117 HR 3113 : Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2022-03-16
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II
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3113
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 16, 2022
Received
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to digitize and make publicly available geographic information system mapping data relating to public access to Federal land and waters for outdoor recreation, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act”.
2.

Definitions
In this Act:
(1)

Federal land
The term “Federal land” means any land managed by a Federal land management agency.
(2)

Federal land management agency
The term “Federal land management agency” means—
(A)
the Bureau of Reclamation;
(B)
the National Park Service;
(C)
the Bureau of Land Management;
(D)
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
(E)
the Forest Service; and
(F)
the Corps of Engineers.
(3)

Road or trail
The term “road or trail” means a road or trail designated by 1 or more of the Secretaries for public use.
(4)

Secretaries
The term “Secretaries” means—
(A)
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service;
(B)
the Secretary of the Interior; and
(C)
the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
3.

Interagency data standardization
Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly develop and adopt interagency standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable Federal databases with respect to the collection and dissemination of data—
(1)
relating to public outdoor recreational use on Federal land; and
(2)
used to depict locations at which recreation uses are available to the public.
4.

Digitization and publication of easements
(a)

In general
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and publish on the applicable agency website geographic information system mapping data that specifies, with respect to the relevant Secretary, all Federal interests in private land, including easements (other than flowage easements), reservations, and rights-of-way—
(1)
to which the Federal Government does not have a fee title interest; and
(2)
that may be used to provide public recreational access to the Federal land.
(b)

Public comment
The Secretaries shall develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the information described in subsection (a).
5.

Data consolidation and publication of route and area data for public recreational use
(a)

In general
Beginning not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall make publicly available on the website of the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Corps of Engineers, as applicable, geographic information system data with respect to the following:
(1)
Status information with respect to whether roads and trails on the Federal land are open or closed.
(2)
The dates on which roads and trails on the Federal land are seasonally closed.
(3)
The classes of vehicles and types of recreational uses that are allowed on each segment of roads and trails on the Federal land, including the permissibility of—
(A)
off-highway vehicles;
(B)
motorcycles;
(C)
nonmotorized bicycles;
(D)
electric bicycles;
(E)
passenger vehicles;
(F)
nonmechanized transportation; and
(G)
over-snow vehicles.
(4)
The boundaries of areas where hunting or recreational shooting (including archery, firearm discharge, and target shooting) is permanently restricted or prohibited on the Federal land.
(b)

Updates
(1)

In general
The Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall update the data described in subsection (a) not less frequently than twice per year.
(2)

Public comment
The Secretaries shall develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the information described in subsection (a).
(c)

Effect
Geographic information system data made publicly available under subsection (a) shall not disclose information regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic, paleontological, or archaeological resources, consistent with applicable law.
6.

Cooperation and coordination
(a)

Third-party providers
The Secretaries may enter into an agreement with a third party to carry out any provision of this Act.
(b)

US geological survey
The Secretaries may work with the Director of the United States Geological Survey to collect, aggregate, digitize, standardize, or publish data on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior to meet the requirements of this Act.
7.

Reports
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through March 30, 2031, the Secretaries shall submit a report on the progress made by the Secretaries with respect to meeting the requirements of this Act to—
(1)
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;
(2)
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;
(3)
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(4)
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
8.

Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated—
(1)
to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out this Act—
(A)
$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
(B)
$5,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025;
(2)
to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this Act—
(A)
$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
(B)
$5,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025; and
(3)
to the Secretary of the Army to carry out this Act—
(A)
$1,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
(B)
$2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025.
Passed the House of Representatives March 15, 2022.
Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk.