[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 98 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H5630-H5633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL WILD HERITAGE WILDERNESS ACT

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 233) to designate certain National Forest System 
lands in the Mendocino and Six Rivers National Forests and certain 
Bureau of Land Management lands in Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa 
Counties in the State of California as wilderness, to designate the 
Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area, to designate certain segments 
of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County, California as a wild or 
scenic river, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows

                                H.R. 233

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Northern 
     California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
Sec. 3. Designation of wilderness areas.
Sec. 4. Administration of wilderness areas.
Sec. 5. Release of wilderness study areas.
Sec. 6. Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area.
Sec. 7. Wild and scenic river designation.
Sec. 8. King Range National Conservation Area boundary adjustment.
Sec. 9. Cow Mountain Recreation Area, Lake and Mendocino Counties, 
              California.
Sec. 10. Continuation of traditional commercial surf fishing, Redwood 
              National and State Parks.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

       In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means--
       (1) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture; and
       (2) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the 
     Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior.

     SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.

       In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 
     seq.), the following areas in the State of California are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Snow mountain wilderness addition.--
       (A) In general.--Certain land in the Mendocino National 
     Forest, comprising approximately 23,706 acres, as generally 
     depicted on the maps described in subparagraph (B), is 
     incorporated in and shall considered to be a part of the 
     ``Snow Mountain Wilderness'', as designated by section 
     101(a)(31) of the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 
     U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 98-425).
       (B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in 
     subparagraph (A) are--
       (i) the map entitled ``Skeleton Glade Unit, Snow Mountain 
     Proposed Wilderness Addition, Mendocino National Forest'' and 
     dated April 21, 2005; and
       (ii) the map entitled ``Bear Creek/Deafy Glade Unit, Snow 
     Mountain Wilderness Addition, Mendocino National Forest'' and 
     dated July 21, 2006.
       (2) Sanhedrin wilderness.--Certain land in the Mendocino 
     National Forest, comprising approximately 10,571 acres, as 
     generally depicted on the map entitled ``Sanhedrin Proposed 
     Wilderness, Mendocino National Forest'' and dated April 21, 
     2005, which shall be known as the ``Sanhedrin Wilderness''.
       (3) Yuki wilderness.--Certain land in the Mendocino 
     National Forest and certain land administered by the Bureau 
     of Land Management in Lake and Mendocino Counties, 
     California, together comprising approximately 53,887 acres, 
     as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Yuki Proposed 
     Wilderness'' and dated May 23, 2005, which shall be known as 
     the ``Yuki Wilderness''.
       (4) Yolla bolly-middle eel wilderness addition.--Certain 
     land in the Mendocino National Forest and certain land 
     administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Mendocino 
     County, California, together comprising approximately 27,036 
     acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Middle 
     Fork Eel, Smokehouse and Big Butte Units, Yolla Bolly-Middle 
     Eel Proposed Wilderness Addition'' and dated June 7, 2005, is 
     incorporated in and shall considered to be a part of the 
     Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, as designated by section 3 
     of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1132).
       (5) Siskiyou wilderness addition.--
       (A) In general.--Certain land in the Six Rivers National 
