Federal Legislative Update
The second session of the 111th Congress convened on January 5, 2010. ARRA will keep you posted as legislation of interest is introduced in the 111th Congress.
The Democrats have a 255-178 majority with two vacancies in the House and a 59-41 majority in the Senate. The Senate number includes two members who are independents, but align with the Democrats.
The following bills are currently pending:
H.Res. 1254 – “Treasured Landscapes” memo resolution
H.Res. 1254, sponsored by Rep. Hastings (R-WA), directs the Secretary of the Interior to transmit to the House copies of all DOI documents, maps, records, communications, and other information dating from July 1, 2009 and later referring or relating to the potential designation of national monuments, the Secretary's Treasured Landscape Initiative, and high priority land-rationalization efforts.
Status: Reported out of House Natural Resources Cmte. 5/5/10 without a recommendation. Vote to report favorably failed 20-22. H.Res. 1254 is a resolution of inquiry, which is a method used by the House to obtain information from an executive branch official. The Cmte. of jurisdiction is obligated to mark-up a resolution of inquiry within 14 legislative days of introduction, or it goes to the full House for a vote. Since H.Res. 1254 was reported without a recommendation it is extremely unlikely to be brought to the floor for a vote by Leadership.
Bill Text: H.Res. 1254
H. Res. 1406 – Revised “Treasured Landscapes” memo resolution
H.Res. 1406 sponsored by Rep. Hastings (R-WA), directs the Secretary of the Interior to transmit to the House copies the full document that contained the National Monument recommendations that were leaked to the Natural Resources Committee earlier this year.
Status: Reported out of House Natural Resources Cmte. 6/16/10. H.Res. 1406 is a resolution of inquiry, which is a method used by the House to obtain information from an executive branch official. The Cmte. of jurisdiction is obligated to mark-up a resolution of inquiry within 14 legislative days of introduction, or it goes to the full House for a vote. H.Res. 1406 is a revised version of H.Res. 1254, above.
Bill Text: H.Res. 1406
H.R. 1 – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Bill)
H.R. 1, sponsored by Rep. Obey (D-WI), includes $650 million for the US Forest Service and $315 million for BLM for construction and maintenance.
Status: LAW. P.L. 111-5. Passed House 1/28/09. Passed Senate 2/13/09. Signed by President 2/17/09.
Bill Text: H.R. 1
H.R. 146 – Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
H.R. 146, sponsored by Rep. Holt (D-NJ), was amended to include provisions from S. 22, omnibus legislation that includes 160 public lands measures. Creates more than 2 million acres of wilderness while authorizing dozens of studies for potential parks, protected rivers and historical landmarks in addition to statutorily establishing the National Landscape Conservation System (see H.R. 404, below). Senate amendment also provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed as affecting access for recreational activities otherwise allowed by law or regulation, including hunting, fishing, or trapping.
Status: LAW. P.L. 111-11. Passed House 3/3/09. After S. 22 failed to pass House 3/11/09, it was attached to H.R. 146. Amended version of H.R. 146, with omnibus public lands provisions, passed Senate on 3/19/09. Passed House 3/25/09. Signed by President 3/30/09.
Bill Text: H.R. 146
H.R. 404 – National Landscape Conservation System Act
H.R. 404, sponsored by Representative Grijalva (D-AZ) codifies the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) that the Clinton Administration created through regulation. The NLCS is made up of 26 million acres of specially designated lands such as Wilderness Areas and National Monuments on BLM lands. ARRA is concerned that this legislation would be interpreted by BLM land managers to mean that specially designated lands would have to be managed in a more restrictive fashion.
Status: In House Natural Resources Committee. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
Bill Text: H.R. 404
H.R. 718/S. 1557 – Legislation aimed to reinstate Interim Management Strategy governing ORV use at Cape Hatteras
H.R. 718, sponsored by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) & S. 1557, sponsored by Sen. Burr (R-NC), reverses the April 30, 2008 consent decree regarding ORV use at North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras National Seashore & reinstates the Interim Management Strategy, pending the issuance of a final rule for ORV use by the National Park Service.
