Connecticut Rep introduces Wildlands
Bill for ID, MT, OR, WA, WY
A legislator from Connecticut introduces a bill for the
Wildlands Project for ID, MT, OR, WA and WY. Out of 69
Cosponsors only one if from one of the 5 states. The list
includes only 5 Rs and 1 Ind. The text of the bill
follows:
HR 488 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 488
To designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers,
national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery
areas, and biological connecting corridors certain public
lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and
Wyoming, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2001
Mr. SHAYS, R, CT (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY of New
York, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. SIMMONS,
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. DELAHUNT,
Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr.
OLVER, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. SANDERS, Mr.
WEXLER, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. ALLEN, Mrs.
CAPPS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. WEINER, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. LEE, Mr.
MCGOVERN, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. ROTHMAN, Ms. EDDIE
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. PRICE of
North Carolina, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. EVANS, Ms.
BALDWIN, and Mr. SERRANO) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Resources
CO SPONSORS
Rep Allen, Thomas H. ME - 2/6/2001 Rep Andrews,
Robert E. NJ - 3/13/2001 Rep Baldwin, Tammy WI - 2/6/2001 Rep
Berkley, Shelley NV- 2/13/2001 Rep Berman, Howard L. CA -
3/13/2001 Rep Blumenauer, Earl OR - 2/6/2001 Rep Bonior, David
E. MI - 2/6/2001 Rep Borski, Robert A. PA - 3/1/2001 Rep
Brown, Sherrod OH- 2/6/2001 Rep Capps, Lois CA- 2/6/2001 Rep
Capuano, Michael E. MA- 2/6/2001 Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy MO-
2/13/2001 Rep Conyers, John, Jr. MI- 2/6/2001 Rep Coyne,
William J. PA- 2/27/2001 Rep Delahunt, William D. MA -
2/6/2001 Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. CT- 3/1/2001 Rep Engel, Eliot L.
NY - 3/7/2001 Rep Eshoo, Anna G. CA - 3/7/2001 Rep Evans, Lane
IL- 2/6/2001 Rep Filner, Bob CA - 2/8/2001 Rep Frank, Barney
MA - 2/8/2001 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. NY- 2/6/2001 Rep Hoeffel,
Joseph M. PA - 3/6/2001 Rep Holt, Rush D. NJ - 3/7/2001 Rep
Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. IL- 3/1/2001 Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila TX
- 3/6/2001 Rep Johnson, Eddie TX- 2/6/2001 Rep Kilpatrick,
Carolyn C. MI- 2/6/2001 Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. OH - 2/6/2001
Rep Lantos, Tom CA - 2/8/2001 Rep Leach, James A. IA- 5/3/2001
Rep Lee, Barbara CA- 2/6/2001 Rep Lewis, John GA- 2/6/2001 Rep
LoBiondo, Frank A. NJ - 5/3/2001 Rep Lowey, Nita M. NY-
3/21/2001 Rep Luther, Bill MN- 3/7/2001 Rep Maloney, Carolyn
B. NY- 2/6/2001 Rep Markey, Edward J. MA- 2/6/2001 Rep
McCarthy, Carolyn NY- 3/13/2001 Rep McGovern, James P. MA-
2/6/2001 Rep McKinney, Cynthia GA - 2/6/2001 Rep Millender-McDonald,
Juanita CA- 3/7/2001 Rep Miller, George CA- 2/6/2001 Rep
Moran, James P. VA- 2/6/2001 Rep Morella, Constance MD
2/6/2001 Rep Nadler, Jerrold NY- 2/13/2001 Rep Napolitano,
Grace CA - 4/4/2001 Rep Neal, Richard E. MA- 3/6/2001 Rep
Olver, John W. MA- 2/6/2001 Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr.NJ -
2/6/2001 Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. NJ- 3/7/2001 Rep Payne,
Donald M. NJ- 2/13/2001 Rep Pelosi, Nancy CA- 2/6/2001 Rep
Price, David E. NC- 2/6/2001 Rep Rangel, Charles B. NY-
2/6/2001 Rep Rothman, Steve R. NJ- 2/6/2001 Rep Sanders,
Bernard VT I- 2/6/2001 Rep Serrano, Jose E. NY - 2/6/2001 Rep
Simmons, Rob CT - 2/6/2001 Rep Slaughter, Louise NY 2/27/2001
Rep Smith, Christopher H. NJ - 2/6/2001 Rep Solis, Hilda L.