     Forest, comprising approximately 30,122 acres, as generally 
     depicted on the maps described in subparagraph (B), is 
     incorporated in and shall be considered to be a part of the 
     Siskiyou Wilderness, as designated by section 101(a)(30) of 
     the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 
     Public Law 98-425).
       (B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in 
     subparagraph (A) are--
       (i) the map entitled ``Bear Basin Butte Unit, Siskiyou 
     Proposed Wilderness Additions, Six Rivers National Forest'' 
     and dated June 28, 2005; and
       (ii) the map entitled ``Blue Creek Unit, Siskiyou Proposed 
     Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest'' and dated 
     July 21, 2006;
       (6) Mount lassic wilderness.--Certain land in the Six 
     Rivers National Forest, comprising approximately 7,279 acres, 
     as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Mt. Lassic 
     Proposed Wilderness'' and dated June 7, 2005, which shall be 
     known as the ``Mount Lassic Wilderness''.
       (7) Trinity alps wilderness addition.--
       (A) In general.--Certain land in the Six Rivers National 
     Forest, comprising approximately 22,863 acres, as generally 
     depicted on the maps described in subparagraph (B) and which 
     is incorporated in and shall be considered to be a part of 
     the Trinity Alps Wilderness as designated by section 
     101(a)(34) of the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 
     U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 98-425).
       (B) Description of maps.--The maps referred to in 
     subparagraph (A) are--
       (i) the map entitled ``East Fork Unit, Trinity Alps 
     Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest'' 
     and dated September 17, 2004;
       (ii) the map entitled ``Horse Linto Unit, Trinity Alps 
     Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest'' 
     and dated September 17, 2004; and
       (iii) the map entitled ``Red Cap Unit, Trinity Alps 
     Proposed Wilderness Addition, Six Rivers National Forest'' 
     and dated June 7, 2005.
       (8) Cache creek wilderness.--Certain land administered by 
     the Bureau of Land Management in Lake County, California, 
     comprising approximately 27,245 acres, as generally depicted 
     on the map entitled ``Cache Creek Wilderness Area'' and dated 
     July 22, 2006, which shall be known as the ``Cache Creek 
     Wilderness''.
       (9) Cedar roughs wilderness.--Certain land administered by 
     the Bureau of Land Management in Napa County, California, 
     comprising approximately 6,350 acres, as generally depicted 
     on the map entitled ``Cedar Roughs Wilderness Area'' and 
     dated September 27, 2004, which shall be known as the ``Cedar 
     Roughs Wilderness''.
       (10) South fork eel river wilderness.--Certain land 
     administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Mendocino 
     County, California, comprising approximately 12,915 acres, as 
     generally depicted on the map entitled ``South Fork Eel River 
     Wilderness Area and Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness'' and 
     dated June 16, 2005, which shall be known as the ``South Fork 
     Eel River Wilderness''.
       (11) King range wilderness.--
       (A) In general.--Certain land administered by the Bureau of 
     Land Management in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, 
     California, comprising approximately 42,585 acres, as 
     generally depicted on the map entitled ``King Range 
     Wilderness'', and dated November 12, 2004, which shall be 
     known as the ``King Range Wilderness''.
       (B) Applicable law.--With respect to the wilderness 
     designated by subparagraph (A), in the case of a conflict 
     between this Act and Public Law 91-476 (16 U.S.C. 460y et 
     seq.), the more restrictive provision shall control.
       (12) Rocks and islands.--
       (A) In general.--All Federally-owned rocks, islets, and 
     islands (whether named or unnamed and surveyed or unsurveyed) 
     that are located--
       (i) not more than 3 geographic miles off the coast of the 
     King Range National Conservation Area; and
       (ii) above mean high tide.
       (B) Applicable law.--In the case of a conflict between this 
     Act and Proclamation No. 7264 (65 Fed. Reg. 2821), the more 
     restrictive provision shall control.

