[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S267-S268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2986. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2953 proposed by Ms. Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to
provide for the modernization of the energy policy of the United
States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table;
as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. BOWHUNTING OPPORTUNITY AND WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 1015 of title 54,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``Sec. 101513. Hunter access corridors
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Not ready for immediate use.--The term `not ready for
immediate use' means--
``(A) a bow or crossbow, the arrows of which are secured or
stowed in a quiver or other arrow transport case; and
``(B) with respect to a crossbow, uncocked.
``(2) Valid hunting license.--The term `valid hunting
license' means a State-issued hunting license that authorizes
an individual to hunt on private or public land adjacent to
the System unit in which the individual is located while in
possession of a bow or crossbow that is not ready for
immediate use.
``(b) Transportation Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall not require a permit
for, or promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits
an individual from, transporting bows and crossbows that are
not ready for immediate use across any System unit if--
``(A) in the case of an individual traversing the System
unit on foot--
``(i) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law
from possessing the bows and crossbows;
``(ii) the bows or crossbows are not ready for immediate
use throughout the period during which the bows or crossbows
are transported across the System unit;
``(iii) the possession of the bows and crossbows is in
compliance with the law of the State in which the System unit
is located; and
``(iv)(I) the individual possesses a valid hunting license;
``(II) the individual is traversing the System unit en
route to a hunting access corridor established under
subsection (c)(1); or
``(III) the individual is traversing the System unit in
compliance with any other applicable regulations or policies;
or
``(B) the bows or crossbows are not ready for immediate use
and remain inside a vehicle.
``(2) Enforcement.--Nothing in this subsection limits the
authority of the Director to enforce laws (including
regulations) prohibiting hunting or the taking of wildlife in
any System unit.
``(c) Establishment of Hunter Access Corridors.--
``(1) In general.--On a determination by the Director under
paragraph (2), the Director may establish and publish (in
accordance with section 1.5 of title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation)), on a publicly
available map, hunter access corridors across System units
that are used to access public land that is--
``(A) contiguous to a System unit; and
``(B) open to hunting.
``(2) Determination by director.--The determination
referred to in paragraph (1) is a determination that the
hunter access corridor would provide wildlife management or
visitor experience benefits within the boundary of the System
unit in which the hunter access corridor is located.
``(3) Hunting season.--The hunter access corridors shall be
open for use during hunting seasons.
``(4) Exception.--The Director may establish limited
periods during which access through the hunter access
corridors is closed for reasons of public safety,
administration, or compliance with applicable law.
``(5) Identification of corridors.--The Director shall--
``(A) make information regarding hunter access corridors
available on the individual website of the applicable System
unit; and
``(B) provide information regarding any processes
established by the Director for transporting legally taken
game through individual hunter access corridors.
``(6) Registration; transportation of game.--The Director
may--
``(A) provide registration boxes to be located at the
trailhead of each hunter access corridor for self-
registration;
``(B) provide a process for online self-registration; and
``(C) allow nonmotorized conveyances to transport legally
taken game through a hunter access corridor established under
this subsection, including game carts and sleds.
``(7) Consultation with states.--The Director shall consult
with each applicable State wildlife agency to identify
appropriate hunter access corridors.
``(d) Effect.--Nothing in this section--
``(1) diminishes, enlarges, or modifies any Federal or
State authority with respect to recreational hunting,
recreational shooting, or any other recreational activities
within the boundaries of a System unit; or
``(2) authorizes--
``(A) the establishment of new trails in System units; or
``(B) authorizes individuals to access areas in System
units, on foot or otherwise, that are not open to such
access.
``(e) No Major Federal Action.--
``(1) In general.--Any action taken under this section
shall not be considered a major Federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment under the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.).
``(2) No additional action required.--No additional
identification, analyses, or consideration of environmental
effects (including cumulative environmental effects) is
necessary or required with respect to an action taken under
this section.''.
[[Page S268]]
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections affected for
title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 101512 the following:
``Sec. 101513. Hunter access corridors.''.
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