9-29-06, Bill Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent
Referred to House
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4001
To designate certain land in New England as wilderness for inclusion
in the National Wilderness Preservation system and certain land as a National
Recreation Area, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 29, 2006
Mr. SUNUNU (for himself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. GREGG, and Mr. JEFFORDS) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time,
and passed
A BILL
To designate certain land in New England as wilderness for inclusion
in the National Wilderness Preservation system and certain land as a National
Recreation Area, and for other purposes.
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 `New England Wilderness Act
of 2006'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Section 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--NEW HAMPSHIRE
Sec. 101. Definition of State.
Sec. 102. Designation of wilderness areas.
Sec. 103. Map and description.
Sec. 104. Administration.
TITLE II--VERMONT
Subtitle A--Designation of Wilderness Areas
Sec. 212. Map and description.
Sec. 213. Administration.
Subtitle B--Moosalamoo National Recreation Area
Sec. 222. Map and description.
Sec. 223. Administration of National Recreation Area.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service.
TITLE I--NEW HAMPSHIRE
SEC. 101. DEFINITION OF STATE.
In this title, the term `State' means the State of New Hampshire.
SEC. 102. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following
Federal land in the State is designated as wilderness and as components
of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately
23,700 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Proposed Wild
River Wilderness--White Mountain National Forest', dated February 6, 2006,
which shall be known as the `Wild River Wilderness'.
(2) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service, comprising approximately
10,800 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Proposed Sandwich
Range Wilderness Additions--White Mountain National Forest', dated February
6, 2006, and which are incorporated in the Sandwich Range Wilderness,
as designated by the New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law
98-323; 98 Stat. 259).
SEC. 103. 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 each wilderness
area designated by section 102 with the committees of appropriate jurisdiction
in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(b) Force and Effect- A map and legal description filed under subsection
(a) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except
that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the
map and legal description.
(c) Public Availability- Each map and legal description filed under subsection
(a) shall be filed and made available for public inspection in the Office
of the Chief of the Forest Service.
SEC. 104. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Administration- Subject to valid existing rights, each wilderness area
designated under this title shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance
with--
(1) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.); and
(2) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(b) Effective Date of Wilderness Act- With respect to any wilderness area
designated by this title, any reference in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131 et seq.) to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed
to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Fish and Wildlife- As provided in section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title affects any jurisdiction
or responsibility of the State with respect to wildlife and fish in the
State.
(d) Withdrawal- Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land in the
wilderness areas designated by section 102 are withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land
laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) disposition under the mineral leasing laws (including geothermal leasing
laws).
TITLE II--VERMONT
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.
(1) MANAGEMENT PLAN- The term `Management Plan' means the Green Mountain
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
(2) STATE- The term `State' means the State of Vermont.
Subtitle A--Designation of Wilderness Areas
SEC. 211. DESIGNATION.
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 Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service,
comprising approximately 22,425 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled `Glastenbury Wilderness--Proposed', dated September 2006, which
shall be known as the `Glastenbury Wilderness'.
(2) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service,
comprising approximately 12,333 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled `Joseph Battell Wilderness--Proposed', dated September 2006,
which shall be known as the `Joseph Battell Wilderness'.
(3) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service,
comprising approximately 3,757 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled `Breadloaf Wilderness Additions--Proposed', dated September 2006,
which shall be known as the `Breadloaf Wilderness'.
(4) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service,
comprising approximately 2,338 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled `Lye Brook Wilderness Additions--Proposed', dated September 2006,
which shall be known as the `Lye Brook Wilderness'.
(5) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service,
comprising approximately 752 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
`Peru Peak Wilderness Additions--Proposed', dated September 2006, which
shall be known as the `Peru Peak Wilderness'.
(6) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service,
comprising approximately 47 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
`Big Branch Wilderness Additions--Proposed', dated September 2006, which
shall be known as the `Big Branch Wilderness'.
SEC. 212. 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 each wilderness
area designated by section 211 with--
(1) the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; and
(3) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
(b) Force of Law- A map and legal description filed under subsection (a)
shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except
that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the
map and legal description.
(c) Public Availability- Each map and legal description filed under subsection
(a) shall be filed and made available for public inspection in the Office
of the Chief of the Forest Service.
SEC. 213. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Administration- Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of
enactment of this Act, each wilderness area designated under this subtitle
and in the Green Mountain National Forest (as of the date of enactment of
this Act) shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(b) Fish and Wildlife- Nothing in this subtitle affects the jurisdiction
of the State with respect to wildlife and fish on the public land located
in the State, including the stocking of fish in rivers and streams in the
State to support the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program.
(c) Trails- The Forest Service shall allow the continuance of --
(1) the Appalachian National Scenic Trail;
(3) the Catamount Trail; and
(4) the marking and maintenance of associated trails and trail structures
of the Trails referred to in this subsection, consistent with the management
direction (including objectives, standards, guidelines, and agreements
with partners) established for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail,
Long Trail, and Catamount Trail under the Management Plan.
Subtitle B--Moosalamoo National Recreation Area
SEC. 221. DESIGNATION.
Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service, comprising
approximately 15,857 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled `Moosalamoo
National Recreation Area--Proposed', dated September 2006, is designated
as the `Moosalamoo National Recreation Area'.
SEC. 222. 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 national
recreation area designated by section 221 with--
(1) the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; and
(3) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
(b) Force of Law- A map and legal description filed under subsection (a)
shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subtitle, except
that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the
map and legal description.
(c) Public Availability- Each map and legal description filed under subsection
(a) shall be filed and made available for public inspection in the Office
of the Chief of the Forest Service.
SEC. 223. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.
(a) In General- Subject to valid rights existing on the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall administer the Moosalamoo National Recreation
Area in accordance with--
(1) laws (including rules and regulations) applicable to units of the
National Forest System; and
(2) the management direction (including objectives, standards, and guidelines)
established for the Moosalamoo Recreation and Education Management Area
under the Management Plan.
(b) Fish and Wildlife- Nothing in this subtitle affects the jurisdiction
of the State with respect to wildlife and fish on the public land located
in the State.
(c) Escarpment and Ecological Areas- Nothing in this subtitle prevents the
Secretary from managing the Green Mountain Escarpment Management Area and
the Ecological Special Areas, as described in the Management Plan.
END