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, each 
     area designated as wilderness by section 3 shall be 
     administered by the Secretary in accordance with the 
     Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that--
       (1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall 
     be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of 
     this Act; and
       (2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the 
     Secretary that has jurisdiction over the wilderness.

[[Page H5631]]

       (b) Map and Description.--
       (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a 
     legal description of each wilderness area designated by 
     section 3 with--
       (A) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate.
       (2) Force of law.--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.
       (3) Public availability.--Each map and legal description 
     filed under paragraph (1) shall be filed and made available 
     for public inspection in the appropriate office of the 
     Secretary.
       (c) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land 
     within the boundary of a wilderness area designated by this 
     Act that is acquired by the Federal Government shall--
       (1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is 
     located; and
       (2) be managed in accordance with this Act, the Wilderness 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and any other applicable law.
       (d) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid rights in existence on 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal land 
     designated as wilderness by this Act is withdrawn from all 
     forms of--
       (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land 
     laws;
       (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
       (3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and 
     geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
       (e) Fire, Insect, and Disease Management Activities.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may take such measures in 
     the wilderness areas designated by this Act as are necessary 
     for the control and prevention of fire, insects, and 
     diseases, in accordance with--
       (A) section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1133(d)(1)); and
       (B) House Report No. 98-40 of the 98th Congress.
       (2) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review existing 
     policies applicable to the wilderness areas designated by 
     this Act to ensure that authorized approval procedures for 
     any fire management measures allow a timely and efficient 
     response to fire emergencies in the wilderness areas.
       (f) Access to Private Property.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide any owner of 
     private property within the boundary of a wilderness area 
     designated by this Act adequate access to such property to 
     ensure the reasonable use and enjoyment of the property by 
     the owner.
       (2) King range wilderness.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), within the 
     wilderness designated by section 3(11), the access route 
     depicted on the map for private landowners shall also be 
     available for persons invited by the private landowners.
       (B) Limitation.--Nothing in subparagraph (A) requires the 
     Secretary to provide any access to the landowners or persons 
     invited by the landowners beyond the access that would be 
     available if the wilderness had not been designated.
       (g) Snow Sensors and Stream Gauges.--If the Secretary 
     determines that hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological 
     instrumentation is appropriate to further the scientific, 
     educational, and conservation purposes of the wilderness 
     areas designated by this Act, nothing in this Act prevents 
     the installation and maintenance of the instrumentation 
     within the wilderness areas.
       (h) Military Activities.--Nothing in this Act precludes 
     low-level overflights of military aircraft, the designation 
     of new units of special airspace, or the use or establishment 
     of military flight training routes over wilderness areas 
     designated by this Act.
       (i) Livestock.--Grazing of livestock and the maintenance of 
     existing facilities related to grazing in wilderness areas 
     designated by this Act, where established before the date of 
     enactment of this Act, shall be permitted to continue in 
     accordance with--
       (1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1133(d)(4)); and
       (2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of the report of 
     the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress 
     (H. Rept. 101-405).
       (j) Fish and Wildlife Management.--
       (1) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes of the 
     Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary may 
     carry out management activities to maintain or restore fish 
     and wildlife populations and fish and wildlife habitats in 
     wilderness areas designated by this Act if such activities 
     are--
       (A) consistent with applicable wilderness management plans; 
     and
       (B) carried out in accordance with applicable guidelines 
     and policies.
       (2) State jurisdiction.--Nothing in this Act affects the 
     jurisdiction of the State of California with respect to fish 
     and wildlife on the public land located in the State.
       (k) Use by Members of Indian Tribes.--
       (1) Access.--In recognition of the past use of wilderness 
     areas designated by this Act by members of Indian tribes for 
     traditional cultural and religious purposes, the Secretary 
     shall ensure that Indian tribes have access to the wilderness 
     areas for traditional cultural and religious purposes.
       (2) Temporary closures.--
       (A) In general.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary, on request of an Indian tribe, may temporarily 
     close to the general public 1 or more specific portions of a 
     wilderness area to protect the privacy of the members of the 
     Indian tribe in the conduct of the traditional cultural and 
     religious activities in the wilderness area.
       (B) Requirement.--Any closure under subparagraph (A) shall 
     be made in such a manner as to affect the smallest 
     practicable area for the minimum period of time necessary for 
     the activity to be carried out.
       (3) Applicable law.--Access to the wilderness areas under 
     this subsection shall be in accordance with--
       (A) Public Law 95-341 (commonly known as the ``American 
     Indian Religious Freedom Act'') (42 U.S.C. 1996 et seq.); and
       (B) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
       (l) Adjacent Management.--
       (1) In general.--Nothing in section 3 creates protective 
     perimeters or buffer zones around any wilderness area 
     designated by section 3.
       (2) Nonwilderness activities.--The fact that nonwilderness 
     activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within a 
     wilderness area designated by section 3 shall not preclude 
     the conduct of those activities or uses outside the boundary 
     of the wilderness area.
       (m) Cherry-Stemmed Roads.--
       (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``cherry-
     stemmed road'' means a road that is excluded from the 
     wilderness areas designated by section 3 by a non-wilderness 
     corridor having designated wilderness on both sides, as 
     generally depicted on the maps described in such section
       (2) Closures and restrictions.--The Secretary shall not--
       (A) close any cherry-stemmed road that is open to the 
     public as of the date of the enactment of this Act;
       (B) prohibit motorized access on a cherry-stemmed road that 
     is open to the public for motorized access as of the date of 
     the enactment of this Act; or
       (C) prohibit mechanized access on a cherry-stemmed road 
     that is open to the public for mechanized access as of the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (3) Exceptions.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed as precluding the Secretary from closing or 
     restricting access to a cherry-stemmed road for purposes of 
     significant resource protection or public safety.