H.R. 718 Status: In House Judiciary & Natural Resources Cmtes.
S. 1557 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: H.R. 718; S. 1557
H.R. 765 – Nellis Dunes National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area Act of 2009
H.R. 765, sponsored by Representative Heller (R-NV), would establish the Nellis Dunes National OHV Recreation Area. Approximately 1,150 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada would be conveyed for a centralized OHV recreation park.
Status: In House Natural Resources Committee. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands hearing held 11/5/09. Markup was scheduled on 2/24/10, though Chairman Rahall (D-WV) postponed consideration because he claimed it needed further review.
Bill Text: H.R. 765
H.R. 1404/S. 561 – Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act (Flame Act)
H.R. 1404, sponsored by Rep. Rahall (D-WV) and S. 561, sponsored by Sen. Bingaham (D-NM), creates a special catastrophic wildfire fund so federal land managers will no longer be forced to reprogram funds from other Forest Service and BLM activities, including recreation budgets, in order to pay for wildfire fighting costs.
H.R. 1404 Status: Passed House 3/26/09. Different wildfire fund included in House version of H.R. 2996, FY 2010 Interior-EPA appropriations bill. Similar language to H.R. 1404/S. 561 added as an amendment in Senate to H.R. 2996.
S. 561 Status: Similar language added as an amendment in Senate to H.R. 2996, FY 2010 Interior-EPA appropriations bill.
Bill Text: H.R. 1404; S. 561
H.R. 1587 – To amend the lead prohibition provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
H.R. 1587, sponsored by Representative Rehberg (R-MT), provides authority to CPSC to exclude "ATVs" from lead ban provisions of CPSIA provided the agency determines that it is not technologically feasible for ATVs to comply with the standards. For purposes of this section of law, ATV defined as 2, 3 or 4 wheeled off highway vehicle with handlebars and designed to be straddled by the rider; also includes snowmobiles.
Status: In House Energy & Commerce Committee.
Bill Text: H.R. 1587
H.R. 2847 – Commerce, Justice, Science, & Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010
H.R. 2847, sponsored by Rep. Mollohan (D-WV), is an appropriations measure ultimately amended to include jobs creation/stimulus package. Includes provision to extend the authorization of transportation programs at current levels until 9/30/10.
Status: Passed House 6/18/09. Passed Senate 11/5/09. House passed Conference Report, which included economic stimulus provisions 12/16/09. Separate legislation (H.R. 3326, below) extends the authorization of transportation programs until 2/28/10 to give the Senate additional time to consider the conference report of H.R. 2847. Extends funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) at current levels.
Bill Text: H.R. 2847
H.R. 2996 – Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010
H.R. 2996, sponsored by Representative Dicks (D-WA), includes funding for the USFS and BLM. In the conference report, funding for BLM recreation resource management is $50 million, which is $4 million more than in '09 and funding for construction is $8.6 million, which is $2 million more than in '09. Forest Service funding includes $285 million for recreation, heritage and wilderness, which is $7.4 million more than in '09 and $85 million for trails, which is $4 million more than in '09.
Status: LAW. P.L. 111-88. Passed House 6/26/09. Language similar to H.R. 1404/S. 561 was added as an amendment. Passed Senate 9/24/09. Conference report passed House & Senate 10/29/09. Signed by President 10/30/09.
Bill Text: H.R. 2996
H.R. 3170 – Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2010
H.R. 3170, sponsored by Representative Serrano (D-NY), includes funding for CPSC. Includes provision precluding CPSC from spending any funds in FY 2010 to implement section 101(a) of the CPSIA (lead limits for children’s products) as related to OHVs. Essentially, the provision would reinforce the stay of enforcement by preventing CPSC from funding enforcement of the law and other implementation pertaining to youth ATVs and OHMs for FY 2010.
