[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8446 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8446
To provide greater conservation, recreation, economic development and
local management of Federal lands in Garfield and Kane Counties, Utah.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 30, 2020
Mr. Stewart introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide greater conservation, recreation, economic development and
local management of Federal lands in Garfield and Kane Counties, Utah.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Grand Staircase Escalante
Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Establishment of Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve.
Sec. 5. Withdrawals.
Sec. 6. Map and legal description.
Sec. 7. Grand Staircase National Monument.
Sec. 8. Kaiparowits National Monument.
Sec. 9. Escalante Canyons National Monument.
Sec. 10. Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, Grand Staircase
National Monument, Kaiparowits National
Monument, and Escalante Canyons National
Monument Management Council.
Sec. 11. Federal land manager adherence.
Sec. 12. Clarification.
Sec. 13. Restoration of land status.
Sec. 14. Hole in the Rock Road.
Sec. 15. Effect on proclamations.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Management council.--The term ``Management Council''
means the council established under section 10.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ESCALANTE CANYONS NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the
Escalante Canyons National Monument the ``Escalante Canyons National
Park and Preserve'' in the State of Utah.
(b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of Escalante Canyons National Park
and Preserve are as generally depicted on the map entitled ``____'',
numbered ___, and dated ____. The map shall be on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park
Service.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the Escalante Canyons National Park
and Preserve shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance in the
Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve--
(1) the unique and nationally important historic, natural,
scenic, and natural resources;
(2) recreation, including hunting; and
(3) grazing.
SEC. 5. WITHDRAWALS.
Subject to valid existing rights, any Federal land within the
Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, including any land or
interest in land that is acquired by the United States after the date
of enactment of this Act, is withdrawn from--
(1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land
laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,
and geothermal leasing laws.
SEC. 6. MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and legal description
of the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve.
(b) Force and Effect.--The map and legal description submitted
under this section shall have the same force and effect as if included
in this Act, except that the Secretary may make minor modifications of
any clerical or typographical errors in the map or legal description
provided these changes are first reported to the State of Utah,
Garfield and Kane Counties in Utah, and the Management Council.
SEC. 7. GRAND STAIRCASE NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal
land comprising approximately 211,983 acres, identified as ``Grand
Staircase Unit'' and generally depicted on the map entitled ``Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument Modification'' is hereby
established as the ``Grand Staircase National Monument''.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Grand Staircase National Monument
shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance the monument's--
(1) unique and nationally important historic, scenic, and
natural resources;
(2) recreation, including hunting; and
(3) grazing.
(c) Map.--
(1) As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map
and legal description of the Grand Staircase National Monument
established in this section.
(2) The map and legal description submitted under this
section shall have the same force and effect as if included in
this title, except that the Secretary may make minor
modification of any clerical or typographical errors in the map
or legal description provided these changes are first reported
to the State of Utah, Kane County, Utah, and the Management
Council.
(3) A copy of the map and legal description shall be on
file and available for public inspection in the appropriate
field offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 8. KAIPAROWITS NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal
land comprising approximately 551,117 acres, identified as
``Kaiparowits Unit'' and generally depicted on the map entitled ``Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument Modification'' is hereby
established as the ``Kaiparowits National Monument''.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Kaiparowits National Monument
shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance the monument's--
(1) unique and nationally important historic, scenic, and
natural resources;
(2) recreation, including hunting; and
(3) grazing.
(c) Map.--
(1) As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map
and legal description of the Kaiparowits National Monument
established in this section.
(2) The map and legal description submitted under this
section shall have the same force and effect as if included in
this title, except that the Secretary may make minor
modification of any clerical or typographical errors in the map
or legal description provided these changes are first reported
to the State of Utah, Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah, and the
Management Council.
(3) A copy of the map and legal description shall be on
file and available for public inspection in the appropriate
field offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 9. ESCALANTE CANYONS NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to the valid existing rights, the
Federal land comprising approximately 243,241 acres, identified as
``Escalante Canyons Unit'' and generally depicted on the map entitled
``Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Modification'' is hereby
established as the ``Escalante Canyons National Monument''.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Escalante Canyons National
Monument shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance the monument's--
(1) unique and nationally important historic, scenic, and
natural resources;
(2) recreation, including hunting; and
(3) grazing.
(c) Map.--
(1) As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map
and legal description of the Escalante Canyons National
Monument established in this section.