     SEC. 5. RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds that, for the purposes of 
     section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
     1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), any portion of a wilderness study area 
     described in subsection (b) that is not designated as 
     wilderness by section 3 or any previous Act has been 
     adequately studied for wilderness.
       (b) Description of Study Areas.--The study areas referred 
     to in subsection (a) are--
       (1) the King Range Wilderness Study Area;
       (2) the Chemise Mountain Instant Study Area;
       (3) the Red Mountain Wilderness Study Area;
       (4) the Cedar Roughs Wilderness Study Area; and
       (5) those portions of the Rocky Creek/Cache Creek 
     Wilderness Study Area in Lake County, California which are 
     not in R. 5 W., T. 12 N., sec. 22, Mount Diablo Meridian.
       (c) Release.--Any portion of a wilderness study area 
     described in subsection (b) that is not designated as 
     wilderness by section 3 or any other Act enacted before the 
     date of enactment of this Act shall not be subject to section 
     603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
     (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).

     SEC. 6. ELKHORN RIDGE POTENTIAL WILDERNESS AREA.

       (a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the 
     Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain public land 
     in the State administered by the Bureau of Land Management, 
     compromising approximately 11,271 acres, as generally 
     depicted on the map entitled ``South Fork Eel River 
     Wilderness Area and Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness'' and 
     dated June 16, 2005, is designated as a potential wilderness 
     area.
       (b) Management.--Except as provided in subsection (c) and 
     subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall manage 
     the potential wilderness area as wilderness until the 
     potential wilderness area is designated as wilderness under 
     subsection (d).
       (c) Ecological Restoration.--
       (1) In general.--For purposes of ecological restoration 
     (including the elimination of non-native species, removal of 
     illegal, unused, or decommissioned roads, repair of skid 
     tracks, and any other activities necessary to restore the 
     natural ecosystems in the potential wilderness area), the 
     Secretary may use motorized equipment and mechanized 
     transport in the potential wilderness area until the 
     potential wilderness area is designated as wilderness under 
     subsection (d).
       (2) Limitation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
     Secretary shall use the minimum tool or administrative 
     practice necessary to accomplish ecological restoration with 
     the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character 
     and resources.
       (d) Eventual Wilderness Designation.--The potential 
     wilderness area shall be designated as wilderness and as a 
     component of the National Wilderness Preservation System on 
     the earlier of--

[[Page H5632]]

       (1) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the 
     Federal Register notice that the conditions in the potential 
     wilderness area that are incompatible with the Wilderness Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) have been removed; or
       (2) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.
       (e) Administration as Wilderness.--On its designation as 
     wilderness under subsection (d), the potential wilderness 
     area shall be--
       (1) known as the ``Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness''; and
       (2) administered in accordance with section 4 and the 
     Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).

     SEC. 7. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATION.

