109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1170
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 16, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Resources
AN ACT
To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation
Area.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation
Area Act'.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
(1) CONSERVATION AREA- The term `Conservation Area' means the Fort Stanton-Snowy
River Cave National Conservation Area established by section 3(a).
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN- The term `management plan' means the management plan
developed for the Conservation Area under section 4(c).
(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior,
acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT STANTON-SNOWY RIVER CAVE NATIONAL CONSERVATION
AREA.
(a) Establishment; Purposes- There is established the Fort Stanton-Snowy
River Cave National Conservation Area in Lincoln County, New Mexico, to
protect, conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally important historic,
cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational subterranean
cave resources of the Fort Stanton-Snowy River cave system.
(b) Area Included- The Conservation Area shall include the area within the
boundaries depicted on the map entitled `Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National
Conservation Area' and dated November 2005.
(c) Map and Legal Description-
(1) IN GENERAL- As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a map and legal description
of the Conservation Area.
(2) EFFECT- The map and legal description of the Conservation Area shall
have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that
the Secretary may correct any minor errors in the map and legal description.
(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY- The map and legal description of the Conservation
Area shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices
of the Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSERVATION AREA.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall manage the Conservation Area--
(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources
and values of the Conservation Area, including the resources and values
described in section 3(a); and
(ii) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.); and
(iii) any other applicable laws.
(2) USES- The Secretary shall only allow uses of the Conservation Area
that are consistent with the protection of the cave resources.
(3) REQUIREMENTS- In administering the Conservation Area, the Secretary
shall provide for--
(A) the conservation and protection of the natural and unique features
and environs for scientific, educational, and other appropriate public
uses of the Conservation Area;
(B) public access, as appropriate, while providing for the protection
of the cave resources and for public safety;
(C) the continuation of other existing uses or other new uses of the
Conservation Area that do not impair the purposes for which the Conservation
Area is established;
(D) management of the surface area of the Conservation Area in accordance
with the Fort Stanton Area of Critical Environmental Concern Final Activity
Plan dated March, 2001, or any amendments to the plan, consistent with
this Act; and
(E) scientific investigation and research opportunities within the Conservation
Area, including through partnerships with colleges, universities, schools,
scientific institutions, researchers, and scientists to conduct research
and provide educational and interpretive services within the Conservation
Area.
(b) Withdrawals- Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal surface and
subsurface land within the Conservation Area and all land and interests
in the land that are acquired by the United States after the date of enactment
of this Act for inclusion in the Conservation Area, are withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the general land
laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws.
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term
management of the Conservation Area.
(2) PURPOSES- The management plan shall--
(A) describe the appropriate uses and management of the Conservation
Area;
(B) incorporate, as appropriate, decisions contained in any other management
or activity plan for the land within or adjacent to the Conservation
Area;
(C) take into consideration any information developed in studies of
the land and resources within or adjacent to the Conservation Area;
and
(D) provide for a cooperative agreement with Lincoln County, New Mexico,
to address the historical involvement of the local community in the
interpretation and protection of the resources of the Conservation Area.
(d) Activities Outside Conservation Area- The establishment of the Conservation
Area shall not--
(1) create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Conservation
Area; or
(2) preclude uses or activities outside the Conservation Area that are
permitted under other applicable laws, even if the uses or activities
are prohibited within the Conservation Area.
(e) Research and Interpretive Facilities-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may establish facilities for--
(A) the conduct of scientific research; and
(B) the interpretation of the historical, cultural, scientific, archaeological,
natural, and educational resources of the Conservation Area.
(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- The Secretary may, in a manner consistent
with this Act, enter into cooperative agreements with the State of New
Mexico and other institutions and organizations to carry out the purposes
of this Act.
(f) Water Rights- Nothing in this Act constitutes an express or implied
reservation of any water right.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry
out this Act. To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation
Area.
Passed the Senate November 16, 2005.
Attest:
EMILY J. REYNOLDS,
Secretary.
END
