HR 488 IH
106th 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 2, 1999
Mr. SHAYS (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr.
ACKERMAN, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. NADLER, Mr.
GUTIERREZ, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr.
GEJDENSON, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr.
FARR of California, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Resources
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 1999'.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS
Sec. 101. Designation of certain National Forest System 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.
TITLE II--BIOLOGICAL CONNECTING CORRIDORS
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. 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. Review of goals and mandates of Federal natural resource
management.
Sec. 605. Native American uses.
Sec. 606. Cultural resources.
TITLE VII--RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Sec. 702. Future designations.
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.
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, Wyoming, and Washington 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;
(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) ensure that all resources on Federal lands in the Northern Rockies
Bioregion are managed on an ecologically and economically sustainable
basis.
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 AS
WILDERNESS.
In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131-1136), 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 grizzles 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 1,185,856 acres as generally
depicted on the maps with titles corresponding to each area and dated January
1, 1997, 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
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Name of Wilderness Area Approximate Acreage Location
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choteau Mountain/Teton High Peaks/Deep Creek 105,593 Lewis & Clark National Forest/BLM
Renshaw 46,602 Lewis & Clark National Forest/BLM
Swan Front 168,372 Flathead Lolo National Forest
Swan Crest 88,795 Flathead National Forest
Limestone Caves/Lost Jack 35,932 Flathead National Forest
Monture Creek 98,761 Lolo National Forest
Total 544,055
Middle Fork 39,877 Flathead National Forest
South Fork 20,545 Flathead National Forest
Total 60,422
Stonewall Mountain 54,984 Helena National Forest
Silver King/Falls Creek 42,143 Lewis & Clark/Helena National Forest
Benchmark/Elk Creek 27,721 Lewis & Clark National Forest
Total 124,848
Mission additions 2,444 Flathead National Forest
Marshall Peak 8,769 Lolo National Forest
Total 11,213
Rattlesnake additions 6,000 Lolo National Forest
Badger-Two Medicine 127,708 Lewis & Clark National Forest
Sawtooth Ridge 14,446 Lewis & Clark National Forest
Mt. Hefty/Tuchuck/Thompson-Seton 132,078 Flathead/Kootenai National Forest
Le Beau 6,453 Flathead/Kootenai National Forest
Ten Lakes 43,810 Kootenai National Forest
Lincoln Gulch 9,057 Helena National Forest
Anaconda Hill 16,316 Helena National Forest
Specimen Creek 13,483 Helena National Forest
Crater Mountain 9,611 Helena National Forest
Ogden Mountain 12,210 Helena National Forest
Nevada Mountain 54,146 Helena National Forest
ECOSYSTEM TOTAL 1,185,856
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SEC. 103. GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:
(1) The core of the greater Yellowstone region is Yellowstone National
Park, the Nation's first national park.
(2) This world-famous region of geyser basins, towering mountains,
abundant wildlife, and vast forests contains the headwaters for many of the
Nation's most famous blue-ribbon trout streams.
(3) Small glaciers and permanent snowfields cloak the rugged Teton and
Beartooth mountains, which contain several peaks greater than 12,000
feet.
(4) Diverse habitat in the region ranges from cactus desert lowlands to
arctic tundra.
(5) Wildlife in the region includes the threatened grizzly bear, the
Nation's last wild bison herd, trumpeter swans, and nearly 35,000 elk.
(b) DESIGNATION- In order to protect the unique ecosystem of the greater
Yellowstone region, the areas specified in the table in subsection (c), which
comprise approximately 3,823,391 acres as generally depicted on the maps with
titles corresponding to each area and dated January 1, 1997, 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 YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM
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Name of Wilderness Area Approximate Acreage Location
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Absaroka-Beartooth additions 260,732 Gallatin/Custer/Shoshone National Forest
North Absaroka additions 152,936 Shoshone National Forest
Washakie additions 218,076 Shoshone National Forest
DuNoir/Pacific Creek/Blackrock Creek 81,112 Bridger-Teton/Shoshone National Forest
Shoal Creek addition 35,000 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Gros Ventre additions 85,687 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Total 120,687
Bridger additions 143,300 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Popo Agie additions 47,709 Shoshone National Forest
Winegar Hole addition 4,859 Targhee National Forest
Cowboys Heaven 39,670 Gallatin/Beaverhead National Forest
Lee Metcalf additions 149,043 Gallatin/Beaverhead National Forest
Total 188,713
Gallatin Range 236,802 Gallatin National Forest
Chico Peak 12,422 Gallatin National Forest
Lionhead 47,969 Gallatin/Targhee National Forest
Line Creek Plateau/Deep Lake 112,739 Custer/Shoshone National Forest
Monument Ridge 17,835 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Munger Mountain 8,427 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Little Sheep Mountain 14,884 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Palisades 222,977 Bridger-Teton/Targhee National Forest
Mt Leidy Highlands 165,219 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Salt River Range 227,909 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Grayback Ridge 294,373 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Commissary Ridge 94,239 Bridger-Teton National Forest
South Wyoming Range 78,577 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Gannett Hills/Spring Creek 76,949 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Little Cottonwood 5,448 Bridger-Teton National Forest
North Mountain 9,950 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Philips Ridge 10,316 Bridger-Teton National Forest
Garns Mountain 104,077 Targhee National Forest
Warm River 25,579 Targhee National Forest
Snake River 9,644 Targhee National Forest
Bear Creek 117,269 Targhee/Caribou National Forest
Stump Creek 100,526 Caribou National Forest
Caribou 83,540 Caribou National Forest
Poker Peak 19,795 Caribou National Forest
Bitters Peak 12,376 Caribou National Forest
Wolverine Creek 20,640 Caribou National Forest
Pole Creek 8,384 Caribou National Forest
Gravelly Mountains 267,553 Beaverhead National Forest
Snowcrest 97,546 Beaverhead National Forest
Tobacco Root Mountains 101,303 Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest
ECOSYSTEM TOTAL 3,823,391
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SEC. 104. GREATER SALMON/SELWAY ECOSYSTEM.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Greater Salmon/Selway region is one of the most rugged and wild
areas in America, and one of the largest intact forest ecosystems in the
temperate zones of the Earth.
(2) The core of the region is comprised of the Frank Church-River of No
Return and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness areas.
(3) Swimming the Salmon and Clearwater river systems, several species of
salmon and sea-going trout still make the 900 mile spawning journey from the
Pacific Ocean to small tributaries in the high mountain country.
(4) Biological and landscape diversity in the region is great, ranging
from rocky, dry canyon country to wet forests of ancient cedars many feet in
diameter in the Mallard-Larkins and other areas.
(5) A wide array of forest dwelling species reside in the region, and
the gray wolf is making a comeback.