       (a) Designation of Black Butte River, California.--Section 
     3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(__) Black Butte River, California.--The following 
     segments of the Black Butte River in the State of California, 
     to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
       ``(A) The 16 miles of Black Butte River, from the Mendocino 
     County Line to its confluence with Jumpoff Creek, as a wild 
     river.
       ``(B) The 3.5 miles of Black Butte River from its 
     confluence with Jumpoff Creek to its confluence with Middle 
     Eel River, as a scenic river.
       ``(C) The 1.5 miles of Cold Creek from the Mendocino County 
     Line to its confluence with Black Butte River, as a wild 
     river.''.
       (b) Plan; Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     submit to Congress--
       (A) a fire management plan for the Black Butte River 
     segments designated by the amendment made by subsection (a); 
     and
       (B) a report on the cultural and historic resources within 
     those segments.
       (2) Transmittal to county.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall transmit to the Board of Supervisors of Mendocino 
     County, California, a copy of the plan and report submitted 
     under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 8. KING RANGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARY 
                   ADJUSTMENT.

       Section 9 of Public Law 91-476 (16 U.S.C. 460y-8) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) In addition to the land described in subsections (a) 
     and (c), the land identified as the King Range National 
     Conservation Area Additions on the map entitled `King Range 
     Wilderness' and dated November 12, 2004, is included in the 
     Area.''.

     SEC. 9. COW MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA, LAKE AND MENDOCINO 
                   COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) Establishment.--In order to enhance the recreational 
     and scenic values of the Cow Mountain area in Lake and 
     Mendocino Counties, California, while conserving the wildlife 
     and other natural resource values of the area, there is 
     hereby established the Cow Mountain Recreation Area (in this 
     section referred to as the ``recreation area'') consisting of 
     approximately 51,513 acres of land in such counties, as 
     generally depicted on the map entitled ``Cow Mountain 
     Recreation Area'' and dated July, 22, 2006, including the 
     following:
       (1) The ``South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area'', as 
     generally depicted on the map.
       (2) The ``North Cow Mountain Recreation Area'', as 
     generally depicted on the map.
       (b) Legal Descriptions; Correction of Errors.--
       (1) Preparation and submission.--As soon as practicable 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     the Interior shall prepare a map and legal descriptions of 
     the boundaries of the recreation area. The Secretary shall 
     submit the map and legal descriptions to the Committee on 
     Resources of the House of Representatives and to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
       (2) Legal effect.--The map and legal descriptions of the 
     recreation area shall have the same force and effect as if 
     included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct 
     clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal 
     descriptions. The map shall be on file and available for 
     public inspection in appropriate offices of the Bureau of 
     Land Management.
       (c) Administration.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     administer the recreation area in accordance with this 
     section and the laws and regulations generally applicable to 
     the public lands, including the Federal Land Policy and 
     Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
       (2) Existing rights.--The establishment of the recreation 
     area shall be subject to all valid existing rights.
       (d) Recreational Activities.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     continue to authorize, maintain, and enhance the recreational 
     use of the land included in the recreation area, including 
     motorized recreation, hiking, camping, mountain biking, 
     sightseeing, and horseback riding, as long as such 
     recreational use is consistent with this section and other 
     applicable law.
       (2) Off-road and motorized recreation.--Motorized 
     recreation shall be a prescribed use within the South Cow 
     Mountain OHV Management Area, occurring only on roads and 
     trails designated by the Secretary for such use, except as 
     needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an 
     emergency. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as 
     precluding the Secretary from closing any trail or route from 
     use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.
       (3) Mountain biking.--Mountain biking shall be a prescribed 
     use within the recreation area, occurring only on roads and 
     trails designated by the Secretary for such use. Nothing in 
     this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the Secretary 
     from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of 
     resource protection or public safety.
       (e) Access to Private Property.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior shall provide any owner of private property within 
     the boundaries of the recreation area adequate access to the 
     property to ensure the reasonable use and enjoyment of the 
     property by the owner.
       (f) Land Acquisition.--
       (1) Acquisition from willing persons only.--The Secretary 
     of the Interior may acquire lands or interests in lands in 
     the recreation area only by--
       (A) donation;
       (B) exchange with a willing party, as expressed in a 
     written agreement between the Secretary and the party; or
       (C) purchase from a willing seller, as expressed in a 
     written agreement between the Secretary and the seller.
       (2) Administration of acquired lands.--Lands or interests 
     in lands within or adjacent to the boundaries of the 
     recreation area that are acquired by the Bureau of Land 
     Management, and title or possession of which is vested in the 
     United States after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     shall be managed by the Secretary as part of the recreation 
     area.
       (g) Adjacent Management.--Nothing in this section creates 
     protective perimeters or buffer zones around the recreation 
     area.