Status: Passed House 7/16/09. Provision was removed from legislation when CPSC funding was rolled into H.R. 3288, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010.
Bill Text: H.R. 3170
H.R. 3288 – Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010
Includes funding for multiple federal agencies, including CPSC. The bill’s conference report states that there may be parts of some products, such as youth OHVs, subject to the strict lead ban under section 101(a) (lead limits for children’s products) of the CPSIA that likely were not intended to be included. The report also urges CPSC to continue considering exemptions for parts of products that present no real risk of lead exposure to children. The report further encourages CPSC to continue to work with the OHV industry to reduce lead content in accessible components of all children's products to the greatest extent possible, where complete compliance is deemed not necessary or not feasible by CPSC.
Bill Status: LAW. P.L. 111-17. Conference report passed House on 12/10/09. Passed Senate on 12/13/09. Signed by President 12/16/09.
Bill Text: H.R. 3288
H.R. 3326 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010
H.R. 3326, sponsored by Rep. Murtha (D-PA), was amended to include provision to extend the authorization of transportation programs at current levels until 2/28/10.
Status: Conference report passed House 12/16/09. The provision to extend transportation programs was included to give additional time for the Senate to consider H.R. 2847 (above). Extends funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) at current levels.
Bill Text: H.R. 3326
H.R. 3692/S. 1738 – National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act
H.R. 3692, sponsored by Rep. Inslee (D-WA) & S. 1738, sponsored by Sen. Cantwell (D-WA), directs Secretary of Agriculture to maintain roadless character of the inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System, thereby codifying the Clinton Administration’s U.S. Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation Rule that prohibits road construction on 58.5 million acres of national forests.
H.R. 3692 Status: In House Agriculture & Natural Resources Cmtes.
S. 1738 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: H.R. 3692; S. 1738
H.R. 4589/S.2999 – Public Lands Enforcement Legislation
H.R. 4589, sponsored by Rep. Salazar (D-CO) and S. 2999, sponsored by Sen. Udall (D-CO), would impose stiff penalties on those who are found guilty of damaging federal lands and would provide consistent enforcement authority to BLM, NPS, USFWS, and USFS to respond to violations of regulations regarding the management, use, and protection of public lands under their respective jurisdictions.
H.R. 4589 Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte.
S. 2999 Status: In Senate Energy and Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: H.R. 4589; S. 2999
H.R. 4814 – To require congressional approval for national monuments in Arizona
H.R. 4814, sponsored by Rep. Flake (R-AZ), prohibits the further extension or establishment of national monuments in Arizona except by express authorization of Congress.
Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: H.R. 4814
H.R. 4996/S. 472 – To require congressional approval for national monuments
H.R. 4996, sponsored by Rep. Foxx (R-NC) and S. 472, sponsored by Sen. Vitter (R-LA), requires the President to obtain congressional approval of proposed national monuments situated upon land owned or controlled by the federal government and certify compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 prior to declaring national monuments. Bars the Secretary of the Interior from implementing any restrictions on the public use of a national monument until the expiration of an appropriate review period providing for public output and congressional approval.
H.R. 4996 Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte.
S. 472 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: H.R. 4996; S. 472
H.R. 5135 – To require congressional approval for national monuments in Oregon
H.R. 5135, sponsored by Rep. Walden (R-OR), requires the President to obtain congressional approval before designating national monuments in Oregon. Bars the Secretary of the Interior from implementing any restrictions on the public use of a national monument until the expiration of an appropriate review period providing for public output and congressional approval.
Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: H.R. 5135
S. 22 – Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
S. 22, sponsored by Senator Bingaman (D-NM), is omnibus legislation that includes 150 public lands measures including the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) Act. It also creates more than a million acres of wilderness while authorizing dozens of studies for potential parks, protected rivers and historical landmarks in addition to statutorily establishing the NLCS.