(b) DESIGNATION- In order to protect the unique ecosystem of the Greater
Salmon/Selway region, the areas specified in the table in subsection (c),
which comprise approximately 5,969,804 acres as generally depicted on the maps
with titles corresponding to each area and dated
January 1, 1997, 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 SALMON/SELWAY ECOSYSTEM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Wilderness Area Approximate Acreage Location
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bluejoint 62,321 Bitterroot/Salmon National Forests
Camas Creek 98,152 Challis/Salmon National Forests
Blue Bunch 10,876 Challis/Boise National Forests
Loon Creek 103,891 Challis/Sawtooth National Forests
Pinnacle Peak 10,494 Payette National Forest
Meadow Creek 47,169 Payette National Forest/Boise National Forest
Big Creek Fringe 1,030 Payette National Forest
Placer Creek 6,806 Payette National Forest
Smith Creek 2,303 Payette National Forest
Cottontail Point-Pilot Peak 107,288 Payette National Forest
Bernard 19,711 Boise National Forest
Burnt Log 21,377 Boise National Forest
Whiskey 3,799 Boise National Forest
Nameless Creek 2,231 Boise National Forest
Tennessee 649 Boise National Forest
Poker Meadows 968 Boise National Forest
Black Lake 5,661 Boise National Forest
Panther Creek 35,209 Salmon National Forest
McEleny 3,041 Salmon National Forest
Little Horse 6,425 Salmon National Forest
Oreana 7,178 Salmon National Forest
Duck Peak 45,018 Salmon National Forest
Long Tom 17,869 Salmon National Forest
Challis Creek 41,725 Challis National Forest
Seafoam 27,048 Challis National Forest
Greylock 10,906 Challis National Forest
Rackliff-Gedney 86,079 Clearwater/Nez Perce National Forests
Jersey-Jack 41,064 Nez Perce National Forest
Mallard 21,774 Nez Perce National Forest
Marshall Mountain 5,265 Coeur d'Alene Dist. BLM
Total 853,319
Gospel Hump Additions 59,679 Nez Perce National Forest
Carey Creek 9,283 Payette National Forest
Total 68,962
Bitterroot additions 123,125 Bitterroot National Forest
Lochsa Face 68,140 Clearwater National Forest
Elk Summit/Sneakfoot/North Fork Spruce 54,433 Clearwater National Forest
West Meadow Creek 108,854 Nez Perce National Forest
East Meadow Creek 96,617 Nez Perce National Forest
Lolo Creek 15,168 Lolo/Clearwater/Bitterroot National Forests
Total 466,347
Sawtooth completion (Hansen Lakes/Huckleberry/Pettit/Smoky Mountains/Ten Mile/Black Warrior/South Boise/Yuba) 523,062 Boise/Sawtooth/Challis National Forests
French Creek/Patrick Butte 169,350 Payette National Forest
Crystal Mountain 13,054 Payette National Forest
Secesh 258,706 Payette National Forest
Needles 167,274 Payette/Boise National Forests
Caton Lake 95,570 Payette/Boise National Forests
Mount Heinen 16,594 Boise National Forest
Grape Mountain 13,086 Boise National Forest
Peace Rock 181,417 Boise National Forest
Deadwood 50,589 Boise National Forest
Whitehawk Mountain 8,218 Boise National Forest
Stony Meadows 13,367 Boise National Forest
Bear Wallow 7,907 Boise National Forest
Grimes Pass 11,602 Boise National Forest
Bald Mountain 6,213 Boise National Forest
Hawley Mountain 8,547 Boise National Forest
Red Mountain 106,800 Boise National Forest
Breadwinner 39,726 Boise National Forest
Elk Creek 13,346 Boise National Forest
Steel Mountain 20,951 Boise National Forest
Rainbow 16,511 Boise National Forest
Grand Mountain 13,016 Boise National Forest
Sheep Creek 86,043 Boise National Forest
Snowbank 36,596 Boise National Forest
House Mountain 18,318 Boise National Forest
Danskin/South Fork Boise 34,423 Boise National Forest
Cow Creek 9,082 Boise National Forest
Lime Creek 113,527 Boise/Sawtooth National Forests
O'Hara Falls Creek 24,441 Nez Perce National Forest
Lick Point 7,534 Nez Perce National Forest
Goddard Creek 13,276 Nez Perce National Forest
Middle Fork Face 11,158 Nez Perce National Forest
Clear Creek 11,398 Nez Perce National Forest
Silver Creek-Pilot Knob 21,523 Nez Perce National Forest
Dixie Summit-Nut Hill 8,651 Nez Perce National Forest
North Fork Slate Creek 11,360 Nez Perce National Forest
Little Slate Creek 14,025 Nez Perce National Forest
John Day 11,332 Nez Perce National Forest
Perreau Creek 7,309 Salmon National Forest
Napias 8,070 Salmon National Forest
Napolean Ridge 52,029 Salmon National Forest
Jesse Creek 12,759 Salmon National Forest
Haystack Mountain 10,379 Salmon National Forest
Phelan 11,600 Salmon National Forest
Sheepeater 33,442 Salmon National Forest
South Fork Deep Creek 11,471 Salmon National Forest
Deep Creek 6,087 Salmon National Forest
Taylor Mountain 60,304 Salmon/Challis National Forests
Squaw Creek 96,086 Challis National Forest
White Knob 62,159 Challis National Forest
Porphyry Peak 47,363 Challis National Forest
Pioneer Mountains 279,281 Sawtooth/Challis National Forests
Railroad Ridge 41,023 Sawtooth/Challis National Forests
Boulder/White Clouds 434,897 Sawtooth/Challis National Forest/BLM
Buttercup Mountain 72,743 Sawtooth National Forest
Elk Ridge 10,565 Sawtooth National Forest
Little Wood River 6,481 Shoshone Dist. BLM
Friedman Creek 10,968 Shoshone Dist. BLM
Total 2,938,547
Great Burn Wildlands Complex:
Great Burn (Hoodoo) 248,927 Clearwater/Lolo National Forests
Meadow Creek/Upper North Fork/Rawhide 62,695 Idaho Panhandle/Lolo/Clearwater National Forests
Sheep Mountain/State Line 59,417 Idaho Panhandle/Lolo National Forests
Mallard-Larkins 268,421 Clearwater/Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Bighorn-Weitas 243,556 Clearwater National Forest
North Lochsa Slope 103,603 Clearwater National Forest
Siwash 8,652 Clearwater National Forest
Pot Mountain 48,582 Clearwater National Forest
Moose Mountain 20,441 Clearwater National Forest
Eldorado Creek 6,317 Clearwater National Forest
Weir-Post Office 22,588 Clearwater National Forest
Mosquito Fly 19,982 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Midget Peak 6,386 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Total 1,119,567
ECOSYSTEM TOTAL 5,969,804
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SEC. 105. GREATER CABINET/YAAK/SELKIRK ECOSYSTEM.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:
(1) The wettest part of the Northern Rockies, the Greater
Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk ecosystem is a wild land region that contains the last
major stands of low elevation ancient forests in the general region,
including the Long Canyon area which contains the oldest living cedars in
the Nation.
(2) The only caribou herd in the lower 48 States roams these mountains,
as do the grizzly and the gray wolf.
(3) Towering mountains in the ecosystem include the Cabinet, Selkirk,
and Purcell ranges.