CA- 5/3/2001 Rep Tierney, John F. MA- 2/6/2001 Rep Towns,
Edolphus NY- 2/6/2001 Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. NY - 5/3/2001
Rep Walsh, James T.NY - 2/13/2001 Rep Weiner, Anthony D. NY-
2/6/2001 Rep Wexler, Robert FL- 2/6/2001 Rep Wynn, Albert MD -
3/6/2001 ld
A BILL
To designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers,
national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery
areas, and biological connecting corridors certain public
lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and
Wyoming, 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 `Northern
Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 2001'.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents of this Act is
as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purposes.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS
Sec. 101. Designation of certain National Forest System
lands and other public lands as wilderness.
Sec. 102. Greater Glacier/Northern Continental Divide
ecosystem.
Sec. 103. Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.
Sec. 104. Greater Salmon/Selway ecosystem.
Sec. 105. Greater Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk ecosystem.
Sec. 106. Islands in the Sky Wilderness.
Sec. 107. Administration.
Sec. 108. Blackfeet Wilderness.
Sec. 109. Water.
TITLE II--BIOLOGICAL CONNECTING CORRIDORS
Sec. 201. Findings.
Sec. 202. Designation of biological connecting corridors.
Sec. 203. Treatment of biological connecting corridors.
Sec. 204. Applicability of title.
Sec. 205. Cooperative agreements and land trades and
acquisitions.
Sec. 206. Exemption of certain roads and highways.
TITLE III--NATIONAL PARKS, PRESERVES, AND RELATED STUDIES
Sec. 301. Hells Canyon/Chief Joseph National Preserve.
Sec. 302. Flathead National Park and Preserve study.
TITLE IV--WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS DESIGNATIONS
Sec. 401. Designation of wild and scenic rivers in Idaho,
Montana, and Wyoming.
TITLE V--NATIONAL WILDLAND RESTORATION AND RECOVERY SYSTEM
Sec. 501. Findings.
Sec. 502. National Wildland Restoration and Recovery System.
Sec. 503. Management of Recovery System.
Sec. 504. National Wildland Recovery Corps.
TITLE VI--IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING
Sec. 601. Implementation report.
Sec. 602. Interagency team.
Sec. 603. Roadless lands evaluation.
Sec. 604. Native American uses.
Sec. 605. Cultural resources.
TITLE VII--RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Sec. 701. Water rights.
Sec. 702. Future designations.
Sec. 703. Indian tribes.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Many areas of undeveloped National Forest System lands
in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and
Wyoming possess outstanding natural characteristics which give
them high values as wilderness, parks, and wild and scenic
rivers and will, if properly preserved, be an enduring
resource of wilderness, wild land areas, and biodiversity for
the benefit of the American people.
(2) The Northern Rockies Bioregion contains the most
diverse array of wild lands remaining south of Canada,
providing sanctuary for a host of species listed as threatened
or endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)). These national interest public
lands are among the most popular wild lands in the Nation,
embracing greater ecosystems and national treasures such as
the Greater Yellowstone, Greater Glacier/Northern Continental
Divide, Greater Hells Canyon/Wallowa, Greater Salmon/Selway,
and Greater Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk ecosystems. The headwaters
for nearly two-thirds of the rivers of North America originate
in the Northern Rockies, sending waters to three oceans and
providing critical supplies of clean water for wildlife and
other users.
(3) The wildlife treasures of the Northern Rockies are of
international significance and contain remarkably intact large
mammalian fauna and rare and unique plant life.
(4) Wildlife habitat fragmentation due to roadbuilding,
timber harvest, mining, oil and gas exploration, lack of
interagency cooperation, and other activities has severe
effects on the wildlife populations (including those listed as
threatened or endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c))) and their habitat,
the water quality, the ancient forests, and the greater
ecosystems of the Northern Rockies Bioregion. Continued
fragmentation and development of the remaining roadless and
essentially roadless ecosystems and biological connectors of
the Northern Rockies would cause a loss to the Nation of an
entire wild land region and of the only remaining areas south
of Canada still pristine enough to support populations of
caribou, gray wolves, grizzly bears, anadromous fish, and
numerous other rare and endangered plant and animal life all
in one intact bioregion.
(5) Since the 1936 roadless area inventory completed by Bob
Marshall, millions of acres of roadless wild lands have been
developed in the Northern Rockies. Extensive fragmentation of
wild lands and wildlife habitat has resulted in the listing of
several species as threatened or endangered and reduced the
numbers and range of many others, including anadromous fish.
(6) A review of the current situation in the Northern
Rockies has revealed the urgent need for an ecological reserve
system for the Northern Rockies Bioregion, which includes core
ecosystem reserve areas and biological connecting corridors
necessary to ensure wildlife movements and genetic interchange
between the core reserve areas.
(7) The economic value to the Nation of most of these
undeveloped areas, left in their natural state, greatly
exceeds any potential return to the Treasury of the United
States from timber harvest and development. If current Federal
land management in the Northern Rockies continues to result in
the development of roadless areas, the American public will be
using its tax dollars to fund permanent reductions in
wilderness, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and
species and biological diversity.
(8) The congressional review of roadless areas within
National Forest System lands in the States of Idaho, Montana,
Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming has identified areas which, on
the basis of their land form, ecosystem, associated fish and
wildlife, economic value, and location will help to fulfill
the role of the United States Forest Service to ensure a
quality National Wilderness Preservation System. The review
has identified other areas which may have outstanding values
as national parks and preserves and wild and scenic rivers.
The review has also identified areas which may not possess
outstanding wilderness attributes and should not now be
designated as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System, but which should be studied to determine
their role in maintaining biological diversity in the Northern
Rockies.
(9) Many areas of National Forest System lands have been
damaged and their productivity reduced by unwise development
practices which have also impaired ecosystem function and
biological diversity. The Island Park area adjacent to
Yellowstone National Park contains large clear-cut areas right
up to the park boundary. Efforts should be made to return
these areas to their former ecological health and native
diversity by designating them as National Wildland Restoration
and Recovery areas. These efforts should seek to ensure that
vital ecosystem components are restored, especially in areas
where wildlife travel corridors and native fish and wildlife
populations have been damaged or eliminated. Restoration
efforts should seek to ensure and maintain genetic
interchange, biological diversity, and restoration of native
species diversity throughout the Northern Rockies Bioregion.
(10) Federal agencies entrusted with managing the natural
resources of the Northern Rockies Bioregion operate under
contradictory congressional mandates, and thus are in
dissension over management policies which involve common
resources and greater ecosystems. Existing agency structures
and regulatory mechanisms have proven unsatisfactory for
responsible management of nationally important ecosystems on
public lands. Existing laws and regulations have not been
sufficient to establish and maintain agency accountability for
public resources.
(11) This Act does not affect lands that are in private
ownership.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
(a) DESIGNATIONS- The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to designate certain National Forest System lands and
Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land
Management in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon,
Washington, and Wyoming as components of the National
Wilderness Preservation System;
(2) to designate certain National Forest System lands in
the States of Montana, Oregon, and Idaho as national park and
preserve study areas;
(3) to designate certain National Forest System lands and
watercourses in the States of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming as
components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
(4) to establish a pilot system of National Wildland
Restoration and Recovery Areas and a Wildlands Recovery Corps
to help restore biological diversity and native species; and
(5) to establish a system of biological connecting
corridors between the core ecosystems in the Northern Rockies
Bioregion.
(b) PURPOSE OF DESIGNATIONS- The designations made by this
Act are made in order to--
(1) promote, perpetuate, and preserve the wilderness
character of the land;
(2) protect water quality, watersheds, and wildlife
habitat, including that of species listed as threatened or
endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c));
(3) protect the ecological integrity and contiguity of
major wild land ecosystems and their interconnecting corridors
identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and
other sources;
(4) protect and maintain biological and native species
diversity;
(5) promote and ensure interagency cooperation in the
implementation of integrated, holistic ecosystem management
and protection of the ecosystems and corridors covered by this
Act based upon principles from conservation biology;
(6) preserve scenic, historic, and cultural resources;
(7) promote scientific research, primitive recreation,
solitude, physical and mental challenge, and inspiration for
the benefit of all of the American people;
(8) avoid the misinvestment of scarce capital in lands of
marginal timber value; and
(9) promote ecologically and economically sustainable
management in the Northern Rockies Bioregion.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) DEVELOPMENT- The term `development' means activities
that eliminate the roadless and wilderness characteristics of
the land and includes ski resort facilities and such
activities as roadbuilding, timber harvest, mining, and oil
and gas drilling.
(2) ENTRY- The term `entry' means to enter a roadless area
for purposes of development and associated activities, such as
roadbuilding, timber harvest, mining, or other such activities
which eliminate the roadless character of the land.
(3) GREATER ECOSYSTEM- The term `greater ecosystem', when
used in conjunction with the specific ecosystems protected
under this Act, means the ecological land units of sufficient
scale to support and maintain populations of large vertebrate
species and the other native plant and animal species of the
area. These units are comprised of lands which are similar in
regards to topography, climate, and plant and animal species.
The ecosystems in the Northern Rockies are also defined in
terms of the habitat of wildlife indicator species listed as
threatened or endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)), including grizzly
bear, gray wolf, bald eagle, and caribou, and have been
depicted on maps published by Federal agencies.
(4) NORTHERN ROCKIES BIOREGION- The term `Northern Rockies
Bioregion' means the portion of the Northern Rocky Mountains
in the States of Montana,
Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington, so referred to on
maps referred to in this Act.
(5) RECOVERY- The term `recovery' means the restoration of
lands damaged by land management activities to a condition as
close as possible to the condition of the lands as existed
prior to entry and development of the lands.
(6) RECOVERY SYSTEM- The term `Recovery System' means the
National Wildland Restoration and Recovery System established
in title V.
TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS
SEC. 101. DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM
LANDS AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS AS WILDERNESS.
In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the National Forest System lands and
other public lands described in this title in the States of
Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming are hereby
designated as wilderness and, therefore, as components of the
National Wilderness Preservation System.
SEC. 102. GREATER GLACIER/NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
ECOSYSTEM.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:
(1) The core of the Greater Glacier/Northern Continental
Divide ecosystem region is Glacier National Park and the Bob
Marshall Wilderness, which was the first wilderness area in
the United States.
(2) This ecosystem includes unique lands, such as the Rocky
Mountain Front, where grizzlies still roam the prairies and
America's largest herd of bighorn sheep scales the craggy
peaks.
(3) The Swan and Mission mountain ranges contain some of
Montana's largest old growth forests and pristine bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout spawning runs.
(4) The Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf is making a comeback in
this ecosystem, and the ecosystem is home to the largest
grizzly population in the lower 48 States.
(b) DESIGNATION- In order to protect the unique Greater
Glacier/Northern Continental Divide ecosystem, the areas
specified in the table in subsection (c), which together
comprise approximately 1,102,535 acres as generally depicted
on the maps with titles corresponding to each area and dated
January 2001, are hereby designated as wilderness. Each
wilderness area shall either be incorporated into the
wilderness area indicated or shall be known by the name given
it in the table. Each map shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest
Service, Department of Agriculture.
(c) TABLE OF AREAS- The table referred to in subsection (b)
is as follows:
GREATER GLACIER/NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEM
Name of Wilderness
Area
Approximate Acreage
Location
Choteau Mountain/Teton High Peaks/Deep
Creek
106,272 Lewis & Clark National Forest/Bureau of Land
Management
Renshaw
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