     SEC. 10. CONTINUATION OF TRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL SURF FISHING, 
                   REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS.

       (a) Availability of Limited Number of Permits.--For the 
     sole purpose of continuing traditional commercial surf 
     fishing, the Secretary of the Interior shall permit the right 
     of entry for authorized vehicle access onto the wave slope 
     area at that area known as Gold Bluffs Beach, Prairie Creek 
     Redwoods State Park, and that portion of the beach north and 
     south of Redwood Creek in Redwood National and State Parks. 
     The number of permits issued under the authority of this 
     section shall be limited to the number of valid permits that 
     were held on the date of enactment of this Act. The permits 
     so issued shall be perpertual and subject to the same 
     conditions as the permits held on the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.
       (b) Wave Slope Area Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``wave slope area'' refers to the area that has been wet by 
     the wave action of the previous high tide, but does not 
     include any vegetated areas.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.

                              {time}  1545


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  H.R. 233, the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness 
Act, was introduced by our colleague Congressman Mike Thompson at the 
beginning of the 109th Congress.
  Last July, the Resources Committee held a legislative hearing on this 
bill. Though Mr. Thompson worked hard to gain support for the bill, it 
was clear that some issues needed to be resolved before the bill could 
move forward. Since then, Chairman Pombo and Congressman Thompson have 
worked cooperatively to develop a compromise on H.R. 233.
  The changes in the bill include a reduction of approximately 11,000 
acres of proposed wilderness in Del Norte County because of community 
concerns; removing the Perkins Creek Trail portion of Cache Creek area 
to ensure that mountain biking, which is prohibited in wilderness under 
the 1964 act, could continue; and eliminating nearly 6,500 acres of 
proposed wilderness in the Mad River Buttes area to make certain 
motorized and mechanized recreation may continue in this important 
recreational area.
  To ensure that not only wilderness but also recreation was protected, 
the bill codifies mountain bike and motorized recreation as a 
prescribed use in

[[Page H5633]]

