[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1058-H1104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLORADO WILDERNESS ACT OF 2019
General Leave
Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 2546.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Luria). Is there objection to the
request of the gentlewoman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 844 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 2546.
The Chair appoints the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) to
preside over the Committee of the Whole.
{time} 1223
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 2546) to designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as
components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for
other purposes, with Mr. McGovern in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the
first time.
General debate shall be confined to the bill and amendments specified
in the first section of House Resolution 844 and shall not exceed 1
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Natural Resources.
The gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) and the gentleman from
Idaho (Mr. Fulcher) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 5 minutes.
Mr. Chair, I am pleased today to rise in support of H.R. 2546, the
Protecting America's Wilderness Act.
As a fourth-generation Coloradan, I know how important our public
lands are to the people of my State and to millions of Americans across
the West.
[[Page H1059]]
Wilderness areas provide us a glimpse of what our world looked like
before it was taken over by man. They are some of the most pristine and
majestic areas on the planet.
For many of us, the access that we have to these lands is a large
part of why we are so proud to call our Western States home and why so
many others come to visit us each year.
While we may be the stewards of some of these lands, our Nation's
public lands belong to everyone. We, as Members of Congress, should be
doing everything we can to protect them.
The bill before us today would permanently protect nearly 1.4 million
acres of land across three States. It is one of the largest wilderness
protection packages Congress has considered in over a decade, and it is
the largest Congress has considered for Colorado in a generation.
The areas that this bill will protect include some of the most unique
and irreplaceable landscapes that our Nation has to offer, from the
winding canyons of Colorado to the native grasslands of California and
to the mossy forests of Washington State.
The designations in this bill will do more than protect the land
itself. They will help protect the air we breathe and the water we
drink. They will help protect wildlife and some of our favorite, world-
class recreation areas. They will provide a boost to the nearby
economies and help grow our Nation's multibillion-dollar outdoor
recreation industry that directly supports thousands of jobs across the
U.S.
Perhaps most importantly, in preserving these lands, the bill will do
what we need to do to further fulfill the House's commitment to takes
steps to combat the climate crisis.
Preserving more of our public lands is one of the best short-term
solutions that we, as a Nation, can take to respond to this crisis.
Experts agree that we must strive to protect 30 percent of our public
lands by 2030 to protect our planet.
The Protecting America's Wilderness Act combines six bills, each
introduced by a different Member of Congress.
Title I of the bill consists of my legislation, the Colorado
Wilderness Act, which will permanently protect more than 600,000 acres
of wilderness in over 32 unique areas.
For more than 20 years now, I have been working closely with a group
of citizens from my State, as well as countless local residents and
community leaders, to craft and recraft the legislation we have before
us today. I personally have been to most of the areas in my bill, by
foot, by horse, and by raft, to experience the areas for myself. I have
met with landowners and ranchers across my State to get their feedback
and, when necessary, to adjust the bill to address their concerns.
It includes areas like the dramatic ridgeline vistas of Grand Hogback
and the sprawling plateaus of Little Book Cliffs, areas like the
stunning red cliffs of the Dolores River Canyon that we see here in
this poster and the winding riverways of Browns Canyon, areas like the
desert slopes of Cross Canyon and the highest peaks of the San Juan
Mountains, places that have been untouched by man.
These are just some of the more than 1.3 million acres of wilderness
this bill will protect. It will also add more than 1,000 river miles to
the National Wild and Scenic River System and would expand or designate
new recreation areas, national monuments, scenic and special management
areas, restoration areas, and trails.
Mr. Chair, I can't thank my colleagues enough for the work that they
have done to make this bill a reality, especially Representatives
Huffman, Carbajal, Chu, Schiff, and Kilmer. I know each one of them is
going to have more to say about their individual titles in this bill,
but before I yield to them, I quickly want to address my colleagues on
the other side of the aisle.
I recognize that we have ideological differences about protecting our
public lands through designations such as these, but I want to
encourage them to consider the importance of protecting not only our
Nation's environment but also our economy and our way of life.
Mr. Chair, I urge them to consider our tireless and ongoing efforts
to ensure that this bill will not just protect public lands, but also
make a real boost to our economy.
Wilderness is, at its heart, about providing our fellow Americans
with truly wild places to escape. If we don't take steps right now to
protect those magical places, then one day, they will no longer exist.
A famous conservationist once said: ``What a country chooses to save
is what a country chooses to say about itself.''
These areas are without a doubt deserving of the highest protections
we can give them and passing them on to the next generation in the same
state they are in today has always been one of our top priorities.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1230
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in opposition to H.R. 2546. Regardless of what the House does,
this bill is not going to be signed into law, and I find it only fair
to explain why.
This package of bills is based on an ideological thought process that
has always failed and is going to continue to fail. It will fail
because this will add collectively about 1.5 million new wilderness
acres. Yes, that is 1.5 million. Although we already have about 111
million, this is going to add another 1.5 million.
This bill will fail because the sponsors think they are protecting
this land. In truth, the opposite is true. This bill will fail because
unmanaged land equals fuel load. Fuel load equals wildfire.
Mr. Chairman, according to the Insurance Information Institute, over
the last 5 years, an average of 7.86 million acres per year has burned
in the United States. According to the Congressional Research Service,
about 78 percent of that is on public land.
The wilderness designation is the most vulnerable public land there
is. More wilderness equals more fire. More fire equals more carbon,
somewhere in the region of about 40 tons per acre when a wildfire
burns.
And it gets worse. If a forest burns, that is God's best tool for
absorbing greenhouse gases, and that is destroyed. That is like taking
out your lungs.
Mr. Chairman, I can't count the number of times that I have heard the
term ``climate change'' since I have taken office. The same people
sponsoring these bills, the climate change fighters, are fighting to
increase one of the most major causes of just that.
So, yes, this bill will get stalled. It may pass the House, but it
will fail. And all this land happens to be in the west, Colorado,
Washington, California. It is easy if you are from Connecticut or New
York or some other eastern State to vote for a 1.5-million-acre
wilderness designation somewhere in the western U.S. and then not have
to explain to constituents the real impact. You can go home and say I
expanded wilderness, saved all this land.
Well, guess what, it does impact your constituents and here is why:
Creation of wilderness, scenic rivers, and monuments is a creation of
another Federal dependent. Disease and fire are inevitable on these
lands. Those of us who live in those States or surrounding States, we
are trying to govern in those States, and under these designations, you
just can't touch it until there is a fire, and then you have to fight
it. Those States that are helping make this decision, your constituents
are subsidizing us.
Now, the Senate and the President know that this is not right. The
Senate and the President know that having 47 States in this case decide
what happens in three is not right, so they will stall this bill. I am
simply hoping to raise the truth in this situation in a way that will
at least make people think. I am not naive about what is going to
happen with this bill.
This package designates about 100,000 acres of national monument
expansion, so I will use the same argument there. Ditto. It also has
843 miles of wild scenic rivers. Just to drive home a point, please
know this, sometimes our fish need some human help, and this
designation will prevent that. Sometimes our fires create devastating
silt flow into our waterways, and that would need some human help, but
we won't be able to do it under these circumstances.
Massive new management burdens on a Federal Government already $2.3
trillion in debt. Mr. Chairman, our Federal
[[Page H1060]]
Government is in over its head already. We can't afford to manage what
we have already got, so we don't.
This is the wrong bill for the West. It is the wrong bill for Idaho.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Huffman).
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and
I also thank her for her leadership not just on her own bill, but for
leading the charge on a package of bills that includes my Northwest
California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act as Title II.
The lands in my district that are included in this legislation
represent some of the most biodiverse ecosystems and exciting outdoor
opportunities in California. It ranges from old growth trees that are
so critical for carbon sequestration to rivers that provide habitat and
unparalleled fishing and boating to mountain trails that offer hiking,
biking, and other unique backcountry experiences.
Being active in the outdoors, experiencing these wild places, and
connecting to a healthy environment is a way of life in the Second
District of California. My constituents and visitors from around the
State and around the country take pride in these public lands, and we
all depend on the ecological resources and economic benefits that they
provide. That is why my legislation takes a multifaceted approach.
First, it includes an ambitious restoration plan to improve forest
health, promote fire resilience, and protect communities while
restoring diverse ecosystems that are naturally adapted to fire and
that provide fish habitat. It would also establish a partnership to
restore public lands and waters that have been damaged by illegal
marijuana growth sites, which pose significant threats to public health
and safety, law enforcement, wildlife, and water quality.
Second, it recognizes the importance of the outdoor recreation
economy. In my district, residents spend almost $2 billion in outdoor
recreation each year. This legislation would increase recreational
opportunities and spur tourism by proposing new visitor centers,
overnight lodging, and a significant expansion of trails for multiple
uses, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, and off-highway
vehicle use.
Expanding these recreational opportunities benefits outdoor
enthusiasts and the local businesses that are an integral part of the
recreation economy. Investing in our public lands means that we are
also investing in communities near our public lands.
As Kent Collard of the Bar 717 Ranch in Trinity County told the
Natural Resources Committee last year, ``The best thing we can do for
these lands, for businesses like mine that depend on untrammeled tracts
of wilderness, is to protect them. Like many other businesses in this
area, ours is fueled by people seeking to experience the wild beauty of
Trinity County. The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and
Working Forests Act recognizes and promotes economic opportunities that
recreation presents to our rural communities.'' Economic opportunities.
Third, this legislation would protect important wild places on public
lands in my district. It designates roughly 262,000 acres of
wilderness, 51,000 acres of potential wilderness, and 480 miles of wild
and scenic rivers.
These areas include critical habitat for endangered salmon and
steelhead, rare native plant ecosystems, and some of the largest intact
old-growth forests in California. These areas also include some of the
best fishing, hiking, and white-water runs in the State.
Like other pieces of legislation in the package we are considering
today, this takes conservation seriously because it is urgently needed
for the future of our planet.
Lastly, I would like to explain how this bill was developed. Over
more than 3 years, in fact, not long after I came to Congress in 2013,
I started asking stakeholders what policy issues should be addressed in
public lands legislation in my district. I have repeatedly sat down
with constituents, presented these proposals at public meetings, and
discussed concerns with county supervisors. I have moved boundaries and
removed wilderness proposals because of concerns from landowners, the
timber industry, and Tribes. This level of stakeholder participation
means that I have focused on what people in northwest California want
to see with their public lands. I think this comprehensive, carefully
crafted legislation has broad support.
The ACTING CHAIR (Ms. Judy Chu of California). The time of the
gentleman has expired.
Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Chair, I yield the gentleman from California an
additional 30 seconds.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Chair, I want to point out this bill has support
from conservation organizations, outdoor recreation groups, dozens of
businesses, community leaders, adjacent landowners. It is a long and
broad list of support.
Madam Chair, I request a favorable vote for this legislation.
Mr. FULCHER. Madam Chair, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from California (Mr. LaMalfa).
Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from Idaho for
yielding.
I rise in opposition to H.R. 2546. This package of land bills will
impact California, Colorado, and Washington creating nearly 1.5 million
acres of new wilderness.
H.R. 2250, one bill included in this package will impact northern
California, my area. It adds 262,000 acres of new wilderness
designations, despite concerns from local communities as to how they
would be impacted.
We have seen the devastation that wildfires cause in northern
California time and time again, so why are we putting more land into
this restrictive wilderness category, which will make it even more
difficult to properly manage forests and to access them?
Potential wilderness is typically treated as wilderness anyway, so
you have 51,000 acres that will probably be enforced as if it were
wilderness.
We should be prioritizing forest management, not making it more
difficult for access and the work needing to be done desperately. In
rural northern California, much of the land is already owned by the
Federal Government. The local economies depend on access and use of
these lands to thrive.
Seventy-six percent of Trinity County is controlled by the Federal
Government. Ninety-five percent of the land added to wilderness
designation by 2250 is located there.
The town of Weaverville located in Trinity County has had several
occasions where fire has burned right up to their doorsteps, and even
then, we still pursue endangering them because these lands are not
managed.
Even due to the best efforts of our firefighters, our CCC groups out
there trying get ahead of it, we put ourselves behind by having
wilderness designations that take away options, take away ability to
access and properly manage these lands.
Currently within that county, 520,000 acres, or 25 percent, are
designated as wilderness. It would increase that number to 770,000, or
37 percent of the county.
There are concerns with these lands being designated as wilderness
that should have been addressed with the local communities, ranging
from questions about forest management, grazing implications, to road
decommissioning and stewardship contracts. How does that help the
public have access? How does that help our firefighters and CCC have
access to do the work?
Consensus from these local communities most impacted by these
designations should be a priority. This legislation does not do that.
None of the language changes recommended to help mitigate local
concerns were accepted, so I urge you to vote in opposition.
If it is all about protecting lands, what is it we are actually
protecting when we are endangering them even more so?
Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Carbajal).
Mr. CARBAJAL. Madam Chair, I thank Representative DeGette for
yielding and for her leadership on this very important legislation.
I am honored to represent the central coast of California, one of the
most beautiful districts in the Nation.
Places like the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain
National Monument contain some of the most
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stunning, unique, and diverse ecosystems found anywhere in North
America.
Today, I am pleased to support H.R. 2546, the Protecting America's
Wilderness Act. This bill would preserve the ecological beauty and
recreational activities available to communities in my district and
beyond as well as for future generations.
This legislation includes my bill, H.R. 2199, the Central Coast
Heritage Protection Act. I am proud to have worked with Chairman
Grijalva and Representative DeGette and local stakeholders to ensure
that California's central coast was included in this measure.
Title III of this legislation would designate and place into
conservation nearly 250,000 acres as wilderness within the Los Padres
National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness
areas, one of the highest forms of protections available.
{time} 1245
This is a major step to preserve and protect our community's future
for future generations, allows for responsible forest management and
firefighting activities.
It also creates a 400-mile-long Condor National Recreation Trail,
connecting the northern and southern portions of the Los Padres
National Forest by a single hiking route.
This legislation has been the result of years of collaboration with
local stakeholders. It is supported by nearly 500 central coast
landowners, businesses, farmers, and local officials. This reaffirms
that protecting our environment and growing our economy are not
mutually exclusive.
Our public lands are an essential asset to our local economies. In
California alone, the outdoor recreation economy is worth $92 billion
and employs over 650,000 individuals.
I want to thank Chairman Grijalva, Representative DeGette, and the
committee for their support of this legislation.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and continue
uplifting local businesses and local economies that rely on outdoor
recreation.
Mr. FULCHER. Madam Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).
Mr. LAMBORN. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Idaho (Mr.
Fulcher) for his leadership.
I rise in strong opposition to this package of divisive and partisan
bills. Collectively, this package of ideologically driven bills impact
lands in Colorado, California, and Washington by creating nearly 1.5
million acres of new wilderness, designating 843 miles of Wild and
Scenic Rivers, and creating 100,000 acres of National Monument
expansion.
In Colorado alone, H.R. 2546 would designate approximately 570,000
acres of new wilderness areas, 23,000 acres of expanded wilderness, and
14,000 acres of potential wilderness. These new designations would be
in addition to the already existing 3.5 million acres of public land in
Colorado that is already designated as wilderness.
Now, I commend my colleague from Colorado for her efforts to work
with local shareholders to address some of their concerns, but the
bills contained in this package do not achieve the type of balance and
local consensus necessary for bills of this magnitude.
Many of the local communities impacted by this wilderness package
have raised significant concerns, including the loss of motorized
access and recreation, the elimination of multiple use, and the overall
threat to local economies. If wilderness designation is imposed, fewer
people will have access to these lands.
Engaging local stakeholders and considering their on-the-ground
expertise are critical steps in making decisions about public lands
management. Local communities have concerns with many aspects of this
bill.
At the July 10, 2019, subcommittee hearing on this bill, the
committee heard testimony from Montezuma County Commissioner Keenan
Ertel, who shared the county's concern that this bill would negatively
impact ``individual landowners, agricultural entities, water providers,
first responders, and especially the recreation tourism industry.''
Garfield County also opposes this legislation due to concerns with
restricting access and increased risk of catastrophic wildfires due to
the restrictive management regimes imposed by this legislation.
In addition to local grievances, the affected land management
agencies have noted that this bill is inconsistent with previous
designations and existing land uses by arbitrarily adding wilderness
areas and Wild and Scenic Rivers in areas where those designations are
not appropriate. Supporting the declaration of areas that do not
actually possess these characteristics undermines the integrity of the
Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as well as the
existing lands that do possess those features.
Because of these concerns, the Trump administration has rightly
issued a veto threat against this partisan bill.
To quote from the Statement of Administration Policy: ``This bill
would impose unnecessary and harmful restrictions on more than 2.5
million acres of land in Colorado, California, and Washington State,
including nearly 1.5 million acres in the form of wilderness
designations. These restrictions will greatly reduce opportunities for
multiple uses on these public lands, limit access to them, and
significantly reduce the available productive acreage in working
forests, rendering them more prone to catastrophic wildfires.''
This highly partisan package is in stark contrast to the omnibus
lands package that was passed overwhelmingly last year by both Chambers
and signed into law by President Trump. That package was the most
sweeping conservation legislation in the last decade. It had begun
under the Republican House and was successful because it featured the
input of a wide coalition of our colleagues, and it earned the support
of a broad, diverse coalition of advocates for public lands, economic
development, and conservation.
Mr. Chair, we are wasting our time here. I ask my colleagues to
oppose this legislation.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Carbajal). The time of the gentleman has
expired.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I would point out to my close friend from
Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) that there are no multiple use areas in the
Colorado Wilderness Act. Two-thirds of the areas are already wilderness
study areas and being converted, and the rest have no motorized use or
mining or drilling of any kind. So the bill has no conversion of
multiple use areas.
Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Judy Chu).
Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of
H.R. 2546, the Protecting America's Wilderness Act. This legislation
includes the text of my bill, H.R. 2215, the San Gabriel Mountains
Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, which is the result of years
of grassroots advocacy and community engagement to improve protections
and access for these treasured lands.
The San Gabriel Mountains are the crown of the Los Angeles area. They
provide 30 percent of our water, comprise 70 percent of Los Angeles
County's open space, and are home to historic habitats of species like
the California condor and Nelson's bighorn sheep.
This immense natural beauty exists right in the backyard of one of
the densest urban areas in our country, offering recreational
opportunities like hiking, fishing, and camping to the more than 15
million Americans who live in the urban area nearby.
That is so important because the Los Angeles region is one of the
most park-poor areas in the country, which means that too many
communities do not have access to outdoor recreational opportunities in
their own neighborhoods.
Access to outdoor space has real, documented benefits for public
health. That is why protecting these lands is so important.
In 2014, President Obama recognized the decades of grassroots support
for this goal and granted my request to designate the San Gabriel
Mountains National Monument. Immediately, this made available more
resources to the mountains that resulted in cleaner rivers, improved
facilities like picnic
[[Page H1062]]
areas and hiking trails, and more rangers to interact with visitors.
Most importantly, it brought the entire community together to develop a
management plan for the San Gabriel Mountains, with over 40 members
representing a variety of stakeholders, such as water agencies, local
governments, and the business community.
But we are still far from done. This same level of resources and
protection is needed across the San Gabriel Mountains and the
communities that serve as their gateway.
The legislation before us today would build on the success of the
National Monument designation by expanding the monument's boundaries to
include the western Angeles National Forest, establishing new and
expanded wilderness areas, and protecting more than 45 miles of
waterways as Wild and Scenic Rivers.
It would also establish the critical new San Gabriel Mountains
national recreation area to bolster the connection between urban and
wild spaces, helping communities in the foothills and along the river
corridor improve access to the mountains and offer new recreational
opportunities for Angelenos.
This bill represents the work of so many, and they have come together
for a plan that would complete the vision of a community seamlessly
connected to the beautiful wild lands of its backyard.
Today, we have an opportunity to realize that vision, and that is why
I urge support for H.R. 2546, the Protecting America's Wilderness Act.
Mr. FULCHER. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. McClintock).
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Madam Chair, when the Republicans were in the
majority, we set three overarching objectives for our Federal lands
policy: to restore public access to the public lands, to restore good
management to the public lands, and to restore the Federal Government
as a good neighbor to those communities impacted by the public lands.
This bill is the very opposite of these three policies.
The purpose of America's public lands was to set aside our most
beautiful tracts, in the words of the original Yosemite Charter, ``for
public use, resort, and recreation . . . for all time.''
The bill before us does exactly the opposite: It imposes severe
restrictions on the public's use of 2.5 million acres of their own
lands; 1.5 million acres would be put off limits to such innocent
things as mountain bikes and strollers; and it would remove roads to
reach campsites or even allow emergency equipment to access. It also
designates 843 additional miles of our rivers as wild and scenic.
Does anybody think that sounds good?
I can tell my colleagues that that designation on the Merced River in
my district has been used to close many traditional tourist amenities
at Yosemite Park, including swimming pools, raft and bike rentals,
horseback riding stables, and ice skating and lodging facilities.
``Public use, resort, and recreation'' becomes ``Look, but don't
touch.''
The health and vitality of our forests depends on active scientific
forest management. That means carefully tending our forests to protect
them from morbid overcrowding, which, in turn, makes them vulnerable to
disease, pestilence, drought, and, ultimately, catastrophic wildfire.
Excess timber comes out of the forest in one of two ways: It is
either burned out or it is carried out. This bill makes good forest
management impossible by forbidding our foresters from using their
science to protect and groom and care for our forests by assuring that
trees have room to grow strong.
Finally, this bill ignores and insults the communities directly
affected by this massive Federal land grab. In case after case, local
elected officials, local governments, local fire districts, and local
residents in the nearby communities have formally, vigorously, and
vocally protested the draconian restrictions imposed by this measure
because they imperil public safety from fire, and they do wanton harm
to the local economies.
This bill reverses the three objectives set by House Republicans:
Instead of restoring public access to public lands, the Democrats
restrict and deny it;
Instead of restoring good management to the public lands, the
Democrats forbid it;
Instead of restoring the Federal Government as a good neighbor to
those communities impacted by the public lands, the Democrats give
those communities the finger.
What Obama said about elections having consequences, here it is in
real life.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Napolitano).
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Chair, I thank Ms. DeGette for yielding.
I rise today in very strong support of H.R. 2215, the San Gabriel
Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, which is included in
H.R. 2546, and I associate my remarks with those of Ms. Chu, my
distinguished colleague.
As the representative of the San Gabriel foothills community, I am
very proud of our community members and local organizations that have
worked tirelessly on preserving and expanding the mountains for future
generations.
The San Gabriel Mountains, foothills, and river corridor attract
millions of visitors a year and provide some of the only outdoor
options for the open space-poor Los Angeles County.
H.R. 2215 expands the boundaries of the monument and allows the San
Gabriel Mountains, foothills, and river corridor to be eligible for
Federal funding to help clean, protect, and develop our beloved
mountain recreation areas.
The bill will improve recreation opportunities for millions of
families and bring much-needed resources to the communities that serve
as the gateway to the mountains, while respecting local rights. Water
agencies and communities from the area all agree this is a good thing.
As California has continued to be faced with drought, forest fires,
and the growing impacts of climate change, it is critical that we
support policies such as this that protect our environment.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
{time} 1300
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my friend from Idaho
for yielding.
The legislation before us today represents the same failed policies
that have caused recent fire seasons to be some of the worst on record.
Over 1.5 million acres of new wilderness is created by this bill.
Mr. Chairman, a wilderness designation is the most restrictive land
classification that can be levied by the Federal Government. Wilderness
designations such as these greatly hinder Federal and local agencies'
ability to actively manage our forests, which greatly enhances the risk
of catastrophic wildfires.
Just yesterday, I hosted a roundtable with stakeholders from across
the West representing local governments, State governments, animal
conservation groups, and private companies that are developing
groundbreaking technologies to help us fight the threat of catastrophic
fire. Every participant in the panel spoke to the importance of
actively managing our forests.
Wildfire prevention saves money, human lives, and protects vital
wildlife habitats. Passage of this bill puts all of that at risk.
This legislation also represents another attempt by the majority to
legislate in other Members' districts without their support. I
especially want to highlight the provisions in this bill dealing
particularly with Colorado.
The vast majority of the 700,000 acres of new wilderness created by
this bill in Colorado is located in Mr. Tipton's district and Mr.
Lamborn's district. Neither of these Members support this legislation.
This is a continuation of legislation previously taken up by this
House restricting mining in my district that I did not support and
attempts by the other side to restrict mining in northern Minnesota and
oil and gas development in ANWR completely against the wishes of local
Members of Congress as well as people back home.
Legislation like this before us today flies in the face of what
public lands legislation should be. It should be locally driven and
benefit those who live closest to those lands.
[[Page H1063]]
This legislation does none of that. Instead, it applies a top-down
approach to land management, with decrees being levied from Washington,
D.C., without the input of local stakeholders.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this disastrous
legislation.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Schiff).
Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Protecting
America's Wilderness Act.
This bill includes a number of worthy initiatives to expand and
protect our national heritage, and I am very pleased and grateful that
the legislation includes the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation
Act, a bill I have been working on for nearly 20 years.
The Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act would expand the
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the lands
known as the Rim of the Valley. This includes Simi Hills, Santa Susana
Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, part of Santa Clarita, San Gabriel
Mountain foothills, the Los Angeles River, and Griffith Park, all
important green spaces in the greater Los Angeles region, one of the
park-poorest regions in the country.
By expanding the national recreation area, the National Park Service
will have the authority to make capital improvements, like repairing
hiking trails and maintaining facilities for public enjoyment, studying
wildlife and its habitats, and participating in cooperative
conservation with local landowners. It will help ensure wildlife
corridors that allow Los Angelinos to experience lions, bears, and
other precious wildlife in their own backyard.
Protecting and embracing our national spaces is very important to me
personally. I come from a hiking family. My wife, Eve, and I love to go
on hiking trips with our friends or when we can steal away during the
summer, evening hikes through Griffith Park. From time to time, I like
to run alone in the Verdugos, with a little extra pace at certain
points, knowing that one of P-22's mountain lion friends might be
watching me from the tall grass.
Last week, I asked my constituents to send some reflections about
what the Rim of the Valley means to them, along with their favorite
pictures of the natural beauty of our region, and you can see just a
sampling of the beautiful vistas that they sent behind me.
I want to say, I think my constituent Donald from Sunland put it best
when he said: ``I appreciate how the calm beauty of undeveloped nature
replenishes my spirits. Everyone, including future generations, should
be able to access unspoiled nature.''
We owe it to ourselves and our children and grandchildren to
safeguard these treasures. The Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation
Act plays an important role in this effort.
I want to thank Chairman Grijalva and his staff for their work on
this legislation. I want to thank my colleague, Diana DeGette. I urge
all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2546.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to a completely
partisan bill in H.R. 2546, legislation that grows the reach of the
Federal Government and strong-arms local stakeholders.
To my colleagues in California and Colorado who are involuntarily
affected by this legislation, I stand with you.
Like them, I represent a vast district with significant Federal
lands. Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District is the size of West
Virginia. It features two national forests, a national park, a wild and
scenic river, and a wilderness area.
Like them, I have a colleague from an urban area in my State
legislating in my district, as if they know what is best for our
constituents and we don't.
About a month ago, a colleague representing part of the Twin Cities
area of Minneapolis-Saint Paul introduced a mineral withdrawal, putting
over 235,000 acres off-limits. In northern Minnesota, the Range
Association of Municipalities and Schools sharply rebuked this
legislation, as the bill promises to deprive schools of millions of
dollars in potential revenue.
In Colorado, H.R. 2546 is opposed by Mesa, Garfield, and Montezuma
Counties because of their concern about the impacts this expansion can
have on their rural communities.
What many in Washington, D.C., and Representatives of urban areas
fail to recognize is how much this bill affects the daily lives of
rural constituencies.
For example, this bill will disallow proper forest management. Why
not let our loggers clear the timber that leads to forest fires?
It will disallow recreational activities like mountain biking. Why
would we stop activities like that that help grow our local tourism
industries?
The National Guard Bureau is concerned about the high-altitude
training in this area. Why would we impede the readiness of our
military?
Mr. Chairman, the trend of rejecting the input of local Members of
Congress and local stakeholders is troubling. Whether it be in
California, Colorado, or my great State of Minnesota, all our
constituents ask for is to have a seat at the table and their voices
heard.
Please oppose this bill and send a message that locals affected by
Washington, D.C., legislation need to be heard.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), chairman of the committee.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Colorado for
the time and for her longstanding commitment to public land in her
State and throughout the Nation.
I also want to thank all of the sponsors from California to
Washington who have done tremendous work on the individual titles that
make up the package of bills before us today.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2546, Protecting America's
Wilderness Act.
Congress passed the Wilderness Act in 1964 in response to concerns
about population growth and increasing development. The reason for the
act is more pressing now than ever.
Since then, wilderness designations have served as a key tool for
protecting pristine places in their natural state for the benefit of
current and future generations of Americans.
This package truly embodies the spirit of the Wilderness Act,
something that is often dismissed by many of my colleagues across the
aisle. Each title was developed through a multiyear collaborative
process with diverse and locally driven coalitions that have
demonstrated that these places are worthy of protection as wilderness.
They provided abundant recreational opportunities to help support
local economies, teach visitors about our Nation's diverse heritage,
and allow people to find solitude and peace in nature.
They protect some of the last and best refuges for wildlife in the
face of a changing environment and play a vital role in safeguarding
the natural systems that our communities rely on.
As climate change increasingly impacts our natural world, designating
pristine landscapes as wilderness is one of the most important actions
Congress can take in response to the climate crisis.
This bill prioritizes the long-term conservation of large, connected
landscapes that provide clean air, clean water, critical wildlife
habitat, and intact natural systems that enhance community resiliency
to this climate crisis.
It reflects the heart of the Wilderness Act, reminding us of our
dependence on healthy, natural systems and our responsibility to ensure
a sustainable environment for future generations.
It is no surprise that the Trump administration would oppose these
designations, given the single-use mission of the Trump administration,
which is extraction and profit being the only option for our public
lands, while this legislation before us today represents and recognizes
that protection and conservation are public benefits for all Americans.
I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2546 and the package of
legislation before us, which will ensure that these wild places are
protected for the benefit of current and future generations.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Bishop).
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Chair, I appreciate having the ability to
speak
[[Page H1064]]
after Mr. Grijalva, my good friend from Arizona, so I can bring some
balance to the rhetoric that we are doing because somebody has to
realize that the ideas of conservation, recreation, and economic
development in the vast territories we have in the West are not
mutually exclusive. They never have been. They never need to be.
But the bill we have in front of us today is very unbalanced. It is
pretty ideological, and as Yogi Berra used to say: ``It's deja vu all
over again.''
This puts 1.5 million acres, as has been said, in new wilderness
designations and over 800 miles of wild and scenic rivers, which
destroys or shuts down all forest management activity in those
particular areas, including things like fuel reduction and wildfire
mitigation.
To put this in perspective for some of you, especially those in the
East, in the last 10 years, 7.3 million acres of our most restricted
public lands have been burned out. That is like burning the entire
State of Massachusetts, all of which was set in this kind of
restrictive area.
Now, what the majority wants to do, what the Democrats want to do, is
add more to that potential problem. It is unbalanced simply because
there is not a single Republican who has cosponsored any of these bills
in this package, including the two Colorado Republicans who are most
directly impacted by this package.
This puts critical military-readiness training at risk. This has
concerns for private property that have never been resolved in elements
of this package. It doesn't even address the local consensus.
This is a bill that the Senate will not pass, that the President has
already said he is going to reject.
Earlier in this session, as we began, we had a lands package that
came through. It was a consensus between Democrats and Republicans both
here and in the Senate. Many of these bills were not part of that
consensus land package, and for justifiable reasons, because they
haven't reached that consensus status.
It hasn't happened before, which means--you know, Earl Weaver once
came out and got thrown out of a game because he looked at the umpire
and said: Are you going to get better, or is this as good as it gets?
We are looking at the other side and saying: Are you going to get
better, or is this simply as good as it gets?
What we should be doing is realizing, instead of creating more
problem areas, we should be trying to solve the problem of the land we
already own. I am specifically talking about H.R. 1225, the Restore Our
Parks Act. We have a maintenance backlog in our parks that is huge and
a solution to it that actually works. Why are we not bringing that bill
to the floor instead of this bill, which is destined to fail?
We all talk a big game about how much we revere our national parks,
yet when we had the opportunity to do something about it with a bill
that has 330 sponsors and cosponsors, we have the chance of doing it,
we don't.
For some reason, the Democrats don't decide to bring that up on the
floor so it can move along. Instead, they bring packages up here that
create more wilderness, more problems, and more costs without having
solved any of the underlying problems with these packages, which is why
they weren't in the consensus bill we had at the beginning of the
session in the first place.
We can do better. We need to do better. We are wasting our time with
messaging bills that have no future when we have the opportunity to do
stuff that works.
I am calling on my friends on the other side: Put that bill on the
floor so we can vote for something that solves our problems and saves
our parks instead of these simply messaging bills that are dedicated to
having special interest groups being able to check off the box that you
did something for them. It is about time we did something that works.
{time} 1315
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I would just point out to the gentleman
that when we did the last land package none of these bills had been
brought up for a hearing by the then-majority, so the gentleman would
not have been too happy to have included them in that package.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr.
Neguse).
Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Chairman, I want to join my colleagues in support of
this important lands package which is not a messaging bill. It is a
bill that will protect endangered species, improve climate mitigation,
and support our Nation's growing outdoor recreation economy. Every
component of this bill certainly accomplishes those ends.
But, in particular, the Colorado Wilderness Act Title I provides
Federal protections to many of Colorado's most beautiful and treasured
lands, and that I can attest to as a Representative for Colorado's
Second Congressional District.
I am inspired by my colleague, Congresswoman DeGette's dedication and
her championing of this cause, having worked on this bill for the
better part of the last 20 years.
It is important that we protect these beautiful and treasured public
lands for generations to come. We have a strong tradition of protecting
public lands in my home State. As the Chair well knows, earlier this
year we passed the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act out of
the House, which is an important step in that regard.
I think at the end of the day we should be able to agree on the goal
of protecting public lands to ensure that they exist for future
generations, including for the generation of my daughter who is 18
months old now--a year-and-a-half-old, I should say--and I look forward
to being able to enjoy these incredible public lands with her over the
many coming years.
So at the end of the day this bill makes sense. It is worth fighting
for. Let's protect public lands, not just in Colorado but across the
country.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Protecting
America's Wilderness Act.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Chairman, it was alluded to once, but I want to underscore that
passage of this would add massive new burdens on Federal agencies. We
need to be using those resources to better manage what we have already
got as public land and public resources.
As a reminder, we are $2.3 billion in debt. What that means is the
Federal Government is way over its head. We can't afford to manage
land, and we can't afford to take care of it.
So guess what?
It doesn't do it. Then we all pay, typically, when things go on fire.
Mr. Chairman, in my State of Idaho, because of all that massive
amount of Federal land, we are really more like tenants than we are
landlords. But to make an analogy, our landlord can't afford to fix a
broken roof. That is what we have got with responsibility on these
government agencies unable to take care of these resources.
Mr. Chairman, you have heard testimony from my colleagues that many
of the local communities impacted have raised significant concerns
ranging from loss of access, recreation, elimination of constructive
and wise management, and threats to rural economies. In addition to the
concerns and opposition raised by local stakeholders and counties, some
of the provisions in the package are opposed by the actual Members who
represent the areas affected. It is troubling.
This effort is also funded in part by some special interest groups,
and they sometimes will call themselves environmentalists. To those
people, I just want to communicate: I live in this area. All too often
you don't. We are the real environmentalists because we take care of a
fabulous resource.
Public lands decisions should be made with local collaboration and
input. This set of bills does not do it. They have real consequences on
real people. Sound, proven, and scientific management are critical.
Mr. Chairman, God gave us a fabulous resource here, but he also gave
us a brain. We need to use our brain.
Now, I am not naive. I know my colleagues across the aisle have got
to vote for this thing. Part of that is that some people's DNA says
that wilderness is good and human involvement is bad.
I would just close by saying this: Facts are stubborn things. The
first fact is this set of bills is going nowhere.
[[Page H1065]]
The second fact is wise management--that is using our mind--is much
better than stagnating this resource.
Fact number three is when this stalls--and it will--those of us on
this side of the aisle and those of us who live in the West will still
be here asking for your cooperation in working with us.
Mr. Chairman, please don't let pride blind you. Work with us on
putting some intelligence and some wisdom into managing this resource.
Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record a Statement of Administration
Policy recommending a veto of this bill package.
Statement of Administration Policy
H.R. 2546--Protecting America's Wilderness Act--Rep. DeGette, D-CO, and
Rep. Neguse, D-CO
The Administration opposes H.R. 2546. This bill would
impose unnecessary and harmful restrictions on more than 2.5
million acres of land in Colorado, California, and Washington
State, including nearly 1.5 million acres in the form of
wilderness designations. These restrictions will greatly
reduce opportunities for multiple uses on these public lands,
limit access to them, and significantly reduce the available
productive acreage in working forests, rendering them more
prone to catastrophic wildfires.
The Administration has expanded access to America's public
lands; increased hunting, fishing, and recreational
opportunities nationwide; and enhanced conservation
stewardship of our vast natural resources. With regard to the
designation of wilderness on public lands, the Administration
generally supports congressional action to resolve wilderness
designation and Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) release issues,
particularly for WSAs that were established more than 30
years ago. Many WSAs were recommended for designation, while
others were recommended as not suitable, with suggestions
that they be returned to agency management to integrate their
other intrinsic values into surrounding land management
plans. The Administration recommends addressing these long
overdue WSA decisions before undertaking potential
designations of new areas that did not meet the criteria
established in the 1964 Wilderness Act when inventories were
completed many years ago.
The Administration strongly believes that before new or
potential wilderness areas or wild and scenic rivers are
designated, it is important to first ensure that such
designation is the most appropriate land management tool for
a given parcel. For this and other reasons, successful
conservation proposals that have incorporated this tool over
the last decade have been more limited in geographic scope
than this bill. It is important to ensure that designating
new wilderness areas on public lands does not unnecessarily
impede public access, limit outdoor recreational
opportunities, or conflict with pre-existing uses.
Unfortunately, a number of the proposals for wilderness
designations in H.R. 2546 fail to follow this successful
model.
While many recreational activities, such as hunting,
fishing, and hiking, are compatible with wilderness
designation, other activities, such as mountain biking and
off-highway vehicle use, are not. Some of the areas proposed
for wilderness designation in H.R. 2546 contain popular
motorized or mechanized recreation areas. In addition,
existing energy development poses inherent challenges for
wilderness designations, creating complex management issues
pertaining to active mining claims and oil and gas leases
within a designated wilderness area. The designations under
this bill could impede future energy and mineral development,
including development that is important to the economic and
national security of the United States.