(b) DESIGNATION- In order to protect the unique, heavily fragmented, and
endangered Greater Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk ecosystem, the areas specified in the
table in subsection (c), which comprise approximately 1,071,350 acres as
generally depicted on the maps with titles corresponding to each area and
dated January 1, 1997, 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 CABINET/YAAK/SELKIRK ECOSYSTEM
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Name of Wilderness Area Approximate Acreage Location
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Additions 90,807 Kootenai National Forest
Salmo-Priest Additions 33,964 Colville/Kaniksu National Forests
Zulu Creek 38,256 Kootenai National Forest
Saddle Mountain 30,111 Kootenai National Forest
Roberts Mountain 8,072 Kootenai National Forest
Galena Creek 18,770 Kootenai National Forest
Berray Mountain 8,187 Kootenai National Forest
Lone Cliff-Smeads 8,742 Kootenai National Forest
McNeeley 6,157 Kootenai National Forest
Northwest Peaks 20,960 Kootenai National Forest
Roderick 31,148 Kootenai National Forest
Grizzly Peak 7,475 Kootenai National Forest
West Fork Yaak 10,788 Kootenai National Forest
Mt. Henry 17,896 Kootenai National Forest
Alexander Creek 8,480 Kootenai National Forest
Robinson Mountain 6,719 Kootenai National Forest
Cataract Peak 26,870 Kootenai/Lolo National Forests
Cube Iron-Silcox 38,077 Kootenai/Lolo National Forests
Sundance Ridge 8,897 Lolo National Forest
Teepee-Spring Creek 12,371 Lolo National Forest
Scotchman's Peak 87,444 Kootenai/Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Elk Creek/Cathedral Peak 33,372 Kootenai/Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Buckhorn Ridge 42,653 Kootenai/Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Little Grass Mountain 8,075 Colville/Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Grassy Top 24,767 Colville National Forest
Harvey Creek 13,187 Colville National Forest
Abercrombie-Hooknose 35,683 Colville National Forest
South Fork Mountain 15,499 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Continental Mountain 7,874 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Skitwish Ridge 6,870 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
White Mountain 10,076 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Shafer Peak 6,295 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Blacktail Mountain 4,722 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Upper Priest Lake 13,481 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Long Canyon/Selkirk Crest 104,164 Idaho Panhandle National Forest/Bureau of Land Management
Saddle Mountain 7,818 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Mt. Willard/Lake Estelle/Katka 62,701 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Trestle Peak 7,565 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Beetop 14,753 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Packsaddle 21,576 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Blacktail Mountain 4,982 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Magee 34,490 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Tepee Creek 4,687 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Trouble Creek 5,834 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Graham Coal 11,232 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Grandmother Mountain 36,943 Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Pinchot Butte 11,860 Idaho Panhandle National Forest/Bureau of Land Management
ECOSYSTEM TOTAL 1,071,350
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SEC. 106. ISLANDS IN THE SKY WILDERNESS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:
(1) There are several island mountain ranges in the Northern Rockies
Bioregion, separated from other mountains by the intervening prairies.
(2) These wild and beautiful mountains are home to an abundant array of
native wildlife and birds and are representative of a unique ecological
complex.
(3) These lands include the Bighorn, Big Snowy, Pryor, Elkhorn, and
Caribou Mountain Ranges.
(b) DESIGNATION- In order to protect the unique and increasingly isolated
ecological treasure of island mountain ranges in the Northern Rockies
Bioregion, the areas specified in the table in subsection (c), which comprise
approximately 1,365,137 acres as generally depicted on the maps with titles
corresponding to each area and dated January 1, 1997, 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:
ISLANDS IN THE SKY WILDERNESS AREAS
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Name of Wilderness Area Approximate Acreage Location
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kettle Mountains:
Thirteen Mile 11,742 Colville National Forest
Bald Snow 19,045 Colville National Forest
Profanity 38,741 Colville National Forest
Twin Sisters 17,081 Colville National Forest
South Huckleberry 9,609 Colville National Forest
Cougar Mountain 4,454 Colville National Forest
Owl Mountain 14,881 Colville National Forest
Deer Creek 9,463 Colville National Forest
Jacknife Mountain 9,944 Colville National Forest
Paradise 6,861 Colville National Forest
Bodie Mountain 7,172 Colville National Forest
Bulldog Mountain 7,708 Colville National Forest
Hoodoo 12,987 Colville National Forest
Total 169,688
Bighorn Mountains:
Cloud Peak Additions 82,242 Bighorn National Forest
Wolf Creek 46,944 Bighorn National Forest
Little Bighorn 42,637 Bighorn National Forest
Total 171,823
Pryor Mountains:
Lost Water Canyon 58,992 Custer National Forest/Bighorn National Recreation Area/BLM
Big Pryor Mountain 39,059 Custer National Forest
Total 98,051
Blue Mountains:
Additions to Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness:
Upper Tucannon 12,864 Umatilla National Forest
W-T Three 2,375 Umatilla National Forest
Total 15,239
Willow Springs 9,796 Umatilla National Forest
Asotin Creek 18,361 Umatilla National Forest
Spangler 5,970 Umatilla National Forest
Wenatchee Creek 15,205 Umatilla National Forest
Mill Creek 23,819 Umatilla National Forest
Walla Walla 35,343 Umatilla National Forest
Jassaud 3,732 Umatilla National Forest
Grande Ronde 20,295 Umatilla National Forest
Texas Butte 8,323 Umatilla National Forest
Skookum 7,759 Umatilla National Forest
Potamus 5,524 Umatilla National Forest
South Fork-Tower 16,706 Umatilla National Forest
Squaw 7,462 Umatilla National Forest
Greenhorn Mountain 18,607 Umatilla National Forest
Lookingglass 4,650 Umatilla National Forest
Horseshoe Ridge 5,896 Umatilla National Forest
Hellhole/Mount Emily 68,988 Umatilla/Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
North Mount Emily 4,995 Umatilla/Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Beaver Creek 12,073 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Twin Mountain 58,240 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Upper Grande Ronde 7,984 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Marble Point 7,014 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Total Umatilla/Wallowa-Whitman National Forests 366,742
Baldy Mountain 6,461 Malheur National Forest
Dixie Butte 12,921 Malheur National Forest
Murderers Creek 24,631 Malheur National Forest
Flag Creek 7,268 Malheur National Forest
Fox Creek 6,087 Malheur National Forest
Glacier Mountain 24,692 Malheur National Forest
Jumpoff Joe 30,789 Malheur National Forest
Malheur River 12,937 Malheur National Forest
McClellan Mountain 21,736 Malheur National Forest
Myrtle-Silvies 11,280 Malheur National Forest
Nipple Butte 11,509 Malheur National Forest
North Fork Malheur River 25,415 Malheur National Forest
Pine Creek 13,580 Malheur National Forest
Shaketable 6,926 Malheur National Forest
Utley Butte 11,069 Malheur National Forest
Monument Rock 5,330 Malheur National Forest
Total Malheur National Forest 232,631
Flint Range 66,496 Deerlodge National Forest
Fred Burr 6,113 Deerlodge National Forest
Elkhorn Mountains 82,278 Helena National Forest
Cache Peak 25,949 Sawtooth National Forest
Mount Naomi/Worm Creek 67,901 Caribou National Forest
Cuddy Mountain 46,595 Payette National Forest
Council Mountain 15,631 Payette National Forest
Island Wilderness Total 1,365,137
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SEC. 107. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) ADMINISTRATION- Subject to valid existing rights, each wilderness area
designated under this title shall be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131-1136) that govern areas designated by that Act as wilderness, except that
for purposes of this subsection any reference in such provisions to the
effective date of the Wilderness Act or any similar reference shall be deemed
to be a reference to the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) MAP AND DESCRIPTION- As soon as practicable after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall file a map and legal
description of each wilderness area designated under this title with the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives. Each map and legal description
shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that
correction of clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal
description may be made. Each map and legal description shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest
Service, Department of Agriculture.
SEC. 108. BLACKFEET WILDERNESS.
(a) DESIGNATION- In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act, the
preservation of Blackfeet religious lands, and Blackfeet treaty rights,
certain lands within the Lewis and Clark National Forest comprising
approximately 123,000 acres known as the Badger-Two Medicine Area, as depicted
on the map dated January 1, 1997, and
entitled `Blackfeet Wilderness', are hereby designated as the Blackfeet
Wilderness Area.