the 51,000-acre Cow Mountain Recreation Area. Because of concerns about 
access to wilderness areas, the bill will also mandate that all cherry-
stemmed roads will remain open and mountain bike and motorized 
recreation access will continue on these roads. These measures will 
ensure that the public will have a variety of recreational options on 
the public lands.
  Finally, the bill addresses a longstanding problem with surf fishing 
permits on the beaches of Redwood National and State Park. When the 
Redwood National Park was created in 1968, you may recall it was with 
the intent that surf fishing in the area would continue. Yet since 
then, many fishing permits have been canceled and will soon be 
completely phased out. This bill will put a stop to the phase-out by 
continuing 27 fishing permits for smelt. Surf fishing in this area is 
an important tradition within the community and the continuation of 
these permits will help to enhance a stagnant local economy.
  On behalf of full Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, I want 
to thank Congressman Thompson for his willingness to work with the 
committee to make this wilderness bill a bipartisan and broadly 
supported piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support 
this balanced and bipartisan measure.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, the majority has already explained the 
purpose of H.R. 233, which was introduced by my colleague from 
California, Representative Mike Thompson. The gentleman is to be 
commended for his efforts to preserve the wild lands of his Northern 
California district. He has worked diligently with Federal, State, and 
local interests to preserve and enhance the wilderness experience.
  Madam Speaker, overall, we support H.R. 233, and we recommend its 
adoption by the House today.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Northern California (Mr. Thompson), the sponsor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman 
for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, this bill will protect some of the most beautiful 
wilderness area in my entire congressional district. It is the product 
of over 5 years of hard, grass-roots work. It represents town hall 
meetings, I can't tell you how many town hall meetings, field tours 
with all the different stakeholder groups, open debate, both in the 
House and the committee, and the Senate, both in the committee and on 
the floor, in city hall chambers and board of supervisors chambers 
throughout my district, stakeholder meetings with people representing 
timber, hunting and fishing, conservation, government, off-road 
vehicles, mountain bikes, businesses, farming. It is 5 years of 
exhaustive and inclusive work.
  The result is the added protection to 275,000 acres of the most 
beautiful and the most important landscapes in all of California's 
First Congressional District. It includes the famous King Ranch, which 
the Bush administration in testifying in committee on this identified 
that particular portion as being the crown jewel of our entire national 
wilderness system. It is an absolutely spectacular area.
  This bill is also important in regard to the federally listed salmon 
and trout throughout my district. It will enhance the watersheds of the 
habitat areas of these fish, and it will ensure a source of clean and 
reliable water to ensure the continued improvement to these fisheries.
  Fire protection was an issue on this bill, and we went out of our way 
to make sure that we protected the land managers' ability to fight fire 
and to use pre-suppression measures to ensure that we minimized the 
likelihood of wildland fires.
  Also road access was an issue, and my friend Mr. Walden from Oregon 
talked about the cherry-stemmed roads. We went out of our way to make 
sure not a single legal road existing today will be closed by this 
bill. Mountain bikes and the off-road vehicle community raised some 
concerns, and we dealt with those. In regard to the mountain bikers, we 
created an area adjacent to the King Ranch area that the local 
newspaper, the Eureka Times Standard, called a world-class mountain 
bike trail system that will give them more bicycling opportunities than 
they had before.
  As mentioned, we put in place protections for the Cow Mountain area, 
where off-road vehicle users and mountain bikers ride today. We 
protected their rights to do so in perpetuity on this 79,000-acre 
portion of property that is so important to them.
  This is a collaborative effort where all the stakeholders have come 
in, and we worked in an unprecedented manner to make sure that this 
bill is the right bill for this property.
  It wouldn't have happened had it not been for the hard work of a lot 
of dedicated folks. I want to thank particularly both the chairman and 
the ranking member on the Resources Committee, who worked very, very 
hard, and their staffs that worked extremely hard in making sure that 
this was a good measure.
  There were outside interest groups that worked. Ryan Henson from the 
California Wilderness Coalition stands out amongst those who worked so 
hard and knows this area so well.
  As was mentioned, this touches land in just about every county in my 
district. Each county board had a spokesperson or a point person. It 
was Martha McClure in Del Norte County; Jim Wattenberger in Mendocino 
County; John Wooley in Humboldt County; Ed Roby in Lake County; and 
Dianne Dillon in Napa County, and they are to be commended. Senator 
Boxer's staff, Jeffrey Rosato, and Senator Feinstein's staff, Jon 
Watts, also worked extremely hard. Leading this effort was Mark Kadesh 
from Senator Feinstein's staff, who helped us so much.
  I want to thank Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein, who were the 
coauthors of this measure. Their bill passed the Senate earlier this 
year 100-0. They understand the importance of this area, and they 
worked tirelessly to make sure that it was protected.
  Although we all worked for 5 years to make sure that this happened, 
there was one person that really worked probably 6 or 7 years' worth of 
time during that 5-year block, and that was Jonathan Birdsong on my 
staff. This was just outstanding work by him. He did a great job, and I 
want to publicly thank him on the floor.
  Madam Speaker, this is a great bill. It is carefully crafted to take 
all interests into consideration, and I humbly ask for your ``aye'' 
vote in support of this measure.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Again, I want to say that we support H.R. 233, and I want to at this 
time take the opportunity to thank my colleague from Oregon, Mr. 
Walden. It has been a pleasure to manage these bills today with him.
  Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back my time.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for that very kind comment. It 
has been a pleasure to work these through the floor with you as well.
  I want to commend my colleagues from California, especially Mr. 
Thompson, who I know has passionately been trying to move this 
legislation forward, and his work with Chairman Pombo has brought about 
a bill that we all can support.
  Madam Speaker, with that, I think we have concluded our business on 
this bill and others from the Resources Committee. I yield back the 
balance of my time and call on my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 233, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.




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