The Administration is committed to managing public lands as
a good neighbor to the local communities and to the Americans
who live and work in close proximity to them. Engaging local
stakeholders and considering their on-the-ground expertise
are critical steps in making decisions about public lands
management, and local communities have concerns that many
aspects of H.R. 2546 would produce negative effects for their
citizens and their economies.
The Administration is willing to work with Congress to make
the necessary improvements to this bill if it is considered
further. If H.R. 2546 were presented to the President in its
current form, however, his advisors would recommend that he
veto it.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Brownley).
Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for
bringing this important public lands bill to the floor.
H.R. 2546 incorporates a bill I helped introduce along with
Representative Carbajal, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act.
The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act sets aside more than 40,000
acres in the Los Padres National Forest as wilderness. It also
designates the Condor Trail within Los Padres as a National Recreation
Trail. Both of these actions have long been priorities of my
constituents, and so I am pleased the House is taking action on them
today.
We in Ventura County are so fortunate to be surrounded by gorgeous
public spaces, including the Los Padres National Forest. Designating
these lands as wilderness will strengthen environmental protections in
our region and preserve this important part of our natural heritage for
future generations to enjoy.
Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman, again, for bringing this bill
forward.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
the State of Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend and colleague for
yielding.
Mr. Chairman, as someone who was born and raised on the Olympic
Peninsula, I know firsthand how special our region is and how our
public lands contribute to the fabric of who we are.
In our region we understand that protecting public lands isn't just
about saving these unforgettable places for future generations. It also
means protecting high quality jobs for the next generation as well.
As someone who worked in economic development professionally for over
a decade, I have seen how our natural resources contribute to our
economic vitality. Each year millions of people and families travel to
my State and contribute roughly $22 billion in economic impact and
support 200,000 jobs in Washington's outdoor economy. Our national
treasures have created opportunities for local entrepreneurs who have
started restaurants, guided tour companies, hotels, and other small
businesses.
That is why it makes sense to protect these special places, and it is
why I am proud the House is considering this comprehensive package
which includes my legislation, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act. This bill protects some of our environmentally
sensitive areas by establishing a new wilderness area to protect the
last remaining old-growth stands on the peninsula and designating 19
rivers and tributaries as wild and scenic rivers to protect critical
salmon spawning habitat.
This proposal has evolved through extensive public engagement with
Tribes, conservation groups, timber communities, business leaders,
shellfish growers, and everyone in between to create a bill that works
for our local communities.
It is because of that extensive public outreach that this bill is
formally now supported by more than 800 community leaders--Republicans,
Democrats, business owners, sportsmen, mayors, county commissioners,
and Tribal leaders--all of whom agree that this proposal moves our
region in the right direction.
In addition to protecting recreational access and supporting our
outdoor economy, this bill will also bolster our region's efforts to
protect sources of clean drinking water, support critical salmon and
steelhead habitat, and protect key waterways that are vital to our
shellfish industry.
But just as important as these things are the things this bill will
not do.
This proposal will not close, decommission, or otherwise restrict
access to any existing Forest Service roads or trailheads.
It will not impact any harvestable timber base in the Olympic
National Forest, and I am doing a whole bunch of work to actually
increase harvest through other avenues.
This bill will not affect any private property rights, and it will
not impact how the Washington Department of Natural Resources manages
State-owned land, which is why it has gained the endorsement of the
Washington Commissioner of Public Lands.
We know that our region's future depends on building a strong and
diversified economy. And after years of collaboration, I think this
bill we are considering today represents a clear win-win for the
communities I represent.
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the senior Senator from Washington,
Senator Murray, for her partnership on this effort, and I encourage my
colleagues to vote in favor of this important legislation.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
[[Page H1066]]
Mr. Chairman, wilderness is not owned by me, it is not owned by any
Member on the other side of the aisle, and it is not owned by any
Members of Congress. It is owned by the people. It is owned by the
people of this country and future generations of this country. That is
why we are the stewards of this wilderness.
These are Federal lands, and I have heard some of my colleagues on
the other side in this debate say: Well, some county commissioner
doesn't support it; some Member doesn't support it.
It doesn't matter. These Federal lands belong to the public. In fact,
last October in Colorado there was a poll done of the areas that are
impacted in my portion of the wilderness bill. This poll found that 71
percent of the people in the affected areas--the citizens, the people
who use this land for economic development and recreation--believe that
these wilderness study areas should be made permanent and that they
should be made into wilderness. That is whom I believe.
I want to tell you one more story, Mr. Chairman, and that is the
story about in August when I went down to Cortez, Colorado, near three
of the wilderness areas in my bill. One of the county commissioners,
Mr. Ertel, testified in Congress that he represents that area.
Do you know something?
In Cortez, Colorado, the city council and the mayor support the bill.
At a townhall meeting I had, there were 75 people. Sixty-five of them
raised their hands when I asked if they supported the bill. That is who
supports this bill, that is who this is for, and that is whom we need
to think about and listen to as we pass this legislation.
The areas in this bill all have strong wilderness characteristics,
and we owe it to our children, to our grandchildren, and to our great-
grandchildren to take bold action right now and preserve them.
I just want to take a minute and thank everybody who has been
involved with this bill: obviously, the chairman of the committee, Mr.
Grijalva, his staff, Chris Rackens, Brandon Bragato, Henry Wykowski,
Cameron Walkup, and Lily Wang; and my staff who have worked on this
bill for over 20 years now, Lisa Cohen, my Chief of Staff; Kaila Hood,
Matt Allen, Tom Woodburn, and Marc Rehmann, all of whom have worked
their guts out for this, as well as many other staffers past and
present.
Finally, I want to thank the citizens who brought this bill to me to
begin with and who continue to work their hearts out every day to
preserve our wild places; in particular, John Stansfield of Wild
Connections who can't be with us today, and Mark Pearson of San Juan
Wilderness--who the last time I saw him, he was sitting on a cliff high
up in one of my wilderness areas and is now sitting in the gallery
watching us pass this historic legislation.
It truly is a labor of love, and I look forward to telling my
grandchildren about this historic day.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Espaillat). All time for general debate has
expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the
5-minute rule.
In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by
the Committee on Natural Resources, printed in the bill, an amendment
in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee
Print 116-50, shall be considered as adopted.
The bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill for
the purpose of further amendment under the
5-minute rule and shall be considered as read.
The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:
H.R. 2546
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting
America's Wilderness Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--COLORADO WILDERNESS
Sec. 101. Short title; definition.
Sec. 102. Additions to National Wilderness Preservation System in the
State of Colorado.
Sec. 103. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 104. Water.
Sec. 105. Sense of Congress.
TITLE II--NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS, RECREATION, AND WORKING
FORESTS
Sec. 201. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Subtitle A--RESTORATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 211. South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area.
Sec. 212. Redwood National and State Parks restoration.
Sec. 213. California Public Lands Remediation Partnership.
Sec. 214. Trinity Lake visitor center.
Sec. 215. Del Norte County visitor center.
Sec. 216. Management plans.
Sec. 217. Study; partnerships related to overnight accommodations.
Subtitle B--RECREATION
Sec. 221. Horse Mountain Special Management Area.
Sec. 222. Bigfoot National Recreation Trail.
Sec. 223. Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail.
Sec. 224. Trinity Lake Trail.
Sec. 225. Trails study.
Sec. 226. Construction of mountain bicycling routes.
Sec. 227. Partnerships.
Subtitle C--CONSERVATION
Sec. 231. Designation of wilderness.
Sec. 232. Administration of wilderness.
Sec. 233. Designation of potential wilderness.
Sec. 234. Designation of wild and scenic rivers.
Sec. 235. Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area.
Subtitle D--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 241. Maps and legal descriptions.
Sec. 242. Updates to land and resource management plans.
Sec. 243. Pacific Gas and Electric Company Utility facilities and
rights-of-way.
TITLE III--CENTRAL COAST HERITAGE PROTECTION
Sec. 301. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 302. Definitions.
Sec. 303. Designation of wilderness.
Sec. 304. Designation of the Machesna Mountain Potential Wilderness.
Sec. 305. Administration of wilderness.
Sec. 306. Designation of Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Sec. 307. Designation of the Fox Mountain Potential Wilderness.
Sec. 308. Designation of scenic areas.
Sec. 309. Condor National Scenic Trail.
Sec. 310. Forest service study.
Sec. 311. Nonmotorized recreation opportunities.
Sec. 312. Use by members of Tribes.
TITLE IV--SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS FOOTHILLS AND RIVERS PROTECTION
Sec. 401. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 402. Definition of State.
Subtitle A--SAN GABRIEL NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Sec. 411. Purposes.
Sec. 412. Definitions.
Sec. 413. San Gabriel National Recreation Area.
Sec. 414. Management.
Sec. 415. Acquisition of non-Federal land within Recreation Area.
Sec. 416. Water rights; water resource facilities; public roads;
utility facilities.
Sec. 417. San Gabriel National Recreation Area Public Advisory Council.
Sec. 418. San Gabriel National Recreation Area Partnership.
Sec. 419. Visitor services and facilities.
Subtitle B--SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS
Sec. 421. Definitions.
Sec. 422. National monument boundary modification.
Sec. 423. Designation of Wilderness Areas and Additions.
Sec. 424. Administration of Wilderness Areas and Additions.
Sec. 425. Designation of Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Sec. 426. Water rights.
TITLE V--RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR PRESERVATION
Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Boundary adjustment; land acquisition; administration.
TITLE VI--WILD OLYMPICS WILDERNESS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS
Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Designation of olympic national forest wilderness areas.
Sec. 603. Wild and scenic river designations.
Sec. 604. Existing rights and withdrawal.
Sec. 605. Treaty rights.
TITLE VII--PAYGO
Sec. 701. Determination of Budgetary Effects.
TITLE I--COLORADO WILDERNESS
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITION.
(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Colorado
Wilderness Act of 2020''.
(b) Secretary Defined.--As used in this title, the term
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior or the
Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.
SEC. 102. ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION
SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF COLORADO.
(a) Additions.--Section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act
of 1993 (Public Law 103-77; 107 Stat. 756; 16 U.S.C. 1132
note) is amended by adding at the end the following
paragraphs:
``(23) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 316 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Maroon Bells Addition Proposed Wilderness',
[[Page H1067]]
dated July 20, 2018, which is hereby incorporated in and
shall be deemed to be a part of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass
Wilderness Area designated by Public Law 88-577.
``(24) Certain lands managed by the Gunnison Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 38,217 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Redcloud & Handies Peak Proposed Wilderness', dated
October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Redcloud Peak
Wilderness.
``(25) Certain lands managed by the Gunnison Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Grand
Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, which
comprise approximately 26,734 acres, as generally depicted on
a map titled `Redcloud & Handies Peak Proposed Wilderness',
dated October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Handies
Peak Wilderness.
``(26) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 16,481 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Table Mountain & McIntyre Hills Proposed Wilderness',
dated November 7, 2019, which shall be known as the McIntyre
Hills Wilderness.
``(27) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 10,282 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Grand Hogback Proposed Wilderness', dated October 16,
2019, which shall be known as the Grand Hogback Wilderness.
``(28) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 25,624 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Demaree Canyon Proposed Wilderness', dated October 9,
2019, which shall be known as the Demaree Canyon Wilderness.
``(29) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 28,279 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Little Books Cliff Proposed Wilderness', dated
October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Little
Bookcliffs Wilderness.
``(30) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 14,886 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Bull Gulch & Castle Peak Proposed Wilderness', dated
January 29, 2020, which shall be known as the Bull Gulch
Wilderness.
``(31) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 12,016 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled `Bull Gulch & Castle Peak Proposed Wilderness Areas',
dated January 29, 2020, which shall be known as the Castle
Peak Wilderness.''.
(b) Further Additions.--The following lands in the State of
Colorado administered by the Bureau of Land Management or the
United States Forest Service are hereby designated as
wilderness and, therefore, as components of the National
Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management or located in
the White River National Forest, which comprise approximately
19,240 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled
``Assignation Ridge Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 12,
2019, which shall be known as the Assignation Ridge
Wilderness.
(2) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Pike and
San Isabel National Forests, which comprise approximately
23,116 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Badger
Creek Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which
shall be known as the Badger Creek Wilderness.
(3) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Pike and
San Isabel National Forests, which comprise approximately
35,251 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Beaver
Creek Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which
shall be known as the Beaver Creek Wilderness.
(4) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management or the Bureau of Reclamation
or located in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests, which
comprise approximately 32,884 acres, as generally depicted on
a map titled ``Grape Creek Proposed Wilderness'', dated
November 7, 2019, which shall be known as the Grape Creek
Wilderness.
(5) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 13,351 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``North & South Bangs Canyon Proposed Wilderness'',
dated October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the North
Bangs Canyon Wilderness.
(6) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 5,144 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``North & South Bangs Canyon Proposed Wilderness'',
dated October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the South
Bangs Canyon Wilderness.
(7) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 26,624 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``Unaweep & Palisade Proposed Wilderness'', dated
October 9, 2019, which shall be known as The Palisade
Wilderness.
(8) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the
Grand Mesa, Uncompaghre, and Gunnison National Forests, which
comprise approximately 19,776 acres, as generally depicted on
a map titled ``Unaweep & Palisade Proposed Wilderness'',
dated October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Unaweep
Wilderness.
(9) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management and Uncompaghre Field
Office of the Bureau of Land Management and in the Manti-
LaSal National Forest, which comprise approximately 37,637
acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Sewemup Mesa
Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which shall be
known as the Sewemup Mesa Wilderness.
(10) Certain lands managed by the Kremmling Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately
31 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Platte
River Addition Proposed Wilderness'', dated July 20, 2018,
and which are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to
be part of the Platte River Wilderness designated by Public
Law 98-550.
(11) Certain lands managed by the Uncompahgre Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 17,587 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``Roubideau Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9,
2019, which shall be known as the Roubideau Wilderness.
(12) Certain lands managed by the Uncompahgre Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Grand
Mesa, Uncompaghre, and Gunnison National Forests, which
comprise approximately 12,102 acres, as generally depicted on
a map titled ``Norwood Canyon Proposed Wilderness'', dated
November 7, 2019, which shall be known as the Norwood Canyon
Wilderness.
(13) Certain lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately
24,475 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Cross
Canyon Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which
shall be known as the Cross Canyon Wilderness.
(14) Certain lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately
21,220 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``McKenna
Peak Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 16, 2019, which
shall be known as the McKenna Peak Wilderness.
(15) Certain lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately
14,270 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Weber-
Menefee Mountain Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9,
2019, which shall be known as the Weber-Menefee Mountain
Wilderness.
(16) Certain lands managed by the Uncompahgre and Tres Rios
Field Offices of the Bureau of Land Management or the Bureau
of Reclamation, which comprise approximately 33,351 acres, as
generally depicted on a map titled ``Dolores River Canyon
Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which shall be
known as the Dolores River Canyon Wilderness.
(17) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Pike and
San Isabel National Forests, which comprise approximately
17,922 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Browns
Canyon Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which
shall be known as the Browns Canyon Wilderness.
(18) Certain lands managed by the San Luis Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately
10,527 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``San
Luis Hills Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019 which
shall be known as the San Luis Hills Wilderness.
(19) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 23,559 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``Table Mountain & McIntyre Hills Proposed
Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which shall be known as
the Table Mountain Wilderness.
(c) West Elk Addition.--Certain lands in the State of
Colorado administered by the Gunnison Field Office of the
Bureau of Land Management, the United States National Park
Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation, which comprise
approximately 6,695 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``West Elk Addition Proposed Wilderness'', dated
October 9, 2019, are hereby designated as wilderness and,
therefore, as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System and are hereby incorporated in and shall
be deemed to be a part of the West Elk Wilderness designated
by Public Law 88-577. The boundary adjacent to Blue Mesa
Reservoir shall be 50 feet landward from the water's edge,
and shall change according to the water level.
(d) Blue Mesa Reservoir.--If the Bureau of Reclamation
determines that lands within the West Elk Wilderness Addition
are necessary for future expansion of the Blue Mesa
Reservoir, the Secretary shall by publication of a revised
boundary description in the Federal Register revise the
boundary of the West Elk Wilderness Addition.
(e) Maps and Descriptions.--As soon as practicable after
the date of enactment of the Act, the Secretary shall file a
map and a boundary description of each area designated as
wilderness by this section with the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. Each map and
boundary description shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, except that the Secretary may
correct clerical and typographical errors in the map or
boundary description. The maps and boundary descriptions
shall be on file and available for public inspection in the
Office of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management,
Department of the Interior, and in the Office of the Chief of
the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, as
appropriate.
(f) State and Private Lands.--Lands within the exterior
boundaries of any wilderness area designated under this
section that are owned by a private entity or by the State of
Colorado, including lands administered by the Colorado
[[Page H1068]]
State Land Board, shall be included within such wilderness
area if such lands are acquired by the United States. Such
lands may be acquired by the United States only as provided
in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
SEC. 103. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, lands
designated as wilderness by this title shall be managed by
the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this title, except that, with
respect to any wilderness areas designated by this title, any
reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of the
Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date
of enactment of this Act.
(b) Grazing.--Grazing of livestock in wilderness areas
designated by this title shall be administered in accordance
with the provisions of section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act
(16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), as further interpreted by section 108
of Public Law 96-560, and the guidelines set forth in
appendix A of House Report 101-405 of the 101st Congress.
(c) State Jurisdiction.--As provided in section 4(d)(7) of
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this
title shall be construed as affecting the jurisdiction or
responsibilities of the State of Colorado with respect to
wildlife and fish in Colorado.
(d) Buffer Zones.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this title creates a protective
perimeter or buffer zone around any area designated as
wilderness by this title.
(2) Activities outside wilderness.--The fact that an
activity or use on land outside the areas designated as
wilderness by this title can be seen or heard within the
wilderness shall not preclude the activity or use outside the
boundary of the wilderness.
(e) Military Helicopter Overflights and Operations.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this title restricts or
precludes--
(A) low-level overflights of military helicopters over the
areas designated as wilderness by this title, including
military overflights that can be seen or heard within any
wilderness area;
(B) military flight testing and evaluation;
(C) the designation or creation of new units of special use
airspace, or the establishment of military flight training
routes over any wilderness area; or
(D) helicopter operations at designated landing zones
within the potential wilderness areas established by
subsection (i)(1).
(2) Aerial navigation training exercises.--The Colorado
Army National Guard, through the High-Altitude Army National
Guard Aviation Training Site, may conduct aerial navigation
training maneuver exercises over, and associated operations
within, the potential wilderness areas designated by this
title--
(A) in a manner and degree consistent with the memorandum
of understanding dated August 4, 1987, entered into among the
Colorado Army National Guard, the Bureau of Land Management,
and the Forest Service; or
(B) in a manner consistent with any subsequent memorandum
of understanding entered into among the Colorado Army
National Guard, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest
Service.
(f) Running Events.--The Secretary may continue to
authorize competitive running events currently permitted in
the Redcloud Peak Wilderness Area and Handies Peak Wilderness
Area in a manner compatible with the preservation of such
areas as wilderness.
(g) Land Trades.--If the Secretary trades privately owned
land within the perimeter of the Redcloud Peak Wilderness
Area or the Handies Peak Wilderness Area in exchange for
Federal land, then such Federal land shall be located in
Hinsdale County, Colorado.
(h) Recreational Climbing.--Nothing in this title prohibits
recreational rock climbing activities in the wilderness
areas, such as the placement, use, and maintenance of fixed
anchors, including any fixed anchor established before the
date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131
et seq.); and
(2) subject to any terms and conditions determined to be
necessary by the Secretary.
(i) Potential Wilderness Designations.--
(1) In general.--The following lands are designated as
potential wilderness areas:
(A) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 7,376 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``Pisgah East & West Proposed Wilderness'' and dated
October 16, 2019, which, upon designation as wilderness under
paragraph (2), shall be known as the Pisgah East Wilderness.
(B) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise
approximately 6,828 acres, as generally depicted on a map
titled ``Pisgah East & West Proposed Wilderness'' and dated
October 16, 2019, which, upon designation as wilderness under
paragraph (2), shall be known as the Pisgah West Wilderness.
(C) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management or located in
the White River National Forest, which comprise approximately
16,101 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Flat
Tops Proposed Wilderness Addition'', dated October 9, 2019,
and which, upon designation as wilderness under paragraph
(2), shall be incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a
part of the Flat Tops Wilderness designated by Public Law 94-
146.
(2) Designation as wilderness.--Lands designated as a
potential wilderness area by subparagraphs (A) through (C) of
paragraph (1) shall be designated as wilderness on the date
on which the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register a
notice that all nonconforming uses of those lands authorized
by subsection (e) in the potential wilderness area that would
be in violation of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.) have ceased. Such publication in the Federal Register
and designation as wilderness shall occur for the potential
wilderness area as the nonconforming uses cease in that
potential wilderness area and designation as wilderness is
not dependent on cessation of nonconforming uses in the other
potential wilderness area.
(3) Management.--Except for activities provided for under
subsection (e), lands designated as a potential wilderness
area by paragraph (1) shall be managed by the Secretary in
accordance with the Wilderness Act as wilderness pending the
designation of such lands as wilderness under this
subsection.
SEC. 104. WATER.
(a) Effect on Water Rights.--Nothing in this title--
(1) affects the use or allocation, in existence on the date
of enactment of this Act, of any water, water right, or
interest in water;
(2) affects any vested absolute or decreed conditional
water right in existence on the date of enactment of this
Act, including any water right held by the United States;
(3) affects any interstate water compact in existence on
the date of enactment of this Act;
(4) authorizes or imposes any new reserved Federal water
rights; and
(5) shall be considered to be a relinquishment or reduction
of any water rights reserved or appropriated by the United
States in the State of Colorado on or before the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(b) Midstream Areas.--
(1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to protect
for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future
generations--
(A) the unique and nationally important values of areas
designated as wilderness by section 102(b) (including the
geological, cultural, archaeological, paleontological,
natural, scientific, recreational, environmental, biological,
wilderness, wildlife, riparian, historical, educational, and
scenic resources of the public land); and
(B) the water resources of area streams, based on
seasonally available flows, that are necessary to support
aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species and communities.
(2) Wilderness water rights.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that any water
rights within the wilderness designated by section 102(b)
required to fulfill the purposes of such wilderness are
secured in accordance with subparagraphs (B) through (G).
(B) State law.--
(i) Procedural requirements.--Any water rights for which
the Secretary pursues adjudication shall be appropriated,
adjudicated, changed, and administered in accordance with the
procedural requirements and priority system of State law.
(ii) Establishment of water rights.--
(I) In general.--Except as provided in subclause (II), the
purposes and other substantive characteristics of the water
rights pursued under this paragraph shall be established in
accordance with State law.
(II) Exception.--Notwithstanding subclause (I) and in
accordance with this title, the Secretary may appropriate and
seek adjudication of water rights to maintain surface water
levels and stream flows on and across the wilderness
designated by section 102(b) to fulfill the purposes of such
wilderness.
(C) Deadline.--The Secretary shall promptly, but not
earlier than January 1, 2021, appropriate the water rights
required to fulfill the purposes of the wilderness designated
by section 102(b).
(D) Required determination.--The Secretary shall not pursue
adjudication for any instream flow water rights unless the
Secretary makes a determination pursuant to subparagraph
(E)(ii) or (F).
(E) Cooperative enforcement.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall not pursue
adjudication of any Federal instream flow water rights
established under this paragraph if--
(I) the Secretary determines, upon adjudication of the
water rights by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, that
the Board holds water rights sufficient in priority, amount,
and timing to fulfill the purposes of this subsection; and
(II) the Secretary has entered into a perpetual agreement
with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to ensure full
exercise, protection, and enforcement of the State water
rights within the wilderness to reliably fulfill the purposes
of this subsection.
(ii) Adjudication.--If the Secretary determines that the
provisions of clause (i) have not been met, the Secretary
shall adjudicate and exercise any Federal water rights
required to fulfill the purposes of the wilderness in
accordance with this paragraph.
(F) Insufficient water rights.--If the Colorado Water
Conservation Board modifies the instream flow water rights
obtained under subparagraph (E) to such a degree that the
Secretary determines that water rights held by the State are
insufficient to fulfill the purposes of this title, the
Secretary shall adjudicate and exercise Federal water rights
required to fulfill the purposes of this title in accordance
with subparagraph (B).
(G) Failure to comply.--The Secretary shall promptly act to
exercise and enforce the water rights described in
subparagraph (E) if the Secretary determines that--
(i) the State is not exercising its water rights consistent
with subparagraph (E)(i)(I); or
(ii) the agreement described in subparagraph (E)(i)(II) is
not fulfilled or complied with sufficiently to fulfill the
purposes of this title.
(3) Water resource facility.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, beginning
[[Page H1069]]
on the date of enactment of this title, neither the President
nor any other officer, employee, or agent of the United
States shall fund, assist, authorize, or issue a license or
permit for development of any new irrigation and pumping
facility, reservoir, water conservation work, aqueduct,
canal, ditch, pipeline, well, hydropower project,
transmission, other ancillary facility, or other water,
diversion, storage, or carriage structure in the wilderness
designated by section 102(b).
(c) Access and Operation.--
(1) Definition.--As used in this subsection, the term
``water resource facility'' means irrigation and pumping
facilities, reservoirs, water conservation works, aqueducts,
canals, ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects,
transmission and other ancillary facilities, and other water
diversion, storage, and carriage structures.
(2) Access to water resource facilities.--Subject to the
provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall allow
reasonable access to water resource facilities in existence
on the date of enactment of this Act within the areas
described in sections 102(b) and 102(c), including motorized
access where necessary and customarily employed on routes
existing as of the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) Access routes.--Existing access routes within such
areas customarily employed as of the date of enactment of
this Act may be used, maintained, repaired, and replaced to
the extent necessary to maintain their present function,
design, and serviceable operation, so long as such activities
have no increased adverse impacts on the resources and values
of the areas described in sections 102(b) and 102(c) than
existed as of the date of enactment of this Act.
(4) Use of water resource facilities.--Subject to the
provisions of this subsection and subsection (a)(4), the
Secretary shall allow water resource facilities existing on
the date of enactment of this Act within areas described in
sections 102(b) and 102(c) to be used, operated, maintained,
repaired, and replaced to the extent necessary for the
continued exercise, in accordance with Colorado State law, of
vested water rights adjudicated for use in connection with
such facilities by a court of competent jurisdiction prior to
the date of enactment of this Act. The impact of an existing
facility on the water resources and values of the area shall
not be increased as a result of changes in the adjudicated
type of use of such facility as of the date of enactment of
this Act.
(5) Repair and maintenance.--Water resource facilities, and
access routes serving such facilities, existing within the
areas described in sections 102(b) and 102(c) on the date of
enactment of this Act shall be maintained and repaired when
and to the extent necessary to prevent increased adverse
impacts on the resources and values of the areas described in
sections 102(b) and 102(c).
SEC. 105. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that military aviation training
on Federal public lands in Colorado, including the training
conducted at the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation
Training Site, is critical to the national security of the
United States and the readiness of the Armed Forces.
TITLE II--NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS, RECREATION, AND WORKING
FORESTS
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
This title may be cited as the ``Northwest California
Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act''.
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means--
(A) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(B) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
California.
Subtitle A--RESTORATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 211. SOUTH FORK TRINITY-MAD RIVER RESTORATION AREA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Collaboratively developed.--The term ``collaboratively
developed'' means projects that are developed and implemented
through a collaborative process that--
(A) includes--
(i) appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies; and
(ii) multiple interested persons representing diverse
interests; and
(B) is transparent and nonexclusive.
(2) Plantation.--The term ``plantation'' means a forested
area that has been artificially established by planting or
seeding.
(3) Restoration.--The term ``restoration'' means the
process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has
been degraded, damaged, or destroyed by establishing the
composition, structure, pattern, and ecological processes
necessary to facilitate terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem
sustainability, resilience, and health under current and
future conditions.
(4) Restoration area.--The term ``restoration area'' means
the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area,
established by subsection (b).
(5) Shaded fuel break.--The term ``shaded fuel break''
means a vegetation treatment that effectively addresses all
project-generated slash and that retains: adequate canopy
cover to suppress plant regrowth in the forest understory
following treatment; the longest lived trees that provide the
most shade over the longest period of time; the healthiest
and most vigorous trees with the greatest potential for
crown-growth in plantations and in natural stands adjacent to
plantations; and all mature hardwoods, when practicable.
(6) Stewardship contract.--The term ``stewardship
contract'' means an agreement or contract entered into under
section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
(16 U.S.C. 6591c).
(7) Wildland-urban interface.--The term ``wildland-urban
interface'' has the meaning given the term by section 101 of
the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).
(b) Establishment.--Subject to valid existing rights, there
is established the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration
Area, comprising approximately 729,089 acres of Federal land
administered by the Forest Service and approximately 1,280
acres of Federal land administered by the Bureau of Land
Management, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``South
Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area--Proposed'' and dated
July 3, 2018, to be known as the South Fork Trinity-Mad River
Restoration Area.
(c) Purposes.--The purposes of the restoration area are
to--
(1) establish, restore, and maintain fire-resilient forest
structures containing late successional forest structure
characterized by large trees and multistoried canopies, as
ecologically appropriate;
(2) protect late successional reserves;
(3) enhance the restoration of Federal lands within the
restoration area;
(4) reduce the threat posed by wildfires to communities
within the restoration area;
(5) protect and restore aquatic habitat and anadromous
fisheries;
(6) protect the quality of water within the restoration
area; and
(7) allow visitors to enjoy the scenic, recreational,
natural, cultural, and wildlife values of the restoration
area.
(d) Management.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the restoration
area--
(A) in a manner consistent with the purposes described in
subsection (c);
(B) in a manner that--
(i) in the case of the Forest Service, prioritizes
restoration of the restoration area over other nonemergency
vegetation management projects on the portions of the Six
Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests in Humboldt and
Trinity Counties; and
(ii) in the case of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, establishes with the Forest Service an agreement for
cooperation to ensure timely completion of consultation
required by section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (15
U.S.C. 1536) on restoration projects within the restoration
area and agreement to maintain and exchange information on
planning schedules and priorities on a regular basis;
(C) in accordance with--
(i) the laws (including regulations) and rules applicable
to the National Forest System for land managed by the Forest
Service;
(ii) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) for land managed by the Bureau of Land
Management;
(iii) this title; and
(iv) any other applicable law (including regulations); and
(D) in a manner consistent with congressional intent that
consultation for restoration projects within the restoration
area is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
(2) Conflict of laws.--
(A) In general.--The establishment of the restoration area
shall not change the management status of any land or water
that is designated wilderness or as a wild and scenic river,
including lands and waters designated by this title.
(B) Resolution of conflict.--If there is a conflict between
the laws applicable to the areas described in subparagraph
(A) and this section, the more restrictive provision shall
control.
(3) Uses.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall only allow uses of the
restoration area that the Secretary determines would further
the purposes described in subsection (c).
(B) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize restoration
activities within the restoration area.
(C) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall limit the
Secretary's ability to plan, approve, or prioritize
activities outside of the restoration area.
(4) Wildland fire.--
(A) In general.--Nothing in this section prohibits the
Secretary, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and
local agencies, as appropriate, from conducting wildland fire
operations in the restoration area, consistent with the
purposes of this section.
(B) Priority.--The Secretary may use prescribed burning and
managed wildland fire to the fullest extent practicable to
achieve the purposes of this section.
(5) Road decommissioning.--
(A) In general.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary
shall decommission unneeded National Forest System roads
identified for decommissioning and unauthorized roads
identified for decommissioning within the restoration area--
(i) subject to appropriations;
(ii) consistent with the analysis required by subparts A
and B of part 212 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations;
and
(iii) in accordance with existing law.
(B) Additional requirement.--In making determinations
regarding road decommissioning under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall consult with--
(i) appropriate State, Tribal, and local governmental
entities; and
(ii) members of the public.
[[Page H1070]]
(C) Definition.--As used in subparagraph (A), the term
``decommission'' means--
(i) to reestablish vegetation on a road; and
(ii) to restore any natural drainage, watershed function,
or other ecological processes that are disrupted or adversely
impacted by the road by removing or hydrologically
disconnecting the road prism.
(6) Vegetation management.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B), (C), and
(D), the Secretary may conduct vegetation management projects
in the restoration area only where necessary to--
(i) maintain or restore the characteristics of ecosystem
composition and structure;
(ii) reduce wildfire risk to communities by promoting
forests that are fire resilient;
(iii) improve the habitat of threatened, endangered, or
sensitive species;
(iv) protect or improve water quality; or
(v) enhance the restoration of lands within the restoration
area.
(B) Additional requirements.--
(i) Shaded fuel breaks.--In carrying out subparagraph (A),
the Secretary shall prioritize, as practicable, the
establishment of a network of shaded fuel breaks within--
(I) the portions of the wildland-urban interface that are
within 150 feet from private property contiguous to Federal
land;
(II) one hundred and fifty feet from any road that is open
to motorized vehicles as of the date of enactment of this
Act--
(aa) except that, where topography or other conditions
require, the Secretary may establish shaded fuel breaks up to
275 feet from a road so long as the combined total width of
the shaded fuel breaks for both sides of the road does not
exceed 300 feet; and
(bb) provided that the Secretary shall include vegetation
treatments within a minimum of 25 feet of the road where
practicable, feasible, and appropriate as part of any shaded
fuel break; or
(III) one hundred and fifty feet of any plantation.
(ii) Plantations; riparian reserves.--The Secretary may
undertake vegetation management projects--
(I) in areas within the restoration area in which fish and
wildlife habitat is significantly compromised as a result of
past management practices (including plantations); and
(II) within designated riparian reserves only where
necessary to maintain the integrity of fuel breaks and to
enhance fire resilience.
(C) Compliance.--The Secretary shall carry out vegetation
management projects within the restoration area--
(i) in accordance with--
(I) this section; and
(II) existing law (including regulations);
(ii) after providing an opportunity for public comment; and
(iii) subject to appropriations.
(D) Best available science.--The Secretary shall use the
best available science in planning and implementing
vegetation management projects within the restoration area.
(7) Grazing.--
(A) Existing grazing.--The grazing of livestock in the
restoration area, where established before the date of
enactment of this Act, shall be permitted to continue--
(i) subject to--
(I) such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as
the Secretary considers necessary; and
(II) applicable law (including regulations); and
(ii) in a manner consistent with the purposes described in
subsection (c).
(B) Targeted new grazing.--The Secretary may issue annual
targeted grazing permits for the grazing of livestock in the
restoration area, where not established before the date of
the enactment of this Act, to control noxious weeds, aid in
the control of wildfire within the wildland-urban interface,
or to provide other ecological benefits subject to--
(i) such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as
the Secretary considers necessary; and
(ii) a manner consistent with the purposes described in
subsection (c).
(C) Best available science.--The Secretary shall use the
best available science when determining whether to issue
targeted grazing permits within the restoration area.
(e) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
restoration area is withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and
geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
(f) Use of Stewardship Contracts.--To the maximum extent
practicable, the Secretary shall--
(1) use stewardship contracts to implement this section;
and
(2) use revenue derived from such stewardship contracts for
restoration and other activities within the restoration area
which shall include staff and administrative costs to support
timely consultation activities for restoration projects.
(g) Collaboration.--In developing and implementing
restoration projects in the restoration area, the Secretary
shall consult with collaborative groups with an interest in
the restoration area.
(h) Environmental Review.--A collaboratively developed
restoration project within the restoration area may be
carried out in accordance with the provisions for hazardous
fuel reduction projects set forth in sections 214, 215, and
216 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.
6514-6516), as applicable.
(i) Multiparty Monitoring.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall--
(1) in collaboration with the Secretary of the Interior and
interested persons, use a multiparty monitoring, evaluation,
and accountability process to assess the positive or negative
ecological, social, and economic effects of restoration
projects within the restoration area; and
(2) incorporate the monitoring results into the management
of the restoration area.
(j) Funding.--The Secretary shall use all existing
authorities to secure as much funding as necessary to fulfill
the purposes of the restoration area.
(k) Forest Residues Utilization.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with applicable law,
including regulations, and this section, the Secretary may
utilize forest residues from restoration projects, including
shaded fuel breaks, in the restoration area for research and
development of biobased products that result in net carbon
sequestration.
(2) Partnerships.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary may enter into partnerships with universities,
nongovernmental organizations, industry, Tribes, and Federal,
State, and local governmental agencies.
SEC. 212. REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS RESTORATION.
(a) Partnership Agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior
is authorized to undertake initiatives to restore degraded
redwood forest ecosystems in Redwood National and State Parks
in partnership with the State of California, local agencies,
and nongovernmental organizations.
(b) Compliance.--In carrying out any initiative authorized
by subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall comply
with all applicable law.
SEC. 213. CALIFORNIA PUBLIC LANDS REMEDIATION PARTNERSHIP.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Partnership.--The term ``partnership'' means the
California Public Lands Remediation Partnership, established
by subsection (b).
(2) Priority lands.--The term ``priority lands'' means
Federal land within the State that is determined by the
partnership to be a high priority for remediation.
(3) Remediation.--The term ``remediation'' means to
facilitate the recovery of lands and waters that have been
degraded, damaged, or destroyed by illegal marijuana
cultivation or another illegal activity. Remediation includes
but is not limited to removal of trash, debris, and other
material, and establishing the composition, structure,
pattern, and ecological processes necessary to facilitate
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem sustainability, resilience,
and health under current and future conditions.
(b) Establishment.--There is hereby established a
California Public Lands Remediation Partnership.
(c) Purposes.--The purposes of the partnership are to--
(1) coordinate the activities of Federal, State, Tribal,
and local authorities, and the private sector, in the
remediation of priority lands in the State affected by
illegal marijuana cultivation or other illegal activities;
and
(2) use the resources and expertise of each agency,
authority, or entity in implementing remediation activities
on priority lands in the State.
(d) Membership.--The members of the partnership shall
include the following:
(1) The Secretary of Agriculture, or a designee of the
Secretary of Agriculture to represent the Forest Service.
(2) The Secretary of the Interior, or a designee of the
Secretary of the Interior, to represent the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and
National Park Service.
(3) The Director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, or a designee of the Director.
(4) The Secretary of the State Natural Resources Agency, or
a designee of the Secretary, to represent the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(5) A designee of the California State Water Resources
Control Board.
(6) A designee of the California State Sheriffs'
Association.
(7) One member to represent federally recognized Indian
Tribes, to be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(8) One member to represent nongovernmental organizations
with an interest in Federal land remediation, to be appointed
by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(9) One member to represent local governmental interests,
to be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(10) A law enforcement official from each of the following:
(A) The Department of the Interior.
(B) The Department of Agriculture.
(11) A scientist to provide expertise and advise on methods
needed for remediation efforts, to be appointed by the
Secretary of Agriculture.