(b) TREATY RIGHTS- The Congress recognizes that the Blackfeet Nation
retains treaty rights in the lands described in subsection (a), provided for
in the 1896 treaty with the United States Government.
(c) REVIEW- The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a review of the
wilderness area established under this section in accordance with the
Wilderness Act. The Secretary shall report the results of the review to the
Congress not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(1) APPOINTMENT- The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a
committee composed of the following:
(A) Representatives of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council.
(B) Blackfeet Tribal Traditionalists selected in a manner consistent
with the historic Cultural Law of the Tribe, independently of the Business
Council. The Secretary shall give careful consideration to the Blackfeet
Language community and its views.
(C) The National Park Service.
(D) The State of Montana.
(E) Representatives of the public who use the area designated as
wilderness by this section, including environmental groups previously
appropriately involved in the area.
(2) ADVISORY ROLE- The committee shall regularly advise the Secretary of
Agriculture during the preparation of the review required by subsection (c)
and shall submit its findings to the Congress concurrently with the
submission of the review by the Secretary.
(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN- The Secretary of Agriculture shall instruct the
committee to develop a wilderness management plan for the area which ensures
that Blackfeet religious and treaty rights to the area are recognized and
honored.
(e) CONSIDERATIONS- In carrying out their duties under subsections (c) and
(d), the Secretary of Agriculture and the committee shall give special
consideration to the religious, wilderness, and wildlife uses of the area,
taking into account any treaties the United States has entered into with the
Blackfeet Nation.
(f) WITHDRAWAL- The Blackfeet Wilderness Area is hereby withdrawn from all
forms of entry, appropriation, the disposal under the mining laws, and from
disposition under the geothermal and mineral leasing laws.
SEC. 109. WATER.
(a) RESERVATION- With respect to each wilderness area designated by this
title, the Congress hereby reserves a quantity of water sufficient to fulfill
the purposes for which such area is designated. The priority date of such
reserved rights shall be the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION- The Secretary of Agriculture and all other officers of
the United States shall take all steps necessary to protect the rights
reserved by subsection (a), including the filing of claims for quantification
of such rights in any present or future appropriate stream adjudication, in a
court of the State of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, or Washington, in which
the United States has been or is properly joined in accordance with section
208 of the Act of July 10, 1952 (66 Stat. 560; 43 U.S.C. 666; commonly
referred to as the `McCarran Amendment').
TITLE II--BIOLOGICAL CONNECTING CORRIDORS
SEC. 201. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The most recent scientific information on ecological reserve design
and function points out the critical need for biological connecting
corridors between the larger core ecosystem areas.
(2) While none of the remaining major wild land ecosystems of the
Northern Rockies Bioregion appears to be of sufficient size to perpetuate
the full complement of self-sustaining viable populations of native
wildlife, biological diversity, and full range of ecological processes on
its own, it appears that an effective reserve system can be achieved if
biological connecting corridors between the ecosystems are identified and
protected.
(3) The wild land areas described in this section are located between
the major core ecosystems of the region and are essential for wildlife and
plant migration and genetic interchange.
(4) These areas are some of the most beautiful and wild mountain ranges
in the Nation, including the Bitterroot, Sapphire, Lost River, Lemhi, and
Bridger mountain ranges.
SEC. 202. DESIGNATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONNECTING CORRIDORS.
(a) DESIGNATION- To protect the life flow of the Northern Rockies
Bioregion, the areas specified in the table in subsection (b) as biological
connecting corridors, which comprise approximately 4,860,497 acres as
generally depicted on the maps with titles corresponding to each area and
dated January 1, 1997, are hereby designated as biological connecting corridors.
The biological connecting corridors shall be of two types, areas to be
designated as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System and
areas to be subject to special corridor management requirements under section
203. Each biological connecting corridor 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.
(b) TABLE OF AREAS- The table referred to in subsection (a) is as
follows:
BIOLOGICAL CONNECTING CORRIDORS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Part Designation (a) Portion designated as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System
(b) Portion designated as special corridor management area
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Name of Area Approximate Acreage Location
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Welcome Creek Addition 1,096 Lolo National Forest
Anaconda Pintlar Additions 81,919 Bitterroot/Deerlodge/Beaverhead National Forests
Sapphire 119,164 Bitterroot/Deerlodge National Forests
Stony Mountain 111,017 Lolo/Deerlodge/Beaverhead National Forests
Quigg Peak 84,984 Lolo/Deerlodge National Forests
Silver King 49,875 Lolo/Deerlodge National Forests
Emerine 16,187 Deerlodge National Forest
Sleeping Child 21,755 Bitterroot National Forest
Beaver Lake 16,201 Beaverhead National Forest
Total (a) 502,194
(b) 119,914
Mount Bushnell 38,637 Lolo National Forest
Cherry Peak 37,803 Lolo National Forest
Patrick's Knob/North Cutoff 17,441 Lolo National Forest
South Siegel/South Cutoff 13,913 Lolo National Forest
North Siegel 8,691 Lolo National Forest
Reservation Divide 24,607 Lolo National Forest
Total (a) 141,092
(b) 242,885
Burdette 16,226 Lolo National Forest
Petty Mountain/Deep Creek 22,413 Lolo National Forest
Total (a) 38,639
(b) 115,138
Fleecer 35,576 Deerlodge/Beaverhead National Forests
Highlands 20,149 Deerlodge National Forest
Basin Creek 9,326 Deerlodge National Forest
Granulated Mountain 14,224 Beaverhead National Forest
Total (a) 79,275
(b) 105,215
Gold Hill 15,556
Gold Hill West 15,683 Kootenai National Forest
Total (a) 31,239
(b) 161,280
Maple Peak 16,224 Lolo/Idaho Panhandle/Kootenai National Forests
Storm Creek 8,415 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Hammond Creek 14,539 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
North Fork 30,475 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Big Creek 78,627 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Lost Creek 11,577 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
East Cathedral Peak 22,226 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Spion Kop 21,768 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Roland Point 6,005 Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Trout Creek 41,390 Idaho Panhandle/Kootenai National Forests
Wonderful Peak 6,930 Idaho Panhandle/Lolo National Forests
Stevens Peak 5,909 Idaho Panhandle/Lolo National Forests
Evans Gulch 8,059 Lolo National Forest
Gilt Edge-Silver Creek 8,570 Lolo National Forests
Ward Eagle 8,874 Lolo National Forest
Marble Point 10,699 Lolo National Forest
Total (a) 300,287
(b) 204,918
Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk Corridor: Total (a) See Total Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk
(b) 97,280
Cabinet/Yaak/Canada Corridor: Total (a) 0
(b) 42,880
West Pioneers 246,565 Beaverhead National Forest
Call Mountain 8,794 Beaverhead National Forest
Cattle Gulch Ridge 19,157 Beaverhead National Forest
East Pioneers 143,482 Beaverhead National Forest
Total (a) 417,998
(b) 38,400
Tolan Creek 14,278 Bitterroot National Forest
Allan Mountain 159,127 Bitterroot/Salmon National Forests
Anderson Mountain 48,947 Beaverhead/Salmon National Forests
West Big Hole 212,295 Beaverhead/Salmon National Forests
Goat Mountain 43,772 Beaverhead/Salmon National Forests
Italian Peaks/Eighteen Mile/Maiden 303,422 Beaverhead/Salmon/Targhee National Forests
Garfield Mountain 87,867 Beaverhead/Targhee National Forests
Four Eyes Canyon 7,141 Beaverhead National Forest
