I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2984 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 21, 2011 Mr. Michaud (for himself and Ms. Pingree of Maine) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To designate certain Federal lands within the Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, in Lincoln County, Hancock County, and Washington County, Maine, as wilderness.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness Act of 2011.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

High-water mark

The term high-water mark means the point on the bank or shore up to which the water, by its presence and action or flow, leaves a distinct mark indicated by erosion, destruction of or change in vegetation, or other easily recognizable characteristic. (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System

(a)

Additions

In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and subject to subsection (c), the following Federal lands in the State of Maine are hereby designated as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1)Certain lands in the Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge, comprising approximately 1,703 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge: Islands Wilderness Proposal and dated May, 2010, which shall be known as the Cross Island Wilderness. Cross Island Wilderness includes six islands in a geographic cluster in Washington County distributed over the following: (A)Cross Island: 1,654 acres. (B)Inner Double Head Shot Island: 8 acres. (C)Outer Double Head Shot Island: 14 acres. (D)Mink Island: 11 acres. (E)Scotch Island: 10 acres. (F)Old Man Island: 6 acres. (2)Certain lands in the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, comprising approximately 1,553 acres, as generally depicted on the maps entitled Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge: Islands Wilderness Proposal and dated May, 2010, which shall be known as the Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness. Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness includes seven islands distributed over the following: (A)Outer Heron Island (Lincoln County): 66 acres. (B)Outer White Island (Lincoln County): 16 acres. (C)Little Marshall Island (Hancock County): 14 acres. (D)John’s Island (Hancock County): 43 acres. (E)Bois Bubert Island (Washington County): 1,321 acres. (F)Inner Sand Island (Washington County): 18 acres. (G)Halifax Island (Washington County): 75 acres. (b)

Maps and descriptions

(1)

Filing and availability

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and legal description of each wilderness area designated by subsection (a) with the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. The maps and legal descriptions filed shall be filed and made available for public inspection by the Secretary in the office of the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (2)

Force and effect

A map and legal description filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct errors in the map and legal description. (c)

Seaward boundary of wilderness areas

The seaward boundary of each wilderness area designated by this section shall be the high-water mark.

4.

Administration

(a)

Management

Subject to valid existing rights, lands designated as wilderness by this Act shall be managed by the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this Act, except that, with respect to any wilderness areas designated by this Act, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of the Wilderness Act is deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act. (b)

Incorporation of acquired land and interest

Any land within the boundary of the land designated as wilderness by section 3 that is acquired by the United States shall— (1)become part of the wilderness area; and (2)be managed in accordance with this section. (c)

Fish and wildlife

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

Buffer zones

Congress does not intend for the designation of wilderness areas in the State under this section to lead to the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around any wilderness area. (e)

Activities or uses up to boundaries

The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from within a wilderness designated by this Act shall not, of itself, preclude the activities or uses up to the boundary of the wilderness area. (f)

Navigational devices

Consistent with the purpose of the Wilderness Act, the Secretary may authorize the installation of navigational devices in any wilderness area designated by this Act for the purpose of improving public health and safety. (g)

Landing of watercraft

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting the landing of a watercraft on an island on which is located any area designated as a wilderness area by this Act.