia River.
(5)Public access to
Rattlesnake Mountain will increase tourism interest in the Monument and will
provide economic benefits to local governments.
3.Ensuring public
access to the summit of rattlesnake mountain in the hanford reach national
monument
(a)The Secretary of the Interior shall provide public access
to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain in the Hanford Reach National Monument
for educational, recreational, historical, scientific, cultural, and other
purposes, including—
(1)motor vehicle
access; and
(2)pedestrian and
other nonmotorized access.
(b)The Secretary of the Interior may enter into
cooperative agreements to facilitate access to the summit of Rattlesnake
Mountain—
(1)with the Secretary
of Energy, the State of Washington, or any local government agency or other
interested persons, for guided tours, including guided motorized tours to the
summit of Rattlesnake Mountain; and
(2)with the Secretary
of Energy, and with the State of Washington or any local government agency
or other interested persons, to maintain the access road to the
summit of Rattlesnake Mountain.
Passed the House of
Representatives December 15, 2011.
Karen L. Haas,
Clerk