Tendoy Mountains 58,673 Beaverhead National Forest
Saginaw Creek 7,532 Beaverhead National Forest
Tash Peak 60,780 Beaverhead National Forest
Raynolds Pass 7,179 Targhee National Forest
Two Top 6,777 Targhee National Forest
Signal Peak 8,165 Targhee National Forest
Mount Jefferson/Centennials 83,554 Targhee/Beaverhead National Forest/BLM
Total (a) 1,109,509
(b) 584,960
French Creek/Hells Canyon Study Area Corridor: Total (a) 0
(b) 33,920
North Lemhi Mountains 301,647 Salmon/Challis National Forests
Diamond Peak 167,319 Salmon/Challis/Targhee National Forests
Black Canyon 5,502 Idaho Falls Dist. BLM
Warm Creek 6,404 Salmon National Forest
Goldbug Ridge 12,091 Salmon National Forest
Total (a) 492,963
(b) 20,480
Borah Peak 135,074 Challis National Forest/Salmon Dist. BLM
King Mountain 83,462 Challis National Forest
Grouse Peak 8,156 Challis National Forest
Red Hill 14,402 Challis National Forest
Jumpoff Mountain 12,491 Challis National Forest
Wood Canyon 7,505 Challis National Forest
Pahsimeroi 75,920 Challis National Forest
Burnt Creek 21,680 Salmon/Idaho Falls Dist. BLM
Hawley Mountain 17,422 Idaho Falls Dist. BLM
Total (a) 376,112
(b) 0
Frank Church Complex/Lemhi Range Corridor: Total (a) 0
(b) 59,726
Jerry Peak 26,341 Salmon Dist. BLM
Jerry Peak West 12,452 Salmon Dist. BLM
Corral-Horse Basin 69,169 Salmon Dist. BLM
Appendicitis Hill 25,842 Idaho Falls Dist. BLM
White-Knob Mountains 10,149 Idaho Falls Dist. BLM
Total (a) 143,953
(b) 9,600
Bitterroot/Lemhi Corridor: Total (a) 0
(b) 21,120
Tenderfoot/Deep Creek 105,008 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Middle Fork Judith 84,040 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Pilgrim Creek 46,426 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Paine Gulch 7,828 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Sawmill Gulch 11,610 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Spring Creek 17,512 Lewis and Clark National Forest
TW Mountain 8,177 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Big Baldy 42,495 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Granite Mountain 10,072 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Tollgate-Sheep 24,766 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Mount High 32,609 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Bluff Mountain 36,746 Lewis and Clark National Forest
North Fork Smith 8,711 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Big Snowies 104,860 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Highwoods 24,537 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Highwood Baldy 15,587 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Calf Creek 9,876 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Eagle Park 5,721 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Castle Mountains 28,350 Lewis and Clark National Forest
Box Canyon 15,110 Lewis and Clark/Gallatin National Forests
Crazy Mountains 159,291 Lewis and Clark/Gallatin National Forests
Gates of the Mountains Additions 19,904 Helena National Forest
Lazyman Gulch 11,869 Helena National Forest
Mt. Baldy 18,521 Helena National Forest
Camas Creek 27,405 Helena National Forest
Jericho Mountain 11,633 Helena National Forest
Irish Gulch 7,259 Helena National Forest
Grassy Mountain 7,261 Helena National Forest
Middleman/Hedges Mountain 33,542 Helena National Forest
Hellgate Gulch 17,378 Helena National Forest
Cayuse Mountain 22,092 Helena National Forest
Electric Peak/Little Blackfoot Meadows 53,473 Helena/Deerlodge National Forests
Whitetail-Haystack 70,352 Deerlodge National Forest
O'Neil Creek 6,253 Deerlodge National Forest
Bridger 51,345 Gallatin National Forest
Total (a) 1,157,619
(b) 552,190
Seven Lakes 59,613 Bridger-Teton/Shoshone National Forests
Total (a) 59,613
Total (b) 103,680
Corridor Total (a) 4,850,497
Corridor Total (b) 2,513,586
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SEC. 203. TREATMENT OF BIOLOGICAL CONNECTING CORRIDORS.
(a) ROADLESS LANDS DESIGNATED AS WILDERNESS- The roadless areas identified
as part of the biological connecting corridors on the maps referred to in
section 202 and the areas described on such maps as
wilderness are hereby designated as wilderness and as components of the
National Wilderness Preservation System.
(b) SPECIAL CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT AREAS- Those portions of the biological
connecting corridors identified on the maps referred to in 202 that are not
covered by subsection (a) are hereby designated as special corridor management
areas. The portions shall be managed in the following manner:
(1) The practice of even-aged silvicultural management and timber
harvesting is hereby prohibited on the portions.
(2) Mining, oil, and gas exploration and development and new road
construction or reconstruction is hereby prohibited with regard to the
portions.
(3) The Federal land management agencies responsible for said lands
shall take immediate steps to ensure that road densities within the
biological connecting corridors approach, as nearly as possible, zero miles
of road per square mile of land area. Such road density shall not exceed
0.25 miles per square mile.
SEC. 204. APPLICABILITY OF TITLE.
(a) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES- This title shall apply only to lands
under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management,
and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b) PRIVATE LANDOWNERS- No private landowner shall be compelled, under any
circumstances, to comply with this title. However, private landowners may
enter into cooperative agreements with the Federal Government on a willing
participant or willing seller basis to include their land in a biological
connecting corridor.
SEC. 205. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND LAND TRADES AND ACQUISITIONS.
(a) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- The Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture shall seek to enter into cooperative agreements with
private, State, and corporate landowners and sovereign Indian tribes to ensure
that portions of the biological connecting corridors designated by this title
that are located within areas under the ownership of such landowners or tribes
shall be managed in a manner similar to that required by this title for lands
within the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and
United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b) LAND TRADES AND ACQUISITIONS- The Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior shall seek to accomplish land trades or acquisitions
in order to accomplish the purposes of this title when the Secretary concerned
considers such action to be appropriate.
(c) REPORT- As part of the report required by section 601, the Secretary
of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall describe the progress
of cooperative agreements, acquisitions, and proposed land exchanges sought
pursuant to this section.
SEC. 206. EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
(a) EXEMPTION- The roads and highways referred to in subsection (b) are
expressly exempted from the provisions of this title.
(b) DESCRIPTION- The roads and highways referred to in subsection (a) are
U.S. Highway 93; U.S. Highway 2; U.S. Highway 95; U.S. Highway 10; U.S.
Highway 12; U.S. Highway 20; U.S. Highway 89; U.S. Highway 91; Interstate
Highway 15; Interstate Highway 90; Idaho State Highway 28; Idaho State Highway
29; Idaho State Highway 87; Idaho State Highway 3; Montana State Highway 200;
Montana State Highway 37; Montana State Highway 38; Montana State Highway 135;
Montana State Highway 83; Montana State Highway 43; Montana State Highway 56;
Montana State Highway 324; Montana State Highway 278; Montana State Highway
87; Montana State Highway 2; Montana State Highway 298; Montana State Highway
293; Montana State Highway 294; Montana State Highway 58; Montana Secondary
Road 508; Montana Secondary Road 278; Montana Secondary Road 279; Montana
Secondary Road 324; Montana Secondary Road 411; Montana Secondary Road 92; the
Thompson Pass Road (Montana-Idaho); the Moyie Springs to East Port Road
(Idaho); the Red Rock Pass Road (Montana); Boundary County (ID) Route 18;
Boundary County (ID) Route 47; Boundary County (ID) Route 3; Boundary County
(ID) Route 34; Lolo National Forest Route 102; Gallatin National Forest Route
259; Kelly Canyon Road (Gallatin NF); Middle Fork Canyon Road (Gallatin NF);
Lewis and Clark County Road 280 (MT); Lewis and Clark County Road 164 (MT);
Lewis and Clark County Road 4 (MT); Lewis and Clark County Road 291 (MT);
Lewis and Clark County Road 287 (MT); and the Pahsimeroi Road (Butte County,
ID).