(2) The map and legal description submitted under this
section shall have the same force and effect as if included in
this title, except that the Secretary may make minor
modification of any clerical or typographical errors in the map
or legal description provided these changes are first reported
to the State of Utah, Garfield County, Utah, and the Management
Council.
(3) A copy of the map and legal description shall be on
file and available for public inspection in the appropriate
field offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 10. ESCALANTE CANYONS NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, GRAND STAIRCASE
NATIONAL MONUMENT, KAIPAROWITS NATIONAL MONUMENT, AND
ESCALANTE CANYONS NATIONAL MONUMENT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--The Management Council is hereby established.
(b) Duties.--The Management Council shall develop and implement the
comprehensive management plans for the Escalante Canyons National Park
and Preserve, the Grand Staircase National Monument, the Kaiparowits
National Monument, and the Escalante Canyons National Monument
consistently with the purposes of those areas as provided in this Act.
(c) Membership.--The Management Council shall be composed of 7
members appointed not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act as follows:
(1) One individual from the Department of Interior,
appointed by the President.
(2) Five individuals, appointed by the President in
consultation with the Congressional delegation from the State
of Utah and the Governor of Utah, who shall represent the
following:
(A) Two from the Garfield County, Utah, Board of
Commissioners.
(B) Two from the Kane County, Utah, Board of
Commissioners.
(C) One Utah State Legislator representing Kane
County, Garfield County, or both.
(3) One at-large representative appointed by the President.
(d) Qualifications.--The members appointed under subsections (c)
(2) and (3) shall not be employees of the Federal Government.
(e) Terms.--The President shall appoint the members under
subsections (c) (2) and (3) for a term of 5 years, except that the
President shall designate staggered terms for the members initially
appointed to the Management Council. The President may reappoint a
member to not more than three consecutive terms.
(f) Vacancies.--Vacancies of members appointed under subsections
(c) (2) and (3) shall be filled in the same manner as such positions
were originally filled as soon as practicable after the vacancy has
occurred.
(g) Compensation.--Members appointed under subsections (c) (2) and
(3) shall serve without pay, except for reasonable travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at the rate authorized for
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of
business in the performance of duties for the Council.
(h) Chair.--The members shall select the chair of the Management
Council from the members appointed under subsection (c) (2) and (3) for
a term beginning on the date of selection, and ending in 5 years or
until the member's term of office expires, whichever occurs first.
(i) Staff Assistance.--The Management Council may request
administrative assistance from Federal employees under the jurisdiction
of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture.
(j) Meetings.--
(1) Frequency.--The Management Council shall meet at the
call of the Chair or a majority of the members. Meetings shall
be held no less than once per year. A majority must be present
to constitute a quorum to conduct official business.
(2) Announcement; open meetings.--All meetings of the
Management Council shall be announced at least one week in
advance in publications of general circulation and shall be
open to the public.
(k) Administration.--
(1) The Management Council shall allow hunting, fishing and
trapping on lands and water under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary within the Escalante Canyons National Park and
Preserve in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of
Utah.
(2) The Management Council shall ensure that the privilege
of grazing domestic livestock on lands with the Escalante
Canyons National Park and Preserve shall continue to be
exercised and enhanced in perpetuity. Grazing within the
Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve shall be
administered by the National Park Service.
SEC. 11. FEDERAL LAND MANAGER ADHERENCE.
Federal land managers shall adhere to the management plans created
by the Management Council.
SEC. 12. CLARIFICATION.
Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the State of Utah
with respect to the management of fish, wildlife and predators in the
State.
SEC. 13. RESTORATION OF LAND STATUS.
Subject to valid existing rights, the provisions of existing
withdrawals, and the requirements of applicable law, the public lands
excluded from the monument reservation under Presidential Proclamation
9682, dated December 4, 2017, and issued under chapter 3203 of title
54, United States Code, shall be open to:
(1) entry, location, selection, sale or other disposition
under the public land laws;
(2) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and
geothermal leasing; and
(3) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws.
SEC. 14. HOLE IN THE ROCK ROAD.
The Secretary shall convey to the State of Utah all right, title
and interest of the United States in and to the Hole in the Rock Road
(BLM Road 200).
SEC. 15. EFFECT ON PROCLAMATIONS.
Any provision of Presidential Proclamation 6920, dated September
18, 1996, and Presidential Proclamation 9682, dated December 4, 2017,
and issued under chapter 3203 of title 54, United States Code, that is
inconsistent with this Act is hereby declared null and void.
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