I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5791 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 16, 2012 Mr. Flake introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To provide for reasonable and necessary access to Wilderness Areas for the restoration of water sources, supplies, or infrastructure during a state of emergency declared by the Governor of a State.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Emergency Water Supply Restoration Act.

2.

Actions in Wilderness Areas during a declared State of Emergency

(a)

Access to Wilderness Areas

When a state of emergency declared by the Governor of a State authorizes access to, reconstruction of, repairs to, or restoration of water sources, supplies, or infrastructure located in a Wilderness Area, the respective State’s agencies and political subdivisions may take all reasonable and necessary means of accessing, reconstructing, repairing, or restoring such water sources, supplies, or infrastructure as determined in their sole discretion, including access by heavy mechanized or motorized vehicles or equipment, the placement, replacement or repair of above ground or underground pipelines or aqueducts, and the repair or construction of permanent water catchment structures and above-grade diversionary flumes or other diversion infrastructure. (b)

Restriction on Federal impediments

No Federal agency may regulate, permit, interfere, or otherwise impede such access, reconstruction, repairs, or restoration during the duration or any extension of the declared state of emergency.