TITLE III--NATIONAL PARKS, PRESERVES, AND RELATED STUDIES
SEC. 301. HELLS CANYON/CHIEF JOSEPH NATIONAL PRESERVE.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:
(1) The deepest river-carved canyon in the world at over 8,000 feet
deep, the Hells Canyon of
the Snake River forms the centerpiece of the rugged Greater Hells
Canyon/Wallowa region.
(2) The ancestral home of the Nez Perce Indians and their famous leader
Chief Joseph, the region abounds in cultural and archaeological sites.
(3) Breathtaking scenery in the region includes the 10,000 foot peaks of
the Wallowa and Seven Devils Mountains, old growth forests of ponderosa pine
and larch, and the desert-like canyon walls themselves.
(4) The Imnaha River Chinook salmon are among the largest salmon in the
Nation.
(5) Wildlife in the region includes one of the largest free-roaming elk
herds in the Nation.
(b) HELLS CANYON/CHIEF JOSEPH NATIONAL PRESERVE- There is hereby
established as a unit of the National Park System the Hells Canyon/Chief
Joseph National Preserve, which consists of approximately 1,439,444 acres as
delineated on the map entitled `Hells Canyon/Chief Joseph National Preserve'
and dated January, 1999.
(c) MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
National Park Service, shall administer the Hells Canyon/Chief Joseph
National Preserve.
(2) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS- In administering the national preserve, the
Secretary shall give special consideration to preserving scenery, water
quality and fisheries habitat, biological diversity, and wildlife habitat
for threatened and endangered species. Within the national preserve, the
Secretary shall not authorize or permit the construction of any road and
shall implement a program for road closures based on the needs of wildlife,
the review contained in title VI of this Act, the prevention of the spread
of non-native plants, and the need for backcountry areas.
(c) EFFECT ON WILDERNESS AREAS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS- The designation
of the national preserve shall have no effect on the boundaries or management
of any wilderness areas or wild and scenic river located within the boundaries
of the national preserve.
(d) EFFECT ON LIVESTOCK ALLOTMENTS- Within the national preserve, the
Secretary shall implement a program to close all vacant livestock allotments
and to negotiate the purchase of active livestock allotment grazing
allocations from the permittees. All vacant and vacated allotments shall be
closed upon purchase.
(e) MOTORIZED USES- The Secretary shall regulate all motorized uses of the
national preserve to meet the special considerations stated in subsection
(c)(2). Exclusion of terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic motorized uses of the
national preserve shall be implemented at the discretion of the Secretary to
protect scenery, water quality and fisheries habitat, biological diversity,
and wildlife habitat for threatened and endangered species and to protect
wilderness values.
(f) PARTICIPATION IN DAM RELICENSING- The Secretary shall authorize the
involvement of the Department of the Interior in the process by which the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will consider the relicensing of the
Hells Canyons dams complex, including Brownlee, Oxbow, and Hells Canyon dams.
Within this process, the Department shall advocate for a determination of
these dams that protects the natural and ecosystem values of the Snake River
below Oxbow Dam.
(g) ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION- Within the national preserve, the Secretary
shall implement a program of ecosystem restoration, including the
following:
(1) Non-chemical eradication of non-native vegetation.
(2) Restoration of the habitat of indigenous species including sharptail
grouse, pine marten, wolverine, goshawk, redband trout, and chinook
salmon.
SEC. 302. FLATHEAD NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE STUDY.
(a) STUDY REQUIREMENT- The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
Director of National Park Service, shall conduct a study of the feasibility of
creating a Flathead National Park and Preserve. The Secretary shall study the
feasibility of designating the study area described in subsection (b) as a
unit of the National Park System, including the feasibility of applying to the
study area national park and national preserve designations to be administered
by the National Park Service. The study shall include specific recommendations
as to which areas within the study area boundary should be classified as
national park, and which should be classified as national preserve where
hunting, fishing, and some motorized use shall be allowed.
(b) STUDY AREA- The study area referred to in subsection (a) shall consist
of the area generally known as the Glacier View Ranger District of the
Flathead National Forest, excepting those lands south of the Big Mountain
Road. The study area shall comprise approximately 285,078 acres, as delineated
on the map entitled `Flathead National Park and Preserve Study' and dated
January 1, 1997.
(c) TIME OF STUDY- The Secretary of the Interior shall complete the study
required by this section not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(d) MANAGEMENT DURING STUDY- Until the Congress enacts a law stating
otherwise, the study area described in subsection (b) shall be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture so as to maintain its presently existing natural
character and potential for inclusion in the National Park System. Until the
Congress enacts a law stating otherwise, no new road construction or
reconstruction, or timber harvest (except firewood gathering) shall be allowed
within the study area. Additionally, no oil or gas leasing, mining, or other
development which impairs the natural and roadless qualities of the study area
shall be allowed within the study area. In administering the study area, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall give special consideration to preserving
scenery, water quality and fisheries habitat, biological diversity, and
wildlife habitat for threatened and endangered species.
TITLE IV--WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS DESIGNATIONS
SEC. 401. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS IN IDAHO, MONTANA, AND
WYOMING.
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
`( ) SOUTH FORK PAYETTE, IDAHO- The segment within the Boise and Sawtooth
National Forests from the Sawtooth Wilderness Boundary downstream
approximately 54 miles to confluence with the Middle Fork and then downstream
on the main stem to the confluence with the North Fork, as generally depicted
on the boundary map entitled `South Fork Payette Wild River' and dated January
1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild
river.
`( ) MIDDLE FORK PAYETTE, IDAHO- The segment within the Boise National
Forest from Railroad Pass downstream approximately 17.9 miles to Boiling
Springs, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Middle Fork
Payette Wild and Recreational River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river and the segment
within the Boise National Forest from Boiling Springs downstream approximately
14.7 miles to the national forest boundary, as generally depicted on such map,
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river.
`( ) DEADWOOD, IDAHO- The segment within the Boise National Forest
comprising approximately 21.3 miles as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `Deadwood Wild and Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, the 12.8 mile segment from
Threemile Creek to Julie Creek, as a wild river, and the 8.9 mile segment from
Julie Creek to the South Fork of the Payette, as a scenic river.
`( ) UPPER PRIEST, IDAHO- The segment within the Panhandle National Forest
from the Canadian border downstream approximately 18.5 miles to Upper Priest
Lake, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Upper Priest Wild
River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO- The segment within the Panhandle National
Forest from the headwaters downstream approximately 110.4 miles as generally
depicted on the boundary map entitled `Coeur d'Alene Wild and Recreational
River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, the 8.5 miles from the headwaters downstream to Beaver Creek as a
recreational river, the 15.2 miles from Road No. 3099 to Teepee Creek as a
wild river, the 52 miles from the South Fork to Teepee Creek as a recreational
river, the 7.7 miles from Mission Creek to the South Fork as a recreational
river, and the 27 miles from Mission Creek to Lake Coeur d'Alene as a
recreational river.