(12) A designee of the National Guard Counter Drug Program.
(e) Duties.--To further the purposes of this section, the
partnership shall--
(1) identify priority lands for remediation in the State;
(2) secure resources from Federal and non-Federal sources
to apply to remediation of priority lands in the State;
(3) support efforts by Federal, State, Tribal, and local
agencies, and nongovernmental organizations in carrying out
remediation of priority lands in the State;
(4) support research and education on the impacts of, and
solutions to, illegal marijuana cultivation and other illegal
activities on priority lands in the State;
(5) involve other Federal, State, Tribal, and local
agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public in
remediation efforts, to the extent practicable; and
(6) take any other administrative or advisory actions as
necessary to address remediation of priority lands in the
State.
[[Page H1071]]
(f) Authorities.--To implement this section, the
partnership may, subject to the prior approval of the
Secretary of Agriculture--
(1) make grants to the State, political subdivisions of the
State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;
(2) enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide
grants or technical assistance to, the State, political
subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, Federal
agencies, and other interested parties;
(3) hire and compensate staff;
(4) obtain funds or services from any source, including
Federal and non-Federal funds, and funds and services
provided under any other Federal law or program;
(5) contract for goods or services; and
(6) support activities of partners and any other activities
that further the purposes of this section.
(g) Procedures.--The partnership shall establish such rules
and procedures as it deems necessary or desirable.
(h) Local Hiring.--The partnership shall, to the maximum
extent practicable and in accordance with existing law, give
preference to local entities and persons when carrying out
this section.
(i) Service Without Compensation.--Members of the
partnership shall serve without pay.
(j) Duties and Authorities of the Secretary of
Agriculture.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall convene
the partnership on a regular basis to carry out this section.
(2) Technical and financial assistance.--The Secretary of
Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior may provide
technical and financial assistance, on a reimbursable or
nonreimbursable basis, as determined by the appropriate
Secretary, to the partnership or any members of the
partnership to carry out this title.
(3) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary of Agriculture
and Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative
agreements with the partnership, any members of the
partnership, or other public or private entities to provide
technical, financial, or other assistance to carry out this
title.
SEC. 214. TRINITY LAKE VISITOR CENTER.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service, may establish, in
cooperation with any other public or private entities that
the Secretary may determine to be appropriate, a visitor
center in Weaverville, California--
(1) to serve visitors; and
(2) to assist in fulfilling the purposes of the
Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area.
(b) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
visitor center authorized under subsection (a) is designed to
interpret the scenic, biological, natural, historical,
scientific, paleontological, recreational, ecological,
wilderness, and cultural resources of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-
Trinity National Recreation Area and other nearby Federal
lands.
(c) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary of Agriculture
may, in a manner consistent with this title, enter into
cooperative agreements with the State and any other
appropriate institutions and organizations to carry out the
purposes of this section.
SEC. 215. DEL NORTE COUNTY VISITOR CENTER.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary
of the Interior, acting jointly or separately, may establish,
in cooperation with any other public or private entities that
the Secretaries determine to be appropriate, a visitor center
in Del Norte County, California--
(1) to serve visitors; and
(2) to assist in fulfilling the purposes of Redwood
National and State Parks, the Smith River National Recreation
Area, and other nearby Federal lands.
(b) Requirements.--The Secretaries shall ensure that the
visitor center authorized under subsection (a) is designed to
interpret the scenic, biological, natural, historical,
scientific, paleontological, recreational, ecological,
wilderness, and cultural resources of Redwood National and
State Parks, the Smith River National Recreation Area, and
other nearby Federal lands.
SEC. 216. MANAGEMENT PLANS.
(a) In General.--In revising the land and resource
management plan for the Shasta-Trinity, Six Rivers, Klamath,
and Mendocino National Forests, the Secretary shall--
(1) consider the purposes of the South Fork Trinity-Mad
River Restoration Area established by section 211; and
(2) include or update the fire management plan for the
wilderness areas and wilderness additions established by this
title.
(b) Requirement.--In carrying out the revisions required by
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) develop spatial fire management plans in accordance
with--
(A) the Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland
Fire Management Policy dated February 13, 2009, including any
amendments to that guidance; and
(B) other appropriate policies;
(2) ensure that a fire management plan--
(A) considers how prescribed or managed fire can be used to
achieve ecological management objectives of wilderness and
other natural or primitive areas; and
(B) in the case of a wilderness area expanded by section
231, provides consistent direction regarding fire management
to the entire wilderness area, including the addition;
(3) consult with--
(A) appropriate State, Tribal, and local governmental
entities; and
(B) members of the public; and
(4) comply with applicable laws (including regulations).
SEC. 217. STUDY; PARTNERSHIPS RELATED TO OVERNIGHT
ACCOMMODATIONS.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation
with interested Federal, State, Tribal, and local entities,
and private and nonprofit organizations, shall conduct a
study to evaluate the feasibility and suitability of
establishing overnight accommodations near Redwood National
and State Parks on--
(1) Federal land at the northern boundary or on land within
20 miles of the northern boundary; and
(2) Federal land at the southern boundary or on land within
20 miles of the southern boundary.
(b) Partnerships.--
(1) Agreements authorized.--If the study conducted under
subsection (a) determines that establishing the described
accommodations is suitable and feasible, the Secretary may
enter into agreements with qualified private and nonprofit
organizations for the development, operation, and maintenance
of overnight accommodations.
(2) Contents.--Any agreements entered into under paragraph
(1) shall clearly define the role and responsibility of the
Secretary and the private or nonprofit organization.
(3) Compliance.--The Secretary shall enter agreements under
paragraph (1) in accordance with existing law.
(4) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection--
(A) reduces or diminishes the authority of the Secretary to
manage land and resources under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary; or
(B) amends or modifies the application of any existing law
(including regulations) applicable to land under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary.
Subtitle B--RECREATION
SEC. 221. HORSE MOUNTAIN SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to valid existing rights, there
is established the Horse Mountain Special Management Area
(referred to in this section as the ``special management
area'') comprising approximately 7,399 acres of Federal land
administered by the Forest Service in Humboldt County,
California, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Horse
Mountain Special Management Area--Proposed'' and dated April
13, 2017.
(b) Purposes.--The purpose of the special management area
is to enhance the recreational and scenic values of the
special management area while conserving the plants,
wildlife, and other natural resource values of the area.
(c) Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act and in accordance with paragraph (2),
the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive plan for the
long-term management of the special management area.
(2) Consultation.--In developing the management plan
required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult
with--
(A) appropriate State, Tribal, and local governmental
entities; and
(B) members of the public.
(3) Additional requirement.--The management plan required
under paragraph (1) shall ensure that recreational use within
the special management area does not cause significant
adverse impacts on the plants and wildlife of the special
management area.
(d) Management.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the special
management area--
(A) in furtherance of the purposes described in subsection
(b); and
(B) in accordance with--
(i) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable
to the National Forest System;
(ii) this section; and
(iii) any other applicable law (including regulations).
(2) Recreation.--The Secretary shall continue to authorize,
maintain, and enhance the recreational use of the special
management area, including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking,
hang gliding, sightseeing, nature study, horseback riding,
rafting, mountain biking, and motorized recreation on
authorized routes, and other recreational activities, so long
as such recreational use is consistent with the purposes of
the special management area, this section, other applicable
law (including regulations), and applicable management plans.
(3) Motorized vehicles.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
the use of motorized vehicles in the special management area
shall be permitted only on roads and trails designated for
the use of motorized vehicles.
(B) Use of snowmobiles.--The winter use of snowmobiles
shall be allowed in the special management area--
(i) during periods of adequate snow coverage during the
winter season; and
(ii) subject to any terms and conditions determined to be
necessary by the Secretary.
(4) New trails.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may construct new trails for
motorized or nonmotorized recreation within the special
management area in accordance with--
(i) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable
to the National Forest System;
(ii) this section; and
(iii) any other applicable law (including regulations).
(B) Priority.--In establishing new trails within the
special management area, the Secretary shall--
(i) prioritize the establishment of loops that provide
high-quality, diverse recreational experiences; and
(ii) consult with members of the public.
(e) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
special management area is withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public
land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
[[Page H1072]]
(3) disposition under laws relating to mineral and
geothermal leasing.
SEC. 222. BIGFOOT NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL.
(a) Feasibility Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in
cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall submit
to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate a study that describes the feasibility of
establishing a nonmotorized Bigfoot National Recreation Trail
that follows the route described in paragraph (2).
(2) Route.--The trail described in paragraph (1) shall
extend from the Ides Cove Trailhead in the Mendocino National
Forest to Crescent City, California, by roughly following the
route as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Bigfoot
National Recreation Trail--Proposed'' and dated July 25,
2018.
(3) Additional requirement.--In completing the study
required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture
shall consult with--
(A) appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local
agencies;
(B) private landowners;
(C) nongovernmental organizations; and
(D) members of the public.
(b) Designation.--
(1) In general.--Upon a determination that the Bigfoot
National Recreation Trail is feasible and meets the
requirements for a National Recreation Trail in section 1243
of title 16, United States Code, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall designate the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail in
accordance with--
(A) the National Trails System Act (Public Law 90-543);
(B) this title; and
(C) other applicable law (including regulations).
(2) Administration.--Upon designation by the Secretary of
Agriculture, the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail (referred
to in this section as the ``trail'') shall be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with--
(A) other Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local
agencies;
(B) private landowners; and
(C) other interested organizations.
(3) Private property rights.--
(A) In general.--No portions of the trail may be located on
non-Federal land without the written consent of the
landowner.
(B) Prohibition.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall not
acquire for the trail any land or interest in land outside
the exterior boundary of any federally managed area without
the consent of the owner of the land or interest in the land.
(C) Effect.--Nothing in this section--
(i) requires any private property owner to allow public
access (including Federal, State, or local government access)
to private property; or
(ii) modifies any provision of Federal, State, or local law
with respect to public access to or use of private land.
(c) Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out this section,
the Secretary of Agriculture may enter into cooperative
agreements with State, Tribal, and local government entities
and private entities to complete needed trail construction,
reconstruction, realignment, maintenance, or education
projects related to the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail.
(d) Map.--
(1) Map required.--Upon designation of the Bigfoot National
Recreation Trail, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare
a map of the trail.
(2) Public availability.--The map referred to in paragraph
(1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in
the appropriate offices of the Forest Service.
SEC. 223. ELK CAMP RIDGE RECREATION TRAIL.
(a) Designation.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with paragraph (2), the
Secretary of Agriculture after an opportunity for public
comment, shall designate a trail (which may include a system
of trails)--
(A) for use by off-highway vehicles or mountain bicycles,
or both; and
(B) to be known as the Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail.
(2) Requirements.--In designating the Elk Camp Ridge
Recreation Trail (referred to in this section as the
``trail''), the Secretary shall only include trails that
are--
(A) as of the date of enactment of this Act, authorized for
use by off-highway vehicles or mountain bikes, or both; and
(B) located on land that is managed by the Forest Service
in Del Norte County.
(3) Map.--A map that depicts the trail shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the Forest Service.
(b) Management.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the trail--
(A) in accordance with applicable laws (including
regulations);
(B) to ensure the safety of citizens who use the trail; and
(C) in a manner by which to minimize any damage to
sensitive habitat or cultural resources.
(2) Monitoring; evaluation.--To minimize the impacts of the
use of the trail on environmental and cultural resources, the
Secretary shall annually assess the effects of the use of
off-highway vehicles and mountain bicycles on--
(A) the trail;
(B) land located in proximity to the trail; and
(C) plants, wildlife, and wildlife habitat.
(3) Closure.--The Secretary, in consultation with the State
and Del Norte County, and subject to paragraph (4), may
temporarily close or permanently reroute a portion of the
trail if the Secretary determines that--
(A) the trail is having an adverse impact on--
(i) wildlife habitats;
(ii) natural resources;
(iii) cultural resources; or
(iv) traditional uses;
(B) the trail threatens public safety; or
(C) closure of the trail is necessary--
(i) to repair damage to the trail; or
(ii) to repair resource damage.
(4) Rerouting.--Any portion of the trail that is
temporarily closed by the Secretary under paragraph (3) may
be permanently rerouted along any road or trail--
(A) that is--
(i) in existence as of the date of the closure of the
portion of the trail;
(ii) located on public land; and
(iii) open to motorized or mechanized use; and
(B) if the Secretary determines that rerouting the portion
of the trail would not significantly increase or decrease the
length of the trail.
(5) Notice of available routes.--The Secretary shall ensure
that visitors to the trail have access to adequate notice
relating to the availability of trail routes through--
(A) the placement of appropriate signage along the trail;
and
(B) the distribution of maps, safety education materials,
and other information that the Secretary concerned determines
to be appropriate.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects the ownership,
management, or other rights relating to any non-Federal land
(including any interest in any non-Federal land).
SEC. 224. TRINITY LAKE TRAIL.
(a) Trail Construction.--
(1) Feasibility study.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall study the
feasibility and public interest of constructing a
recreational trail for nonmotorized uses around Trinity Lake.
(2) Construction.--
(A) Construction authorized.--Subject to appropriations,
and in accordance with paragraph (3), if the Secretary
determines under paragraph (1) that the construction of the
trail described in such paragraph is feasible and in the
public interest, the Secretary may provide for the
construction of the trail.
(B) Use of volunteer services and contributions.--The trail
may be constructed under this section through the acceptance
of volunteer services and contributions from non-Federal
sources to reduce or eliminate the need for Federal
expenditures to construct the trail.
(3) Compliance.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall comply with--
(A) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable
to the National Forest System; and
(B) this title.
(b) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects the ownership,
management, or other rights relating to any non-Federal land
(including any interest in any non-Federal land).
SEC. 225. TRAILS STUDY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in
accordance with subsection (b) and in consultation with
interested parties, shall conduct a study to improve
motorized and nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities
(including mountain bicycling) on land not designated as
wilderness within the portions of the Six Rivers, Shasta-
Trinity, and Mendocino National Forests located in Del Norte,
Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties.
(b) Consultation.--In carrying out the study required by
subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall consult
with the Secretary of the Interior regarding opportunities to
improve, through increased coordination, recreation trail
opportunities on land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary
of the Interior that shares a boundary with the national
forest land described in subsection (a).
SEC. 226. CONSTRUCTION OF MOUNTAIN BICYCLING ROUTES.
(a) Trail Construction.--
(1) Feasibility study.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall study the feasibility and public interest of
constructing recreational trails for mountain bicycling and
other nonmotorized uses on the routes as generally depicted
in the report entitled ``Trail Study for Smith River National
Recreation Area Six Rivers National Forest'' and dated 2016.
(2) Construction.--
(A) Construction authorized.--Subject to appropriations,
and in accordance with paragraph (3), if the Secretary
determines under paragraph (1) that the construction of one
or more routes described in such paragraph is feasible and in
the public interest, the Secretary may provide for the
construction of the routes.
(B) Modifications.--The Secretary may modify the routes as
necessary in the opinion of the Secretary.
(C) Use of volunteer services and contributions.--Routes
may be constructed under this section through the acceptance
of volunteer services and contributions from non-Federal
sources to reduce or eliminate the need for Federal
expenditures to construct the route.
(3) Compliance.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall comply with--
(A) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable
to the National Forest System; and
(B) this title.
(b) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects the ownership,
management, or other rights relating to any non-Federal land
(including any interest in any non-Federal land).
SEC. 227. PARTNERSHIPS.
(a) Agreements Authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to
enter into agreements with qualified private and nonprofit
organizations to undertake the following activities on
Federal lands in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte
Counties--
[[Page H1073]]
(1) trail and campground maintenance;
(2) public education, visitor contacts, and outreach; and
(3) visitor center staffing.
(b) Contents.--Any agreements entered into under subsection
(a) shall clearly define the role and responsibility of the
Secretary and the private or nonprofit organization.
(c) Compliance.--The Secretary shall enter into agreements
under subsection (a) in accordance with existing law.
(d) Effect.--Nothing in this section--
(1) reduces or diminishes the authority of the Secretary to
manage land and resources under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary; or
(2) amends or modifies the application of any existing law
(including regulations) applicable to land under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary.
Subtitle C--CONSERVATION
SEC. 231. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS.
(a) In General.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are
designated as wilderness areas and as components of the
National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Black butte river wilderness.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 11,117 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Black Butte River Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated
April 13, 2017, which shall be known as the Black Butte River
Wilderness.
(2) Chanchelulla wilderness additions.--Certain Federal
land managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 6,212 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Chanchelulla Wilderness Additions--Proposed'' and
dated July 16, 2018, which is incorporated in, and considered
to be a part of, the Chanchelulla Wilderness, as designated
by section 101(a)(4) of the California Wilderness Act of 1984
(16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 98 Stat. 1619).
(3) Chinquapin wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by
the Forest Service in the State, comprising approximately
27,258 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
``Chinquapin Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated January 15,
2020, which shall be known as the Chinquapin Wilderness.
(4) Elkhorn ridge wilderness addition.--Certain Federal
land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the State,
comprising approximately 37 acres, as generally depicted on
the map entitled ``Proposed Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness
Additions'' and dated October 24, 2019, which is incorporated
in, and considered to be a part of, the Elkhorn Ridge
Wilderness, as designated by section 6(d) of Public Law 109-
362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 2070).
(5) English ridge wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed
by the Bureau of Land Management in the State, comprising
approximately 6,204 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``English Ridge Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated
March 29, 2019, which shall be known as the English Ridge
Wilderness.
(6) Headwaters forest wilderness.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the State,
comprising approximately 4,360 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Headwaters Forest Wilderness--
Proposed'' and dated October 15, 2019, which shall be known
as the Headwaters Forest Wilderness.
(7) Mad river buttes wilderness.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 6,002 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Mad River Buttes Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated
July 25, 2018, which shall be known as the Mad River Buttes
Wilderness.
(8) Mount lassic wilderness addition.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 1,292 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Mount Lassic Wilderness Additions--Proposed'' and
dated February 23, 2017, which is incorporated in, and
considered to be a part of, the Mount Lassic Wilderness, as
designated by section 3(6) of Public Law 109-362 (16 U.S.C.
1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065).
(9) North fork eel wilderness addition.--Certain Federal
land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in the State, comprising approximately 16,274
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``North Fork
Wilderness Additions'' and dated January 15, 2020, which is
incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the North
Fork Eel Wilderness, as designated by section 101(a)(19) of
the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;
98 Stat. 1621).
(10) Pattison wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by
the Forest Service in the State, comprising approximately
28,595 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
``Pattison Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated July 16, 2018,
which shall be known as the Pattison Wilderness.
(11) Sanhedrin wilderness addition.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 112 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Sanhedrin Wilderness Addition--Proposed'' and
dated March 29, 2019, which is incorporated in, and
considered to be a part of, the Sanhedrin Wilderness, as
designated by section 3(2) of Public Law 109-362 (16 U.S.C.
1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065).
(12) Siskiyou wilderness addition.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 27,747 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Siskiyou Wilderness Additions and Potential
Wildernesses--Proposed'' and dated July 24, 2018, which is
incorporated in, and 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; 98
Stat. 1623) (as amended by section 3(5) of Public Law 109-362
(16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065)).
(13) South fork eel river wilderness addition.--Certain
Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the
State, comprising approximately 603 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ``South Fork Eel River
Wilderness Additions--Proposed'' and dated October 24, 2019,
which is incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the
South Fork Eel River Wilderness, as designated by section
3(10) of Public Law 109-362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat.
2066).
(14) South fork trinity river wilderness.--Certain Federal
land managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 26,446 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``South Fork Trinity River Wilderness and Potential
Wildernesses--Proposed'' and dated March 11, 2019, which
shall be known as the South Fork Trinity River Wilderness.
(15) Trinity alps wilderness addition.--Certain Federal
land managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising
approximately 60,826 acres, as generally depicted on the maps
entitled ``Trinity Alps Proposed Wilderness Additions EAST''
and ``Trinity Alps Proposed Wilderness Additions WEST'' and
dated January 15, 2020, which is incorporated in, and
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; 98 Stat. 1623) (as amended
by section 3(7) of Public Law 109-362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;
120 Stat. 2065)).
(16) Underwood wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by
the Forest Service in the State, comprising approximately
15,069 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
``Underwood Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated January 15,
2020, which shall be known as the Underwood Wilderness.
(17) Yolla bolly-middle eel wilderness additions.--Certain
Federal land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of
Land Management in the State, comprising approximately 10,729
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Yolla
Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness Additions and Potential
Wildernesses--Proposed'' and dated June 7, 2018, which is
incorporated in, and 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) (as amended by section
3(4) of Public Law 109-362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat.
2065)).
(18) Yuki wilderness addition.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in the State, comprising approximately 11,076
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Yuki
Wilderness Additions--Proposed'' and dated January 15, 2020,
which is incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the
Yuki Wilderness, as designated by section 3(3) of Public Law
109-362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065).
(b) Redesignation of North Fork Wilderness as North Fork
Eel River Wilderness.--Section 101(a)(19) of Public Law 98-
425 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 98 Stat. 1621) is amended by
striking ``North Fork Wilderness'' and inserting ``North Fork
Eel River Wilderness''. Any reference in a law, map,
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to the North Fork Wilderness shall be deemed to be a
reference to the North Fork Eel River Wilderness.
(c) Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness Adjustments.--The boundary of
the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness established by section 6(d) of
Public Law 109-362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note) is adjusted by
deleting approximately 30 acres of Federal land as generally
depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed Elkhorn Ridge
Wilderness Additions'' and dated October 24, 2019.
SEC. 232. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS.
(a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
wilderness areas and wilderness additions established by
section 231 shall be administered by the Secretary in
accordance with this subtitle and the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that--
(1) any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective
date of that Act 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.
(b) Fire Management and Related Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may take such measures in a
wilderness area or wilderness addition designated by section
231 as are necessary for the control of fire, insects, and
diseases in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and House Report 98-40 of the 98th
Congress.
(2) Funding priorities.--Nothing in this subtitle limits
funding for fire and fuels management in the wilderness areas
or wilderness additions designated by this title.
(3) Administration.--Consistent with paragraph (1) and
other applicable Federal law, to ensure a timely and
efficient response to fire emergencies in the wilderness
additions designated by this subtitle, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall--
(A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, establish agency approval procedures (including
appropriate delegations of authority to the Forest
Supervisor, District Manager, or other agency officials) for
responding to fire emergencies; and
(B) enter into agreements with appropriate State or local
firefighting agencies.
(c) Grazing.--The grazing of livestock in the wilderness
areas and wilderness additions designated by this title, if
established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall
be administered in accordance with--
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(d)(4)); and
[[Page H1074]]
(2)(A) for lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
Agriculture, the guidelines set forth in the report of the
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of
Representatives accompanying H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress
(H. Rept. 96-617); or
(B) for lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
the Interior, 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).
(d) Fish and Wildlife.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title
affects the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State
with respect to fish and wildlife on public land in the
State.
(2) Management activities.--In furtherance of the purposes
and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.), the Secretary may conduct any management activities
that are necessary to maintain or restore fish, wildlife, and
plant populations and habitats in the wilderness areas or
wilderness additions designated by section 231, if the
management activities are--
(A) consistent with relevant wilderness management plans;
and
(B) conducted in accordance with--
(i) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
(ii) appropriate policies, such as the policies established
in Appendix B of House Report 101-405.
(e) Buffer Zones.--
(1) In general.--Congress does not intend for designation
of wilderness or wilderness additions by this title to lead
to the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones
around each wilderness area or wilderness addition.
(2) Activities or uses up to boundaries.--The fact that
nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from
within a wilderness area shall not, of itself, preclude the
activities or uses up to the boundary of the wilderness area.
(f) Military Activities.--Nothing in this subtitle
precludes--
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the
wilderness areas or wilderness additions designated by
section 231;
(2) the designation of new units of special airspace over
the wilderness areas or wilderness additions designated by
section 231; or
(3) the use or establishment of military flight training
routes over the wilderness areas or wilderness additions
designated by section 231.
(g) Horses.--Nothing in this subtitle precludes horseback
riding in, or the entry of recreational or commercial saddle
or pack stock into, an area designated as a wilderness area
or wilderness addition by section 231--
(1) in accordance with section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)); and
(2) subject to any terms and conditions determined to be
necessary by the Secretary.
(h) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
wilderness areas and wilderness additions designated by
section 231 are withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation of the mineral materials and geothermal
leasing laws.
(i) Use by Members of Indian Tribes.--
(1) Access.--In recognition of the past use of wilderness
areas and wilderness additions designated by this title by
members of Indian Tribes for traditional cultural and
religious purposes, the Secretary shall ensure that Indian
Tribes have access to the wilderness areas and wilderness
additions designated by section 231 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 one or more specific portions of
a wilderness area or wilderness addition 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 or wilderness addition.
(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 and
wilderness additions 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.).
(j) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land
within the boundary of a wilderness area or wilderness
addition designated by section 231 that is acquired by the
United States shall--
(1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is
located;
(2) be withdrawn in accordance with subsection (h); and
(3) be managed in accordance with this section, the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and any other
applicable law.
(k) Climatological Data Collection.--In accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and subject to such
terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, the
Secretary may authorize the installation and maintenance of
hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological collection
devices in the wilderness areas and wilderness additions
designated by section 231 if the Secretary determines that
the facilities and access to the facilities are essential to
flood warning, flood control, or water reservoir operation
activities.
(l) Authorized Events.--The Secretary may continue to
authorize the competitive equestrian event permitted since
2012 in the Chinquapin Wilderness established by section 231
in a manner compatible with the preservation of the area as
wilderness.
(m) Recreational Climbing.--Nothing in this title prohibits
recreational rock climbing activities in the wilderness
areas, such as the placement, use, and maintenance of fixed
anchors, including any fixed anchor established before the
date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131
et seq.); and
(2) subject to any terms and conditions determined to be
necessary by the Secretary.
SEC. 233. DESIGNATION OF POTENTIAL WILDERNESS.
(a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas
in the State are designated as potential wilderness areas:
(1) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service,
comprising approximately 3,797 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Chinquapin Proposed Potential
Wilderness'' and dated January 15, 2020.
(2) Certain Federal land administered by the National Park
Service, compromising approximately 31,000 acres, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Redwood National
Park - Potential Wilderness'' and dated October 9, 2019.
(3) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service,
comprising approximately 8,961 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Siskiyou Wilderness Additions and
Potential Wildernesses--Proposed'' and dated July 24, 2018.
(4) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service,
comprising approximately 405 acres, as generally depicted on
the map entitled ``South Fork Trinity River Wilderness and
Potential Wildernesses--Proposed'' and dated March 11, 2019.
(5) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service,
comprising approximately 1,256 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Trinity Alps Proposed Potential
Wilderness'' and dated January 15, 2020.
(6) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service,
comprising approximately 4,282 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness
Additions and Potential Wildernesses--Proposed'' and dated
June 7, 2018.
(7) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service,
comprising approximately 2,909 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Yuki Proposed Potential Wilderness''
and dated January 15, 2020.
(b) Management.--Except as provided in subsection (c) and
subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall manage
the potential wilderness areas designated by subsection (a)
(referred to in this section as ``potential wilderness
areas'') as wilderness until the potential wilderness areas
are designated as wilderness under subsection (d).
(c) Ecological Restoration.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of ecological restoration
(including the elimination of nonnative species, removal of
illegal, unused, or decommissioned roads, repair of skid
tracks, and any other activities necessary to restore the
natural ecosystems in a potential wilderness area and
consistent with paragraph (2)), the Secretary may use
motorized equipment and mechanized transport in a 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 areas shall be designated as wilderness and as a
component of the National Wilderness Preservation System on
the earlier of--
(1) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the
Federal Register notice that the conditions in a 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 10 years after the date of enactment
of this Act for potential wilderness areas located on lands
managed by the Forest Service.
(e) Administration as Wilderness.--
(1) In general.--On its designation as wilderness under
subsection (d), a potential wilderness area shall be
administered in accordance with section 232 and the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(2) Designation.--On its designation as wilderness under
subsection (d)--
(A) the land described in subsection (a)(1) shall be
incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the
Chinquapin Wilderness established by section 231(a)(3);
(B) the land described in subsection (a)(3) shall be
incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the Siskiyou
Wilderness as designated by section 231(a)(30) of the
California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 98
Stat. 1623) (as amended by section 3(5) of Public Law 109-362
(16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065) and expanded by section
231(a)(12));
(C) the land described in subsection (a)(4) shall be
incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the South
Fork Trinity River Wilderness established by section
231(a)(14);
(D) the land described in subsection (a)(5) shall be
incorporated in, and 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; 98
Stat. 1623) (as amended by section 3(7) of Public Law 109-362
(16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065) and expanded by section
231(a)(15));
[[Page H1075]]
(E) the land described in subsection (a)(6) shall be
incorporated in, and 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) (as amended by section 3(4)
of Public Law 109-362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065)
and expanded by section 231(a)(17)); and
(F) the land described in subsection (a)(7) shall be
incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the Yuki
Wilderness as designated by section 3(3) of Public Law 109-
362 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 2065) and expanded by
section 231(a)(18).
(f) Report.--Within 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, and every 3 years thereafter until the date upon
which the potential wilderness is designated wilderness under
subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit a report to the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate on the status of ecological
restoration within the potential wilderness area and the
progress toward the potential wilderness area's eventual
wilderness designation under subsection (d).
SEC. 234. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS.
Section 3(a) of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16
U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(231) South fork trinity river.--The following segments
from the source tributaries in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel
Wilderness, to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture:
``(A) The 18.3-mile segment from its multiple source
springs in the Cedar Basin of the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel
Wilderness in section 15, T. 27 N., R. 10 W. to .25 miles
upstream of the Wild Mad Road, as a wild river.
``(B) The .65-mile segment from .25 miles upstream of Wild
Mad Road to the confluence with the unnamed tributary
approximately .4 miles downstream of the Wild Mad Road in
section 29, T. 28 N., R. 11 W., as a scenic river.
``(C) The 9.8-mile segment from .75 miles downstream of
Wild Mad Road to Silver Creek, as a wild river.
``(D) The 5.4-mile segment from Silver Creek confluence to
Farley Creek, as a scenic river.
``(E) The 3.6-mile segment from Farley Creek to Cave Creek,
as a recreational river.
``(F) The 5.6-mile segment from Cave Creek to the
confluence of the unnamed creek upstream of Hidden Valley
Ranch in section 5, T. 15, R. 7 E., as a wild river.
``(G) The 2.5-mile segment from unnamed creek confluence
upstream of Hidden Valley Ranch to the confluence with the
unnamed creek flowing west from Bear Wallow Mountain in
section 29, T. 1 N., R. 7 E., as a scenic river.
``(H) The 3.8-mile segment from the unnamed creek
confluence in section 29, T. 1 N., R. 7 E. to Plummer Creek,
as a wild river.
``(I) The 1.8-mile segment from Plummer Creek to the
confluence with the unnamed tributary north of McClellan
Place in section 6, T. 1 N., R. 7 E., as a scenic river.
``(J) The 5.4-mile segment from the unnamed tributary
confluence in section 6, T. 1 N., R. 7 E. to Hitchcock Creek,
as a wild river.
``(K) The 7-mile segment from Eltapom Creek to the Grouse
Creek, as a scenic river.
``(L) The 5-mile segment from Grouse Creek to Coon Creek,
as a wild river.
``(232) East fork south fork trinity river.--The following
segments to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 8.4-mile segment from its source in the Pettijohn
Basin in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness in section 10,
T. 3 S., R. 10 W. to .25 miles upstream of the Wild Mad Road,
as a wild river.
``(B) The 3.4-mile segment from .25 miles upstream of the
Wild Mad Road to the South Fork Trinity River, as a
recreational river.
``(233) Rattlesnake creek.--The 5.9-mile segment from the
confluence with the unnamed tributary in the southeast corner
of section 5, T. 1 S., R. 12 W. to the South Fork Trinity
River, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as
a recreational river.
``(234) Butter creek.--The 7-mile segment from .25 miles
downstream of the Road 3N08 crossing to the South Fork
Trinity River, to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture as a scenic river.
``(235) Hayfork creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 3.2-mile segment from Little Creek to Bear Creek,
as a recreational river.
``(B) The 13.2-mile segment from Bear Creek to the northern
boundary of section 19, T. 3 N., R. 7 E., as a scenic river.
``(236) Olsen creek.--The 2.8-mile segment from the
confluence of its source tributaries in section 5, T. 3 N.,
R. 7 E. to the northern boundary of section 24, T. 3 N., R. 6
E., to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a
scenic river.
``(237) Rusch creek.--The 3.2-mile segment from .25 miles
downstream of the 32N11 Road crossing to Hayfork Creek, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
recreational river.
``(238) Eltapom creek.--The 3.4-mile segment from Buckhorn
Creek to the South Fork Trinity River, to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
``(239) Grouse creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 3.9-mile segment from Carson Creek to Cow Creek,
as a scenic river.
``(B) The 7.4-mile segment from Cow Creek to the South Fork
Trinity River, as a recreational river.
``(240) Madden creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 6.8-mile segment from the confluence of Madden
Creek and its unnamed tributary in section 18, T. 5 N., R. 5
E. to Fourmile Creek, as a wild river.
``(B) The 1.6-mile segment from Fourmile Creek to the South
Fork Trinity River, as a recreational river.
``(241) Canyon creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior:
``(A) The 6.6-mile segment from the outlet of lower Canyon
Creek Lake to Bear Creek upstream of Ripstein, as a wild
river.
``(B) The 11.2-mile segment from Bear Creek upstream of
Ripstein to the southern boundary of section 25, T. 34 N., R.
11 W., as a recreational river.
``(242) North fork trinity river.--The following segments
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 12-mile segment from the confluence of source
tributaries in section 24, T. 8 N., R. 12 W. to the Trinity
Alps Wilderness boundary upstream of Hobo Gulch, as a wild
river.
``(B) The .5-mile segment from where the river leaves the
Trinity Alps Wilderness to where it fully reenters the
Trinity Alps Wilderness downstream of Hobo Gulch, as a scenic
river.
``(C) The 13.9-mile segment from where the river fully
reenters the Trinity Alps Wilderness downstream of Hobo Gulch
to the Trinity Alps Wilderness boundary upstream of the
County Road 421 crossing, as a wild river.
``(D) The 1.3-mile segment from the Trinity Alps Wilderness
boundary upstream of the County Road 421 crossing to the
Trinity River, as a recreational river.
``(243) East fork north fork trinity river.--The following
segments to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 9.5-mile segment from the river's source north of
Mt. Hilton in section 19, T. 36 N., R. 10 W. to the end of
Road 35N20 approximately .5 miles downstream of the
confluence with the East Branch East Fork North Fork Trinity
River, as a wild river.
``(B) The 3.25-mile segment from the end of Road 35N20 to
.25 miles upstream of Coleridge, as a scenic river.
``(C) The 4.6-mile segment from .25 miles upstream of
Coleridge to the confluence of Fox Gulch, as a recreational
river.
``(244) New river.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 12.7-mile segment of Virgin Creek from its source
spring in section 22, T. 9 N., R. 7 E. to Slide Creek, as a
wild river.
``(B) The 2.3-mile segment of the New River where it begins
at the confluence of Virgin and Slide Creeks to Barron Creek,
as a wild river.
``(245) Middle eel river.--The following segment, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 37.7-mile segment from its source in Frying Pan
Meadow to Rose Creek, as a wild river.
``(B) The 1.5-mile segment from Rose Creek to the Black
Butte River, as a recreational river.
``(C) The 10.5-mile segment of Balm of Gilead Creek from
its source in Hopkins Hollow to the Middle Eel River, as a
wild river.
``(D) The 13-mile segment of the North Fork Middle Fork Eel
River from the source on Dead Puppy Ridge in section 11, T.
26 N., R. 11 W. to the confluence of the Middle Eel River, as
a wild river.
``(246) North fork eel river, ca.--The 14.3-mile segment
from the confluence with Gilman Creek to the Six Rivers
National Forest boundary, to be administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture as a wild river.
``(247) Red mountain creek, ca.--The following segments to
be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 5.25-mile segment from its source west of Mike's
Rock in section 23, T. 26 N., R. 12 E. to the confluence with
Littlefield Creek, as a wild river.
``(B) The 1.6-mile segment from the confluence with
Littlefield Creek to the confluence with the unnamed
tributary in section 32, T. 26 N., R. 8 E., as a scenic
river.
``(C) The 1.25-mile segment from the confluence with the
unnamed tributary in section 32, T. 4 S., R. 8 E. to the
confluence with the North Fork Eel River, as a wild river.
``(248) Redwood creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior:
``(A) The 6.2-mile segment from the confluence with Lacks
Creek to the confluence with Coyote Creek as a scenic river
on publication by the Secretary of a notice in the Federal
Register that sufficient inholdings within the boundaries of
the segments have been acquired in fee title to establish a
manageable addition to the system.
``(B) The 19.1-mile segment from the confluence with Coyote
Creek in section 2, T. 8 N., R. 2 E. to the Redwood National
Park boundary upstream of Orick in section 34, T. 11 N., R. 1
E. as a scenic river.
``(C) The 2.3-mile segment of Emerald Creek (also known as
Harry Weir Creek) from its source in section 29, T. 10 N., R.
2 E. to the confluence with Redwood Creek as a scenic river.
``(249) Lacks creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior:
``(A) The 5.1-mile segment from the confluence with two
unnamed tributaries in section 14, T. 7 N., R. 3 E. to Kings
Crossing in section 27, T. 8 N., R. 3 E. as a wild river.
``(B) The 2.7-mile segment from Kings Crossing to the
confluence with Redwood Creek as a scenic river upon
publication by the Secretary of a notice in the Federal
Register that sufficient inholdings within the segment have
been acquired in fee title or as scenic easements to
establish a manageable addition to the system.
``(250) Lost man creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior:
``(A) The 6.4-mile segment of Lost Man Creek from its
source in section 5, T. 10 N., R. 2 E. to
[[Page H1076]]
.25 miles upstream of the Prairie Creek confluence, as a
recreational river.
``(B) The 2.3-mile segment of Larry Damm Creek from its
source in section 8, T. 11 N., R. 2 E. to the confluence with
Lost Man Creek, as a recreational river.
``(251) Little lost man creek.--The 3.6-mile segment of
Little Lost Man Creek from its source in section 6, T. 10 N.,
R. 2 E. to .25 miles upstream of the Lost Man Creek road
crossing, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior
as a wild river.
``(252) South fork elk river.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior through a
cooperative management agreement with the State of
California:
``(A) The 3.6-mile segment of the Little South Fork Elk
River from the source in section 21, T. 3 N., R. 1 E. to the
confluence with the South Fork Elk River, as a wild river.
``(B) The 2.2-mile segment of the unnamed tributary of the
Little South Fork Elk River from its source in section 15, T.
3 N., R. 1 E. to the confluence with the Little South Fork
Elk River, as a wild river.
``(C) The 3.6-mile segment of the South Fork Elk River from
the confluence of the Little South Fork Elk River to the
confluence with Tom Gulch, as a recreational river.
``(253) Salmon creek.--The 4.6-mile segment from its source
in section 27, T. 3 N., R. 1 E. to the Headwaters Forest
Reserve boundary in section 18, T. 3 N., R. 1 E. to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a wild river
through a cooperative management agreement with the State of
California.
``(254) South fork eel river.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior:
``(A) The 6.2-mile segment from the confluence with Jack of
Hearts Creek to the southern boundary of the South Fork Eel
Wilderness in section 8, T. 22 N., R. 16 W., as a
recreational river to be administered by the Secretary
through a cooperative management agreement with the State of
California.
``(B) The 6.1-mile segment from the southern boundary of
the South Fork Eel Wilderness to the northern boundary of the
South Fork Eel Wilderness in section 29, T. 23 N., R. 16 W.,
as a wild river.
``(255) Elder creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior through a
cooperative management agreement with the State of
California:
``(A) The 3.6-mile segment from its source north of Signal
Peak in section 6, T. 21 N., R. 15 W. to the confluence with
the unnamed tributary near the center of section 28, T. 22
N., R. 16 W., as a wild river.
``(B) The 1.3-mile segment from the confluence with the
unnamed tributary near the center of section 28, T. 22 N., R.
15 W. to the confluence with the South Fork Eel River, as a
recreational river.
``(C) The 2.1-mile segment of Paralyze Canyon from its
source south of Signal Peak in section 7, T. 21 N., R. 15 W.
to the confluence with Elder Creek, as a wild river.
``(256) Cedar creek.--The following segments to be
administered as a wild river by the Secretary of the
Interior:
``(A) The 7.7-mile segment from its source in section 22,
T. 24 N., R. 16 W. to the southern boundary of the Red
Mountain unit of the South Fork Eel Wilderness.
``(B) The 1.9-mile segment of North Fork Cedar Creek from
its source in section 28, T. 24 N., R. 16 E. to the
confluence with Cedar Creek.
``(257) East branch south fork eel river.--The following
segments to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior
as a scenic river on publication by the Secretary of a notice
in the Federal Register that sufficient inholdings within the
boundaries of the segments have been acquired in fee title or
as scenic easements to establish a manageable addition to the
system:
``(A) The 2.3-mile segment of Cruso Cabin Creek from the
confluence of two unnamed tributaries in section 18, T. 24
N., R. 15 W. to the confluence with Elkhorn Creek.
``(B) The 1.8-mile segment of Elkhorn Creek from the
confluence of two unnamed tributaries in section 22, T. 24
N., R. 16 W. to the confluence with Cruso Cabin Creek.
``(C) The 14.2-mile segment of the East Branch South Fork
Eel River from the confluence of Cruso Cabin and Elkhorn
Creeks to the confluence with Rays Creek.
``(D) The 1.7-mile segment of the unnamed tributary from
its source on the north flank of Red Mountain's north ridge
in section 2, T. 24 N., R. 17 W. to the confluence with the
East Branch South Fork Eel River.
``(E) The 1.3-mile segment of the unnamed tributary from
its source on the north flank of Red Mountain's north ridge
in section 1, T. 24 N., R. 17 W. to the confluence with the
East Branch South Fork Eel River.
``(F) The 1.8-mile segment of Tom Long Creek from the
confluence with the unnamed tributary in section 12, T. 5 S.,
R. 4 E. to the confluence with the East Branch South Fork Eel
River.
``(258) Mattole river estuary.--The 1.5-mile segment from
the confluence of Stansberry Creek to the Pacific Ocean, to
be administered as a recreational river by the Secretary of
the Interior.
``(259) Honeydew creek.--The following segments to be
administered as a wild river by the Secretary of the
Interior:
``(A) The 5.1-mile segment of Honeydew Creek from its
source in the southwest corner of section 25, T. 3 S., R. 1
W. to the eastern boundary of the King Range National
Conservation Area in section 18, T. 3 S., R. 1 E.
``(B) The 2.8-mile segment of West Fork Honeydew Creek from
its source west of North Slide Peak to the confluence with
Honeydew Creek.
``(C) The 2.7-mile segment of Upper East Fork Honeydew
Creek from its source in section 23, T. 3 S., R. 1 W. to the
confluence with Honeydew Creek.
``(260) Bear creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior:
``(A) The 1.9-mile segment of North Fork Bear Creek from
the confluence with the unnamed tributary immediately
downstream of the Horse Mountain Road crossing to the
confluence with the South Fork, as a scenic river.
``(B) The 6.1-mile segment of South Fork Bear Creek from
the confluence in section 2, T. 5 S., R. 1 W. with the
unnamed tributary flowing from the southwest flank of Queen
Peak to the confluence with the North Fork, as a scenic
river.
``(C) The 3-mile segment of Bear Creek from the confluence
of the North and South Forks to the southern boundary of
section 11, T. 4 S., R. 1 E., as a wild river.
``(261) Gitchell creek.--The 3-mile segment of Gitchell
Creek from its source near Saddle Mountain to the Pacific
Ocean to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as
a wild river.
``(262) Big flat creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a wild
river:
``(A) The 4-mile segment of Big Flat Creek from its source
near King Peak in section 36, T. 3 S., R. 1 W. to the Pacific
Ocean.
``(B) The .8-mile segment of the unnamed tributary from its
source in section 35, T. 3 S., R. 1 W. to the confluence with
Big Flat Creek.
``(C) The 2.7-mile segment of North Fork Big Flat Creek
from the source in section 34, T. 3 S., R. 1 W. to the
confluence with Big Flat Creek.
``(263) Big creek.--The following segments to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior as wild rivers:
``(A) The 2.7-mile segment of Big Creek from its source in
section 26, T. 3 S., R. 1 W. to the Pacific Ocean.
``(B) The 1.9-mile unnamed southern tributary from its
source in section 25, T. 3 S., R. 1 W. to the confluence with
Big Creek.
``(264) Elk creek.--The 11.4-mile segment from its
confluence with Lookout Creek to its confluence with Deep
Hole Creek, to be jointly administered by the Secretaries of
Agriculture and the Interior, as a wild river.
``(265) Eden creek.--The 2.7-mile segment from the private
property boundary in the northwest quarter of section 27, T.
21 N., R. 12 W. to the eastern boundary of section 23, T. 21
N., R. 12 W., to be administered by the Secretary of the
Interior as a wild river.
``(266) Deep hole creek.--The 4.3-mile segment from the
private property boundary in the southwest quarter of section
13, T. 20 N., R. 12 W. to the confluence with Elk Creek, to
be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a wild
river.
``(267) Indian creek.--The 3.3-mile segment from 300 feet
downstream of the jeep trail in section 13, T. 20 N., R. 13
W. to the confluence with the Eel River, to be administered
by the Secretary of the Interior as a wild river.
``(268) Fish creek.--The 4.2-mile segment from the source
at Buckhorn Spring to the confluence with the Eel River, to
be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a wild
river.''.
SEC. 235. SANHEDRIN SPECIAL CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT AREA.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to valid existing rights, there
is established the Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management
Area (referred to in this section as the ``conservation
management area''), comprising approximately 14,177 acres of
Federal land administered by the Forest Service in Mendocino
County, California, as generally depicted on the map entitled
``Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area--Proposed''
and dated April 12, 2017.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the conservation management
area are to--
(1) conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and
enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological,
scenic, wildlife, recreational, roadless, cultural,
historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources of
the conservation management area;
(2) protect and restore late-successional forest structure,
oak woodlands and grasslands, aquatic habitat, and anadromous
fisheries within the conservation management area;
(3) protect and restore the wilderness character of the
conservation management area; and
(4) allow visitors to enjoy the scenic, natural, cultural,
and wildlife values of the conservation management area.
(c) Management.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the
conservation management area--
(A) in a manner consistent with the purposes described in
subsection (b); and
(B) in accordance with--
(i) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable
to the National Forest System;
(ii) this section; and
(iii) any other applicable law (including regulations).
(2) Uses.--The Secretary shall only allow uses of the
conservation management area that the Secretary determines
would further the purposes described in subsection (b).
(d) Motorized Vehicles.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the
use of motorized vehicles in the conservation management area
shall be permitted only on existing roads, trails, and areas
designated for use by such vehicles as of the date of
enactment of this Act.
(2) New or temporary roads.--Except as provided in
paragraph (3), no new or temporary roads shall be constructed
within the conservation management area.
(3) Exception.--Nothing in paragraph (1) or (2) prevents
the Secretary from--
(A) rerouting or closing an existing road or trail to
protect natural resources from degradation, or to protect
public safety, as determined to be appropriate by the
Secretary;
(B) designating routes of travel on lands acquired by the
Secretary and incorporated into
[[Page H1077]]
the conservation management area if the designations are--
(i) consistent with the purposes described in subsection
(b); and
(ii) completed, to the maximum extent practicable, within 3
years of the date of acquisition;
(C) constructing a temporary road on which motorized
vehicles are permitted as part of a vegetation management
project carried out in accordance with subsection (e);
(D) authorizing the use of motorized vehicles for
administrative purposes; or
(E) responding to an emergency.
(4) Decommissioning of temporary roads.--
(A) Requirement.--The Secretary shall decommission any
temporary road constructed under paragraph (3)(C) not later
than 3 years after the date on which the applicable
vegetation management project is completed.
(B) Definition.--As used in subparagraph (A), the term
``decommission'' means--
(i) to reestablish vegetation on a road; and
(ii) to restore any natural drainage, watershed function,
or other ecological processes that are disrupted or adversely
impacted by the road by removing or hydrologically
disconnecting the road prism.
(e) Timber Harvest.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no
harvesting of timber shall be allowed within the conservation
management area.
(2) Exceptions.--The Secretary may authorize harvesting of
timber in the conservation management area--
(A) if the Secretary determines that the harvesting is
necessary to further the purposes of the conservation
management area;
(B) in a manner consistent with the purposes described in
subsection (b); and
(C) subject to--
(i) such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as
the Secretary determines appropriate; and
(ii) all applicable laws (including regulations).
(f) Grazing.--The grazing of livestock in the conservation
management area, where established before the date of
enactment of this Act, shall be permitted to continue--
(1) subject to--
(A) such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as
the Secretary considers necessary; and
(B) applicable law (including regulations); and
(2) in a manner consistent with the purposes described in
subsection (b).
(g) Wildfire, Insect, and Disease Management.--Consistent
with this section, the Secretary may take any measures within
the conservation management area that the Secretary
determines to be necessary to control fire, insects, and
diseases, including the coordination of those activities with
a State or local agency.
(h) Acquisition and Incorporation of Land and Interests in
Land.--
(1) Acquisition authority.--In accordance with applicable
laws (including regulations), the Secretary may acquire any
land or interest in land within or adjacent to the boundaries
of the conservation management area by purchase from willing
sellers, donation, or exchange.
(2) Incorporation.--Any land or interest in land acquired
by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be--
(A) incorporated into, and administered as part of, the
conservation management area; and
(B) withdrawn in accordance with subsection (i).
(i) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all
Federal land located in the conservation management area is
withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patenting under the mining laws;
and
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,
and geothermal leasing laws.
Subtitle D--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 241. MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare maps and
legal descriptions of the--
(1) wilderness areas and wilderness additions designated by
section 231;
(2) potential wilderness areas designated by section 233;
(3) South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area;
(4) Horse Mountain Special Management Area; and
(5) Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area.
(b) Submission of Maps and Legal Descriptions.--The
Secretary shall file the maps and legal descriptions prepared
under subsection (a) with--
(1) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(c) Force of Law.--The maps and legal descriptions prepared
under subsection (a) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, except that the Secretary may
correct any clerical and typographical errors in the maps and
legal descriptions.
(d) Public Availability.--The maps and legal descriptions
prepared under subsection (a) shall be on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park
Service.
SEC. 242. UPDATES TO LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS.
As soon as practicable, in accordance with applicable laws
(including regulations), the Secretary shall incorporate the
designations and studies required by this title into updated
management plans for units covered by this title.
SEC. 243. PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY UTILITY FACILITIES
AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY.
(a) Effect of Act.--Nothing in this title--
(1) affects any validly issued right-of-way for the
customary operation, maintenance, upgrade, repair, relocation
within an existing right-of-way, replacement, or other
authorized activity (including the use of any mechanized
vehicle, helicopter, and other aerial device) in a right-of-
way acquired by or issued, granted, or permitted to Pacific
Gas and Electric Company (including any predecessor or
successor in interest or assign) that is located on land
included in the South Fork Trinity- Mad River Restoration
Area, Bigfoot National Recreation Trail, Sanhedrin Special
Conservation Management Area, and Horse Mountain Special
Management Area; or
(2) prohibits the upgrading or replacement of any--
(A) utility facilities of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company, including those utility facilities known on the date
of enactment of this Act within the--
(i) South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area known
as--
(I) Gas Transmission Line 177A or rights-of-way;
(II) Gas Transmission Line DFM 1312-02 or rights-of-way;
(III) Electric Transmission Line Bridgeville-Cottonwood 115
kV or rights-of -way;
(IV) Electric Transmission Line Humboldt-Trinity 60 kV or
rights-of-way;
(V) Electric Transmission Line Humboldt-Trinity 115 kV or
rights-of-way;
(VI) Electric Transmission Line Maple Creek-Hoopa 60 kV or
rights-of-way;
(VII) Electric Distribution Line-Willow Creek 1101 12 kV or
rights-of-way;
(VIII) Electric Distribution Line-Willow Creek 1103 12 kV
or rights-of-way;
(IX) Electric Distribution Line-Low Gap 1101 12 kV or
rights-of-way;
(X) Electric Distribution Line-Fort Seward 1121 12 kV or
rights-of-way;
(XI) Forest Glen Border District Regulator Station or
rights-of-way;
(XII) Durret District Gas Regulator Station or rights-of-
way;
(XIII) Gas Distribution Line 4269C or rights-of-way;
(XIV) Gas Distribution Line 43991 or rights-of-way;
(XV) Gas Distribution Line 4993D or rights-of-way;
(XVI) Sportsmans Club District Gas Regulator Station or
rights-of-way;
(XVII) Highway 36 and Zenia District Gas Regulator Station
or rights-of-way;
(XVIII) Dinsmore Lodge 2nd Stage Gas Regulator Station or
rights-of-way;
(XIX) Electric Distribution Line-Wildwood 1101 12kV or
rights-of-way;
(XX) Low Gap Substation;
(XXI) Hyampom Switching Station; or
(XXII) Wildwood Substation;
(ii) Bigfoot National Recreation Trail known as--
(I) Gas Transmission Line 177A or rights-of-way;
(II) Electric Transmission Line Humboldt-Trinity 115 kV or
rights-of-way;
(III) Electric Transmission Line Bridgeville-Cottonwood 115
kV or rights-of -way; or
(IV) Electric Transmission Line Humboldt-Trinity 60 kV or
rights-of-way;
(iii) Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area known
as, Electric Distribution Line-Willits 1103 12 kV or rights-
of-way; or
(iv) Horse Mountain Special Management Area known as,
Electric Distribution Line Willow Creek 1101 12 kV or rights-
of-way; or
(B) utility facilities of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company in rights-of-way issued, granted, or permitted by the
Secretary adjacent to a utility facility referred to in
paragraph (1).
(b) Plans for Access.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this subtitle or the issuance of a new
utility facility right-of-way within the South Fork Trinity-
Mad River Restoration Area, Bigfoot National Recreation
Trail, Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area, and
Horse Mountain Special Management Area, whichever is later,
the Secretary, in consultation with the Pacific Gas and
Electric Company, shall publish plans for regular and
emergency access by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company to
the rights-of-way of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
TITLE III--CENTRAL COAST HERITAGE PROTECTION
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
This title may be cited as the ``Central Coast Heritage
Protection Act''.
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Scenic areas.--The term ``scenic area'' means a scenic
area designated by section 308(a).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means--
(A) with respect to land managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B) with respect to land managed by the Forest Service, the
Secretary of Agriculture.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
California.
(4) Wilderness area.--The term ``wilderness area'' means a
wilderness area or wilderness addition designated by section
303(a).
SEC. 303. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS.
(a) In General.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are
designated as wilderness areas and as components of the
National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Certain land in the Bakersfield Field Office of the
Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 35,116
acres, as generally
[[Page H1078]]
depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed Caliente Mountain
Wilderness'' and dated November 13, 2019, which shall be
known as the ``Caliente Mountain Wilderness''.
(2) Certain land in the Bakersfield Field Office of the
Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 13,332
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed
Soda Lake Wilderness'' and dated June 25, 2019, which shall
be known as the ``Soda Lake Wilderness''.
(3) Certain land in the Bakersfield Field Office of the
Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 12,585
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed
Temblor Range Wilderness'' and dated June 25, 2019, which
shall be known as the ``Temblor Range Wilderness''.
(4) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest
comprising approximately 23,670 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Chumash Wilderness Area Additions--
Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall be
incorporated into and managed as part of the Chumash
Wilderness as designated by the Los Padres Condor Range and
River Protection Act (Public Law 102-301; 106 Stat. 242).
(5) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest
comprising approximately 54,036 acres, as generally depicted
on the maps entitled ``Dick Smith Wilderness Area Additions--
Proposed Map 1 of 2 (Bear Canyon and Cuyama Peak Units)'' and
``Dick Smith Wilderness Area Additions--Proposed Map 2 of 2
(Buckhorn and Mono Units)'' and dated November 14, 2019,
which shall be incorporated into and managed as part of the
Dick Smith Wilderness as designated by the California
Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-425; 16 U.S.C. 1132
note).
(6) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest and the
Bakersfield Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management
comprising approximately 7,289 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Garcia Wilderness Area Additions--
Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall be
incorporated into and managed as part of the Garcia
Wilderness as designated by the Los Padres Condor Range and
River Protection Act (Public Law 102-301; 106 Stat. 242).
(7) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest and the
Bakersfield Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management
comprising approximately 8,774 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Machesna Mountain Wilderness--Proposed
Additions'' and dated October 30, 2019, which shall be
incorporated into and managed as part of the Machesna
Mountain Wilderness as designated by the California
Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-425; 16 U.S.C. 1132
note).
(8) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest
comprising approximately 30,184 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Matilija Wilderness Area Additions--
Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall be
incorporated into and managed as part of the Matilija
Wilderness as designated by the Los Padres Condor Range and
River Protection Act (Public Law 102-301; 106 Stat. 242).
(9) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest
comprising approximately 23,969 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``San Rafael Wilderness Area Additions--
Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall be
incorporated into and managed as part of the San Rafael
Wilderness as designated by Public Law 90-271 (82 Stat. 51),
the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-425; 16
U.S.C. 1132 note), and the Los Padres Condor Range and River
Protection Act (Public Law 102-301; 106 Stat. 242).
(10) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest
comprising approximately 2,921 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Santa Lucia Wilderness Area Additions--
Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall be
incorporated into and managed as part of the Santa Lucia
Wilderness as designated by the Endangered American
Wilderness Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-237; 16 U.S.C. 1132
note).
(11) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest
comprising approximately 14,313 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Sespe Wilderness Area Additions--
Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall be
incorporated into and managed as part of the Sespe Wilderness
as designated by the Los Padres Condor Range and River
Protection Act (Public Law 102-301; 106 Stat. 242).
(12) Certain land in the Los Padres National Forest
comprising approximately 17,870 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Diablo Caliente Wilderness Area--
Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall be known as
the ``Diablo Caliente Wilderness''.
(b) Maps and Legal Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file maps and
legal descriptions of the wilderness areas with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The maps and legal descriptions filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, except that the Secretary may
correct any clerical and typographical errors in the maps and
legal descriptions.
(3) Public availability.--The maps and legal descriptions
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest
Service and Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 304. DESIGNATION OF THE MACHESNA MOUNTAIN POTENTIAL
WILDERNESS.
(a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land in the
Los Padres National Forest comprising approximately 2,359
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Machesna
Mountain Potential Wilderness'' and dated March 29, 2019, is
designated as the Machesna Mountain Potential Wilderness
Area.
(b) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and
legal description of the Machesna Mountain Potential
Wilderness Area (referred to in this section as the
``potential wilderness area'') with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, except that the Secretary may
correct any clerical and typographical errors in the map and
legal description.
(3) Public availability.--The map and legal description
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest
Service.
(c) Management.--Except as provided in subsection (d) and
subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall manage
the potential wilderness area in accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(d) Trail Use, Construction, Reconstruction, and
Realignment.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with paragraph (2), the
Secretary may reconstruct, realign, or reroute the Pine
Mountain Trail.
(2) Requirement.--In carrying out the reconstruction,
realignment, or rerouting under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
(A) comply with all existing laws (including regulations);
and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, use the minimum tool
or administrative practice necessary to accomplish the
reconstruction, realignment, or rerouting with the least
amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and
resources.
(3) Motorized vehicles and machinery.--In accordance with
paragraph (2), the Secretary may use motorized vehicles and
machinery to carry out the trail reconstruction, realignment,
or rerouting authorized by this subsection.
(4) Motorized and mechanized vehicles.--The Secretary may
permit the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles on the
existing Pine Mountain Trail in accordance with existing law
(including regulations) and this subsection until such date
as the potential wilderness area is designated as wilderness
in accordance with subsection (h).
(e) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
Federal land in the potential wilderness area 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.
(f) Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out this section,
the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with
State, Tribal, and local governmental entities and private
entities to complete the trail reconstruction, realignment,
or rerouting authorized by subsection (d).
(g) Boundaries.--The Secretary shall modify the boundary of
the potential wilderness area to exclude any area within 150
feet of the centerline of the new location of any trail that
has been reconstructed, realigned, or rerouted under
subsection (d).
(h) Wilderness Designation.--
(1) In general.--The potential wilderness area, as modified
under subsection (g), shall be designated as wilderness and
as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System
on the earlier of--
(A) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the
Federal Register notice that the trail reconstruction,
realignment, or rerouting authorized by subsection (d) has
been completed; or
(B) the date that is 20 years after the date of enactment
of this Act.
(2) Administration of wilderness.--On designation as
wilderness under this section, the potential wilderness area
shall be--
(A) incorporated into the Machesna Mountain Wilderness
Area, as designated by the California Wilderness Act of 1984
(Public Law 98-425; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note) and expanded by
section 303; and
(B) administered in accordance with section 305 and the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
SEC. 305. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS.
(a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
wilderness areas shall be administered by the Secretary in
accordance with this title and the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131 et seq.), except that--
(1) any reference in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.) to the effective date of that Act shall be considered
to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) any reference in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.) to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to
be a reference to the Secretary that has jurisdiction over
the wilderness area.
(b) Fire Management and Related Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may take any measures in a
wilderness area as are necessary for the control of fire,
insects, and diseases in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and House Report
98-40 of the 98th Congress.
(2) Funding priorities.--Nothing in this title limits
funding for fire and fuels management in the wilderness
areas.
(3) Revision and development of local fire management
plans.--As soon as practicable
[[Page H1079]]
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
amend the local information in the Fire Management Reference
System or individual operational plans that apply to the land
designated as a wilderness area.
(4) Administration.--Consistent with paragraph (1) and
other applicable Federal law, to ensure a timely and
efficient response to fire emergencies in the wilderness
areas, the Secretary shall enter into agreements with
appropriate State or local firefighting agencies.
(c) Grazing.--The grazing of livestock in the wilderness
areas, if established before the date of enactment of this
Act, shall be permitted to continue, subject to any
reasonable regulations as the Secretary considers necessary
in accordance with--
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(d)(4));
(2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of House Report
101-405, accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress for
land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior;
(3) the guidelines set forth in House Report 96-617,
accompanying H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress for land under
the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(4) all other laws governing livestock grazing on Federal
public land.
(d) Fish and Wildlife.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title
affects the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State
with respect to fish and wildlife on public land in the
State.
(2) Management activities.--In furtherance of the purposes
and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.), the Secretary may conduct any management activities
that are necessary to maintain or restore fish and wildlife
populations and habitats in the wilderness areas, if the
management activities are--
(A) consistent with relevant wilderness management plans;
(B) conducted in accordance with appropriate policies, such
as the policies established in Appendix B of House Report
101-405; and
(C) in accordance with memoranda of understanding between
the Federal agencies and the State Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
(e) Buffer Zones.--
(1) In general.--Congress does not intend for the
designation of wilderness areas by this title to lead to the
creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around each
wilderness area.
(2) Activities or uses up to boundaries.--The fact that
nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from
within a wilderness area shall not, of itself, preclude the
activities or uses up to the boundary of the wilderness area.
(f) Military Activities.--Nothing in this title precludes--
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the
wilderness areas;
(2) the designation of new units of special airspace over
the wilderness areas; or
(3) the use or establishment of military flight training
routes over wilderness areas.
(g) Horses.--Nothing in this title precludes horseback
riding in, or the entry of recreational saddle or pack stock
into, a wilderness area--
(1) in accordance with section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)); and
(2) subject to any terms and conditions determined to be
necessary by the Secretary.
(h) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
wilderness areas are withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and 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.
(i) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land
within the boundary of a wilderness area that is acquired by
the United States shall--
(1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is
located; and
(2) be managed in accordance with--
(A) this section;
(B) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
(C) any other applicable law.
(j) Climatological Data Collection.--In accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and subject to terms
and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary
may authorize the installation and maintenance of hydrologic,
meteorologic, or climatological collection devices in the
wilderness areas if the Secretary determines that the
facilities and access to the facilities are essential to
flood warning, flood control, or water reservoir operation
activities.
SEC. 306. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS.
(a) Indian Creek, Mono Creek, and Matilija Creek,
California.--Section 3(a) of the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(231) Indian creek, california.--The following segments
of Indian Creek in the State of California, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 9.5-mile segment of Indian Creek from its source
in sec. 19, T. 7 N., R. 26 W., to the Dick Smith Wilderness
boundary, as a wild river.
``(B) The 1-mile segment of Indian Creek from the Dick
Smith Wilderness boundary to 0.25 miles downstream of Road
6N24, as a scenic river.
``(C) The 3.9-mile segment of Indian Creek from 0.25 miles
downstream of Road 6N24 to the southern boundary of sec. 32,
T. 6 N., R. 26 W., as a wild river.
``(232) Mono creek, california.--The following segments of
Mono Creek in the State of California, to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 4.2-mile segment of Mono Creek from its source in
sec. 1, T. 7 N., R. 26 W., to 0.25 miles upstream of Don
Victor Fire Road in sec. 28, T. 7 N., R. 25 W., as a wild
river.
``(B) The 2.1-mile segment of Mono Creek from 0.25 miles
upstream of the Don Victor Fire Road in sec. 28, T. 7 N., R.
25 W., to 0.25 miles downstream of Don Victor Fire Road in
sec. 34, T. 7 N., R. 25 W., as a recreational river.
``(C) The 14.7-mile segment of Mono Creek from 0.25 miles
downstream of Don Victor Fire Road in sec. 34, T. 7 N., R. 25
W., to the Ogilvy Ranch private property boundary in sec. 22,
T. 6 N., R. 26 W., as a wild river.
``(D) The 3.5-mile segment of Mono Creek from the Ogilvy
Ranch private property boundary to the southern boundary of
sec. 33, T. 6 N., R. 26 W., as a recreational river.
``(233) Matilija creek, california.--The following segments
of Matilija Creek in the State of California, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 7.2-mile segment of the Matilija Creek from its
source in sec. 25, T. 6 N., R. 25 W., to the private property
boundary in sec. 9, T. 5 N., R. 24 W., as a wild river.
``(B) The 7.25-mile segment of the Upper North Fork
Matilija Creek from its source in sec. 36, T. 6 N., R. 24 W.,
to the Matilija Wilderness boundary, as a wild river.''.
(b) Sespe Creek, California.--Section 3(a) of the National
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by
striking paragraph (142) and inserting the following:
``(142) Sespe creek, california.--The following segments of
Sespe Creek in the State of California, to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 2.7-mile segment of Sespe Creek from the private
property boundary in sec. 10, T. 6 N., R. 24 W., to the
Hartman Ranch private property boundary in sec. 14, T. 6 N.,
R. 24 W., as a wild river.
``(B) The 15-mile segment of Sespe Creek from the Hartman
Ranch private property boundary in sec. 14, T. 6 N., R. 24
W., to the western boundary of sec. 6, T. 5 N., R. 22 W., as
a recreational river.
``(C) The 6.1-mile segment of Sespe Creek from the western
boundary of sec. 6, T. 5 N., R. 22 W., to the confluence with
Trout Creek, as a scenic river.
``(D) The 28.6-mile segment of Sespe Creek from the
confluence with Trout Creek to the southern boundary of sec.
35, T. 5 N., R. 20 W., as a wild river.''.
(c) Sisquoc River, California.--Section 3(a) of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is
amended by striking paragraph (143) and inserting the
following:
``(143) Sisquoc river, california.--The following segments
of the Sisquoc River and its tributaries in the State of
California, to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture:
``(A) The 33-mile segment of the main stem of the Sisquoc
River extending from its origin downstream to the Los Padres
Forest boundary, as a wild river.
``(B) The 4.2-mile segment of the South Fork Sisquoc River
from its source northeast of San Rafael Mountain in sec. 2,
T. 7 N., R. 28 W., to its confluence with the Sisquoc River,
as a wild river.
``(C) The 10.4-mile segment of Manzana Creek from its
source west of San Rafael Peak in sec. 4, T. 7 N., R. 28 W.,
to the San Rafael Wilderness boundary upstream of Nira
Campground, as a wild river.
``(D) The 0.6-mile segment of Manzana Creek from the San
Rafael Wilderness boundary upstream of the Nira Campground to
the San Rafael Wilderness boundary downstream of the
confluence of Davy Brown Creek, as a recreational river.
``(E) The 5.8-mile segment of Manzana Creek from the San
Rafael Wilderness boundary downstream of the confluence of
Davy Brown Creek to the private property boundary in sec. 1,
T. 8 N., R. 30 W., as a wild river.
``(F) The 3.8-mile segment of Manzana Creek from the
private property boundary in sec. 1, T. 8 N., R. 30 W., to
the confluence of the Sisquoc River, as a recreational river.
``(G) The 3.4-mile segment of Davy Brown Creek from its
source west of Ranger Peak in sec. 32, T. 8 N., R. 29 W., to
300 feet upstream of its confluence with Munch Canyon, as a
wild river.
``(H) The 1.4-mile segment of Davy Brown Creek from 300
feet upstream of its confluence with Munch Canyon to its
confluence with Manzana Creek, as a recreational river.
``(I) The 2-mile segment of Munch Canyon from its source
north of Ranger Peak in sec. 33, T. 8 N., R. 29 W., to 300
feet upstream of its confluence with Sunset Valley Creek, as
a wild river.
``(J) The 0.5-mile segment of Munch Canyon from 300 feet
upstream of its confluence with Sunset Valley Creek to its
confluence with Davy Brown Creek, as a recreational river.
``(K) The 2.6-mile segment of Fish Creek from 500 feet
downstream of Sunset Valley Road to its confluence with
Manzana Creek, as a wild river.
``(L) The 1.5-mile segment of East Fork Fish Creek from its
source in sec. 26, T. 8 N., R. 29 W., to its confluence with
Fish Creek, as a wild river.''.
(d) Piru Creek, California.--Section 3(a) of the National
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by
striking paragraph (199) and inserting the following:
``(199) Piru creek, california.--The following segments of
Piru Creek in the State of California, to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture:
``(A) The 9.1-mile segment of Piru Creek from its source in
sec. 3, T. 6 N., R. 22 W., to the private property boundary
in sec. 4, T. 6 N., R. 21 W., as a wild river.
[[Page H1080]]
``(B) The 17.2-mile segment of Piru Creek from the private
property boundary in sec. 4, T. 6 N., R. 21 W., to 0.25 miles
downstream of the Gold Hill Road, as a scenic river.
``(C) The 4.1-mile segment of Piru Creek from 0.25 miles
downstream of Gold Hill Road to the confluence with Trail
Canyon, as a wild river.
``(D) The 7.25-mile segment of Piru Creek from the
confluence with Trail Canyon to the confluence with Buck
Creek, as a scenic river.
``(E) The 3-mile segment of Piru Creek from 0.5 miles
downstream of Pyramid Dam at the first bridge crossing to the
boundary of the Sespe Wilderness, as a recreational river.
``(F) The 13-mile segment of Piru Creek from the boundary
of the Sespe Wilderness to the boundary of the Sespe
Wilderness, as a wild river.
``(G) The 2.2-mile segment of Piru Creek from the boundary
of the Sespe Wilderness to the upper limit of Piru Reservoir,
as a recreational river.''.
(e) Effect.--The designation of additional miles of Piru
Creek under subsection (d) shall not affect valid water
rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.
(f) Motorized Use of Trails.--Nothing in this section
(including the amendments made by this section) affects the
motorized use of trails designated by the Forest Service for
motorized use that are located adjacent to and crossing upper
Piru Creek, if the use is consistent with the protection and
enhancement of river values under the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.).
SEC. 307. DESIGNATION OF THE FOX MOUNTAIN POTENTIAL
WILDERNESS.
(a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain land in the
Los Padres National Forest comprising approximately 41,082
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Fox
Mountain Potential Wilderness Area'' and dated November 14,
2019, is designated as the Fox Mountain Potential Wilderness
Area.
(b) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
file a map and a legal description of the Fox Mountain
Potential Wilderness Area (referred to in this section as the
``potential wilderness area'') with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, except that the Secretary of
Agriculture may correct any clerical and typographical errors
in the map and legal description.
(3) Public availability.--The map and legal description
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest
Service.
(c) Management.--Except as provided in subsection (d) and
subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall manage
the potential wilderness area in accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(d) Trail Use Construction, Reconstruction, and
Realignment.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with paragraph (2), the
Secretary of Agriculture may--
(A) construct a new trail for use by hikers, equestrians,
and mechanized vehicles that connects the Aliso Park
Campground to the Bull Ridge Trail; and
(B) reconstruct or realign--
(i) the Bull Ridge Trail; and
(ii) the Rocky Ridge Trail.
(2) Requirement.--In carrying out the construction,
reconstruction, or alignment under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall--
(A) comply with all existing laws (including regulations);
and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, use the minimum tool
or administrative practice necessary to accomplish the
construction, reconstruction, or alignment with the least
amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and
resources.
(3) Motorized vehicles and machinery.--In accordance with
paragraph (2), the Secretary may use motorized vehicles and
machinery to carry out the trail construction,
reconstruction, or realignment authorized by this subsection.
(4) Mechanized vehicles.--The Secretary may permit the use
of mechanized vehicles on the existing Bull Ridge Trail and
Rocky Ridge Trail in accordance with existing law (including
regulations) and this subsection until such date as the
potential wilderness area is designated as wilderness in
accordance with subsection (h).
(e) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
Federal land in the potential wilderness area 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.
(f) Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out this section,
the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with
State, Tribal, and local governmental entities and private
entities to complete the trail construction, reconstruction,
and realignment authorized by subsection (d).
(g) Boundaries.--The Secretary shall modify the boundary of
the potential wilderness area to exclude any area within 50
feet of the centerline of the new location of any trail that
has been constructed, reconstructed, or realigned under
subsection (d).
(h) Wilderness Designation.--
(1) In general.--The potential wilderness area, as modified
under subsection (g), shall be designated as wilderness and
as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System
on the earlier of--
(A) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the
Federal Register notice that the trail construction,
reconstruction, or alignment authorized by subsection (d) has
been completed; or
(B) the date that is 20 years after the date of enactment
of this Act.
(2) Administration of wilderness.--On designation as
wilderness under this section, the potential wilderness area
shall be--
(A) incorporated into the San Rafael Wilderness, as
designated by Public Law 90-271 (82 Stat. 51), the California
Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-425; 16 U.S.C. 1132
note), and the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection
Act (Public Law 102-301; 106 Stat. 242), and section 303; and
(B) administered in accordance with section 305 and the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
SEC. 308. DESIGNATION OF SCENIC AREAS.
(a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, there
are established the following scenic areas:
(1) Condor ridge scenic area.--Certain land in the Los
Padres National Forest comprising approximately 18,666 acres,
as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Condor Ridge
Scenic Area--Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019, which shall
be known as the ``Condor Ridge Scenic Area''.
(2) Black mountain scenic area.--Certain land in the Los
Padres National Forest and the Bakersfield Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 16,216
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Black
Mountain Scenic Area--Proposed'' and dated March 29, 2019,
which shall be known as the ``Black Mountain Scenic Area''.
(b) Maps and Legal Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
file a map and legal description of the Condor Ridge Scenic
Area and Black Mountain Scenic Area with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The maps and legal descriptions filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, except that the Secretary of
Agriculture may correct any clerical and typographical errors
in the maps and legal descriptions.
(3) Public availability.--The maps and legal descriptions
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest
Service and Bureau of Land Management.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the scenic areas is to
conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment
of present and future generations the ecological, scenic,
wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural,
educational, and scientific resources of the scenic areas.
(d) Management.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the scenic
areas--
(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the
resources of the scenic areas, and in particular the scenic
character attributes of the scenic areas; and
(B) in accordance with--
(i) this section;
(ii) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.) for land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior;
(iii) any laws (including regulations) relating to the
National Forest System, for land under the jurisdiction of
the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(iv) any other applicable law (including regulations).
(2) Uses.--The Secretary shall only allow those uses of the
scenic areas that the Secretary determines would further the
purposes described in subsection (c).
(e) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
Federal land in the scenic areas 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.
(f) Prohibited Uses.--The following shall be prohibited on
the Federal land within the scenic areas:
(1) Permanent roads.
(2) Permanent structures.
(3) Timber harvesting except when necessary for the
purposes described in subsection (g).
(4) Transmission lines.
(5) Except as necessary to meet the minimum requirements
for the administration of the scenic areas and to protect
public health and safety--
(A) the use of motorized vehicles; or
(B) the establishment of temporary roads.
(6) Commercial enterprises, except as necessary for
realizing the purposes of the scenic areas.
(g) Wildfire, Insect, and Disease Management.--Consistent
with this section, the Secretary may take any measures in the
scenic areas that the Secretary determines to be necessary to
control fire, insects, and diseases, including, as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate, the coordination of
those activities with the State or a local agency.
(h) Adjacent Management.--The fact that an otherwise
authorized activity or use can be seen or heard within a
scenic area shall not preclude the activity or use outside
the boundary of the scenic area.
SEC. 309. CONDOR NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.
(a) In General.--The contiguous trail established pursuant
to this section shall be known
[[Page H1081]]
as the ``Condor National Scenic Trail'' named after the
California condor, a critically endangered bird species that
lives along the extent of the trail corridor.
(b) Purpose.--The purposes of the Condor National Scenic
Trail are to--
(1) provide a continual extended hiking corridor that
connects the southern and northern portions of the Los Padres
National Forest, spanning the entire length of the forest
along the coastal mountains of southern and central
California; and
(2) provide for the public enjoyment of the nationally
significant scenic, historic, natural, and cultural qualities
of the Los Padres National Forest.
(c) Amendment.--Section 5(a) of the National Trails System
Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(31) Condor national scenic trail.--
``(A) In general.--The Condor National Scenic Trail, a
trail extending approximately 400 miles from Lake Piru in the
southern portion of the Los Padres National Forest to the
Bottchers Gap Campground in northern portion of the Los
Padres National Forest.
``(B) Administration.--The trail shall be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with--
``(i) other Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local
agencies;
``(ii) private landowners; and
``(iii) other interested organizations.
``(C) Recreational uses.--Notwithstanding section 7(c), the
use of motorized vehicles on roads or trails included in the
Condor National Scenic Trail on which motorized vehicles are
permitted as of the date of enactment of this paragraph may
be permitted.
``(D) Private property rights.--
``(i) Prohibition.--The Secretary shall not acquire for the
trail any land or interest in land outside the exterior
boundary of any federally managed area without the consent of
the owner of land or interest in land.
``(ii) Effect.--Nothing in this paragraph--
``(I) requires any private property owner to allow public
access (including Federal, State, or local government access)
to private property; or
``(II) modifies any provision of Federal, State, or local
law with respect to public access to or use of private land.
``(E) Realignment.--The Secretary of Agriculture may
realign segments of the Condor National Scenic Trail as
necessary to fulfill the purposes of the trail.
``(F) Map.--A map generally depicting the trail described
in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public
inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest
Service.''.
(d) Study.--
(1) Study required.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, in accordance with this section,
the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study that--
(A) addresses the feasibility of, and alternatives for,
connecting the northern and southern portions of the Los
Padres National Forest by establishing a trail across the
applicable portions of the northern and southern Santa Lucia
Mountains of the southern California Coastal Range; and
(B) considers realignment of the trail or construction of
new trail segments to avoid existing trail segments that
currently allow motorized vehicles.
(2) Contents.--In carrying out the study required by
paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(A) conform to the requirements for national scenic trail
studies described in section 5(b) of the National Trails
System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b));
(B) provide for a continual hiking route through and
connecting the southern and northern sections of the Los
Padres National Forest;
(C) promote recreational, scenic, wilderness and cultural
values;
(D) enhance connectivity with the overall National Forest
trail system;
(E) consider new connectors and realignment of existing
trails;
(F) emphasize safe and continuous public access, dispersal
from high-use areas, and suitable water sources; and
(G) to the extent practicable, provide all-year use.
(3) Additional requirement.--In completing the study
required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall
consult with--
(A) appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local
agencies;
(B) private landowners;
(C) nongovernmental organizations; and
(D) members of the public.
(4) Submission.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall submit
the study required by paragraph (1) to--
(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(5) Additions and alterations to the condor national scenic
trail.--
(A) In general.--Upon completion of the study required by
paragraph (1), if the Secretary of Agriculture determines
that additional or alternative trail segments are feasible
for inclusion in the Condor National Scenic Trail, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall include those segments in the
Condor National Scenic Trail.
(B) Effective date.--Additions or alternations to the
Condor National Scenic Trail shall be effective on the date
the Secretary of Agriculture publishes in the Federal
Register notice that the additional or alternative segments
are included in the Condor National Scenic Trail.
(e) Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out this section
(including the amendments made by this section), the
Secretary of Agriculture may enter into cooperative
agreements with State, Tribal, and local government entities
and private entities to complete needed trail construction,
reconstruction, and realignment projects authorized by this
section (including the amendments made by this section).
SEC. 310. FOREST SERVICE STUDY.
Not later than 6 years after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service) shall study the feasibility of opening
a new trail, for vehicles measuring 50 inches or less,
connecting Forest Service Highway 95 to the existing off-
highway vehicle trail system in the Ballinger Canyon off-
highway vehicle area.
SEC. 311. NONMOTORIZED RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.
Not later than 6 years after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with
interested parties, shall conduct a study to improve
nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities (including
mountain bicycling) on land not designated as wilderness
within the Santa Barbara, Ojai, and Mt. Pinos ranger
districts.
SEC. 312. USE BY MEMBERS OF TRIBES.
(a) Access.--The Secretary shall ensure that Tribes have
access, in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131
et seq.), to the wilderness areas, scenic areas, and
potential wilderness areas designated by this title for
traditional cultural and religious purposes.
(b) Temporary Closures.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary, on request of a Tribe, may temporarily close to
the general public one or more specific portions of a
wilderness area, scenic area, or potential wilderness area
designated by this title to protect the privacy of the
members of the Tribe in the conduct of traditional cultural
and religious activities.
(2) Requirement.--Any closure under paragraph (1) shall
be--
(A) 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; and
(B) be consistent with the purpose and intent of Public Law
95-341 (commonly known as the American Indian Religious
Freedom Act) (42 U.S.C. 1996) and the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
TITLE IV--SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS FOOTHILLS AND RIVERS PROTECTION
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
This title may be cited as the ``San Gabriel Mountains
Foothills and Rivers Protection Act''.
SEC. 402. DEFINITION OF STATE.
In this title, the term ``State'' means the State of
California.
Subtitle A--SAN GABRIEL NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
SEC. 411. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this subtitle are--
(1) to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and
enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological,
scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical,
natural, educational, and scientific resources of the
Recreation Area;
(2) to provide environmentally responsible, well-managed
recreational opportunities within the Recreation Area;
(3) to improve access to and from the Recreation Area;
(4) to provide expanded educational and interpretive
services to increase public understanding of, and
appreciation for, the natural and cultural resources of the
Recreation Area;
(5) to facilitate the cooperative management of the land
and resources within the Recreation Area, in collaboration
with the State and political subdivisions of the State,
historical, business, cultural, civic, recreational, tourism
and other nongovernmental organizations, and the public; and
(6) to allow the continued use of the Recreation Area by
all individuals, entities, and local government agencies in
activities relating to integrated water management, flood
protection, water conservation, water quality, water rights,
water supply, groundwater recharge and monitoring, wastewater
treatment, public roads and bridges, and utilities within or
adjacent to the Recreation Area.
SEC. 412. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Adjudication.--The term ``adjudication'' means any
final judgment, order, ruling, or decree entered in any
judicial proceeding adjudicating or affecting water rights,
surface water management, or groundwater management.
(2) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' means
the San Gabriel National Recreation Area Public Advisory
Council established under section 417(a).
(3) Federal lands.--The term ``Federal lands'' means--
(A) public lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
the Interior; and
(B) lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
Defense, acting through the Chief of Engineers.
(4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
the management plan for the Recreation Area required under
section 414(d).
(5) Partnership.--The term ``Partnership'' means the San
Gabriel National Recreation Area Partnership established by
section 418(a).
(6) Public water system.--The term ``public water system''
has the meaning given the term in 42 U.S.C. 300(f)(4) or in
section 116275 of the California Health and Safety Code.
(6) Recreation area.--The term ``Recreation Area'' means
the San Gabriel National Recreation Area established by
section 413(a).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(8) Utility facility.--The term ``utility facility''
means--
[[Page H1082]]
(A) any electric substations, communication facilities,
towers, poles, and lines, ground wires, communication
circuits, and other structures, and related infrastructure;
and
(B) any such facilities associated with a public water
system.
(9) Water resource facility.--The term ``water resource
facility'' means irrigation and pumping facilities, dams and
reservoirs, flood control facilities, water conservation
works, including debris protection facilities, sediment
placement sites, rain gauges and stream gauges, water quality
facilities, recycled water facilities, water pumping,
conveyance and distribution systems, water storage tanks and
reservoirs, and water treatment facilities, aqueducts,
canals, ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, and
transmission and other ancillary facilities, groundwater
recharge facilities, water conservation, water filtration
plants, and other water diversion, conservation, groundwater
recharge, storage, and carriage structures.
SEC. 413. SAN GABRIEL NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.
(a) Establishment; Boundaries.--Subject to valid existing
rights, there is established as a unit of the National Park
System in the State the San Gabriel National Recreation Area
depicted as the ``Proposed San Gabriel National Recreation
Area'' on the map entitled ``San Gabriel National Recreation
Area Proposed Boundary,'' numbered 503/152,737, and dated
July 2019.
(b) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and
a legal description of the Recreation Area with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this title, except that the Secretary may
correct any clerical or typographical error in the map or
legal description.
(3) Public availability.--The map and legal description
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National
Park Service.
(c) Administration and Jurisdiction.--
(1) Public lands.--The public lands included in the
Recreation Area shall be administered by the Secretary,
acting through the Director of the National Park Service.
(2) Department of defense land.--Although certain Federal
lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense are
included in the recreation area, nothing in this subtitle
transfers administration jurisdiction of such Federal lands
from the Secretary of Defense or otherwise affects Federal
lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense.
(3) State and local jurisdiction.--Nothing in this subtitle
alters, modifies, or diminishes any right, responsibility,
power, authority, jurisdiction, or entitlement of the State,
a political subdivision of the State, including, but not
limited to courts of competent jurisdiction, regulatory
commissions, boards, and departments, or any State or local
agency under any applicable Federal, State, or local law
(including regulations).
SEC. 414. MANAGEMENT.
(a) National Park System.--Subject to valid existing
rights, the Secretary shall manage the public lands included
in the Recreation Area in a manner that protects and enhances
the natural resources and values of the public lands, in
accordance with--
(1) this subtitle;
(2) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections
100751(a), 100752, 100753 and 102101 of title 54, United
States Code (formerly known as the ``National Park Service
Organic Act'');
(3) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
Park System; and
(4) other applicable law, regulations, adjudications, and
orders.
(b) Cooperation With Secretary of Defense.--The Secretary
shall cooperate with the Secretary of Defense to develop
opportunities for the management of the Federal land under
the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense included in the
Recreation Area in accordance with the purposes described in
section 411, to the maximum extent practicable.
(c) Treatment of Non-federal Land.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this subtitle--
(A) authorizes the Secretary to take any action that would
affect the use of any land not owned by the United States
within the Recreation Area;
(B) affects the use of, or access to, any non-Federal land
within the Recreation Area;
(C) modifies any provision of Federal, State, or local law
with respect to public access to, or use of, non-Federal
land;
(D) requires any owner of non-Federal land to allow public
access (including Federal, State, or local government access)
to private property or any other non-Federal land;
(E) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved
land use plan, or any other regulatory authority of any State
or local agency or unit of Tribal government;
(F) creates any liability, or affects any liability under
any other law, of any private property owner or other owner
of non-Federal land with respect to any person injured on the
private property or other non-Federal land;
(G) conveys to the Partnership any land use or other
regulatory authority;
(H) shall be construed to cause any Federal, State, or
local regulation or permit requirement intended to apply to
units of the National Park System to affect the Federal lands
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense or non-
Federal lands within the boundaries of the recreation area;
or
(I) requires any local government to participate in any
program administered by the Secretary.
(2) Cooperation.--The Secretary is encouraged to work with
owners of non-Federal land who have agreed to cooperate with
the Secretary to advance the purposes of this subtitle.
(3) Buffer zones.--
(A) In general.--Nothing in this subtitle establishes any
protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Recreation
Area.
(B) Activities or uses up to boundaries.--The fact that an
activity or use of land can be seen or heard from within the
Recreation Area shall not preclude the activity or land use
up to the boundary of the Recreation Area.
(4) Facilities.--Nothing in this subtitle affects the
operation, maintenance, modification, construction,
destruction, removal, relocation, improvement or expansion of
any water resource facility or public water system, or any
solid waste, sanitary sewer, water or waste-water treatment,
groundwater recharge or conservation, hydroelectric,
conveyance distribution system, recycled water facility, or
utility facility located within or adjacent to the Recreation
Area.
(5) Exemption.--Section 100903 of title 54, United States
Code, shall not apply to the Puente Hills landfill, materials
recovery facility, or intermodal facility.
(d) Management Plan.--
(1) Deadline.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Advisory Council
shall establish a comprehensive management plan for the
Recreation Area that supports the purposes described in
section 411.
(2) Use of existing plans.--In developing the management
plan, to the extent consistent with this section, the
Secretary may incorporate any provision of a land use or
other plan applicable to the public lands included in the
Recreation Area.
(3) Incorporation of visitor services plan.--To the maximum
extent practicable, the Secretary shall incorporate into the
management plan the visitor services plan under section
419(a)(2).
(4) Partnership.--In developing the management plan, the
Secretary shall consider recommendations of the Partnership.
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall
incorporate recommendations of the Partnership into the
management plan if the Secretary determines that the
recommendations are feasible and consistent with the purposes
in section 411, this subtitle, and applicable laws (including
regulations).
(e) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this subtitle affects
the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish or
wildlife located on public lands in the State.
SEC. 415. ACQUISITION OF NON-FEDERAL LAND WITHIN RECREATION
AREA.
(a) Limited Acquisition Authority.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
may acquire non-Federal land within the boundaries of the
Recreation Area only through exchange, donation, or purchase
from a willing seller.
(2) Additional requirement.--As a further condition on the
acquisition of land, the Secretary shall make a determination
that the land contains important biological, cultural,
historic, or recreational values.
(b) Prohibition on Use of Eminent Domain.--Nothing in this
subtitle authorizes the use of eminent domain to acquire land
or an interest in land.
(c) Treatment of Acquired Land.--Any land or interest in
land acquired by the United States within the boundaries of
the Recreation Area shall be--
(1) included in the Recreation Area; and
(2) administered by the Secretary in accordance with--
(A) this subtitle; and
(B) other applicable laws (including regulations).
SEC. 416. WATER RIGHTS; WATER RESOURCE FACILITIES; PUBLIC
ROADS; UTILITY FACILITIES.
(a) No Effect on Water Rights.--Nothing in this subtitle or
section 422--
(1) shall affect the use or allocation, as in existence on
the date of the enactment of this Act, of any water, water
right, or interest in water (including potable, recycled,
reclaimed, waste, imported, exported, banked, or stored
water, surface water, groundwater, and public trust
interest);
(2) shall affect any public or private contract in
existence on the date of the enactment of this Act for the
sale, lease, loan, or transfer of any water (including
potable, recycled, reclaimed, waste, imported, exported,
banked, or stored water, surface water, and groundwater);
(3) shall be considered to be a relinquishment or reduction
of any water rights reserved or appropriated by the United
States in the State on or before the date of the enactment of
this Act;
(4) authorizes or imposes any new reserved Federal water
right or expands water usage pursuant to any existing Federal
reserved, riparian or appropriative right;
(5) shall be considered a relinquishment or reduction of
any water rights (including potable, recycled, reclaimed,
waste, imported, exported, banked, or stored water, surface
water, and groundwater) held, reserved, or appropriated by
any public entity or other persons or entities, on or before
the date of the enactment of this Act;
(6) shall be construed to, or shall interfere or conflict
with the exercise of the powers or duties of any watermaster,
public agency, public water system, court of competent
jurisdiction, or other body or entity responsible for
groundwater or surface water management or groundwater
replenishment as designated or established pursuant to any
adjudication or Federal or State law, including the
management of the San Gabriel River watershed and basin, to
provide water supply or other environmental benefits;
[[Page H1083]]
(7) shall be construed to impede or adversely impact any
previously adopted Los Angeles County Drainage Area project,
as described in the report of the Chief of Engineers dated
June 30, 1992, including any supplement or addendum to that
report, or any maintenance agreement to operate that project;
(8) shall interfere or conflict with any action by a
watermaster, water agency, public water system, court of
competent jurisdiction, or public agency pursuant to any
Federal or State law, water right, or adjudication, including
any action relating to water conservation, water quality,
surface water diversion or impoundment, groundwater recharge,
water treatment, conservation or storage of water, pollution,
waste discharge, the pumping of groundwater; the spreading,
injection, pumping, storage, or the use of water from local
sources, storm water flows, and runoff, or from imported or
recycled water, that is undertaken in connection with the
management or regulation of the San Gabriel River;
(9) shall interfere with, obstruct, hinder, or delay the
exercise of, or access to, any water right by the owner of a
public water system or any other individual or entity,
including the construction, operation, maintenance,
replacement, removal, repair, location, or relocation of any
well; pipeline; or water pumping, treatment, diversion,
impoundment, or storage facility; or other facility or
property necessary or useful to access any water right or
operate an public water system;
(10) shall require the initiation or reinitiation of
consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
under, or the application of any provision of, the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) relating to any
action affecting any water, water right, or water management
or water resource facility in the San Gabriel River watershed
and basin; or
(11) authorizes any agency or employee of the United
States, or any other person, to take any action inconsistent
with any of paragraphs (1) through (10).
(b) Water Resource Facilities.--
(1) No effect on existing water resource facilities.--
Nothing in this subtitle or section 422 shall affect--
(A) the use, operation, maintenance, repair, construction,
destruction, removal, reconfiguration, expansion, improvement
or replacement of a water resource facility or public water
system within or adjacent to the Recreation Area or San
Gabriel Mountains National Monument; or
(B) access to a water resource facility within or adjacent
to the Recreation Area or San Gabriel Mountains National
Monument.
(2) No effect on new water resource facilities.--Nothing in
this subtitle or section 422 shall preclude the establishment
of a new water resource facility (including instream sites,
routes, and areas) within the Recreation Area or San Gabriel
Mountains National Monument if the water resource facility or
public water system is necessary to preserve or enhance the
health, safety, reliability, quality or accessibility of
water supply, or utility services to residents of Los Angeles
County.
(3) Flood control.--Nothing in this subtitle or section 422
shall be construed to--
(A) impose any new restriction or requirement on flood
protection, water conservation, water supply, groundwater
recharge, water transfers, or water quality operations and
maintenance; or
(B) increase the liability of an agency or public water
system carrying out flood protection, water conservation,
water supply, groundwater recharge, water transfers, or water
quality operations.
(4) Diversion or use of water.--Nothing in this subtitle or
section 422 shall authorize or require the use of water or
water rights in, or the diversion of water to, the Recreation
Area or San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
(c) Utility Facilities and Rights of Way.--Nothing in this
subtitle or section 422 shall--
(1) affect the use, operation, maintenance, repair,
construction, destruction, reconfiguration, expansion,
inspection, renewal, reconstruction, alteration, addition,
relocation, improvement, removal, or replacement of a utility
facility or appurtenant right-of-way within or adjacent to
the Recreation Area or San Gabriel Mountains National
Monument;
(2) affect access to a utility facility or right-of-way
within or adjacent to the Recreation Area or San Gabriel
Mountains National Monument; or
(3) preclude the establishment of a new utility facility or
right-of-way (including instream sites, routes, and areas)
within the Recreation Area or San Gabriel Mountains National
Monument if such a facility or right-of-way is necessary for
public health and safety, electricity supply, or other
utility services.
(d) Roads; Public Transit.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Public road.--The term ``public road'' means any paved
road or bridge (including any appurtenant structure and
right-of-way) that is--
(i) operated or maintained by a non-Federal entity; and
(ii)(I) open to vehicular use by the public; or
(II) used by a public agency or utility for the operation,
maintenance, improvement, repair, removal, relocation,
construction, destruction or rehabilitation of
infrastructure, a utility facility, or a right-of-way.
(B) Public transit.--The term ``public transit'' means any
transit service (including operations and rights-of-way) that
is--
(i) operated or maintained by a non-Federal entity; and
(ii)(I) open to the public; or
(II) used by a public agency or contractor for the
operation, maintenance, repair, construction, or
rehabilitation of infrastructure, a utility facility, or a
right-of-way.
(2) No effect on public roads or public transit.--Nothing
in this subtitle or section 422--
(A) authorizes the Secretary to take any action that would
affect the operation, maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation
of public roads or public transit (including activities
necessary to comply with Federal or State safety or public
transit standards); or
(B) creates any new liability, or increases any existing
liability, of an owner or operator of a public road.
SEC. 417. SAN GABRIEL NATIONAL RECREATION AREA PUBLIC
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish
an advisory council, to be known as the ``San Gabriel
National Recreation Area Public Advisory Council''.
(b) Duties.--The Advisory Council shall advise the
Secretary regarding the development and implementation of the
management plan and the visitor services plan.
(c) Applicable Law.--The Advisory Council shall be subject
to--
(1) the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.); and
(2) all other applicable laws (including regulations).
(d) Membership.--The Advisory Council shall consist of 22
members, to be appointed by the Secretary after taking into
consideration recommendations of the Partnership, of whom--
(1) 2 shall represent local, regional, or national
environmental organizations;
(2) 2 shall represent the interests of outdoor recreation,
including off-highway vehicle recreation, within the
Recreation Area;
(3) 2 shall represent the interests of community-based
organizations, the missions of which include expanding access
to the outdoors;
(4) 2 shall represent business interests;
(5) 1 shall represent Indian Tribes within or adjacent to
the Recreation Area;
(6) 1 shall represent the interests of homeowners'
associations within the Recreation Area;
(7) 3 shall represent the interests of holders of
adjudicated water rights, public water systems, water
agencies, wastewater and sewer agencies, recycled water
facilities, and water management and replenishment entities;
(8) 1 shall represent energy and mineral development
interests;
(9) 1 shall represent owners of Federal grazing permits or
other land use permits within the Recreation Area;
(10) 1 shall represent archaeological and historical
interests;
(11) 1 shall represent the interests of environmental
educators;
(12) 1 shall represent cultural history interests;
(13) 1 shall represent environmental justice interests;
(14) 1 shall represent electrical utility interests; and
(15) 2 shall represent the affected public at large.
(e) Terms.--
(1) Staggered terms.--A member of the Advisory Council
shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that, of the
members first appointed, 7 of the members shall be appointed
for a term of 1 year and 7 of the members shall be appointed
for a term of 2 years.
(2) Reappointment.--A member may be reappointed to serve on
the Advisory Council on the expiration of the term of service
of the member.
(3) Vacancy.--A vacancy on the Advisory Council shall be
filled in the same manner in which the original appointment
was made.
(f) Quorum.--A quorum shall be ten members of the advisory
council. The operations of the advisory council shall not be
impaired by the fact that a member has not yet been appointed
as long as a quorum has been attained.
(g) Chairperson; Procedures.--The Advisory Council shall
elect a chairperson and establish such rules and procedures
as the advisory council considers necessary or desirable.
(h) Service Without Compensation.--Members of the Advisory
Council shall serve without pay.
(i) Termination.--The Advisory Council shall cease to
exist--
(1) on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the
management plan is adopted by the Secretary; or
(2) on such later date as the Secretary considers to be
appropriate.
SEC. 418. SAN GABRIEL NATIONAL RECREATION AREA PARTNERSHIP.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a Partnership, to
be known as the ``San Gabriel National Recreation Area
Partnership''.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Partnership are to--
(1) coordinate the activities of Federal, State, Tribal,
and local authorities and the private sector in advancing the
purposes of this subtitle; and
(2) use the resources and expertise of each agency in
improving management and recreational opportunities within
the Recreation Area.
(c) Membership.--The Partnership shall include the
following:
(1) The Secretary (or a designee) to represent the National
Park Service.
(2) The Secretary of Defense (or a designee) to represent
the Corps of Engineers.
(3) The Secretary of Agriculture (or a designee) to
represent the Forest Service.
(4) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency of the
State (or a designee) to represent--
(A) the California Department of Parks and Recreation; and
(B) the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.
(5) 1 designee of the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors.
(6) 1 designee of the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation
Authority.
[[Page H1084]]
(7) 4 designees of the San Gabriel Council of Governments,
of whom 1 shall be selected from a local land conservancy.
(8) 1 designee of the San Gabriel Valley Economic
Partnership.
(9) 1 designee of the Los Angeles County Flood Control
District.
(10) 1 designee of the San Gabriel Valley Water
Association.
(11) 1 designee of the Central Basin Water Association.
(12) 1 designee of the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster.
(13) 1 designee of a public utility company, to be
appointed by the Secretary.
(14) 1 designee of the Watershed Conservation Authority.
(15) 1 designee of the Advisory Council for the period
during which the Advisory Council remains in effect.
(16) 1 designee of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Community Collaborative.
(d) Duties.--To advance the purposes described in section
411, the Partnership shall--
(1) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the
development and implementation of the management plan;
(2) review and comment on the visitor services plan under
section 419(a)(2), and facilitate the implementation of that
plan;
(3) assist units of local government, regional planning
organizations, and nonprofit organizations in advancing the
purposes of the Recreation Area by--
(A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize,
protect, and enhance important resource values within the
Recreation Area;
(B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and
programs within the Recreation Area;
(C) developing recreational and educational opportunities
in the Recreation Area in accordance with the purposes of
this subtitle;
(D) increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for,
natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources of the
Recreation Area;
(E) ensuring that signs identifying points of public access
and sites of interest are posted throughout the Recreation
Area;
(F) promoting a wide range of partnerships among
governments, organizations, and individuals to advance the
purposes of the Recreation Area; and
(G) ensuring that management of the Recreation Area takes
into consideration--
(i) local ordinances and land-use plans; and
(ii) adjacent residents and property owners;
(4) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the
appointment of members to the Advisory Council; and
(5) carry out any other actions necessary to achieve the
purposes of this subtitle.
(e) Authorities.--Subject to approval by the Secretary, for
the purposes of preparing and implementing the management
plan, the Partnership may use Federal funds made available
under this section--
(1) to make grants to the State, political subdivisions of
the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;
(2) to enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide
grants or technical assistance to, the State, political
subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, Federal
agencies, and other interested parties;
(3) to hire and compensate staff;
(4) to obtain funds or services from any source, including
funds and services provided under any other Federal law or
program;
(5) to contract for goods or services; and
(6) to support activities of partners and any other
activities that--
(A) advance the purposes of the Recreation Area; and
(B) are in accordance with the management plan.
(f) Terms of Office; Reappointment; Vacancies.--
(1) Terms.--A member of the Partnership shall be appointed
for a term of 3 years.
(2) Reappointment.--A member may be reappointed to serve on
the Partnership on the expiration of the term of service of
the member.
(3) Vacancy.--A vacancy on the Partnership shall be filled
in the same manner in which the original appointment was
made.
(g) Quorum.--A quorum shall be eleven members of the
Partnership. The operations of the Partnership shall not be
impaired by the fact that a member has not yet been appointed
as long as a quorum has been attained.
(h) Chairperson; Procedures.--The Partnership shall elect a
chairperson and establish such rules and procedures as it
deems necessary or desirable.
(i) Service Without Compensation.--A member of the
Partnership shall serve without compensation.
(j) Duties and Authorities of Secretary.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall convene the
Partnership on a regular basis to carry out this subtitle.
(2) Technical and financial assistance.--The Secretary may
provide to the Partnership or any member of the Partnership,
on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, such technical
and financial assistance as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate to carry out this subtitle.
(3) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may enter into a
cooperative agreement with the Partnership, a member of the
Partnership, or any other public or private entity to provide
technical, financial, or other assistance to carry out this
subtitle.
(4) Construction of facilities on non-federal land.--
(A) In general.--In order to facilitate the administration
of the Recreation Area, the Secretary is authorized, subject
to valid existing rights, to construct administrative or
visitor use facilities on land owned by a non-profit
organization, local agency, or other public entity in
accordance with this title and applicable law (including
regulations).
(B) Additional requirements.--A facility under this
paragraph may only be developed--
(i) with the consent of the owner of the non-Federal land;
and
(ii) in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and
local laws (including regulations) and plans.
(5) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to actions
that--
(A) conserve the significant natural, historic, cultural,
and scenic resources of the Recreation Area; and
(B) provide educational, interpretive, and recreational
opportunities consistent with the purposes of the Recreation
Area.
(k) Committees.--The Partnership shall establish--
(1) a Water Technical Advisory Committee to advise the
Secretary regarding water-related issues relating to the
Recreation Area; and
(2) a Public Safety Advisory Committee to advise the
Secretary regarding public safety issues relating to the
Recreation Area.
SEC. 419. VISITOR SERVICES AND FACILITIES.
(a) Visitor Services.--
(1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to
facilitate the development of an integrated visitor services
plan to improve visitor experiences in the Recreation Area
through expanded recreational opportunities and increased
interpretation, education, resource protection, and
enforcement.
(2) Visitor services plan.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and
carry out an integrated visitor services plan for the
Recreation Area in accordance with this paragraph.
(B) Contents.--The visitor services plan shall--
(i) assess current and anticipated future visitation to the
Recreation Area, including recreation destinations;
(ii) consider the demand for various types of recreation
(including hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, and the use
of motorized and mechanized vehicles), as permissible and
appropriate;
(iii) evaluate the impacts of recreation on natural and
cultural resources, water rights and water resource
facilities, public roads, adjacent residents and property
owners, and utilities within the Recreation Area, as well as
the effectiveness of current enforcement and efforts;
(iv) assess the current level of interpretive and
educational services and facilities;
(v) include recommendations to--
(I) expand opportunities for high-demand recreational
activities, in accordance with the purposes described in
section 411;
(II) better manage Recreation Area resources and improve
the experience of Recreation Area visitors through expanded
interpretive and educational services and facilities, and
improved enforcement; and
(III) better manage Recreation Area resources to reduce
negative impacts on the environment, ecology, and integrated
water management activities in the Recreation Area;
(vi) in coordination and consultation with affected owners
of non-Federal land, assess options to incorporate
recreational opportunities on non-Federal land into the
Recreation Area--
(I) in manner consistent with the purposes and uses of the
non-Federal land; and
(II) with the consent of the non-Federal landowner;
(vii) assess opportunities to provide recreational
opportunities that connect with adjacent National Forest
System land; and
(viii) be developed and carried out in accordance with
applicable Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances.
(C) Consultation.--In developing the visitor services plan,
the Secretary shall--
(i) consult with--
(I) the Partnership;
(II) the Advisory Council;
(III) appropriate State and local agencies; and
(IV) interested nongovernmental organizations; and
(ii) involve members of the public.
(b) Visitor Use Facilities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may construct visitor use
facilities in the Recreation Area.
(2) Requirements.--Each facility under paragraph (1) shall
be developed in accordance with applicable Federal, State,
and local--
(A) laws (including regulations); and
(B) plans.
(c) Donations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may accept and use donated
funds, property, in-kind contributions, and services to carry
out this subtitle.
(2) Prohibition.--The Secretary may not use the authority
provided by paragraph (1) to accept non-Federal land that has
been acquired after the date of the enactment of this Act
through the use of eminent domain.
(d) Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out this subtitle,
the Secretary may make grants to, or enter into cooperative
agreements with, units of State, Tribal, and local
governments and private entities to conduct research, develop
scientific analyses, and carry out any other initiative
relating to the management of, and visitation to, the
Recreation Area.
Subtitle B--SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS
SEC. 421. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(2) Wilderness area or addition.--The term ``wilderness
area or addition'' means any wilderness area or wilderness
addition designated by section 423(a).
[[Page H1085]]
SEC. 422. NATIONAL MONUMENT BOUNDARY MODIFICATION.
(a) In General.--The San Gabriel Mountains National
Monument established by Presidential Proclamation 9194 (54
U.S.C. 320301 note) (referred to in this section as the
``Monument'') is modified to include the approximately
109,167 acres of additional National Forest System land
depicted as the ``Proposed San Gabriel Mountains National
Monument Expansion'' on the map entitled ``Proposed San
Gabriel Mountains National Monument Expansion'' and dated
June 26, 2019.
(b) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the San
Gabriel Mountains National Monument, including the lands
added by subsection (a), in accordance with--
(1) Presidential Proclamation 9194, as issued on October
10, 2014 (54 U.S.C. 320301 note);
(2) the laws generally applicable to the Monument; and
(3) this title.
(c) Management Plan.--Within 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall consult with State
and local governments and the interested public to update the
existing San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Plan to
provide management direction and protection for the lands
added to the Monument by subsection (a).
SEC. 423. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS AND ADDITIONS.
(a) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following parcels of National
Forest System land in the State are designated as wilderness
and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation
System:
(1) Condor peak wilderness.--Certain Federal land in the
Angeles National Forest, comprising approximately 8,207
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Condor
Peak Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated June 6, 2019, which
shall be known as the ``Condor Peak Wilderness''.
(2) San gabriel wilderness additions.--Certain Federal land
in the Angeles National Forest, comprising approximately
2,032 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``San
Gabriel Wilderness Additions'' and dated June 6, 2019, which
is incorporated in, and considered to be a part of, the San
Gabriel Wilderness designated by Public Law 90-318 (16 U.S.C.
1132 note; 82 Stat. 131).
(3) Sheep mountain wilderness additions.--Certain Federal
land in the Angeles National Forest, comprising approximately
13,726 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
``Sheep Mountain Wilderness Additions'' and dated June 6,
2019, which is incorporated in, and considered to be a part
of, the Sheep Mountain Wilderness designated by section
101(a)(29) of the California Wilderness Act of 1984 (16
U.S.C. 1132 note; 98 Stat. 1623; Public Law 98-425).
(4) Yerba buena wilderness.--Certain Federal land in the
Angeles National Forest, comprising approximately 6,694
acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Yerba
Buena Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated June 6, 2019, which
shall be known as the ``Yerba Buena Wilderness''.
(b) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and
a legal description of the wilderness areas and additions
with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as
if included in this subtitle, except that the Secretary may
correct any clerical or typographical error in the map or
legal description.
(3) Public availability.--The map and legal description
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest
Service.
SEC. 424. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS AND ADDITIONS.
(a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
wilderness areas and additions shall be administered by the
Secretary in accordance with this section and the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in
that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be
considered to be a reference to the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(b) Fire Management and Related Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may take such measures in a
wilderness area or addition designated in section 423 as are
necessary for the control of fire, insects, or diseases in
accordance with--
(A) section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(d)(1)); and
(B) House Report 98-40 of the 98th Congress.
(2) Funding priorities.--Nothing in this subtitle limits
funding for fire or fuels management in a wilderness area or
addition.
(3) Revision and development of local fire management
plans.--As soon as practicable after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall amend, as
applicable, any local fire management plan that applies to a
wilderness area or addition designated in section 423.
(4) Administration.--In accordance with paragraph (1) and
any other applicable Federal law, to ensure a timely and
efficient response to a fire emergency in a wilderness area
or addition, the Secretary shall--
(A) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, establish agency approval procedures (including
appropriate delegations of authority to the Forest
Supervisor, District Manager, or other agency officials) for
responding to fire emergencies; and
(B) enter into agreements with appropriate State or local
firefighting agencies.
(c) Grazing.--The grazing of livestock in a wilderness area
or addition, if established before the date of the enactment
of this Act, shall be administered in accordance with--
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133(d)(4)); and
(2) the guidelines contained 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).
(d) Fish and Wildlife.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this
subtitle affects the jurisdiction or responsibility of the
State with respect to fish or wildlife on public land in the
State.
(2) Management activities.--
(A) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes and
principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.),
the Secretary may conduct any management activity that are
necessary to maintain or restore fish or wildlife populations
or habitats in the wilderness areas and wilderness additions
designated in section 423, if the management activities are--
(i) consistent with relevant wilderness management plans;
and
(ii) conducted in accordance with appropriate policies,
such as the policies established in Appendix B 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).
(B) Inclusions.--A management activity under subparagraph
(A) may include the occasional and temporary use of motorized
vehicles, if the use, as determined by the Secretary, would
promote healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed
wildlife populations that would enhance wilderness values
while causing the minimum impact necessary to accomplish
those tasks.
(C) Existing activities.--In accordance with section
4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and
appropriate policies (such as the policies established in
Appendix B of House Report 101-405), the State may use
aircraft (including helicopters) in a wilderness area or
addition to survey, capture, transplant, monitor, or provide
water for a wildlife population, including bighorn sheep.
(e) Buffer Zones.--
(1) In general.--Congress does not intend for the
designation of wilderness areas or wilderness additions by
section 423 to lead to the creation of protective perimeters
or buffer zones around each wilderness area or wilderness
addition.
(2) Activities or uses up to boundaries.--The fact that a
nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from
within a wilderness area or wilderness addition designated by
section 423 shall not, of itself, preclude the activities or
uses up to the boundary of the wilderness area or addition.
(f) Military Activities.--Nothing in this title precludes--
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the
wilderness areas or wilderness additions designated by
section 423;
(2) the designation of new units of special airspace over
the wilderness areas or wilderness additions designated by
section 423; or
(3) the use or establishment of military flight training
routes over wilderness areas or wilderness additions
designated by section 423.
(g) Horses.--Nothing in this subtitle precludes horseback
riding in, or the entry of recreational or commercial saddle
or pack stock into, an area designated as a wilderness area
or wilderness addition by section 423--
(1) in accordance with section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)); and
(2) subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary
determines to be necessary.
(h) Law Enforcement.--Nothing in this subtitle precludes
any law enforcement or drug interdiction effort within the
wilderness areas or wilderness additions designated by
section 423 in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131 et seq.).
(i) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
wilderness areas and additions designated by section 423 are
withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation of the mineral materials and geothermal
leasing laws.
(j) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interests.--Any land
within the boundary of a wilderness area or addition that is
acquired by the United States shall--
(1) become part of the wilderness area or addition in which
the land is located; and
(2) be managed in accordance with this section, the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and any other
applicable laws (including regulations).
(k) Climatological Data Collection.--In accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and subject to such
terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, the
Secretary may authorize the installation and maintenance of
hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological collection
devices in a wilderness area or addition if the Secretary
determines that the facilities and access to the facilities
is essential to a flood warning, flood control, or water
reservoir operation activity.
(l) Authorized Events.--The Secretary of Agriculture may
authorize the Angeles Crest 100 competitive running event to
continue in substantially the same manner and degree in which
this event was operated and permitted in 2015 within
additions to the Sheep Mountain Wilderness in section 423 of
this title and the Pleasant
[[Page H1086]]
View Ridge Wilderness Area designated by section 1802 of the
Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, provided that the
event is authorized and conducted in a manner compatible with
the preservation of the areas as wilderness.
SEC. 425. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS.
(a) Designation.--Section 3(a) of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(__) East fork san gabriel river, california.--The
following segments of the East Fork San Gabriel River, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in the following
classes:
``(A) The 10-mile segment from the confluence of the
Prairie Fork and Vincent Gulch to 100 yards upstream of the
Heaton Flats trailhead and day use area, as a wild river.
``(B) The 2.7-mile segment from 100 yards upstream of the
Heaton Flats trailhead and day use area to 100 yards upstream
of the confluence with Williams Canyon, as a recreational
river.
``(__) North fork san gabriel river, california.--The 4.3-
mile segment of the North Fork San Gabriel River from the
confluence with Cloudburst Canyon to 0.25 miles upstream of
the confluence with the West Fork San Gabriel River, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
recreational river.
``(__) West fork san gabriel river, california.--The
following segments of the West Fork San Gabriel River, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in the following
classes:
``(A) The 6.7-mile segment from 0.25 miles downstream of
its source near Red Box Gap in sec. 14, T. 2 N., R. 12 W., to
the confluence with the unnamed tributary 0.25 miles
downstream of the power lines in sec. 22, T. 2 N., R. 11 W.,
as a recreational river.
``(B) The 1.6-mile segment of the West Fork from 0.25 miles
downstream of the powerlines in sec. 22, T. 2 N., R. 11 W.,
to the confluence with Bobcat Canyon, as a wild river.
``(__) Little rock creek, california.--The following
segments of Little Rock Creek and tributaries, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in the following
classes:
``(A) The 10.3-mile segment from its source on Mt.
Williamson in sec. 6, T. 3 N., R. 9 W., to 100 yards upstream
of the confluence with the South Fork Little Rock Creek, as a
wild river.
``(B) The 6.6-mile segment from 100 yards upstream of the
confluence with the South Fork Little Rock Creek to the
confluence with Santiago Canyon, as a recreational river.
``(C) The 1-mile segment of Cooper Canyon Creek from 0.25
miles downstream of Highway 2 to 100 yards downstream of
Cooper Canyon Campground, as a scenic river.
``(D) The 1.3-mile segment of Cooper Canyon Creek from 100
yards downstream of Cooper Canyon Campground to the
confluence with Little Rock Creek, as a wild river.
``(E) The 1-mile segment of Buckhorn Creek from 100 yards
downstream of the Buckhorn Campground to its confluence with
Cooper Canyon Creek, as a wild river.''.
(b) Water Resource Facilities; and Water Use.--
(1) Water resource facilities.--
(A) Definition.--In this section, the term ``water resource
facility'' means irrigation and pumping facilities, dams and
reservoirs, flood control facilities, water conservation
works and facilities, including debris protection facilities,
sediment placement sites, rain gauges and stream gauges,
water quality facilities, recycled water facilities and water
pumping, conveyance distribution systems, water storage tanks
and reservoirs, and water treatment facilities, aqueducts,
canals, ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, and
transmission and other ancillary facilities, groundwater
recharge facilities, water conservation, water filtration
plants, and other water diversion, conservation, groundwater
recharge, storage, and carriage structures.
(B) No effect on existing water resource facilities.--
Nothing in this section shall alter, modify, or affect--
(i) the use, operation, maintenance, repair, construction,
destruction, reconfiguration, expansion, relocation or
replacement of a water resource facility downstream of a wild
and scenic river segment designated by this section, provided
that the physical structures of such facilities or reservoirs
shall not be located within the river areas designated in
this section; or
(ii) access to a water resource facility downstream of a
wild and scenic river segment designated by this section.
(C) No effect on new water resource facilities.--Nothing in
this section shall preclude the establishment of a new water
resource facilities (including instream sites, routes, and
areas) downstream of a wild and scenic river segment.
(2) Limitation.--Any new reservation of water or new use of
water pursuant to existing water rights held by the United
States to advance the purposes of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) shall be for
nonconsumptive instream use only within the segments
designated by this section.
(3) Existing law.--Nothing in this section affects the
implementation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
SEC. 426. WATER RIGHTS.
(a) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this title, and no
action to implement this title--
(1) shall constitute an express or implied reservation of
any water or water right, or authorizing an expansion of
water use pursuant to existing water rights held by the
United States, with respect to the San Gabriel Mountains
National Monument, the land designated as a wilderness area
or wilderness addition by section 423 or land adjacent to the
wild and scenic river segments designated by the amendment
made by section 425;
(2) shall affect, alter, modify, or condition any water
rights in the State in existence on the date of the enactment
of this Act, including any water rights held by the United
States;
(3) shall be construed as establishing a precedent with
regard to any future wilderness or wild and scenic river
designations;
(4) shall affect, alter, or modify the interpretation of,
or any designation, decision, adjudication or action made
pursuant to, any other Act; or
(5) shall be construed as limiting, altering, modifying, or
amending any of the interstate compacts or equitable
apportionment decrees that apportions water among or between
the State and any other State.
(b) State Water Law.--The Secretary shall comply with
applicable procedural and substantive requirements of the law
of the State in order to obtain and hold any water rights not
in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act with
respect to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument,
wilderness areas and wilderness additions designated by
section 423, and the wild and scenic rivers designated by
amendment made by section 425.
TITLE V--RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR PRESERVATION
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Rim of the Valley Corridor
Preservation Act''.
SEC. 502. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT; LAND ACQUISITION;
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Boundary Adjustment.--Section 507(c)(1) of the National
Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 460kk(c)(1)) is
amended in the first sentence by striking ``, which shall''
and inserting `` and generally depicted as `Rim of the Valley
Unit Proposed Addition' on the map entitled `Rim of the
Valley Unit--Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation
Area', numbered 638/147,723, and dated September 2018. Both
maps shall''.
(b) Rim of the Valley Unit.--Section 507 of the National
Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 460kk) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(u) Rim of the Valley Unit.--(1) Not later than 3 years
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the
Secretary shall update the general management plan for the
recreation area to reflect the boundaries designated on the
map referred to in subsection (c)(1) as the `Rim of the
Valley Unit' (hereafter in the subsection referred to as the
`Rim of the Valley Unit'). Subject to valid existing rights,
the Secretary shall administer the Rim of the Valley Unit,
and any land or interest in land acquired by the United
States and located within the boundaries of the Rim of the
Valley Unit, as part of the recreation area in accordance
with the provisions of this section and applicable laws and
regulations.
``(2) The Secretary may acquire non-Federal land within the
boundaries of the Rim of the Valley Unit only through
exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller.
Nothing in this subsection authorizes the use of eminent
domain to acquire land or interests in land.
``(3) Nothing in this subsection or the application of the
management plan for the Rim of the Valley Unit shall be
construed to--
``(A) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law
with respect to public access to or use of non-Federal land;
``(B) create any liability, or affect any liability under
any other law, of any private property owner or other owner
of non-Federal land with respect to any person injured on
private property or other non-Federal land;
``(C) affect the ownership, management, or other rights
relating to any non-Federal land (including any interest in
any non-Federal land);
``(D) require any local government to participate in any
program administered by the Secretary;
``(E) alter, modify, or diminish any right, responsibility,
power, authority, jurisdiction, or entitlement of the State,
any political subdivision of the State, or any State or local
agency under existing Federal, State, and local law
(including regulations);
``(F) require the creation of protective perimeters or
buffer zones, and the fact that certain activities or land
can be seen or heard from within the Rim of the Valley Unit
shall not, of itself, preclude the activities or land uses up
to the boundary of the Rim of the Valley Unit;
``(G) require or promote use of, or encourage trespass on,
lands, facilities, and rights-of-way owned by non-Federal
entities, including water resource facilities and public
utilities, without the written consent of the owner;
``(H) affect the operation, maintenance, modification,
construction, or expansion of any water resource facility or
utility facility located within or adjacent to the Rim of the
Valley Unit;
``(I) terminate the fee title to lands or customary
operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement activities on
or under such lands granted to public agencies that are
authorized pursuant to Federal or State statute;
``(J) interfere with, obstruct, hinder, or delay the
exercise of any right to, or access to any water resource
facility or other facility or property necessary or useful to
access any water right to operate any public water or utility
system;
``(K) require initiation or reinitiation of consultation
with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under, or
the application of provisions of, the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), or division A of
subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, concerning any
action or activity affecting water, water rights or water
management or water resource facilities within the Rim of the
Valley Unit; or
[[Page H1087]]
``(L) limit the Secretary's ability to update applicable
fire management plans, which may consider fuels management
strategies including managed natural fire, prescribed fires,
non-fire mechanical hazardous fuel reduction activities, or
post-fire remediation of damage to natural and cultural
resources.
``(4) The activities of a utility facility or water
resource facility shall take into consideration ways to
reasonably avoid or reduce the impact on the resources of the
Rim of the Valley Unit.
``(5) For the purpose of paragraph (4)--
``(A) the term `utility facility' means electric
substations, communication facilities, towers, poles, and
lines, ground wires, communications circuits, and other
structures, and related infrastructure; and
``(B) the term `water resource facility' means irrigation
and pumping facilities; dams and reservoirs; flood control
facilities; water conservation works, including debris
protection facilities, sediment placement sites, rain gauges,
and stream gauges; water quality, recycled water, and pumping
facilities; conveyance distribution systems; water treatment
facilities; aqueducts; canals; ditches; pipelines; wells;
hydropower projects; transmission facilities; and other
ancillary facilities, groundwater recharge facilities, water
conservation, water filtration plants, and other water
diversion, conservation, groundwater recharge, storage, and
carriage structures.''.
TITLE VI--WILD OLYMPICS WILDERNESS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Wild Olympics Wilderness
and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act''.
SEC. 602. DESIGNATION OF OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST WILDERNESS
AREAS.
(a) In General.--In furtherance of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following Federal land in the
Olympic National Forest in the State of Washington comprising
approximately 126,554 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ``Proposed Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act'' and dated April 8, 2019 (referred to in
this section as the ``map''), is designated as wilderness and
as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Lost creek wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed by
the Forest Service, comprising approximately 7,159 acres, as
generally depicted on the map, which shall be known as the
``Lost Creek Wilderness''.
(2) Rugged ridge wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed
by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 5,956 acres,
as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known as the
``Rugged Ridge Wilderness''.
(3) Alckee creek wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed
by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 1,787 acres,
as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known as the
``Alckee Creek Wilderness''.
(4) Gates of the elwha wilderness.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 5,669
acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known
as the ``Gates of the Elwha Wilderness''.
(5) Buckhorn wilderness additions.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately
21,965 acres, as generally depicted on the map, is
incorporated in, and shall be managed as part of, the
``Buckhorn Wilderness'', as designated by section 3 of the
Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;
Public Law 98-339).
(6) Green mountain wilderness.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 4,790
acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known
as the ``Green Mountain Wilderness''.
(7) The brothers wilderness additions.--Certain land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 8,625
acres, as generally depicted on the map, is incorporated in,
and shall be managed as part of, the ``The Brothers
Wilderness'', as designated by section 3 of the Washington
State Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law
98-339).
(8) Mount skokomish wilderness additions.--Certain land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 8,933
acres, as generally depicted on the map, is incorporated in,
and shall be managed as part of, the ``Mount Skokomish
Wilderness'', as designated by section 3 of the Washington
State Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law
98-339).
(9) Wonder mountain wilderness additions.--Certain land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately
26,517 acres, as generally depicted on the map, is
incorporated in, and shall be managed as part of, the
``Wonder Mountain Wilderness'', as designated by section 3 of
the Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132
note; Public Law 98-339).
(10) Moonlight dome wilderness.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 9,117
acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known
as the ``Moonlight Dome Wilderness''.
(11) South quinault ridge wilderness.--Certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately
10,887 acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall
be known as the ``South Quinault Ridge Wilderness''.
(12) Colonel bob wilderness additions.--Certain Federal
land managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately
353 acres, as generally depicted on the map, is incorporated
in, and shall be managed as part of, the ``Colonel Bob
Wilderness'', as designated by section 3 of the Washington
State Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law
98-339).
(13) Sam's river wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed
by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 13,418 acres,
as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known as the
``Sam's River Wilderness''.
(14) Canoe creek wilderness.--Certain Federal land managed
by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 1,378 acres,
as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known as the
``Canoe Creek Wilderness''.
(b) Administration.--
(1) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, the land
designated as wilderness by subsection (a) shall be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in
this section as the ``Secretary''), in accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any
reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall
be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of
this Act.
(2) Map and description.--
(A) 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 the land designated as wilderness by
subsection (a) with--
(i) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(ii) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(B) Effect.--Each map and legal description filed under
subparagraph (A) shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this title, except that the Secretary may correct
minor errors in the map and legal description.
(C) Public availability.--Each map and legal description
filed under subparagraph (A) shall be filed and made
available for public inspection in the appropriate office of
the Forest Service.
(c) Potential Wilderness.--
(1) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain Federal land
managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately 5,346
acres as identified as ``Potential Wilderness'' on the map,
is designated as potential wilderness.
(2) Designation as wilderness.--On the date on which the
Secretary publishes in the Federal Register notice that any
nonconforming uses in the potential wilderness designated by
paragraph (1) have terminated, the potential wilderness shall
be--
(A) designated as wilderness and as a component of the
National Wilderness Preservation System; and
(B) incorporated into the adjacent wilderness area.
(d) Adjacent Management.--
(1) No protective perimeters or buffer zones.--The
designations in this section shall not create a protective
perimeter or buffer zone around any wilderness area.
(2) Nonconforming uses permitted outside of boundaries of
wilderness areas.--Any activity or use outside of the
boundary of any wilderness area designated under this section
shall be permitted even if the activity or use would be seen
or heard within the boundary of the wilderness area.
(e) Fire, Insects, and Diseases.--The Secretary may take
such measures as are necessary to control fire, insects, and
diseases, in the wilderness areas designated by this section,
in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and subject to such terms and conditions
as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
SEC. 603. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 3(a) of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(231) Elwha river, washington.--The approximately 29.0-
mile segment of the Elwha River and tributaries from the
source to Cat Creek, to be administered by the Secretary of
the Interior as a wild river.
``(232) Dungeness river, washington.--The segment of the
Dungeness River from the headwaters to the State of
Washington Department of Natural Resources land in T. 29 N.,
R. 4 W., sec. 12, to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, except that portions of the river within the
boundaries of Olympic National Park shall be administered by
the Secretary of the Interior, including the following
segments of the mainstem and major tributary the Gray Wolf
River, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 5.8-mile segment of the Dungeness
River from the headwaters to the 2870 Bridge, as a wild
river.
``(B) The approximately 2.1-mile segment of the Dungeness
River from the 2870 Bridge to Silver Creek, as a scenic
river.
``(C) The approximately 2.7-mile segment of the Dungeness
River from Silver Creek to Sleepy Hollow Creek, as a wild
river.
``(D) The approximately 6.3-mile segment of the Dungeness
River from Sleepy Hollow Creek to the Olympic National Forest
boundary, as a scenic river.
``(E) The approximately 1.9-mile segment of the Dungeness
River from the National Forest boundary to the State of
Washington Department of Natural Resources land in T. 29 N.,
R. 4 W., sec. 12, as a recreational river.
``(F) The approximately 16.1-mile segment of the Gray Wolf
River from the headwaters to the 2870 Bridge, as a wild
river.
``(G) The approximately 1.1-mile segment of the Gray Wolf
River from the 2870 Bridge to the confluence with the
Dungeness River, as a scenic river.
``(233) Big quilcene river, washington.--The segment of the
Big Quilcene River from the headwaters to the City of Port
Townsend water intake facility, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 4.4-mile segment from the
headwaters to the Buckhorn Wilderness boundary, as a wild
river.
``(B) The approximately 5.3-mile segment from the Buckhorn
Wilderness boundary to the City of Port Townsend water intake
facility, as a scenic river.
[[Page H1088]]
``(C) Section 7(a), with respect to the licensing of dams,
water conduits, reservoirs, powerhouses, transmission lines,
or other project works, shall apply to the approximately 5-
mile segment from the City of Port Townsend water intake
facility to the Olympic National Forest boundary.
``(234) Dosewallips river, washington.--The segment of the
Dosewallips River from the headwaters to the private land in
T. 26 N., R. 3 W., sec. 15, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture, except that portions of the river
within the boundaries of Olympic National Park shall be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, in the
following classes:
``(A) The approximately 12.9-mile segment from the
headwaters to Station Creek, as a wild river.
``(B) The approximately 6.8-mile segment from Station Creek
to the private land in T. 26 N., R. 3 W., sec. 15, as a
scenic river.
``(235) Duckabush river, washington.--The segment of the
Duckabush River from the headwaters to the private land in T.
25 N., R. 3 W., sec. 1, to be administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture, except that portions of the river within the
boundaries of Olympic National Park shall be administered by
the Secretary of the Interior, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 19.0-mile segment from the
headwaters to the Brothers Wilderness boundary, as a wild
river.
``(B) The approximately 1.9-mile segment from the Brothers
Wilderness boundary to the private land in T. 25 N., R. 3 W.,
sec. 1, as a scenic river.
``(236) Hamma hamma river, washington.--The segment of the
Hamma Hamma River from the headwaters to the eastern edge of
the NW1/4 sec. 21, T. 24 N., R. 3 W., to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 3.1-mile segment from the
headwaters to the Mt. Skokomish Wilderness boundary, as a
wild river.
``(B) The approximately 5.8-mile segment from the Mt.
Skokomish Wilderness boundary to Lena Creek, as a scenic
river.
``(C) The approximately 6.8-mile segment from Lena Creek to
the eastern edge of the NW1/4 sec. 21, T. 24 N., R. 3 W., as
a recreational river.
``(237) South fork skokomish river, washington.--The
segment of the South Fork Skokomish River from the headwaters
to the Olympic National Forest boundary to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 6.7-mile segment from the
headwaters to Church Creek, as a wild river.
``(B) The approximately 8.3-mile segment from Church Creek
to LeBar Creek, as a scenic river.
``(C) The approximately 4.0-mile segment from LeBar Creek
to upper end of gorge in the NW1/4 sec. 22, T. 22 N., R. 5
W., as a recreational river.
``(D) The approximately 6.0-mile segment from the upper end
of the gorge to the Olympic National Forest boundary, as a
scenic river.
``(238) Middle fork satsop river, washington.--The
approximately 7.9-mile segment of the Middle Fork Satsop
River from the headwaters to the Olympic National Forest
boundary, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture,
as a scenic river.
``(239) West fork satsop river, washington.--The
approximately 8.2-mile segment of the West Fork Satsop River
from the headwaters to the Olympic National Forest boundary,
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a
scenic river.
``(240) Wynoochee river, washington.--The segment of the
Wynoochee River from the headwaters to the head of Wynoochee
Reservoir to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture,
except that portions of the river within the boundaries of
Olympic National Park shall be administered by the Secretary
of the Interior, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 2.5-mile segment from the
headwaters to the boundary of the Wonder Mountain Wilderness,
as a wild river.
``(B) The approximately 7.4-mile segment from the boundary
of the Wonder Mountain Wilderness to the head of Wynoochee
Reservoir, as a recreational river.
``(241) East fork humptulips river, washington.--The
segment of the East Fork Humptulips River from the headwaters
to the Olympic National Forest boundary to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 7.4-mile segment from the
headwaters to the Moonlight Dome Wilderness boundary, as a
wild river.
``(B) The approximately 10.3-mile segment from the
Moonlight Dome Wilderness boundary to the Olympic National
Forest boundary, as a scenic river.
``(242) West fork humptulips river, washington.--The
approximately 21.4-mile segment of the West Fork Humptulips
River from the headwaters to the Olympic National Forest
Boundary, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture,
as a scenic river.
``(243) Quinault river, washington.--The segment of the
Quinault River from the headwaters to private land in T. 24
N., R. 8 W., sec. 33, to be administered by the Secretary of
the Interior, in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 16.5-mile segment from the
headwaters to Graves Creek, as a wild river.
``(B) The approximately 6.7-mile segment from Graves Creek
to Cannings Creek, as a scenic river.
``(C) The approximately 1.0-mile segment from Cannings
Creek to private land in T. 24 N., R. 8 W., sec. 33, as a
recreational river.
``(244) Queets river, washington.--The segment of the
Queets River from the headwaters to the Olympic National Park
boundary to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior,
except that portions of the river outside the boundaries of
Olympic National Park shall be administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture, including the following segments of the
mainstem and certain tributaries in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 28.6-mile segment of the Queets
River from the headwaters to the confluence with Sams River,
as a wild river.
``(B) The approximately 16.0-mile segment of the Queets
River from the confluence with Sams River to the Olympic
National Park boundary, as a scenic river.
``(C) The approximately 15.7-mile segment of the Sams River
from the headwaters to the confluence with the Queets River,
as a scenic river.
``(D) The approximately 17.7-mile segment of Matheny Creek
from the headwaters to the confluence with the Queets River,
as a scenic river.
``(245) Hoh river, washington.--The segment of the Hoh
River and the major tributary South Fork Hoh from the
headwaters to Olympic National Park boundary, to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, in the
following classes:
``(A) The approximately 20.7-mile segment of the Hoh River
from the headwaters to Jackson Creek, as a wild river.
``(B) The approximately 6.0-mile segment of the Hoh River
from Jackson Creek to the Olympic National Park boundary, as
a scenic river.
``(C) The approximately 13.8-mile segment of the South Fork
Hoh River from the headwaters to the Olympic National Park
boundary, as a wild river.
``(D) The approximately 4.6-mile segment of the South Fork
Hoh River from the Olympic National Park boundary to the
Washington State Department of Natural Resources boundary in
T. 27 N., R. 10 W., sec. 29, as a recreational river.
``(246) Bogachiel river, washington.--The approximately
25.6-mile segment of the Bogachiel River from the source to
the Olympic National Park boundary, to be administered by the
Secretary of the Interior, as a wild river.
``(247) South fork calawah river, washington.--The segment
of the South Fork Calawah River and the major tributary
Sitkum River from the headwaters to Hyas Creek to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, except those
portions of the river within the boundaries of Olympic
National Park shall be administered by the Secretary of the
Interior, including the following segments in the following
classes:
``(A) The approximately 15.7-mile segment of the South Fork
Calawah River from the headwaters to the Sitkum River, as a
wild river.
``(B) The approximately 0.9-mile segment of the South Fork
Calawah River from the Sitkum River to Hyas Creek, as a
scenic river.
``(C) The approximately 1.6-mile segment of the Sitkum
River from the headwaters to the Rugged Ridge Wilderness
boundary, as a wild river.
``(D) The approximately 11.9-mile segment of the Sitkum
River from the Rugged Ridge Wilderness boundary to the
confluence with the South Fork Calawah, as a scenic river.
``(248) Sol duc river, washington.--The segment of the Sol
Duc River from the headwaters to the Olympic National Park
boundary to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior,
including the following segments of the mainstem and certain
tributaries in the following classes:
``(A) The approximately 7.0-mile segment of the Sol Duc
River from the headwaters to the end of Sol Duc Hot Springs
Road, as a wild river.
``(B) The approximately 10.8-mile segment of the Sol Duc
River from the end of Sol Duc Hot Springs Road to the Olympic
National Park boundary, as a scenic river.
``(C) The approximately 14.2-mile segment of the North Fork
Sol Duc River from the headwaters to the Olympic Hot Springs
Road bridge, as a wild river.
``(D) The approximately 0.2-mile segment of the North Fork
Sol Duc River from the Olympic Hot Springs Road bridge to the
confluence with the Sol Duc River, as a scenic river.
``(E) The approximately 8.0-mile segment of the South Fork
Sol Duc River from the headwaters to the confluence with the
Sol Duc River, as a scenic river.
``(249) Lyre river, washington.--The approximately 0.2-mile
segment of the Lyre River from Lake Crescent to the Olympic
National Park boundary, to be administered by the Secretary
of the Interior as a scenic river.''.
(b) Effect.--The amendment made by subsection (a) does not
affect valid existing water rights.
SEC. 604. EXISTING RIGHTS AND WITHDRAWAL.
(a) In General.--In accordance with section 12(b) of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1283(b)),
nothing in this title or the amendment made by section 603(a)
affects or abrogates existing rights, privileges, or
contracts held by private parties, nor does this title in any
way modify or direct the management, acquisition, or
disposition of lands managed by the Washington Department of
Natural Resources on behalf of the State of Washington.
(b) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
Federal land within the boundaries of the river segments
designated by this title and the amendment made by section
603(a) 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 relating to mineral and
geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
SEC. 605. TREATY RIGHTS.
Nothing in this title alters, modifies, diminishes, or
extinguishes the reserved treaty rights of any Indian tribe
with hunting, fishing, gathering, and cultural or religious
rights in the
[[Page H1089]]
Olympic National Forest as protected by a treaty.
TITLE VII--PAYGO
SEC. 701. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The Acting CHAIR. No further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall
be in order except those printed in House Report 116-395. Each such
further amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the
report, by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered read,
shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject
to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the
question.
{time} 1330
Amendment No. 1 Offered by Ms. DeGette
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1
printed in House Report 116-395.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 10, lines 18 and 19, strike `` `Cross Canyon Proposed
Wilderness', dated October 9, 2019'' and insert `` `Papoose &
Cross Canyon Proposed Wilderness', and dated January 29,
2020''.
Page 12, after line 13, insert the following:
(20) Certain lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management or located in the San Juan
National Forest, which comprise approximately 10,844 acres,
as generally depicted on a map titled ``North & South
Ponderosa Gorge Proposed Wilderness'', and dated January 31,
2020, which shall be known as the North Ponderosa Gorge
Wilderness.
(21) Certain lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management or located in the San Juan
National Forest, which comprise approximately 12,393 acres,
as generally depicted on a map titled ``North & South
Ponderosa Gorge Proposed Wilderness'', and dated January 31,
2020 which shall be known as the South Ponderosa Gorge
Wilderness.
(22) Certain lands managed by the Little Snake Field Office
of the Bureau of Land Management which comprise approximately
33,168 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Diamond
Breaks Proposed Wilderness'', and dated January 31, 2020
which shall be known as the Diamond Breaks Wilderness.
(23) Certain lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office of
the Bureau of Land Management which comprises approximately
4,782 acres, as generally depicted on the map titled
``Papoose & Cross Canyon Proposed Wilderness' ''', and dated
January 29, 2020 which shall be known as the Papoose Canyon
Wilderness.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentlewoman
from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, the amendment I offer today adds four
additional unique wilderness areas to the State of Colorado, totaling
more than 60,000 acres to our bill, the Protecting America's Wilderness
Act.
The addition of these areas stems from extensive conversations I had
with local stakeholders, Tribes, and outdoor recreation groups.
The first one is Diamond Breaks, a wilderness study area in northwest
Colorado that is attached to our State's beloved Dinosaur National
Monument. This area was recommended for wilderness designation by the
Bureau of Land Management under George H.W. Bush. It is a favorite
among the many rafters, kayakers, and canoers who visit the national
monument every year, and preserving it has been a priority for many
conservation groups in my State.
Protecting this land will help provide economic security for an area
of the State that depends heavily on our outdoor recreation economy.
The amendment also further protects Papoose Canyon, another
wilderness study area in southwest Colorado, near Cross Canyon, which
is the area I mentioned that I visited last August.
Papoose Canyon has been a wilderness study area since 1980. It lies
within the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument and, with an
estimated 100 ancestral Puebloan sites per square mile, has significant
cultural value. By officially designating this area as federally
protected wilderness, we will permanently preserve this sacred land for
generations to come.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, this amendment protects north and south
Ponderosa Gorge, which is often referred to as the Southwest Secret of
Colorado. According to the Bureau of Land Management, nearly 13,000
visitors come to this region every month during its peak season. It is
a favorite among those looking to launch their nonmotorized boats on
the Dolores River or backpack into the Chemehuevi Mountains. Protecting
this land has also been a priority for conservationists in Colorado for
decades.
While each of these areas that would be protected under this
amendment is unique, they are some of the most incredible wilderness
that our State has to offer. Countless Coloradans, when they found that
this bill was coming forward, came and asked me to include these three
unique areas in the legislation.
Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues will honor their request and accept
this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I do rise in opposition to the amendment
before us.
Apparently, the bill that is before us today didn't include enough
wilderness in my district. As we see in this amendment, we are now
trying to be able to add more.
The amendment adds an additional 60,000 acres of wilderness in
Colorado. One proposed addition that is particularly concerning,
because it has local opposition, is the Papoose Canyon. Montezuma and
Dolores Counties oppose the wilderness designation of Papoose Canyon.
The wilderness study area falls within the Canyons of the Ancients
National Monument, which I have worked to preserve. The land already
has strict Federal protections so wilderness designation is not
necessary.
Mr. Chairman, again, the BLM has studied these lands and found them
to be unsuitable for wilderness. Montezuma and Dolores Counties have
requested the Papoose Canyon Wilderness Study Area be released because
the canyon is surrounded by private land, which has created challenges
when it comes to wildfire prevention.
Papoose Canyon Wilderness was not originally in my colleague's bill.
Instead of consulting the counties that would be impacted by the
addition and considering their objections, we are here debating a last-
minute amendment.
Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I would encourage my
colleagues who believe that local voices must be a part of any land
management decision to vote ``no.''
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter from a coalition of
groups--the San Juan Citizens Alliance, the Sierra Club, the Sheep
Mountain Alliance, the Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, and
the Western Colorado Alliance--urging me to include these areas in the
bill.
February 4, 2020.
Hon. Diana DeGette,
Washington, DC.
Dear Rep. DeGette: Thank you for the opportunity to provide
feedback on the Colorado Wilderness Act, HR 2546. We
appreciate your relentless leadership in pursuit of
protecting Colorado's BLM wild lands.
It's worth recalling that your original proposal first
introduced in 1999 encompassed 49 areas and almost 1.4
million acres, and was the result of field work completed by
conservationists over the prior 20 years. The Colorado
Wilderness Act has evolved over time, and most recently
includes about 30 areas with a little over 600,000 acres.
There are several areas we wanted to highlight as HR 2546
moves towards consideration by the House of Representatives.
One area consistently included in every version of the bill
since 1999 is Snaggletooth, an area that encompasses the
spectacular ponderosa gorge of the Dolores River Canyon.
Snaggletooth was removed from the bill during consideration
by the House Natural Resources Committee, but we believe that
with some modest boundary adjustments and clarifications
about nearby rights-of-way corridors that Snaggletooth can be
reincorporated into the legislation. It is without
[[Page H1090]]
doubt one of the BLM's crown jewels in Colorado.
Papoose Canyon is one of three wilderness study areas in
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. It was included in
the Colorado Wilderness Act through 2007, but then
inexplicably omitted from subsequent bills. Papoose is
adjacent to Cross Canyon, and provides added protection for
some of the richest cultural resource concentrations in the
Southwest. Like Cross Canyon, it is outside the McElmo Dome
carbon dioxide reserves and is unlikely to provide any
conflict with energy minerals. We encourage your inclusion of
Papoose Canyon WSA in the Colorado Wilderness Act as the
other WSAs in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument are
already in the bill.
While we might hope that National Monument designation
provided a level of conservation certainty, in the past few
years we have observed that an Administration hostile to the
Antiquities Act could well pursue actions to undermine or
eliminate the National Monument status of Canyons of the
Ancients. Wilderness designation is a congressional action
that cannot be overturned at the whim of the executive branch
and is the tried and true approach to guaranteeing the
wildlands resources, wildlife habitat, and undisturbed
cultural resources of Papoose Canyon will be preserved into
the future.
In 2009, you deferred to an effort by BLM to undertake re-
evaluation of wilderness candidate areas in northwest
Colorado, including a number of areas surrounding Dinosaur
National Monument that BLM had long recognized for their
wilderness values, and removed those areas from the Colorado
Wilderness Act. Unfortunately, once BLM's unsuccessful
wilderness re-inventory concluded, these areas from northwest
Colorado that had previously been included within every
version of the Colorado Wilderness Act from 1999 through 2007
were not reincorporated into the legislation. We encourage
you to revisit the status of these areas and consider adding
them back into the Colorado Wilderness Act. These include one
of the largest Wilderness Study Areas in Colorado, Diamond
Breaks, which is bounded both by Dinosaur National Monument
and Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge. Additional
wilderness quality lands surround Dinosaur National Monument,
and include the stunning Yampa River gorge through Cross
Mountain, sandstone canyons across the southern approaches to
the Monument, and extraordinary wildlife habitat on Cold
Spring Mountain.
Diamond Breaks straddles the Colorado-Utah border. For many
years, America's Red Rock Wilderness legislation has been
pending that includes the Utah portion of Diamond Breaks.
Most recently, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act was
reintroduced with 16 cosponsors in the Senate, S. 3056, that
once again includes wilderness designation for the Utah
portion of Diamond Breaks. In 2017, a companion House bill
was introduced, HR 2044, cosponsored by 123 members of the
House and similarly included wilderness designation for
Diamond Breaks in Utah. Pairing Colorado legislation that
completes designation for the Colorado portion of Diamond
Breaks makes obvious sense.
We are hopeful the Colorado Wilderness Act, HR 2546 will be
favorably approved by the House. We look forward to working
with your office and Senate colleagues to further refine the
Colorado Wilderness Act and see it successfully enacted into
law.
Respectfully yours,
Mark Pearson,
Executive Director, San Juan Citizens Alliance.
Jim Alexee,
Colorado Chapter Director, Sierra Club.
Lexi Tuddenham,
Executive Director, Sheep Mountain Alliance.
Steve Bonowski,
Colorado-based Board member, Conservatives for Responsible
Stewardship.
Emily Hornback,
Executive Director, Western Colorado Alliance.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, these areas have all been protected for
years. Two of them have already been wilderness study areas, and as I
mentioned, they are in the area of the State where there is widespread
public support and where they also are great economic drivers. They are
appropriately contained in this bill.
As I said, when these groups found out that this bill was moving
along, they urged me to include these really important historical and
recreational areas in the bill.
Mr. Chair, one last thing: I forgot to thank Steve Bonowski, who is
with Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship. He has been a real
partner with us throughout, making the conservative argument of why we
need to protect wilderness.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I do appreciate the comments. Here is the reality: In the
Canyon of the Ancients in the area that I am speaking to, these are
already protected lands. The BLM, when we are talking about a
wilderness study area, has stated that these do not qualify as
wilderness.
When we look at our county commissioners, they are going to be the
ones in our remote rural areas who are going to be responsible for
dealing with the potential of wildfire, which is something that all
Coloradans ought to be well concerned about.
Without their support, with recognition that this land is protected,
and with the BLM stating that this does not qualify as a wilderness
area, I would encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. McClintock
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 234, after line 21, insert the following (and
redesignate subsequent provisions accordingly):
TITLE VII--COUNTY APPROVAL OF WILDERNESS DESIGNATIONS
SEC. 701. COUNTY APPROVAL.
No wilderness designation under this Act shall be
effective in any county until the county formally approves
such designation.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from California (Mr. McClintock) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chairman, the Federal Government owns just seven-
tenths of 1 percent of the State of New York. It owns 1.1 percent of
the State of Illinois. It owns just 1.8 percent of the entire State of
Texas. In fact, the Federal Government only owns one-fourth of
Washington, D.C.
But then go farther west, and you will see the problem. The Federal
Government owns and controls 62 percent of the State of Alaska, two-
thirds of Utah, and four-fifths of the State of Nevada. It owns nearly
half of my home State of California. In one county in my district,
Alpine County, the Federal Government owns 96 percent.
People from the East have no idea what that means. That is all lands
that is off the local tax rolls. That is all land that carries
increasingly severe restrictions on public use and access, which means
it is generating very little economic activity for those regions.
Often, Federal ownership means the Federal land-use policies are in
direct contravention to the wishes of the local communities that are
entangled with it.
Now, when we Republicans held the majority, one of our Federal lands
objectives was to restore the Federal Government as a good neighbor to
those communities directly impacted by the Federal lands. The bill
before us does exactly the opposite. This bill adds 1\1/2\ million
acres of Federal land to wilderness restrictions, meaning you can't
even bring a stroller on these lands.
This land grab is strongly opposed by the local communities it would
directly affect. The Mesa County commission and Garfield County,
Colorado, oppose this bill because of concerns it will further restrict
public access and increase the risk of fire. The Congressman
representing those areas opposes the legislation.
Mr. Chair, 80 percent of Del Norte County in California is already
owned by the State and Federal Governments,
[[Page H1091]]
and their board of supervisors is protesting the further restriction of
public access to these lands, noting that these lands don't even meet
wilderness criteria.
Trinity County has also formally opposed the bill, yet we are plowing
ahead anyway. The Monrovia City Council protests the enormous economic
burdens this bill would place on their city. So, too, the Grays Harbor
County Commission and the city councils of Aberdeen and Cosmopolis in
Washington State beg us not to impose these restrictions on their
communities, and I could go on.
Representing the Sierra Nevada of California, I can tell you there
are no more fierce or knowledgeable guardians of our forests than the
people who live among them. My amendment simply restores the good
neighbor policy the Republicans practiced for many years. It simply
provides that wilderness restrictions cannot be imposed until the
county on which the land is located approves of them.
Mr. Chair, I would ask my Democratic colleagues to show a little
humility and a little mercy in exercising their power by listening to
the people most affected by their decisions and adopt this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I am so glad the author of this amendment has
asked us to listen to the people who this affects because we have.
That is why we found out that 71 percent of the people in the
affected areas, the citizens, support this legislation.
That is why when I went to Cortez, Colorado, and had a townhall and
there were 75 people there, 65 of them said they were in support of the
wilderness areas.
We shouldn't allow one or two local elected officials, or even
Members of Congress, to have veto power over preservation of Federal
lands for future generations.
If this amendment were adopted and the bill enacted, local
governments would be able to indefinitely delay a Federal land
designation approved by the House, the Senate, and signed into law by
the President.
Wilderness designation, which is the highest level of protection that
we bestow, is solely at the discretion of Congress and has been so
since the original Wilderness Act. It is intended to provide permanent
protection for exceptional landscapes, and it is a key tool for
preserving undisturbed lands.
So what are we going to do? Are we going to be at the whim of local
elections to decide who should support it? And who decides? Why do the
county commissioners get veto power? What about the mayors and city
councils?
While the Montezuma County commissioners may oppose the designation
of the wilderness study areas, the Cortez City Council and the mayor
support it.
That is why we have to hear what the people have to say. No
individual elected official, from a commissioner to a Member of
Congress, should have the ability to unilaterally veto these things.
All the areas included in all the titles of this bill are the result
of multiyear collaborative efforts between bill sponsors and
stakeholders on the ground.
We have to remember that these lands are publicly owned. They are not
privately owned. They belong to every American and future generations.
Frankly, I think that, as Members of Congress, we have the
responsibility to listen to our constituents and to listen to the
people of the United States, and the people of the United States want
to preserve the very few special remaining wild places that we have.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chairman, I would simply ask the gentlewoman, if
it is true that local people affected by this bill actually support it,
then what does she have to fear from getting their approval? Her
opposition to this amendment puts the lie to her claim that the local
people support it and tells us she doesn't believe her own rhetoric.
Gifford Pinchot, the father of the U.S. Forest Service, propounded
maxims for good behavior by foresters. He said, among other things:
A public official is there to serve the public and not run
them.
Public support of acts affecting public rights is
absolutely required.
It is more trouble to consult the public than to ignore
them, but that is what you were hired to do.
Get rid of an attitude of personal arrogance or pride of
attainment of superior knowledge.
Mr. Chairman, this bill turns these maxims upside down.
{time} 1345
It says to local residents: We know what's best for you and your
communities; your opinions are unimportant to us, your wishes are
irrelevant, and your voices are unheard. We're in charge and we'll damn
well do as we please.
I ask my Democratic colleagues to step back and consider how you
would react to a government that takes such an attitude as that.
My amendment simply asks the people and trusts the people. If we are
still a government of, by, and for the people, that is the least we can
do.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. McClintock
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 234, after line 21, insert the following (and
redesignate subsequent provisions accordingly):
TITLE VII--PRESERVING WILDERNESS CHARACTER AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVER
CHARACTER
SEC. 701. PRESERVING WILDERNESS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVER
CHARACTER.
(a) Wilderness.--The Secretary of Agriculture or the
Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, may exempt from
any wilderness designated under this Act any area determined
by that Secretary not to meet the definition of wilderness
under the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(b) Wild and Scenic Rivers.--The Secretary of Agriculture
or the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, may exempt
from any wild and scenic river designated by an amendment in
this Act any area determined by that Secretary not to meet
the qualifications for a wild, scenic, or recreational river
under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et
seq.).
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from California (Mr. McClintock) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chairman, when the Wilderness Act was adopted in
1964, it designated about 9 million acres; that is a little larger than
the State of Maryland. Over the years, that has ballooned to 111
million acres, a land area the size of California. This bill adds 1\1/
2\ million acres more. That is the size of Delaware and half of Rhode
Island combined.
The restrictions in the wilderness areas are severe. You can't bring
a bicycle on these lands. You can't drive to a campsite.
The Wilderness Act provides for wilderness designation only for those
lands that are--and listen to this carefully--``an area where the Earth
and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a
visitor who does not remain'' and ``an area of underdeveloped Federal
land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent
improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as
to preserve its natural conditions.''
Well, much of the land in this bill doesn't begin to meet these
criteria. The Department of the Interior, and the local communities
directly affected by this bill, are warning us that this
[[Page H1092]]
new Federal land grab includes acreage on which there are buildings and
roads, grazing and off-road vehicle trails, bicycle trails,
communication towers, small businesses, mines and oil wells.
Moreover, motorized and mechanized firefighting and fire suppression
equipment is currently allowed on these lands but would be severely
restricted if the land is designated as wilderness. All you can use in
a wilderness area, without special permission, is a handsaw, a shovel,
and an axe to fight a fire.
To include such acreage under the Wilderness Act makes a mockery of
its original intent and poses a direct threat to the tourism,
livelihoods, jobs, safety, and quality of life of the communities
adjacent to them.
Abraham Lincoln once told of the farmer who said: ``I ain't greedy
for land. All I want is what's next to mine.'' That appears to be the
new motto of the Democrats, and it is having a devastating impact on
our mountain and rural communities.
The amendment I offer simply provides that the relevant Department
Secretary, either Agriculture or Interior, can exempt those lands
contained in this bill that do not meet the legal requirements of the
Wilderness Act or the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, restoring the
original intent of these laws.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, this amendment, just like the prior
amendment, is another attempt to cede congressional responsibility.
I can assure the gentleman that every piece of land in this bill that
is designated as wilderness is, in fact, wilderness. The gentleman is
right; in the statutory definition of wilderness there is no mechanized
or motorized equipment. There is no mining or drilling. I will say, for
firefighting, you don't just have to use shovels; you can use other
things.
But, be that as it may, wilderness should be reserved for those very
few special areas that are untrammeled by man, just like the Wilderness
Act says.
I will also guarantee, Mr. Chair, that every acre that is designated
wilderness has been gone over by the sponsors, by the citizens, by the
activists, and it qualifies as wilderness.
In the Colorado Wilderness Act, two-thirds of the areas have been
managed as wilderness because they are wilderness study areas, and they
have been managed as wilderness for over 30 years; so these areas are
wilderness.
Why, then, would I object to this amendment? Because what it does is
it cedes Congress' powers to the executive branch. And, frankly, with
this administration, that is the last thing I think we should do in
deciding what wilderness is.
If this amendment were adopted and the bill was enacted, Secretary
Bernhardt would be unilaterally empowered to veto designations of
wilderness enacted by Congress and signed by the President.
This amendment would give unprecedented and problematic power to the
Secretary to override Congress, based on no criteria, other than what
they wanted to do.
Now, if my colleagues had questions about if these areas are worthy
of designation, they only have to look at the bill reports, where we
extensively documented the outstanding values of the public lands and
rivers included in this bill.
Now, I would just challenge the gentleman to tell me which of the
wilderness designations in this legislation do not meet wilderness
criteria, because it is for Congress to make that decision, not the
executive branch. And we need to retain our Article I power every day
and in every way.
For that reason, I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chairman, once again, I would ask the gentlewoman
that if what she says is true, that the lands in this bill meet the
legal requirements, she has nothing to fear from my amendment. Only
where the land does not meet legal requirements can a Secretary exempt
it.
One of the objectives we had set when we were in the majority was to
restore public access to the public lands. These lands are set aside
for the use, enjoyment, and recreation of the American people for all
time. And that includes a wide range of activities, most of which are
prohibited under wilderness or wild and scenic rivers designation. Such
severe restrictions on public access should be used very carefully and
sparingly.
My amendment simply says: That the lands affected by this bill must
meet the legal definitions contained in the Wilderness Act and the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act. It doesn't modify those acts; it affirms them.
The despots of Great Britain early on set aside a third of the
countryside as the ``King's royal forests,'' the private preserves of
the royal court and their hangers-on. Commoners were severely
restricted from these lands under draconian penalties. They were so
resented by the British people that no fewer than five clauses in the
Magna Carta were devoted to redressing these grievances.
The American public lands were supposed to be exactly the opposite of
the King's forests. These are lands set aside for the common enjoyment
of the American people in all the many and varied outdoor activities
and pursuits that they cherish.
By ignoring the legal definitions of the Wilderness and Wild and
Scenic Rivers Acts and scooping up and putting off-limits to most
activities vast tracts of land held by and for the public, the
Democrats make a mockery of these laws and undermine public support for
them.
We have heard a lot recently that no one is above the law. Well, that
includes Congress. This amendment assures that the lands affected by
this bill meet the criteria of the original laws that they invoke.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I do agree that wilderness is reserved for
those very special few areas that are left that truly are wild.
I challenged the gentleman to tell me which area, which acre in this
bill does not meet the Wilderness Act criteria, and he did not do so.
And that is because every acre of wilderness that my cosponsors and I
have designated meets that criteria. It has been vetted, and it is one
of those very few pristine areas that we should protect.
By the way, in Colorado, even if this bill is adopted, still, only
less than 10 percent of our land will be wilderness and as it should
be, because wilderness should be protected as a wild area.
I will say, though, that is not what this amendment does. What this
amendment does is it cedes determination of what is wilderness from the
Congress, which should be determining this, to the administration,
another erosion of an Article I power. That is why I oppose this
amendment, and I urge a ``no'' vote.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Brown of Maryland
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of the bill insert the following:
TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 801. PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR VETERANS AND
SERVICEMEMBERS.
The Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
are encouraged to ensure servicemember and veteran access to
public lands designed by this Act for the purposes of outdoor
recreation and to participate in outdoor-related volunteer
and wellness programs.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
[[Page H1093]]
from Maryland (Mr. Brown) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I thank Chairman Grijalva and Congresswoman DeGette for their hard
work on this bill.
Our public lands are iconic features of the American landscape. It is
our duty to preserve and protect these treasured lands, and to be
responsible stewards so that future generations can enjoy them as much
as we do today.
The Protecting America's Wilderness Act recognizes the irreplaceable
value of public lands in our lives by safeguarding public lands and
waters across Colorado, California, and Washington.
But the value of these lands goes far beyond their vast ecological
diversity. They offer our veterans a unique opportunity to heal after
they return home from the frontlines.
My amendment strengthens this bill by promoting the health and
wellness of our veterans and servicemembers through access to lands
protected within this bill, outdoor recreation, and participation in
volunteer programs.
The great American outdoors is uniquely positioned to provide
therapeutic benefits to our veterans and brave men and women in
service. As they transition from service, or a uniform, to civilian
life, public lands have been shown to help them reconnect, recover, and
heal.
We make a sacred promise to every veteran, and it is our duty to
serve them as they have served us and ensure that they can actively
benefit from all that our landscapes have to offer. By doing so, we
honor not only the importance of these lands, but also those who
continue to serve this country today.
I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and the
underlying bill.
Mr. FULCHER. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BROWN of Maryland. I yield to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr.
Fulcher), the minority manager.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I just want to make a comment. We haven't
been shy so far today over here on criticizing where we see issues. I
just wanted to communicate with the gentleman that, in this case, I
also want to point out the positive things.
I support the gentleman's amendment, and I commend him for bringing
that forward.
Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chairman, I just want to say thank you to
the gentleman and all the Members of Congress who, not only during the
course of this bill and the amendments and the debate but as a
tradition, in a bipartisan manner are supporting our men and women in
uniform, those who have worn the uniform, and our veterans and their
families.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Brown).
The amendment was agreed to.
{time} 1400
Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Panetta
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of the bill insert the following:
TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 801. FIRE, INSECTS, AND DISEASES.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to limit the authority
of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of
Agriculture under section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), in accordance with existing laws
(including regulations).
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from California (Mr. Panetta) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment today to H.R.
2546, Protecting America's Wilderness Act.
As we know, this bill would provide permanent protections for
approximately 1.3 million acres of Federal land, including in
California, and 1,200 miles of rivers. Not only will it provide vital
protections for some of our most precious natural resources, but it
will also improve outdoor recreational opportunities for underserved
communities.
Now, my amendment ensures that, as we work to protect, conserve, and
enjoy Federal public lands, we also prioritize the safety of our
communities. This amendment gives the authority to the Secretary of the
Department of the Interior and the Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture to ensure that they are able to manage for fire, insects,
and disease in wilderness areas, particularly during times of crisis.
In California, we are, unfortunately, no stranger to the threat of
wildfires; and with climate change, wildfire seasons are becoming
wildfire years.
Now, wildfires do not stop at property lines, so neither should our
Federal efforts to fight wildfires and better manage our forestland. As
we work to fight the effects of climate change and the impacts on our
forests, we must also take every action that we can to protect the
families and the homes in these vulnerable communities.
In putting forward new and critical protections on land--from the
redwoods to the Los Padres National Forest, to the San Gabriel
Mountains--we must ensure our Federal land managers have the
flexibility that they need to take the reasonable and necessary actions
to preemptively address fire, insects, and disease threats to this
land.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am
not opposed to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Cuellar). Without objection, the gentleman from
Idaho is recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, as stated, this amendment allows the
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to manage for
fire, insects, or disease the wilderness areas designated by this act.
Again, I am not opposed to that, but I just want to point out in real
life what really happens.
Many wilderness areas are overgrown and suffer from insect
infestations. We have already talked about that. That contributes
significantly to uncontrollable wildfires that really don't respect
manmade boundaries very well.
In wilderness areas, the reality is that fires are allowed to
continue, and they are only suppressed once they leave that wilderness
boundary. That is a particular bummer for wildlife. We haven't talked
about what happens in those situations, that wildlife is often
decimated by this type of activity.
The other thing I just want to point out is that mechanized fire
mitigation tools are banned in wilderness areas for anybody, including
the Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, or the
Forest Service. That is another thing that is bothersome about all of
this is that, when we make these designations, we throw out the
commonsense ability to use appropriate tools when there are problems.
Again, we are in support of this amendment, but it will do nothing to
improve the conditions in these wilderness areas.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Carbajal), my good friend from the southern coast of
California.
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Panetta for offering this
important amendment which further clarifies that nothing in this bill
would hinder any fuels management or fire suppression activities on our
public lands.
I represent the central coast of California, and we have seen our
share of wildfires. I believe that, if we can take preventative
measures to address any wildfire risks, we should.
As a former county supervisor for Santa Barbara County, I have
experienced firsthand the obstacles and challenges of balancing red
tape and coordinating amongst stakeholders. As a supervisor, I helped
implement the first community wildfire protection plan in Santa Barbara
County.
[[Page H1094]]
I support Representative Panetta's amendment because it reaffirms
that this legislation would not interfere with any firefighting or
fuels management activities. The underlying bill we are debating here
today would not do that. Specifically, section 305(b) of my bill
explicitly addresses these concerns.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment as well.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I want to thank my good friend and neighbor
to the south, Representative Carbajal, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has the only time remaining. The
gentleman from Idaho has yielded back his time.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Westerman
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 234, after line 21, insert the following (and
redesignate subsequent provisions accordingly):
TITLE VII--PROTECTION FROM HIGH RISK OF WILDFIRE
SEC. 701. PROTECTION FROM HIGH RISK OF WILDFIRE.
The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the
Interior, as appropriate, may exempt from any wilderness
designated under this Act any area determined by that
Secretary to be at high risk for wildfire.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, this is a commonsense amendment that
will help ensure that the lands designated as wilderness in this
package are not areas that are at high risk for catastrophic wildfire.
One of the clear flaws of the package before us is the apparent
arbitrary process that was taken in determining the areas to designate
as wilderness. At the July 10 hearing that included the bills in
today's package, the BLM and Forest Service conveyed findings that a
significant number of the proposed wilderness additions are not
suitable to be added to the wilderness system.
It is critically important that wilderness designations are carefully
applied due to their highly restrictive limitations and to make sure to
take into account existing uses of the land that can be limited,
including wildfire risk.
The amount of public lands at high risk for catastrophic wildfire is
truly sobering. Just last year, the chief of the Forest Service warned
that a billion acres of land across America are at risk of catastrophic
wildfire.
This is especially true in the three States addressed in the
legislation before us, all three of which rank in the top 10,
nationally, for severe threat of wildfire: California, number 1;
Colorado, number 3; and Washington, number 6.
Mr. Chairman, I filed a bill today to plant a trillion trees. We can
use forests to help mitigate atmospheric carbon. When we lock these
forests away in wilderness areas, we are taking that off the table and
actually adding to climate change by putting forests at risk of
catastrophic wildfires that emit carbon.
This is a commonsense amendment. We don't need to be putting these
areas into wilderness areas and taking them off the table to use in
fighting the mitigation of carbon. This amendment will make sure that
we are not unwisely designating areas that have been identified at high
risk of catastrophic wildfire.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Unlike the Panetta amendment that we just debated, the Westerman
amendment contains no action or management prescription to address
wildfire risk on our public lands. Instead, the amendment is another
attempt by my colleagues to override Congress' constitutional
responsibility to make law and, instead, give political appointees
overly broad and unilateral authority to essentially veto an act of
Congress.
This amendment contains the false narrative that wilderness is a ``no
management'' designation and that any protective designation will
inherently increase wildfire risk.
That, in fact, is not true, and it is the opposite: Wilderness areas
are some of our most resilient natural landscapes.
Wilderness areas are usually far away from homes and other developed
areas. They don't contain power lines or roads, which are major causes
of human-caused ignitions, as we saw with the recent California fires.
And if a fire does start in a wilderness area, these landscapes are
best equipped to endure those periodic disturbances, which can achieve
important management objectives and enhance habitat and ecosystem
functions.
Mr. Chair, here we have got a photo provided to me by my colleague,
Mr. Carbajal, which illustrates this point. It is the Machesna
Wilderness Area that is included in this bill. If you look at the area
for a moment, you can see this is not an area that is appropriate for
logging, but you can also see some charred wood from a recent fire. But
overall, look at how this area has regrown and the beautiful flowers
that bloomed after the fire. This is what a resilient landscape looks
like, and it is what we are protecting in this bill.
Furthermore, we have said this over and over and over, and I can't
stress it enough, there is nothing that prevents suppression of an
active wildfire in a wilderness area. And the Wilderness Act allows
management activities if they are necessary to address fire, insects,
and diseases, which is referenced in no uncertain terms by Mr.
Panetta's amendment.
Wildfire, like climate change, is an issue that always should be on
our minds and inherent in our policies, but this red herring narrative
that wilderness designation inherently increases wildfire is just
simply not played out.
I encourage my colleagues not to give in to these false assumptions
and oppose this amendment. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to look at the
science. I urge my colleagues to look at the law, look at what
wilderness area means. It means untrampled by man. It means man has a
hands-off approach to it.
Wilderness areas can be resilient to fire if they are designated
appropriately, but when we have the experts at the BLM and the Forest
Service saying these lands are not suitable for wilderness areas, when
these areas are close to roads, when they are close to homes and
property, we are treading on dangerous ground here. We are not applying
the science. We are not applying the opinions of the experts. We are
just saying we want to randomly call something wilderness area and
think that, randomly, our approach is going to be suppression.
If our idea of management is suppression, we are losing ground. We
should be doing things to prevent fire. An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure. And if our plan is we are just going to roll the dice
but we can put the fire out when these wilderness areas catch on fire,
I think we are sending the wrong message and we are making bad policy.
So, again, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment that
is common sense and that will do good in the long run.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, just to reiterate, the way it works right
now with existing wilderness areas is that
[[Page H1095]]
the region that is managing that wilderness area can decide, obviously,
taking into account that it is a wilderness area.
If it is a remote area, as we just saw in this photo, where burning
would benefit the ecosystem, then they are allowed to burn, as they are
in other areas of Federal land; but, if the regional director in the
management plan has a wilderness that is near an urban interface and it
looks like homes and lives may be put at risk, they are allowed, under
the Wilderness Act, to take that action.
That is what I have been trying to tell my colleagues for years now.
I think that the Panetta amendment makes that clear. I think that it
allows us the power that we have in designating wilderness.
Again, we shouldn't offload our power to the executive branch or any
other branch of government. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.
I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1415
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, if we are allowing management in an
area, then, by definition, it shouldn't be a wilderness area. If our
plan is to put the fire out when it starts and it could possibly do
damage to property or life, that is not a very good plan.
We shouldn't be putting areas into wilderness that is close to
wildland-urban interfaces, that is close to where people live, and
taking management completely off the table.
I have wilderness areas in my district and in my State, and they are
managed as wilderness areas, which means they are not managed at all.
Again, this is common sense. Listen to the experts. If this area is
not suitable to be in a wilderness area, we shouldn't be designating it
a wilderness area.
I encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment. Mr. Chair, I
yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arkansas
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Westerman
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 7
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. WESTERMAN. I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 17, strike line 17 and all that follows through page
19, line 20.
Strike section 233.
Strike section 304.
Strike section 307.
Page 220, strike line 11 and all that follows through page
221, line 2.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, this strikes all the potential wilderness
designations proposed in this package, which is a very vague and
ambiguous designation that gives broad discretion to the relevant land
management agencies to designate these areas as wilderness at a later
time.
As I previously mentioned during debate on the last amendment, one of
the clear flaws of the package before us is the apparent arbitrary
process that was taken in determining the areas to designate as
wilderness. This shortcoming, unfortunately, extends to the potential
wilderness designations in the bill as well.
Official testimony from the land management agencies raised concerns
about many of these suspect designations not possessing appropriate
wilderness characteristics.
For example, in the Washington portion of this package, many of the
5,000 acres set to become potential wilderness are largely near roads
and include large amounts of previously harvested stands of timber.
These are clearly roads that the proponents of this bill want to
close. However, this is the wrong way to do that. Locking up vast
swaths of land is a bad way to manage Federal land.
And I reiterate, if we want to do something about atmospheric carbon
and use our forest as a tool, locking them up where we can't touch them
is not the way to do that. We should be investing in sustainable,
proactive measures that balance both resource stewardship and local
input.
This amendment will remove some of the ambiguity from this package
and will allow local communities to continue to benefit from lands and
roads in these areas.
Mr. Chair, it is for those reasons I again urge my colleagues to vote
for this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, plain and simple, this amendment would remove
all the potential wilderness from this bill, which totals over 130,000
acres.
My colleagues are using this amendment to claim that the wilderness
areas in this bill don't meet the definition or intent of the
wilderness designation.
Guess what? That is exactly why they are designated as ``potential
wilderness.'' These are areas that are, for all intents and purposes,
wilderness, but for a small nonconforming use. Since the quotation
marks on the amendment description seem to show some lack of
understanding about this designation, I would like to explain it for
the Record.
A potential wilderness designation typically means that an area has
wilderness characteristics, but it recognizes that there is a
nonconforming use or activity that would otherwise be prohibited by a
standard wilderness designation, which is exactly what my colleagues on
the other side of the aisle keep trying to argue. They keep trying to
say: ``Well, you know, you can't have motorized activities. You can't
have this and that in wilderness,'' and they are right. But that is why
some of these areas are potential wilderness.
Some examples of potential wilderness allowances that would be
impacted by this amendment include allowing redwood forest restoration,
allowing trail reconstruction using heavy equipment, and allowing the
high-altitude helicopter operations in Colorado to continue in
potential wilderness, because those uses are not appropriate in
wilderness but these areas have strong wilderness characteristics, but
for that one activity.
Potential wilderness designations simply say this: manage the area
for the wilderness quality characteristics but continue to allow the
specific use or activity. Then when that nonconforming use is removed,
the area will then revert to wilderness because mostly that is what it
is.
Potential wilderness provides exactly the type of management
flexibility that my colleagues claim is needed for certain areas, but
they want to strike all of these designations from the bill. Frankly,
it seems a little backward to me.
For some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, I know it can
be hard to see these areas for anything other than their extractive
potential, but I see it from the other side of the coin. These areas
are strong wilderness areas; they just have a small nonconforming use
that eventually will be removed, restoring these areas to wilderness.
That is why these areas are called potential wilderness.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, there are a couple of things that I would
like to point out here.
First off, I am having a hard time understanding the logic. I
appreciate the gentlewoman trying to explain what these potential
wilderness areas are, but in the debate on the last amendment, the
gentlewoman pointed out that we shouldn't be ceding any power to the
executive branch, which designating something a potential wilderness
area would cede all that power to the executive branch to determine if
that could be a wilderness area in the future.
[[Page H1096]]
There is a process to designate a wilderness area. It is called a
wilderness study area. We have done that all across the country. I have
seen it done in my State, and there are certain criteria that you have
to meet when you are in a wilderness study area to be designated
wilderness.
Congress can change the law if they want to. They can violate the
Wilderness Protection Act that was put in place, but that is not a wise
thing to do.
For instance, there is an area in my State that is in a wilderness
study area that has beautiful trees on it, but those trees are loblolly
pine trees. They are nonnative to that site. So you could put that into
a wilderness area, but by definition, you can't have nonnative tree
species on that site.
Those are the kinds of things that the agencies look for when they go
through a wilderness study program and when they propose to designate
areas as wilderness. Just haphazardly doing it, putting it in areas
where it shouldn't be, and designating potential wilderness is leaving
the science out it, and it is making it all about politics.
Mr. Chair, again, I encourage my colleagues to be rational and to
vote for this simple amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close if the gentleman is
ready. I think I have the right to close. Mr. Chair, I will reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, again, I encourage the adoption of this
commonsense amendment; that we let the science rule; that we keep land
available, our precious land and our precious resources to use in this
fight to remove atmospheric carbon, to make the world a better place,
and for environmental stewardship for the future.
That is why I offered this amendment and why I encourage my
colleagues to support it.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, the 131,702 acres of potential wilderness
in this bill, they are in many of the sections of this legislation, and
they all have strong wilderness characteristics but for one
nonconforming use, which will be eventually gone, in which case it is
imperative that we manage these areas as wilderness.
Mr. Chair, that is why I oppose this amendment, and I urge my
colleagues to vote ``no.'' I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arkansas
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Cunningham
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 8
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of the bill insert the following:
TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 801. MILITARY ACTIVITIES.
Nothing in this Act precludes--
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over
wilderness areas;
(2) the designation of new units of special airspace over
wilderness areas; or
(3) the establishment of military flight training routes
over wilderness areas.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham) and a Member opposed each will
control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which
would make crystal clear that our men and women in uniform can continue
to use the areas affected by this bill to conduct the training that
they need to keep us safe.
The underlying bill would designate over a million acres of federally
owned land as new or potential wilderness, safeguarding these important
natural resources for Americans to enjoy for generations.
But these lands not only provide us with our outdoor recreation
opportunities; they also serve as an important training ground for our
Armed Forces as they prepare to defend our country overseas.
My bipartisan, commonsense amendment would ensure that our military
aviators can continue to fly training missions and traverse the more
than 1.3 million acres of wilderness designated by this act.
Now, this is critical because some areas affected by this bill are
currently used by servicemembers at the High-Altitude Army National
Guard Aviation Training Site, which is represented by my colleague,
Congressman Tipton, who joined me in offering this amendment.
This facility is the only place military helicopter pilots can learn
the advanced power management skills needed to safely operate thousands
of feet above sea level.
Given the mountainous regions our troops presently operate in
overseas, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is critically important that
these training operations continue uninterrupted.
Our public lands management agencies have a long history of working
with our military leaders. When it comes to protecting our public
lands, this amendment shows that conservation and national security can
go hand in hand.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting our
amendment, ensuring that our servicemembers can continue to utilize
America's diverse natural resources to prepare to fight and win in any
environment. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in
opposition, although I am not opposed.
The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman
from Colorado?
There was no objection.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr.
Cunningham, for putting forward this amendment.
I do rise in opposition, though I am not opposed, ultimately, to the
amendment. I am glad to join my colleague from South Carolina as a
cosponsor, ultimately, of this amendment to be able to ensure that
military overflights can continue over areas that will be designated
wilderness under the Protecting America's Wilderness Act.
As my good friend from South Carolina is aware, my district is home
to the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site or
HAATS, where our men and women in uniform learn how to fly rotary-wing
aircraft safely in high-altitude environments.
Mr. Chair, five wilderness or potential wilderness areas are to be
established within the HAATS training area under the Protecting
America's Wilderness Act. It is essential that when the time comes for
aviation training to take place for the readiness of our Armed Forces
that it is not interfering with the current and future wilderness
proposals being debated and introduced in Congress.
Although the gentleman's amendment doesn't deal with the issue of
landing zones, I do believe it is an important protection and a
promising step forward. I would urge all of my colleagues to be able to
support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, in closing, I want to thank my friend from
Colorado, Mr. Tipton, for joining me in offering this bipartisan
amendment. Mr. Chair, I also want to thank Chairman Grijalva and my
colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for their work on this
important legislation.
I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in
supporting this amendment, which will make clear that our military can
continue to utilize the airspace above these newly designated
wilderness areas.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham).
[[Page H1097]]
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from South
Carolina will be postponed.
{time} 1430
Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Tipton
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 10, strike lines 15 through 20.
Page 11, strike lines 3 through 9.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from Colorado (Mr. Tipton) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter and a resolution from the
Mesa County Board of County Commissioners and a letter from the
Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners in opposition to the
legislation that we have on the floor today.
Mesa County, Colorado,
Board of County Commissioners,
Grand Junction, CO, June 24, 2019.
Re Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019, H.R. 2546.
Hon. Diana DeGette,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Ms. DeGette: As the Board of County Commissioners
(``Board'') for Mesa County, Colorado, we are submitting this
letter to voice our opposition to the Colorado Wilderness Act
of 2019, H.R. 2546.
Mesa County has a well-established history of supporting
sensible, multiple use of public lands and resources. The
Board finds the proposed Wilderness designations of more
140,000 acres within Mesa County unacceptable and in direct
conflict of the Mesa County Resolution adopted in opposition
of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2015, H.R. 3336 (enclosed).
The areas proposed for Wilderness in Mesa County include:
1. South Shale Ridge & Little Book Cliffs Proposed
Wilderness--29,045 acres (proposed ``Little Bookcliffs
Wilderness'')
2. South Shale Ridge & Little Book Cliffs Proposed
Wilderness--27,517 acres (proposed ``South Shale Ridge
Wilderness'')
3. Bangs Canyon Proposed Wilderness--20,996 acres (proposed
``Bangs Canyon Wilderness'')
4. Unaweep & Palisade Proposed Wilderness--27,150 acres
(proposed ``Palisade Wilderness'')
5. Unaweep & Palisade Proposed Wilderness--20,420 acres
(proposed ``Unaweep Wilderness'')
6. Sewemup Mesa Proposed Wilderness--15,208 acres (proposed
``Sewemup Mesa Wilderness'')
As the most restrictive designation in land management, the
Board believes Wilderness designations are often punitive in
nature for many public land users whose impact is negligible.
In addition to ending multiple use of public lands,
Wilderness designations:
1. eliminate the opportunity to manage forest level
concerns with the flexibility necessary for ever-changing
conditions;
2. remove the ability to properly address the tremendous
buildup of natural fuels due to unprecedented beetle kill
thus compounding the potential and severity of wildfires;
3. abolish future uses that enhance the social and economic
futures of area residents and businesses;
4. place undue burden on adjacent property owners, lessees
and other non-recreation forest users who face potential loss
of income due to restricted travel;
5. discriminate against citizens unable to walk or ride
horseback, including those with disabilities and the elderly.
As a County comprised of 72% public lands, the Board
believes the management of these public lands should be
decided with area resource management plans developed in
cooperation with federal, state and local governments as well
as the multitude of user groups and area citizens, not by a
process where those most affected have no voice. Given the
above concerns and those in the attached Resolution, Mesa
County cannot support this proposed legislation. Furthermore,
we encourage the Colorado Congressional delegation to
introduce legislation to release all Wilderness Study Areas
from their perpetual existence as de facto Wilderness.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Mesa County
Commissioners should you wish to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
Rose Pugliese,
Chair, Board of County Commissioners.
Scott McInnis,
Commissioner.
John Justman,
Commissioner.
____
Resolution # ___
A Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Mesa County,
Colorado Opposing the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2015 (H.R. 3336) and
Calling on Congress to Release all Wilderness Study Areas in Colorado
Whereas, the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2015 (H.R. 3336)
(the ``Wilderness Act'') has been introduced into Congress as
the latest annual attempt to create Wilderness Areas without
the participation or endorsement of the communities in which
the areas are located; and
Whereas, Mesa County has formally declared its position on
previous Wilderness proposals throughout the past years, (see
Exhibit A--MCA 2001-17, MCM 2008-049, MCM 2009-175); and
Whereas, the Wilderness Act has been introduced by a
Congressional Representative who does not reside in or
represent the congressional districts that would be most
impacted by this proposed legislation; and
Whereas, motorized and mechanized recreation are prohibited
within Wilderness Areas; and
Whereas, motorized and mechanized recreation are areas of
important and steady economic growth throughout Colorado and
specifically in Mesa County; and
Whereas, the Wilderness Act will close off approximately
715,000 acres across the state to all mechanized use, such as
mountain bikes, chainsaws, ATV's, snowmobiles, and
motorcycles; and
Whereas, Colorado will face a potential firestorm with the
tremendous buildup of natural fuels due to unprecedented
beetle kill and the inability to lower fuel loads by
mechanized thinning under Wilderness designation; and
Whereas, the Wilderness Act would place undue hardship on
anyone who cannot walk or ride horseback to enjoy these areas
of Colorado, such as the physically disabled or elderly, and
would seem to violate the spirit of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, if not the letter of the law; and
Whereas, Wilderness designation would place undue hardship
on livestock growers to maintain fences and water sources
within the Wilderness Areas; and
Whereas, once designated a Wilderness Area, an act of
Congress is needed to take the area out of Wilderness; and
Whereas, the numerous ``Wilderness Study Areas'' identified
within the Wilderness Act have been inventoried as such over
the past several decades, are mandated to be managed as de
facto Wilderness Areas, and can only be released from this
designation by an act of Congress; and
Whereas, Mesa County has acted in good faith through
various memoranda of understanding and as a cooperating
agency as a partner in land use planning with the Bureau of
Land Management, the U. S. Forest Service and other agencies
regarding the long-term protection and management of special
areas worthy of unique management; and
Whereas, Mesa County intends to continue to coordinate
cooperatively with the Bureau of Land Management, the U. S.
Forest Service and other agencies on land management issues.
Now, therefore the Board of County Commissioners of Mesa
County, Colorado finds that:
1. The Colorado Wilderness Act of 2015 (HB 3336) is not in
the best interest of the citizens of Mesa County and the
State of Colorado, and it would cause undue economic hardship
on the surrounding communities.
2. Congress should release all Wilderness Study Areas (WSA)
in Mesa County from such designation to allow for true
multiple use those lands that are unduly restricted from
appropriate use as WSAs.
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved that the Board of County Commissioners of Mesa
County, Colorado:
1. stands opposed to the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2015
(HB 3336) in its current form; and
2. calls upon the Colorado Congressional delegation to
introduce legislation to release all Wilderness Study Areas
within Mesa County from such designation.
Passed and Adopted this 21st day of September 2015.
Board of County Commissioners of Mesa County: Rose
Pugliese, Chair.
____
Montezuma County,
Board of County Commissioners,
Cortez, CO, May 28, 2019.
Re Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019.
Hon. Diana DeGette,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congresswoman: Respectfully, we are writing you as a
County Commission to let you know that Montezuma County
objects to the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019. We have been
consistently opposed since the Act was first proposed.
We ask you to permanently withdraw those portions of
Montezuma County that are included in the bill as per the BLM
and our recommendations. These areas include; Weber Mountain,
Menefee Mountain, Cross Canyon, Cahone Canyon and Squaw and
Papoose Canyons.
Since the early 1990's, Montezuma County has collaborated
with federal land managers
[[Page H1098]]
in effort to develop public land management strategies that
provide reasonable and responsible protection for our natural
resources and wild lands. This collaboration has built an
effective working relationship with federal land managers
that allows us better protect natural resources while also
ensuring the public have access to their public lands.
We believe we already have a good strategy in place for the
protection of the WSAs being proposed for wilderness that
maintains or improves their current characteristics for
future generations while providing better access for the
public to enjoy those lands in a responsible and appropriate
manner.
Congresswoman,
We have seven major areas of concern with regard to the
proposed Wilderness designations in Southwest Colorado that
we feel have not been addressed with us and you need to be
aware of:
1. Compatibility; the potential Wilderness Area designation
has some compatibility problems with the surrounding private
lands, their maintenance, and public access.
2. Best Protection of Resources; The proposed wilderness
designations present a threat to landscapes that have been
well protected under the current management.
3. The proposed legislation will create management
difficulties for both federal land managers and for
surrounding private landowners and threatens public health,
safety and wellbeing.
4. The proposed legislation undermines the integrity of the
BLM Land and Resource Management Planning process.
5. Proposed wilderness designations can trigger intense and
protracted disputes over downstream water rights.
6. Economics. Wilderness Areas are not always good for a
local economy. Often Wilderness leads to rural gentrification
and disrupts local cultures and traditions.
7. The proposed legislation is a breach of the local-
federal cooperation that we have all worked so hard to
cultivate in Southwest Colorado.
Conclusions and Recommendations.
Montezuma County objects to the proposed Wilderness
designation of;
1. Weber Mountain
2. Menefee Mountain
3. Cross Canyon
4. Cahone Canyon
5. Squaw and Papoose Canyon
We request that these five WSAs be dropped from your Bill.
And we further request your support in Congressional
delisting of those five WSAs.
We also would request your support in working with the BLM
to re-designate those WSAs as Special Recreational Management
Areas (SRMAs) and provide input in developing a customized
protection plan for each SRMA that analyzes and mitigates the
specific threats to the resources without throwing away
recreational opportunities that may be perfectly suitable,
and compatible with protection of resources.
We can't speak for the rest of the Western Slope, but in
Montezuma County, we ask that our efforts to work with the
federal land management agencies be respected. Any needed
land protection measures should be developed through an open
collaborative process in conjunction with mandated land and
resource management planning and NEPA processes.
We do not feel that Wilderness Designation has been propose
through a collaborative and transparent process at all.
Please contact us at your earliest convenience. We look
forward to working with you to craft specific protections
that meet the public expectations, respects our culture and
traditions, and truly protect resources.
Sincerely yours,
The Montezuma County Board of Commissioners, Keenan G. Ertel,
Larry Don Suckla, Jim Candelaria.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, the majority of the land in Title I of the
underlying bill would be converted into wilderness and it is in my
district.
While I am never pleased when another Member of the House tries to
tell my constituents what is best for them, I get especially frustrated
when they ignore the opinions of elected officials in the communities
in which they are seeking to make land management designations.
For instance, I might think that designating wilderness between
Denver and Boulder would cut down on the challenges the State is facing
with population growth might be something to consider, yet I have
refrained from introducing such a proposal.
The underlying bill seeks to convert several wilderness study areas
in the Third Congressional District into wilderness. The two that I
focused on in this amendment are in Montezuma County.
During the hearing on the underlying bill, Montezuma County
Commissioner Keenan Ertel testified in opposition to the proposed
wilderness additions in the county. In a letter he sent to me and to
the bill's sponsor, the board of county commissioners wrote:
We have been consistently opposed since the act was first
proposed. We ask you to permanently withdraw those portions
of Montezuma County that are included in the bill as per the
BLM and our recommendations.
Since the early 1990's, Montezuma County has collaborated
with Federal land managers in an effort to develop public
land management strategies that provide reasonable and
responsible protection for our natural resources and wild
lands. This collaboration has built an effective working
relationship with Federal land managers that allows us to
better protect natural resources while also ensuring the
public have access to their public lands.
We believe we already have a good strategy in place for the
protection of the WSAs being proposed for wilderness that
maintains or improves their current characteristics for
future generations while providing better access for the
public to enjoy those lands in a responsible and appropriate
manner.
In the letter, the commissioners mention the BLM's recommendation.
This is because the BLM studied the lands that my colleague is
proposing to be added to wilderness and determined that they are not
suitable. In fact, one of the parcels has a D8 bulldozer sitting on the
land. This doesn't meet the standard of untrammeled by man.
Aside from the fact that the BLM has determined that these lands are
not suitable for wilderness, the current WSA designation has created
management challenges for the county when it comes to noxious weeds,
wildfire prevention and mitigation, and managing the challenges of the
Federal-private checkerboard that we see throughout the West.
It is for all of these reasons, but especially because of the local
opposition, that I urged my colleagues to remove the land in Montezuma
County from the bill during the legislative process.
Additionally, my colleague's amendment to the underlying bill added
additional land to Montezuma and Dolores Counties for wilderness
designation. I will note that the counties are also opposed to these
lands being added as indicated in their opposition letter.
While this amendment focuses on land in Montezuma County, I also want
to say that the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners has written
to me and the bill's sponsor about its opposition to the bill and the
proposed wilderness additions in its county. There seems to be a common
theme here.
I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment. But given the lack
of local support this bill has in western Colorado, this amendment is
not enough to fix the flaws of the bill.
Therefore, I will encourage my colleagues who believe that local
input is important in land management decisions to oppose the
underlying bill.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I have nothing but great affection and
respect for my friend from the Third Congressional District, and I have
worked with him and his predecessors as I have developed this bill over
the last 20-plus years, but I respectfully have to strongly disagree
with him over his proposal to remove these two areas from the
legislation.
As a matter of fact, as I mentioned earlier in general debate, I
actually went to these two areas over the August recess and I visited
these areas. I invited Mr. Tipton to come, but he was unavailable. When
we were in the Cross Canyon area, we rode in on horses because there
are no trails. It is completely inaccessible. There we saw ancestral
pueblos. We saw petroglyphs with our own eyes.
When we went to the Weber-Menefee area to the area overlooking it, we
saw really clearly how this area was wild and needed protection. And,
by the way, the areas with the noxious weeds were several miles away,
not even close to the wilderness area.
I do understand these concerns, but I believe these two areas are a
case study for who you should listen to when you decide what wilderness
should be.
As I said in general debate, when Commissioner Ertel came to testify
before Congress, he rightly said that I had never been to these two
areas. So, last August I went there, and I toured the areas. I had a
town hall meeting in Cortez, which is the town that is right in between
these two areas. We had over 70 people who showed up at this
[[Page H1099]]
town hall meeting, and I presented what the bill was. Several other
people asked questions, presented opposing views.
At the end I just had a gut feeling that there was support there, so
I took an impromptu survey, and I asked the people in that room, ``How
many of you, knowing what you know, would support designation of Cross
Canyon and Weber-Menefee as wilderness?'' Sixty-five people raised
their hands. Then I asked, ``How many of you would oppose it?'' Four
people raised their hands. When I asked, ``How many are neutral,'' four
people raised their hands.
It seems to me we shouldn't be having local county commissioners have
veto power either over the citizens in those areas or over the U.S.
Congress in determining wilderness. And by the way, the local mayor of
Cortez and the town council have all voted to support designation of
these areas--both of which have been wilderness study areas for over 30
years--permanently.
That is why we need to keep these areas in our bill. That is why they
need to be designated as wilderness because they are wild and pristine.
And that is why I humbly and respectfully ask for a ``no'' vote on
this amendment
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I am grateful that my colleague, who I also
have a lot of respect for, did come down to Montezuma County.
I hope while the gentlewoman was there, she had the opportunity to
spend a little money, buy a few presents to take back and help an area
that is often left out and forgotten in Colorado.
What the gentlewoman spoke to is important. She mentioned that the
city council and the mayor were supportive. That is great. But they
aren't responsible for the county lands, which the county commissioners
are responsible for. It was within the confines of the city limits.
Does that diminish their right to be able to have an opinion? It does
not.
What is not being addressed is these are already protected lands.
There isn't a person in the State of Colorado or in the country that
can go on any of those lands and try to develop them, to put in a road,
to put in a tower for transmission. That would have to go through a
planning process, a comment process, if anything were to happen.
Those local comments, the impacts that our county commissioners are
seeing, those who are responsible for the land should not be ignored,
should be listened to, and I would encourage the adoption of my
amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman should be assured we spent
quite a little bit of money in your town.
I just want to say what the gentleman said points to exactly what I
am saying. He says that the Cortez town council and mayor are not
managing the county lands. Well, guess what, the county commissioners
aren't managing the Federal lands. These are Federal lands. These are
wilderness study areas, and they have been wilderness study areas for
almost 30 years. The residents, the local residents, they are the ones
that should care. They are the ones using these areas and they want
them to be preserved.
Mr. Chairman, I refer again, on the Western Slope in the areas
referenced in this bill, New Bridge Strategy did a poll last October of
2019, and they found that in those areas, 71 percent of Coloradans
support wilderness protections for those already managed as such, like
these two areas. And 63 percent supported expanding wilderness
protections across the State. These are the people who matter. These
are the people who care.
Also, we have a list of 80 different groups, most of them on the
Western Slope, and we have a list of 179 business owners and community
leaders, most of them on the Western Slope, who support this
legislation. The reason is because the local governments and the county
governments are benefiting from the visits that they have to these
areas.
In Cortez, one of the biggest employers is Osprey. Almost everybody
has an Osprey backpack or something in their home. They are selling
their goods to the people who are using these areas.
That is why I oppose this amendment. That is why we need to pass this
bill, and we need to protect these areas that are already wilderness
study areas and have been for 30 years, for the future generations to
come.
I include in the Record the list of business owners and the
conservation and recreation groups, as well as the survey from New
Bridge Strategy.
Conservation and Recreation Groups in Support of Title I: Colorado
Wilderness Act of 2020 (DeGette--H.R. 2546) (80)
1. Access Fund
2. Aiken Audubon Society
3. American Alpine Club
4. American Hiking Society
5. American Whitewater
6. Ancient Forest Rescue
7. Animas Riverkeeper
8. Arkansas Valley Audubon Society
9. Audobon Society Denver
10. Audubon Rockies
11. Audubon Society of Greater Denver
12. Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
13. Backcountry Skiers Alliance
14. Biodiversity Legal Foundation
15. Big Agnes
16. Black Canyon Audubon Society
17. Blue River Anglers
18. Boulder County Aububon Soc.
19. Center for Environmental Citizenship
20. Central Colorado Wilderness Coalition
21. Clean Water Advocacy Center
22. Colorado Mountain Club
23. Colorado Native Plant Society
24. Colorado Wild/Rocky Mountain Wild
25. Colorado Wildlife Federation
26. Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center
27. Community Alliance of the Yampa Valley
28. Conservation Alliance
29. Conservation Colorado/League of Conservation Voters
30. Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship
31. CoPIRG
32. CU Environmental Center
33. Defenders of Wildlife
34. Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund
35. Endangered Species Coalition
36. Environment Colorado/Environment America
37. Friends of Browns Canyon
38. Friends of The Yampa
39. Frying Pan Anglers
40. Grand Valley Audubon Society
41. Grand Valley Citizen's Alliance
42. Great Old Broads for Wilderness
43. High Country Citizen's Alliance
44. Land & Water Fund of the Rockies
45. La Sportiva
46. Mesa County Wilderness Coalition
47. National Parks Conservation Association
48. National Wildlife Federation
49. Natural Resources Defense Council
50. Osprey
51. Outdoor Alliance
52. Outdoor Industry Association
53. Patagonia
54. Protect Our Winters
55. Quiet Use Coalition
56. Ridgway-Ouray Community Council
57. Roaring Fork Anglers
58. Roaring Fork Audubon
59. Rocky Mountain Canoe Club
60. Rocky Mountain Field Institute
61. Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative
62. San Juan Citizen's Alliance
63. San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council
64. Sopris Greens
65. Sheep Mountain Alliance
66. Sierra Club Rocky Mountain/Sierra Club
67. Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project
68. Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
69. Trout Unlimited
70. Uncompahgre Valley Association
71. Western Colorado Alliance for Community Action formerly
Western Colorado Congress
72. Western Environmental Law Center
73. Western Resource Advocates
74. Western Slope Environmental Resource Council
75. Wild Connections
76. Wilderness Education Institute
77. Wilderness Land Trust
78. Wilderness Workshop
79. Wildlands Restoration Volunteers
80. Winter Wildlands Alliance
Businesses in Support of Title I: Colorado Wilderness Act of 2020
(DeGette--H.R. 2546) (187)
1. Friends Fields Inc
2. Hart's Skating and Dancewear
3. House of Seasons
4. Mr. Mike's Repair
5. Hill's Aspen Gallery of Photography
6. Hotel Lenado
7. UTE Mountaineer
8. Bristlecone Mountain Sports
9. Taylor Creek Fly Shops
10. Ames Burgess Ranch LLC
11. Boulder Mountain Repair
12. Little Mountain
13. Montgomery Partnership Architecture
14. Mountain Sports
15. Target Earth International
16. The Cup Espresso Cafe
17. Neptune Mountaineering
18. Big City Blues
19. Loom and Weave Inc
20. Mountain Angler
21. Rasta Pasta
22. The Adventure Rafting Company
23. Great Big Color Inc
24. MasterPrint
[[Page H1100]]
25. The Trailhead
26. Echo Canyon River Exp. Inc.
27. Mother Nature's Health Food Store
28. Alpine Angling and Adventure Travel
29. Sopris Surfers
30. Centennial Canoe Outfitters Inc.
31. Boulder Running Company
32. Cripple Creek District Museum
33. Criterium Bicycles
34. Gordon Anderson Photography
35. Mountain Chalet
36. Pikes Peak Mountain Bike
37. The E-Quest Corporation
38. Canyon Sports LLc
39. Jake's Rio Grande Outfitting Service
40. Butte Bagels Inc
41. Bill Myers, P.C.
42. C.W. Action
43. Colorado Outdoor Recreational Adventures
44. Confluence Kayaks LLc
45. Golden West Co. LLC
46. Patagonia (Denver)
47. Arapahoe CafZ/Pub
48. Pug Ryan's (brewery)
49. Dolores River Brewery
50. A Shared Blanket
51. AAM's Mild to Wild Rafting
52. Animas Trading Co
53. Animon City Rock LLC
54. Aquarius Adventures
55. Backcountry Experience
56. Branson Reynolds Photography
57. Carver Brewing Co
58. Carver Brewing Company
59. Colorado Mtn. Expeditions
60. Concrete Ski Shop
61. Couldberries
62. Dancing Willows Herbs Inc.
63. Duranglers Inc.
64. Durango Kid
65. Durango Shirt Co.
66. Ecos Consulting
67. Flexible Flyers Rafting
68. Gardenswartz Sporting Goods
69. Gunnar Conrad Photography
70. Hummingbirds Herbals
71. Main Avenue Marketplace
72. Maria's Bookshop
73. Nature's Oasis
74. Norton Painting Inc.
75. P. River Outfitters
76. Performance Video
77. Pineneedle Mountaineering
78. POPOLI--Design for People
79. Precious Earth
80. Reruns
81. Rhea Environmental Consulting
82. Ski Barn Inc.
83. The Boarding Haus
84. The Light Store Inc
85. Urban Homestead
86. Yoga Durango
87. Mountain Misen LTD
88. In the Groove Inc.
89. The Snow Leopard
90. Rock Solid Adventures
91. DejaVu Coffeehouse
92. Hammocks in the Square
93. Hearne's Fine Goods
94. New Belgium Brewing Co.
95. Poudre River Kayaks
96. Rocky Mountain Home Collection
97. Trails End Hardscapes Inc.
98. COPY COPY
99. Pioneer Sports
100. Summit Canyon Mountaineering
101. Architecture Works
102. Mounainsmith
103. The Bent Gate Inc.
104. Timberline Llamas Inc.
105. Greeley Monument Works
106. Marbled Artworks by Marie Palowoda
107. Margies Java Joint & The Book Stop
108. Mellow Yellow
109. Paws Animal Clinic
110. All Sports Replay
111. Black Diamond Exp. & Tenderfoot Rafting
112. Mountain Mamas
113. The Book Worm
114. Cannibal Outdoors
115. Hall Realty, Mountaineer Inc.
116. Lake City Properties Inc.
117. Rosemary Knight CPA
118. The Pueblo House
119. Zen Home Construction Inc.
120. Donut Hut
121. Sisters' Espresso
122. Backcountry Escape LLC
123. Grandpa's Pawn and Gun
124. The Dickens House Bed & Breakfast
125. Red Canyon Art Co.
126. Deer Hill Expeditions
127. Blue Planet Earthscapes
128. The Cliff House @Pikes Peak
129. Black Cat Books
130. Mountain Wind and Sun
131. Natural Gems by the Corner Goldsmith
132. The Hemp Store
133. Backstreet Bagel & Deli
134. Devinny Jewelers
135. Cimarron Creek
136. Montrose Chiropractic
137. Ross Reels
138. Scott Fly Rods
139. The Soul Garden
140. Valley Books & Coffee
141. Streamside Bed & Breakfast
142. Outwest Guides
143. Reed Designs LLC
144. Vistas and Vineyards B&B
145. Earth Write
146. The John Deaux Art Gallery
147. Redstone Inn
148. Adobe Inn
149. Cimarron Books & Coffeehouse
150. CO Kids Clothing Co.
151. Ridgway Office Supply & Services
152. Firehouse Sculpture & Gallery
153. Ridgway Outdoor Experience
154. Ridgway Rentals
155. San Juan Stone Company LLC
156. Unicas Southwest
157. White House Salon
158. Willowcreek Floral
159. Light Hawk
160. Lifestream Water Systems
161. Silver Mountain Harvest LTD
162. Simpler Way Book Co.
163. Renegade LLC
164. Alpine Art & Glasswork
165. Backcountry Provisions
166. Backdoor Sports Ltd.
167. Bamboo Market
168. Epilogue Book Company
169. Little Moon Essentials
170. Mad Dog Sports
171. Mail Boxes, Etc.
172. Matt & Bryan's Outdoor Shop
173. Mountain High Technology
174. One Stop Ski Shop Ltd
175. Orange Peel Bicycle Service US
176. Spring Sips
177. Straightline Outdoor Sports
178. Use It Again Sports
179. Vino
180. Ivar Eidsmo Builder Inc.
181. Telluride Outside
182. Tomboy Soup
183. Vectra Bank Colorado
184. Arkansas Valley Adventure
185. Civilized Designs from the Wild West
186. EcoFlight
187. Lupitar Bizzare Bazaar
Business Owners and Community Leaders in Support of Title I: Colorado
Wilderness Act of 2020 (DeGette--H.R. 2546) (179)
1. Bill Myers
2. Carmi McLean
3. Jonathan Kahn
4. Errol Cerovski
5. Dave Richardson
6. Claudia Goodman
7. Karen Gordan
8. Dan Groenwald
9. Steve Montgomery
10. Daniel Howley
11. Nicole Holt
12. Wendy Ball
13. Gary Neptune
14. Andrea Gessner
15. Jeremy Feldman
16. Jackson Streit
17. Noble Wolf Schlicht
18. Sean McLaughlin
19. Meena Keuer
20. Michael & Star Betz
21. Travis Holton
22. Sherleen Westfield
23. Matt Sampson
24. Nancy Brown
25. Main Turner
26. Nina Thompson
27. Claire Carren
28. Vicki Stroud
29. Jamie Black
30. Frank Lilly
31. Mark Wimberly
32. Weston & Mary Mauz
33. Judy McDonald/Mary Ward
34. Joe Wright
35. Daniel Delano
36. Bob Wade
37. Susan & Don Edmonds
38. Tim Heng
39. Martha A. Burgess
40. Jeff Dysart
41. Dale Ahrens
42. Duane Daniels
43. David Jake Powell
44. Mark Youngguist
45. D. Frank
46. Alex Mickel
47. Cathy Wakeman
48. Anne Batt-Ostlund
49. Valyda May
50. Kirk Singer
51. Branson Reynolds
52. Barbara Wynne
53. Zachary Lawrence
54. Pete Turner
55. Cheryl Hobby
56. Debra Reuben
57. Tom Knopick
58. Barbara Haas
59. Kristin Kuhn
60. Chris Calwell
61. Robin Fritch & Steven Saltsman
62. Brian Hessling
63. Gunnar Conrad
64. Melanie Rose
65. Andrea Brenell
66. Peter Schertz
67. Jeff & Sherri Watson
68. Dylan Norton
69. Tom Kleema
70. Kent Ford
71. Cindy Schroeder
72. Christine Conner
73. Kim Pardini
74. Laura Fickard
75. Barry Rhea
76. Jurgen Umbhau
77. John Agnew
78. Crissy Schneider
79. Tracy Campbell
80. ``Katie Walsh
81. Michele Lawrence
82. Sherly McGourty''
83. Steve Davis
84. Andrew Smith
85. Greg Osgood
86. Marianne Tarr
87. Marcia Duncan
88. Jack & Leslie Nichols
89. Phil & Carolyn Virden
90. William & Ruthanna Hall
91. Rosemary Knight
92. Christi Hall
93. Ken Bodine
94. Douglas & Beverly Caplin
95. Pete Freer
96. David Devinny
[[Page H1101]]
97. Bob Burk
98. John T. Unger
99. David S. Heller
100. Junimz Britschi
101. Jim Riddell
102. Charlie Peterson
103. Gary Hubbell
104. Lorna Reed
105. Iris Meachum
106. Riadeaux
107. Deborah Strom
108. Joyce Bucknam
109. Priscilla Peters
110. Ellen Hunter
111. Gale Ingram
112. Joni McCullough
113. Albert Adams
114. Patsy Young
115. Cindy Feirn
116. Deborah Lombardo
117. Judi S.
118. Paula Brown
119. Michelle G.
120. Maryelleu & Brandon Hubley
121. John Marshall
122. Betsy Fields
123. Vickie Rosenzweig
124. David Pepin
125. Peter Van de Carr
126. Anne Halloran
127. Erica Focelle
128. Laura Lamun
129. John Seymour
130. Al Callahan
131. Matt Taff, Bryan Ayer
132. Marty Rosenzweig
133. John M Kole
134. Brock S. Webster
135. Stephanie Reineke
136. Brett Lee
137. Fred Garrison
138. Michael Kirlum & Lisa Lesyshen
139. Ivar Eidsmo
140. John Duncan
141. Jessica Newens Co.
142. Timothy J. Cannon
143. Debbie Dacton & Michael McBride
144. Maria Palowoda
145. Deanna Shepard
146. Jodie Callen
147. David Shoemaker
148. Shonda Lehtola
149. Rod Brandenburg
150. Kim Khake
151. Dick & Jan Scar
152. David Burch
153. Marjorie F. Oldfield
154. Cody Hill
155. Jan MacKell
156. Nic Ponsor
157. Gordon Anderson
158. Dan Foster
159. Howard Hallman Jr.
160. George Watson
161. Becky Elder
162. Craig A. Hartman
163. Natalie Johnson
164. Laura Bell
165. Stephen A. Smith
166. Dennis & Kathleen Claveau
167. Mike Kunkel
168. Duke Brad Ford
169. Julia Gumpter & Marty Genereux
170. Drew Shaw
171. Richard & Carol Wolfe
172. Laurie Hurd
173. Margy Dalpes
174. Karin Dukehart
175. Carol Boyd
176. Michael Cady
177. Joe Doyle
178. Kristine Dirla
179. Kristi Floyd
____
New Bridge Strategy.
To: Interested Parties
From: Lori Weigel & Kathryn Hahne/New Bridge Strategy
Date: October 21, 2019
Re Support for Colorado Wilderness Act in Survey of Western
Slope Voters
New Bridge Strategy recently completed a survey of voters
throughout western Colorado--an area largely consisting of
the Third Congressional District--to determine their views on
a range of conservation issues, particularly increasing
wilderness designations on some lands in the West. The study
found strong support for the Colorado Wilderness Act to
increase wilderness primarily in desert and canyon areas in
their region. They also want to keep Wilderness Study Areas
intact, rather than removing that designation on some public
lands. This support may be grounded in the fact that voters
view public lands as beneficial for the economy. They also
anticipate outdoor recreation becoming increasingly important
in the region. This is not surprising given that most voters
in this region say that they engage in outdoor recreation
activities and/or sportsmen activities.
Specifically, the survey found that . . .
More than three-in-five Western Slope voters support
``dedicating additional, existing public lands as wilderness
areas here in Colorado.'' Fully 63 percent support dedicating
more land as wilderness in Colorado after hearing a brief
explanation of what this would entail. Respondents were told
that ``Just over fifty years ago Congress passed the
Wilderness Act, which protected the Maroon Bells and the San
Juan Mountains here in Colorado. These areas are designated
as wilderness in order to keep that land conserved in its
natural state. Wilderness lands can be used for hiking,
camping, livestock grazing, horseback riding, wildlife
watching, hunting and fishing. However, mining, oil and gas
development, logging, and the use of motorized or off-road
vehicles and mountain bikes are not allowed on wilderness
lands.'' Again, after hearing this neutral explanation, there
is solid support of 63 percent, and fully 42 percent
``strongly'' support it. Only 35 percent register opposition
to this proposal. Support for increasing the amount of
wilderness in Colorado is evident throughout the entire
district as well.
Support for extending wilderness protections has appeal
among virtually all sub-groups, including a majority of
hunters (55 percent) and anglers (62 percent), and
surprisingly, off-road vehicle users (55 percent support, 43
percent oppose). More than two-thirds of every other type of
outdoor recreation enthusiast expressed support, including 80
percent of mountain bikers, 75 percent of bird/wildlife
watchers, and 73 percent of hikers). A majority across party
lines also express support, with near universal support among
Democrats (94 percent), and nearly three-in-five Republicans
(59 percent) and unaffiliated voters (59 percent) registering
support for additional wilderness areas in Colorado.
In addition, once voters know that ``just five percent of
Colorado lands are currently dedicated as wilderness areas,''
support for dedicating additional public lands as wilderness
increases to fully 69 percent.
Likewise, there is significant support for adding
wilderness protections to public lands in desert and canyons
regions of the state. Fully 68 percent express support for a
proposal that would ``designate as wilderness lands areas
that include some desert canyons and mesas, such as lands
near Mesa Verde National Park, and natural areas along the
Arkansas and Dolores Rivers. These amount to less than 10
percent of the public lands in southern and western
Colorado.'' Two-in-five (40 percent) strongly support the
proposal, while 29 percent oppose it. This proposal engenders
majority support across party lines (92 percent of Democrats,
62 percent of unaffiliated voters and 54 percent of
Republicans), and with virtually every sub-group examined. It
has solid support throughout the district, including in Mesa
County (66 percent support).
Voters in this region also reject calls to eliminate
protections for Wilderness Study Areas. Western Colorado
voters prefer that Congress keep existing public lands in
Wilderness Study Areas, rather than removing that designation
to those lands by a nearly three to one margin, as the next
graph illustrates.
Majorities of all key voter sub-groups prefer that Congress
keep the status quo. This includes more than three-in-five
Republican and unaffiliated voters in the region (61 percent
say to keep the areas as they are, while 34 percent would
change their status) and virtually all Democrats (97 percent
keep as is). The desire to retain Wilderness Study Areas is
evident throughout the region, including in Mesa County (70
percent).
Support for these public lands proposals may be grounded in
the fact that voters make a connection between their economy
and the outdoors. The overwhelming majority of voters in
western Colorado say they presence of public lands in
Colorado helps our economy (84 percent) rather than hurts it
(6 percent) or has little impact on the economy (8 percent).
Majorities of every single sub-group hold the perception that
public lands help the economy.
Similarly, the survey demonstrates that voters in this
region view the ``outdoor economy'' as being ``very
important'' to their economic future. Fully 68 percent
characterize the outdoor economy which in the survey we
defined as ``people who come to hunt, fish, camp, hike, see
wildlife, as well as those who manufacture and sell equipment
for those activities'' as being very important to ``the
economic future of western Colorado.'' Another one-in-four
(25 percent) say it is ``somewhat important,'' and a mere 7
percent do not see it as important. Both Democrats (76
percent) and Republicans (70 percent) view the outdoor
economy as very important to the economic future of western
Colorado.
The vast majority of western Coloradans engage in outdoor
recreation themselves. When asked about their own ties to the
outdoors, the vast majority of voters here are participating
in many activities. Many identify as either a hunter (39%) or
an angler (52 percent). More than nine-in-ten say that they
regularly participate in some other form of outdoor
recreation, with a range of activities identified:
64% Hiking or trail running, 64% Camping, 51% Bird watching
and viewing wildlife, 30% Kayaking, canoeing or boating, 36%
Riding an off-road vehicle or snowmobile, 36% Snow shoeing,
skiing or boarding, 22% Mountain biking.
In fact, a majority say that they regularly participate in
three or more of these activities (56 percent).
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Colorado
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Tipton
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 10
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
[[Page H1102]]
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
After section 105, insert the following:
SEC. 106. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STUDY ON IMPACTS THAT THE
EXPANSION OF WILDERNESS DESIGNATIONS IN THE
WESTERN UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE ON THE
READINESS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED
STATES WITH RESPECT TO AVIATION TRAINING.
(a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct
a study on the impacts that the expansion of wilderness
designations in the Western United States would have on the
readiness of the Armed Forces of the United States with
respect to aviation training.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of
Representatives a report on the study required under
subsection (a).
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from Colorado (Mr. Tipton) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, military aviation and training is critical to the
national security interests of the United States and the readiness of
our Armed Forces.
My district is home to one of the installations that conducts
military aviation training missions for our men and women in uniform,
the High Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, or HAATS,
located in Gypsum, Colorado.
It is both an honor and a privilege to be able to represent the lone
U.S. Department of Defense schoolhouse where rotary-wing aviators in
our Nation's Armed Forces and our foreign allies learn how to be able
to safely fly rotary-wing aircraft in mountainous high-altitude
environments. The life-saving training that is required by our
servicemen and women at HAATS is vital to our national security and our
readiness.
Mr. Chairman, Title I of the Protecting America's Wilderness Act
would establish five wilderness or potential wilderness areas within
the HAATS training area.
During this Congress, numerous pieces of legislation designating
wilderness continue to be introduced without taking into consideration
the potential effects that these designations would have on readiness.
Proactively, Congress should work to be able to ensure current and
future wilderness proposals do not interfere with readiness of our
Armed Forces when it comes to aviation training.
Mr. Chairman, my amendment would require the Secretary of Defense to
conduct a study, which would examine the impacts of the expansion of
wilderness designations in the western United States and what they
would have on the readiness of our Armed Forces with respect to
aviation training.
Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1445
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Colorado is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, there has been a lot of debate for a long
time about how this bill might or might not impact military training in
Colorado, and I myself have been concerned about this for some years.
We have been looking at this for over 10 years, ever since we found out
about the high-altitude training by the National Guard.
We have provisions in the underlying bill and, of course, we have
accepted an amendment from Mr. Cunningham that would clearly say
nothing in this bill will interfere with the HAATS activities. As a
matter of fact, we removed several areas from the original bill that we
found out had helicopter landing pads in them and we called them
potential wilderness, because, frankly, I don't think that landing a
helicopter in an area is an approved wilderness use, and I have said
that all along.
So, therefore, we want to make sure that the National Guard can
continue to do its landing in these areas as long as it deems that it
is necessary to do so. We have written the underlying bill that way.
Mr. Cunningham's amendment clarifies it. And, frankly, if this
amendment will help to clarify the situation even more, I would be
happy to go along with that because I do not intend, and I don't think
any of the other bill sponsors intend, to interfere with our national
defense.
People might be surprised to find out the findings of the study once
it comes out, because the Pentagon often supports the protective buffer
that wilderness offers for aviation training. Also, this bill is
supported by a number of veterans and other military organizations.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter dated February 11, 2020,
from the Vet Voice Foundation that shows support for this legislation
and, in particular, support for the wilderness in this legislation.
Vet Voice Foundation,
February 11, 2020.
Subject: Vet Voice Foundation Support for H.R. 2546--
Protecting America's Wilderness Act.
Hon. Diana DeGette,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congresswoman DeGette: I am Paul Eaton, Major General
(Ret.), U.S. Army, who served more than 30 years in the
United States Army, including combat and post-combat
assignments in Iraq, Bosnia and Somalia, and Senior Advisor
for the Vet Voice Foundation (VVF). The VVF serves as a
platform for veterans to influence policy outcomes and has
over 500,000 members with over 34,000 living in California
and Colorado. We write to express our support for H.R. 2546--
Protecting America's Wilderness Act.
Our support for H.R. 2546 is based on our intent to protect
our public lands. Those who serve our country fought to
preserve American freedoms and lifestyles. Almost nothing
better encapsulates these ideals than the wild spaces and
ecologically rich lands that have changed little since our
country's founding, thanks to the laws that protect them.
Through our work, we know veterans return from war and turn
to the outdoors to find relief from the trauma and stresses
of war and reintegration. For many veterans who've returned
from locations marked by desperation and violent conflict,
nature and wildlife can be a critical source of strength and
healing. The Protecting America's Wilderness Act would ensure
veterans and future generations have access to the great
outdoors.
We also recognize that the Protecting America's Wilderness
Act would provide permanent protections for landscapes in
Colorado, California, and Washington by designating over 1.3
million acres of federal land as new, expanded or potential
wilderness and safeguarding more than 1,200 miles of river as
components of the National Wild and Scenic River System.
These bills are the product of years of input by a wide
variety of stakeholders and will boost local economies,
recreation opportunities, and protect wildlife and their
habitats.
In order to protect and defend our public lands, we
strongly support H.R. 2546--Protecting America's Wilderness
Act.
Thank you for your continued support of our public lands
and consideration of Vet Voice Foundation's views. If we can
be of assistance on this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Respectfully,
Paul Eaton,
Major General (Ret.), U.S. Army,
Senior Advisor, Vet Voice Foundation.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I urge support for Mr. Tipton's amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments of Ms. DeGette of
Colorado, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Kilmer
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 11
printed in House Report 116-395.
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk made in order
by the rule.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 223, line 9, strike ``as a recreational river'' and
insert ``to be administered as a recreational river through a
cooperative management agreement between the State of
Washington and the Secretary of Agriculture as provided in
section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1281(e))''.
Page 226, lines 6 and 7, strike ``as a recreational river''
and insert ``to be administered as a recreational river
through a cooperative management agreement between the
[[Page H1103]]
State of Washington and the Secretary of Agriculture as
provided in section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
(16 U.S.C. 1281(e))''.
Page 230, lines 7 and 8, strike ``as a scenic river'' and
insert ``to be administered as a scenic river through a
cooperative management agreement between the State of
Washington and the Secretary of Agriculture as provided in
section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1281(e))''.
Page 231, lines 5 and 6, strike ``as a recreational river''
and insert ``to be administered as a recreational river
through a cooperative management agreement between the State
of Washington and the Secretary of Agriculture as provided in
section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1281(e))''.
On page 233, after line 20, insert the following:
(c) Updates to Land and Resource Management Plans.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not
later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, with respect to the
designations made under subsection (a) on lands under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary, incorporate such designations
into updated management plans for units of the National
Forest System in accordance with applicable laws (including
regulations).
(2) Exception.--The date specified in paragraph (1) shall
be 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act if the
Secretary of Agriculture--
(A) is unable to meet the requirement under such paragraph
by the date specified in such paragraph; and
(B) not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, includes in the Department of Agriculture annual
budget submission to Congress a request for additional sums
as may be necessary to meet the requirement of such
paragraph.
(3) Comprehensive management plan requirements.--Updated
management plans under paragraph (1) or (2) satisfy the
requirements under section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentleman
from Washington (Mr. Kilmer) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I am proud to offer this amendment to make two
key improvements to title VI of this bill, which designates 19 Wild and
Scenic Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.
First, this amendment will further protect the interests of
Washington State's Department of Natural Resources to manage State-
owned lands adjacent to new Wild and Scenic River designations.
Building on the savings clause already included in the base text,
which explicitly protects DNR's management authority, this amendment
would further require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into
cooperative agreements with DNR to manage the four new Wild and Scenic
Rivers that abut DNR lands.
This important change will ensure that DNR not only retains the
authority to manage State-owned lands, but also has a clear voice in
how the Forest Service manages their surrounding Federal lands that
fall within the adjacent Wild and Scenic River corridor.
This small but important change has led our State Commissioner of
Public Lands, Hilary Franz, to give her strong support to this bill.
Second, this amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to
complete the 19 comprehensive river management plans through the long-
overdue process of updating the forest management plan for the Olympic
National Forest, sets a maximum 5-year timeline for updating the forest
plan, and allows the Secretary to request additional funds to complete
the forest plan update if needed.
This provision will ensure that this critical forest plan update,
which was last revised nearly three decades ago, does not take a
backseat to the development of these comprehensive river management
plans. It also ensures that the Secretary will have sufficient
resources to complete the update in a timely manner.
This amendment was developed through direct consultation with local
stakeholders and will ultimately strengthen title VI of this bill.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Arkansas is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I have had an opportunity to visit this
beautiful part of the world that my colleague from Washington
represents, and I know that he has the best interests of those
beautiful forests and beautiful natural areas at heart, and it is
because of this and because of this commonsense amendment that I can
rise in support of it.
Although I do not believe it goes far enough to address some of the
legitimate concerns raised by local stakeholders, it is a great step in
the right direction.
Instead of simply removing proposed wild and scenic designations from
State trust lands that are managed by the Washington Department of
Natural Resources to generate revenue for schools, counties, and other
beneficiaries, the amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to
work with the DNR to develop these cooperative management agreements to
guide the management of those rivers.
Now, overlaying DNR trust lands with wild and scenic designations
subjects these trust lands to additional process, and I believe it will
make it more difficult for DNR to propose timber harvest in these areas
that could potentially cost school funding and other benefits.
The savings language added in this amendment can only clarify what is
required under Federal law. Nothing in the savings language alleviates
DNR from potential added burdens under Washington State's Environmental
Protection Act, potential litigation based on the wild and scenic
overlays and adjacent wilderness, or precludes potential State
litigation based on the new designations.
This amendment also appears to recognize the tremendous burden this
legislation will put on the Olympic National Forest.
Under the Wild and Scenic Act, the Olympic will be required to
prepare comprehensive river management plans for 19 new Wild and Scenic
Rivers across 464 miles of river, all of that within 3 years.
The amendment seeks to give the forest the potential for a 2-year
extension, but the reality is the staff of this forest will be spending
the next several years doing paperwork instead of proposing projects to
restore forest, to replace culverts, or increase timber harvest, all
things that have broad support. All the while, the Olympic National
Forest is still living under a forest plan that hasn't been revised
since 1994, when the Clinton Northwest Forest Plan was adopted.
Most of the rivers proposed for the wild and scenic designation were
not found to be suitable by the Forest Service. Currently, in the State
of Washington, there are 197 miles of Wild and Scenic River. This
legislation would more than quintuple the miles of Wild and Scenic
River in Washington.
So, Mr. Chair, while I wish this amendment went further, I
congratulate my colleague and encourage him to continue working with
stakeholders, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this
amendment which does make the underlying bill better.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, first of all, I thank the gentleman for his
support for this amendment.
Again, it makes two changes that I think strengthen the legislation:
to ensure that there is not an impact on State DNR harvest; and,
hopefully, to see the Forest Service move forward with an update to the
forest management plan, which is a long time coming, a long-overdue
process to move forward. That is why we are putting forward this
amendment; it is why it strengthens the legislation.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of adopting my
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 12 Offered by Ms. Schrier
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 12
printed in House Report 116-395.
Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk made in order
under the rule.
[[Page H1104]]
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 234, after line 21, insert the following (and
redesignate subsequent provisions accordingly):
TITLE VII--STUDY ON FLOOD RISK MITIGATION
SEC. 701. STUDY ON FLOOD RISK MITIGATION.
The Comptroller General shall conduct a study to determine
the contributions of wilderness designations under this Act
to protections to flood risk mitigation in residential areas.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 844, the gentlewoman
from Washington (Ms. Schrier) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.
Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, first, I would like to applaud the work of my colleagues,
Representative Kilmer and Representative DeGette, for all the hard work
they have done on this underlying, very important bill. It is a great
bill for Washington, and I will be supporting it. Protecting wilderness
areas is so important to maintain Washington's beautiful environment
for future generations.
My amendment to the bill is very simple. It requires the Government
Accountability Office to study how preserving wilderness lands can help
reduce flood risks in residential areas.
The area in this photo is practically in my backyard. Over the past
week, Washington State has experienced severe winter storms. The
Governor of Washington State recently issued an emergency proclamation
for 25 counties due to flooding and winter weather. Three of those
counties, Kittitas, King, and Pierce, are located in the Eighth
Congressional District, my congressional district.
In my district, these storms largely took the form of excessive rain
and flooding. They caused landslides on a highway that cut off access
to the Greenwater community and Crystal Mountain, Washington's largest
ski area, which was closed for 4 days in a very busy, typical weekend
period.
In Issaquah, here, down the road from one of my district offices, the
Eastside Fire Department evacuated apartment buildings that were in
proximity to a creek that had breached its banks and had water rushing
through the parking lot and under the building.
In Fall City, a town that has two roads in and out, there is a slow-
moving landslide underneath one of those roads, and the road has
started to separate. Residents have been encouraged to evacuate so they
are not at risk of being isolated in this town.
As we continue to confront climate change, we need to holistically
consider our approaches to wilderness and public lands. Preservation of
our public lands is just one tool at our disposal to help mitigate the
impacts of flooding. We need to let nature do what nature does best:
soak up water and prevent land from moving and turning into a landslide
or mudslide during a flooding event.
Climate change science shows that our region will experience heavier,
more intense rainfall and increased rain-on-snow events that will
increase the risk of flooding.
Comprehensive watershed level planning, from the headwaters in wild
and public lands all the way down to our towns and cities, is critical
if we are going to address the myriad challenges facing so many of our
communities, from flooding to salmon habitat restoration, to expanding
recreation and outdoor access.
As we think on a watershed scale, wilderness areas in the Eighth
Congressional District and across the State help protect the headwaters
of our watersheds.
A little further downhill, we have collaborative groups working on
active management to improve forest health; and in the lower
watersheds, we have local governments, Tribes, and other stakeholders
working on integrative approaches to reduce flood risks in our
communities.
As our climate changes, we are going to see a marked increase in
these 100-year events. Whether that is rainstorms, snowstorms, or
wildfires, it can all be better managed with a thoughtful approach
toward land use planning, management, and protection.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1500
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time
in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman
from Idaho?
There was no objection.
The Acting Chair. The gentleman from Idaho is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment.
It is a simple study. We don't know what the cost is, but I want to
use that comment to correct myself previously. I said that the Federal
Government is $2.3 trillion in debt. I was off by a decimal there. It
is over $23 trillion.
Wilderness areas are supposed to be ``untrammeled by man, where man
himself is a visitor who does not remain.''
It is true that wildfires in wilderness areas definitely increase
flood risk, and perhaps that points out an underlying flaw in the
underlying bill, of course, and that is that there are wilderness areas
too close to where residences are.
But, again, the study is okay. The amendment is okay. I think it does
identify one of the 992 flaws in this underlying bill, which is that
wilderness is too close to residential areas.
And that 992, Mr. Chairman, is an estimate.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the support of my colleague.
He is absolutely right that wildfires do increase the risk of
landslides and flooding later down the line. We forget about that part,
what happens when the rain hits that previously scorched earth.
I am thrilled to present this amendment to have a study to protect
our city urban areas in times of flood, and I appreciate the support of
my colleague.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).
The amendment was agreed to.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Ms.
Schrier) having assumed the chair, Mr. Cuellar, Acting Chair of the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2546) to
designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of the
National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes, had
come to no resolution thereon.
____________________