Status: Failed to pass House on 3/11/09; however, was attached to H.R. 146 subsequent to its passage in the House. H.R. 146 passed Senate 3/19/09. H.R. 146 passed House 3/25/09. H.R. 146 signed by President 3/30/09.
Bill Text: S. 22
S. 608 – Common Sense in Consumer Product Safety Act
S. 608, sponsored by Senator Tester (D-MT), excludes motor vehicles intended for children ages 7-12 from lead requirements imposed by Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
Status: In Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee
Bill Text: S. 608
S. 868 – Fee Repeal & Expanded Access Act of 2009
S. 868, sponsored by Sen. Baucus (D-MT), amends provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to allow for application & administration of certain admission & use fees in National Parks only.
Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: S. 868
Wilderness Designations
Congress established the wilderness designation for public lands in the Wilderness Act of 1964. To be designated as wilderness, the proposed area must be "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain....an area of undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation." Within designated wilderness areas, "there shall be no temporary (or permanent) road, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanized transport, and no structure or installation within any such area."
In this section of the Federal Legislative Update page, ARRA will keep you up-to-date on wilderness bills under consideration in Congress.
H.R. 39/S. 231 - The Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act
H.R. 39, sponsored by Representative Markey (D-MA), and S. 231, sponsored by Senator Lieberman (I-CT), designates 1,559,538 acres within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness.
H.R. 39 Status: In House Natural Resources Committee.
S. 231 Status: In Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Bill Text: H.R. 39; S. 231
H.R. 170/S. 183 – Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area Act
H.R. 170, sponsored by Rep. Salazar (D-CO) and S. 183, sponsored by Sen. Salazar (D-CO), designate 66,000 acres of BLM land in CO as wilderness. Establishes Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area to be managed as part of the NLCS. Restricts OHV use to designated roads and trails in the Conservation Area.
H.R. 170 Status: In House Natural Resources Committee. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
S. 183 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
Bill Text: H.R. 170; S. 183
H.R. 192 - Central Idaho National Forest and Public Land Management Act
H.R. 192, sponsored by Representative Simpson (R-ID), requires Secretary of Agriculture to convey specified parcels of Federal land to certain counties and cities in central Idaho. Requires Secretary of the Interior to convey to the State of Idaho a specified parcel of BLM land for a motorized recreation park. Directs Secretary of Agriculture to construct a trail for use by pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles and as a snowmobile route. Designates 301,500 acres in central Idaho as wilderness. Authorizes appropriations for a grant to Idaho's Off Road Motor Vehicle Program.
Status: In House Natural Resources Committee.
Bill Text: H.R. 192
H.R. 369 – California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act of 2009
H.R. 369, sponsored by Representative Bono (R-CA), designates 150,000 acres of National Park, National Forest and BLM land in CA as wilderness.
Status: In House Natural Resources Committee. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
Bill Text: H.R. 369
H.R. 419/S. 190 – Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness and Indian Peaks Wilderness Expansion Act
H.R. 419, sponsored by Rep. Markey (D-CO), and S. 190, sponsored by Sen. Udall (D-CO), designates 250,000 acres of land in Colorado as wilderness.
H.R. 419 Status: In House Natural Resources Committee. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
S. 190 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
Bill Text: H.R. 419; S. 190
H.R. 921 – Sabinoso Wilderness Act of 2009
H.R. 921, sponsored by Rep. Lujan (D-NM), designates 16,000 acres of BLM land in NM as wilderness.
Status: In House Natural Resources Committee. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
Bill Text: H.R. 921
H.R.980 - Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act
H.R. 980, sponsored by Representative Maloney (D-NY), designates 23 million acres of land as wilderness in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
Status: In House Natural Resources Committee
Bill Text: H.R. 980
H.R. 1109 – Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia’s Special Places
H.R. 1109, sponsored by Rep. Rahall (D-WV), designates nearly 50,000 acres of National Forest land in WV as wilderness.