`( ) LITTLE NORTH FORK CLEARWATER, IDAHO- The segment within the Panhandle
National Forest from Adair Creek downstream approximately 23.5 miles to Cedar
Creek, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Little North Fork
Clearwater Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) KELLY CREEK, IDAHO- The segment, including all tributaries, within
the Clearwater National Forest from its headwaters downstream approximately 19
miles to the forest service work station, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `Kelly Creek Wild and Recreational River' and dated
January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild
river and the 12-mile segment from USFS Road No. 581 to the North Fork of the
Clearwater River to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
recreational river.
`( ) CAYUSE CREEK, IDAHO- The segment within the Clearwater National
Forest from its headwaters downstream approximately 39 miles to its mouth, as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Cayuse Creek Wild River' and
dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
wild river.
`( ) BARGAMIN CREEK, IDAHO- The segment within the Nez Perce National
Forest comprising approximately 21 miles, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `Bargamin Creek Wild and Scenic River' and dated January
1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, the 15-mile
segment from the North Boundary of the Frank Church River of No Return
Wilderness to the Salmon River, as a wild river and the 6-mile segment from
its headwaters to USFS Road No. 468, as a scenic river.
`( ) LAKE CREEK, IDAHO- The segment within the Nez Perce National Forest
from the wilderness boundary downstream approximately 10 miles to Crooked
Creek, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Lake Creek Wild
River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) MEADOW CREEK, IDAHO- The segment within the Nez Perce National Forest
from its headwaters downstream approximately 34 miles to Selway River, as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Meadow Creek Recreational
River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture as a wild
river, except for the 1-mile segment above the confluence with the Selway
River which shall be administered as a recreational river.
`( ) RUNNING CREEK, IDAHO- The segment within the Nez Perce National
Forest comprising approximately 14 miles, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `Running Creek Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997;
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, the 7-mile segment from
the wilderness boundary to the Selway River, as a wild river and the 8-mile
segment from its headwaters to the wilderness boundary, as a scenic river.
`( ) SOUTH FORK TWO MEDICINE RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis
and Clark National Forest from its headwaters downstream approximately 10
miles to the Sawmill Flat Trailhead, as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `South Fork Two Medicine Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a wild river.
`( ) BADGER CREEK, INCLUDING THE SOUTH AND NORTH FORKS, MONTANA- The
segment within the Lewis and Clark National Forest from its headwaters
downstream to the national forest boundary, comprising approximately 23.8
miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Badger Creek Wild
River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, as a wild river.
`( ) DEARBORN, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis and Clark National
Forest downstream approximately 18.1 miles to the national forest boundary, as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Dearborn Wild River' and
dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as
a wild river.
`( ) NORTH FORK BIRCH CREEK, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis and
Clark National Forest from its headwaters downstream approximately 6.6 miles
to the national forest boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `North Fork Birch Creek Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a wild river.
`( ) SOUTH FORK SUN, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis and Clark
National Forest from its headwaters at Sun Lake downstream approximately 25.5
miles to its confluence with the North Fork, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `South Fork Sun Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997;
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a wild river.
`( ) NORTH FORK SUN, MONTANA- The segment comprising approximately 26.7
miles within the Lewis and Clark National Forest from the confluence of Open
Creek and Fool Creek downstream approximately 25.4 miles to the Bob Marshall
Wilderness boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `North
Fork Sun Wild and Recreational River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a wild river and the segment
from the Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary downstream approximately 1.3 miles
to its confluence with the South Fork, to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, as a recreational river.
`( ) TENDERFOOT CREEK, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis and Clark
National Forest from The Falls downstream approximately 4.6 miles to the Smith
River, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Tenderfoot Creek
Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, as a wild river.
`( ) GREEN FORK STRAIGHT CREEK, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis and
Clark National Forest from its headwaters downstream approximately 4.5 miles
to Straight Creek, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Green
Fork Straight Creek Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a wild river.
`( ) YAAK RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Kootenai National Forest
from the junction of the East and West Forks downstream 38 miles to the Yaak
Falls, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Yaak River Wild and
Recreational River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river and the segment from the Yaak
Falls downstream 8 miles to the mouth of the Yaak River at the junction of the
Kootenai River, as a wild river.
`( ) KOOTENAI RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Kootenai National
Forest from the junction of the Fisher River (3 miles below Libby Dam)
downstream for 46 miles to the State line, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `Kootenai River Recreational River' and dated January 1,
1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational
river.
`( ) BULL RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Kootenai National Forest
from the junction of the North and South Forks downstream 21 miles to the
Cabinet Gorge Reservoir, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Bull River Recreational River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river.
`( ) VERMILLION RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Kootenai National
Forest from the junction of Willow Creek, downstream 12 miles to the Noxon
Reservoir, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Vermillion
Recreational River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river.
`( ) SALMON, IDAHO- The segment within the Salmon and Sawtooth National
Forests from its source downstream approximately 177 miles to North Fork,
Idaho, excluding that part in the town of Salmon, and the segment from Hammer
Creek downstream approximately 45 miles to its mouth, as generally depicted on
the boundary map entitled `Salmon Recreational River' and dated January 1,
1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a recreational
river.
`( ) EAST FORK SALMON, IDAHO- The segment within the Salmon and Sawtooth
National Forests from the Sawtooth NRA boundary downstream approximately 20
miles to its confluence with the main stem, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `East Fork Salmon Recreational River' and dated January
1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a recreational
river.
`( ) NORTH FORK, CLEARWATER, IDAHO- The segment within the Clearwater
National Forest from the Route No. 250 Bridge downstream approximately 60
miles to the slackwater in Dwarshak Reservoir, as generally
depicted on the boundary map entitled `North Fork Clearwater Recreational
River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, as a recreational river.
`( ) NORTH FORK COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO- The segment within the Panhandle
National Forest from its headwaters south of Honey Mountain downstream
approximately 32.5 miles to its confluence with the Coeur d'Alene River, as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `North Fork Coeur d'Alene
Recreational River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river.
`( ) PACK, IDAHO- The segment within the Panhandle National Forest from
Harrison Lake downstream approximately 14 miles to the national forest
boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Pack
Recreational River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river.
`( ) HENRY'S FORK, IDAHO- The segment within the Targhee National Forest
from Big Springs downstream approximately 28 miles to the Osborne Bridge,
except for Island Park Reservoir, as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `Henry's Fork Wild and Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river, and the
segment from Osborne Bridge to the confluence of the Warm River, to be
administered as a wild river.
`( ) FALLS RIVER, IDAHO- The segment within the Targhee National Forest
from Yellowstone National Park downstream approximately 13 miles to the
National Forest Boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Falls Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) WEST FORK MADISON, MONTANA- The segment within the Beaverhead
National Forest from approximately the midpoint of Section 28, R. 2 W., T. 12
S., downstream approximately 6 miles to Landon Camp, and from Section 32, R. 1
W., T. 12 S. downstream approximately 5.2 miles to Shakelford Cow Camp, as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `West Fork Madison Wild River'
and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture,
as a wild river and the segment from Miner Creek (Section 30, R. 2 W., T. 12
S.) downstream approximately 2.5 miles to the midpoint of Section 28, and the
segment from Landon Camp downstream approximately 1.5 miles to the boundary of
Sections 32 and 33, R. 1 W., T. 12 S. and from Shakelford Cow Camp downstream
approximately 1.5 miles to Sloan Cow Camp, and from Sloan Cow Camp downstream
approximately .75 miles to Partridge Cow Camp, and from Partridge Cow Camp
downstream approximately 3.75 miles to the northeast corner of Section 4, R. 1
E., T. 12 S., as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `West Fork
Madison Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture, as a scenic river and the segment from the northeast
corner of Section 4, R. 1 E., T. 12 S. downstream approximately 6.5 miles to
the West Fork Rest Area, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`West Fork Madison Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`( ) ELK RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Beaverhead National Forest
in the southeast corner of Section 16, R. 2 W., T. 11 S., downstream
approximately 12.2 miles to the southeast corner of Section 3, R. 1 W., T. 12
S. including the headwaters (Barnett Creek and all other tributaries), as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Elk Wild River' and dated
January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as a wild
river; and the segment from the southeast corner of Section 3, R. 1 W., T. 12
S., downstream approximately 5.2 miles to the confluence with the West Fork of
the Madison River, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Elk
Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture, as a scenic river.