Status: In House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees. Provisions of bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
Bill Text: H.R. 1109
H.R. 1769/S. 721 – Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act
H.R. 1769, sponsored by Representative Reichert (R-WA), and S. 721, sponsored by Senator Murray (D-WA), designates 22,000 acres of National Forest land in WA as wilderness.
H.R. 1769 Status: Passed House on 3/18/10.
S. 721 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests hearing held 10/29/09.
Bill Text: H.R. 1769 S. 721
H.R. 1925/S. 799 – America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009
H.R. 1925, sponsored by Representative Hinchey (D-NY), and S. 799, sponsored by Senator Durbin (D-IL) designates 9 million acres of BLM land in UT as wilderness.
H.R. 1925 Status: In House Natural Resources Committee. Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing held 10/1/09
S. 799 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
Bill Text: H.R. 1925 S. 799
H.R. 2888/S. 1272 – Devil's Staircase Wilderness Act of 2009
H.R. 2888, sponsored by Representative DeFazio (D-OR) and S. 1272, sponsored by Senator Wyden (D-OR), designate approximately 30,000 acres of National Forest and BLM land in Oregon as wilderness.
H.R. 2888 Status: Reported out of House Natural Resources Committee 10/28/09.
S. 1272 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee hearing held 10/8/09.
Bill Text: H.R. 2888 S. 1272
H.R. 3914/S. 2762 – San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act of 2009
H.R. 3914, sponsored by Rep. Salazar (D-CO) & S. 2762, sponsored by Sen. Udall (D-CO), designates approximately 33,000 acres of BLM & National Forests lands in Colorado as wilderness.
H.R. 3914 Status: Reported out of House Natural Resources Cmte. 6/16/10.
S. 2762 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte. Public Lands & Forests Subcmte. hearing held 4/28/10.
Bill Text: H.R. 3914; S. 2762
H.R.4289 – Colorado Wilderness Act of 2009
H.R. 4289, sponsored by Rep. Degette (D-CO), would designate approximately 850,000 acres of BLM and National Forest lands in Colorado as wilderness.
Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte. National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcmte. hearing held 3/11/10.
Bill Text: H.R. 4289
H.R. 4304 – Beauty Mountain & Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2009
H.R. 4304, sponsored by Rep. Issa (R-CA), designated approximately 21,000 acres of BLM & National Forests lands in southern California as wilderness.
Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: H.R. 4304
H.R. 4558/S. 2976 – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act
H.R. 4558, sponsored by Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) and S. 2976, sponsored by Sen. Levin (D-MI), designates 33,000 acres of National Lakeshore in MI as wilderness. Includes provisions meant to ensure that passage of this legislation does not affect hunting or use of watercraft as it is currently allowed.
H.R. 4558 Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte., Subcmte. on National Parks, Forests & Public Lands.
S. 2976 Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte., Subcmte. on National Parks.
Bill Text: H.R. 4558; S. 2976
H.R. 5009 – Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act of 2010
H.R. 5009, sponsored by Rep. Matheson (D-UT), designates 26,000 acres of National Forest land in UT as wilderness. Specifically allows heliskiing in wilderness area.
Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte. Subcmte. on National Parks, Forests & Public Lands hearing held 6/10/10.
Bill Text: H.R. 5009
H.R. 5205 - Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA)
H.R. 5205, sponsored by Rep. Simpson (R-ID) and S. 3294, sponsored by Sen. Crapo (R-ID), designates 333,000 acres of National Forest and BLM land in Idaho as wilderness. Requires Secretary of Agriculture to convey specified parcels of Federal land to certain counties and cities in central Idaho. Requires the Secretary to maintain a trail for single track, 2-wheeled motorized and mechanized travel between the Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness and the White Clouds Wilderness areas as designated by the bill.
H.R. 5205 Status: In House Natural Resources Cmte., Subcmte. on National Parks, Forests & Public Lands.
S. 3294 Status: In Senate In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte., Subcmte. on National Parks.
Bill Text: H.R. 5205; S. 3294
S. 109 – Beaver Basin Wilderness Act
S. 109, sponsored by Sen. Levin (D-MI), designates 12,000 acres of National Park Service land in Michigan as wilderness.
Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte. Provisions of this bill are also incorporated in H.R. 146 and S. 22, omnibus public lands management legislation.
Bill Text: S. 109
S. 874 – El Rio Grande Del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act
S. 874, sponsored by Senator Bingaman (D-NM), designates approximately 21,000 acres of wilderness in New Mexico.
Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Public Lands & Forests Subcommittee hearing held 6/17/09.
Bill Text: S. 874
S. 1470 – Forest Jobs and Recreation Act
S. 1470, sponsored by Senator Tester (D-MT), designates 677,000 acres of BLM and Forest Service land as wilderness. Releases 76,000 acres of BLM land from Wilderness Study Area status. Creates 94,000 acre National Recreation Area, which would allow motorized recreation on designated routes, as well as several smaller recreation areas that would allow motorized use on existing designated routes.
Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Public Lands & Forests Subcommittee hearing held 12/17/09.
Bill Text: S. 1470
S. 1689 – Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act
S. 1689, sponsored by Senator Bingaman (D-NM), designates approximately 250,000 acres in New Mexico as wilderness.
Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee hearing held 10/8/09.
Bill Text: S. 1689
S. 2921 – California Desert Protection Act of 2010
S. 2921, sponsored by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA), designates as wilderness approximately 250,000 acres in 5 BLM Wilderness Study Areas near Ft. Irwin, 90,000 acres in Death Valley National Park and 4,300 acres in San Bernardino Natl. Forest. Designates 4 existing, administratively-designated OHV areas in San Bernardino County as permanent OHV recreation areas and requires Interior Secretary to conduct study to determine what, if any, BLM lands adjacent to these recreation areas would be suitable for inclusion. Provides that BLM land in Johnson Valley not needed for expansion of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center would become part of Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area; requires Secretary to conduct study to determine what, if any, adjacent lands would be suitable for inclusion. Establishes Mojave Trails National Monument covering approximately 134,000 acres of federal land between Joshua Tree National Park and San Bernardino NF in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties to be jointly managed by BLM and USFS with management guidance from an advisory committee comprised of local, state and federal government, conservation and recreation groups, and local Native American tribes. Also establishes a national monument managed by BLM protecting 941,000 acres of federal land between Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Preserve along historic Route 66 in San Bernardino County. Includes provisions maintaining existing recreation uses, including hunting, vehicular travel on existing open roads and trails, camping, horseback riding, rock collecting, etc. in both areas. Designates 76,000-acre “special management area” in eastern Imperial County to conserve, protect and enhance plant and wildlife management as well as nationally significant ecological, recreational, archeological, and cultural resources. Area also contains approximately 49,000 acres of potential wilderness and approximately 12,000 acres of former private land donated to federal government for conservation. Permitted uses: hiking, camping, hunting, mountain biking, sightseeing, OHV use on designated routes and horseback riding. Prohibited uses would include new mining, permanent roads, commercial uses, or activities that preclude potential wilderness areas from becoming wilderness in the future.
FAQs
Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte. Hearing held 5/20/10.
Bill Text: S. 2921
S. 2963 – Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Act of 2010
S. 2963, sponsored by Sen. Wyden (D-OR), designates 16,000 acres of BLM land in Oregon as wilderness.
Status: In Senate Subcmte. on Public Lands & Forests. Subcmte. Hearing held 4/21/10.
Bill Text: S. 2963
S. 3310 – Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010
S. 3310, sponsored by Sen. Johnson (D-SD), designates 50,000 acres of National Forest land in SD as wilderness.
Status: In Senate Energy & Natural Resources Cmte.
Bill Text: S. 3310 |