`( ) BROWNS CREEK, MONTANA- The segment within the Beaverhead National
Forest from the west central part of Section 1, R. 14 W., T. 8 S., downstream
approximately 4.3 miles to the forest boundary, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `Browns Creek Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to
be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) CANYON CREEK, MONTANA- The segment within the Beaverhead National
Forest from Canyon Lake downstream approximately 4 miles to the Canyon Creek
Campground, and the Lion Creek tributary (approximately 2.5 miles), as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Canyon Creek Wild River' and
dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
wild river.
`( ) DEADMAN CREEK, MONTANA- The segment within the Beaverhead National
Forest from its source downstream approximately 10.2 miles to the forest
boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Deadman Creek
Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997;
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) SALT RIVER, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 12 miles to forest road 10072,
as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Salt Wild River' and dated
January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild
river.
`( ) SWIFT CREEK, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 8 miles to Periodic Spring, as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Swift Creek Wild River' and
dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
wild river.
`( ) HOBACK RIVER, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 10 miles to the end of forest
road 30710, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Hoback Wild
River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) WILLOW CREEK, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 20 miles to the confluence
with the Hoback River, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Willow Creek Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) GROS VENTRE, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 12 miles to Horn Ranch, as
generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Gros Ventre Wild River' and
dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
wild river, and the segment from Horn Ranch downstream approximately 28 miles
to the forest boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Gros Ventre Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`( ) CRYSTAL CREEK, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 12 miles to the Gros Ventre
Wilderness boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Crystal Creek Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and the segment from the end of
the road downstream approximately 3 miles to the confluence with the Gros
Ventre River, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Crystal
Creek Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`( ) PACIFIC CREEK, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 25 miles to the Teton
Wilderness Boundary, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Pacific Creek Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and the segment from the
Wilderness boundary downstream approximately 8 miles to the confluence with
the Snake River, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Pacific
Creek Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`( ) BUFFALO FORK, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest upstream from Turpin Meadows for approximately 68 miles, as generally
depicted on the boundary map entitled `Buffalo Fork Wild River' and dated
January 1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild
river; and the segment from Turpin Meadows downstream approximately 16 miles
to the boundary of Grand Teton National Park, as generally depicted on the
boundary map entitled `Buffalo Fork Scenic River' and dated January 1, 1997;
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`( ) SNAKE, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National Forest
from the source downstream approximately 7 miles to the boundary of
Yellowstone National Park, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Snake Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) THOROFARE, WYOMING- The segment of the main stem within the
Bridger-Teton National Forest from the source downstream approximately 25
miles to the confluence with the Yellowstone River, and the source of Open
Creek downstream 10 miles to the confluence with the main stem, as generally
depicted on the boundary map entitled `Thorofare Wild River' and dated January
1, 1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild
river.
`( ) ATLANTIC CREEK, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton
National Forest from the Parting of the Waters downstream approximately 10
miles to the confluence with the Yellowstone River, as generally depicted on
the boundary map entitled `Atlantic Creek Wild River' and dated January 1,
1997; to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) YELLOWSTONE, WYOMING- The segment within the Bridger-Teton National
Forest from the source downstream approximately 28 miles to the boundary of
Yellowstone National Park, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Yellowstone Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) SMITH RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis and Clark National
Forest from Tenderfoot Creek downstream to Deep Creek, comprising
approximately 11.8 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Smith Wild River' and dated January 1, 1997; to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`( ) YELLOWSTONE RIVER, WYOMING AND MONTANA- The segment within the
Gallatin National Forest and Yellowstone National Park from the southern
boundary of Yellowstone National Park to the confluence with Yellowstone Lake,
and from the Fishing Bridge downstream to the mouth of Yankee Jim Canyon
comprising approximately 102 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `Yellowstone Wild and Scenic River, and dated January 1, 1997, to be
administered by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture as a wild
river with the exception of the segment from the north boundary of Yellowstone
National Park to the mouth of Yankee Jim Canyon, which shall be administered
as a scenic river.
`( ) MIDDLE FORK JUDITH RIVER, MONTANA- The segment within the Lewis and
Clark National Forest from Arch Coulee Junction downstream to the national
forest boundary, comprising approximately 4.8 miles, as generally depicted on
the boundary map entitled `Middle Fork Judith Wild River', and dated January
1, 1997, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild
river.
`( ) ROCK CREEK WATERSHED, MONTANA- (A) The segment of the main fork of
Rock Creek within the Lolo and Deerlodge National Forests from the mouth of
Juno Gulch downstream to the mouth of Rickard Gulch, comprising approximately
30 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled `Rock Creek
Scenic River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture as a scenic river.
`(B) The segment of Ranch Creek, from its source to the boundary of the
Lolo National Forest, within the Lolo National Forest, comprising
approximately 5 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Ranch Creek Wild River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`(C) The entire segment of Welcome Creek, from its source to its
confluence with the main fork of Rock Creek, within the Lolo National Forest,
comprising approximately 7 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `Welcome Creek Wild River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`(D) The entire segment of Alder Creek, from its source to its confluence
with the main fork of Rock Creek, within the Lolo National Forest, comprising
approximately 5 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Alder Creek Wild River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`(E) The entire segment of Hogback Creek, from its source to its
confluence with the main fork of Rock Creek, within the Lolo National Forest,
comprising approximately 6 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `Hogback Wild River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`(F) The entire segment of Wyman Gulch, from its source to its confluence
with the main fork of Rock Creek, within the Lolo National Forest, comprising
approximately 5 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Wyman Gulch Wild River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`(G) The segment of Stony Creek from its source at Stony Lake to the mouth
of Little Stony Creek, within the Deerlodge National Forest, comprising
approximately 4 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Stony Creek Wild and Scenic River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; the segment of Stony Creek
from the mouth of Little Stony Creek to its confluence with the main fork of
Rock Creek, comprising approximately 6 miles, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`(H) The segment of the West Fork of Rock Creek from its source to the
Deerlodge National Forest boundary, within the Deerlodge National Forest,
comprising approximately 15 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map
as `West Fork of Rock Creek Scenic River', dated March 1, 1997, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`(I) The segment of the Ross Fork of Rock Creek, from its source to the
mouth of Elk Creek, within the Deerlodge National Forest, comprising
approximately 10 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Ross Fork Wild River', to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as
a wild river.
`(J) The segment of Copper Creek, from its source to the boundary of the
mouth of Lutz Creek, within the Deerlodge National Forest, comprising
approximately 9 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Copper Creek Wild and Scenic River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; the segment of Copper Creek
from the mouth of Lutz Creek to its confluence with the Middle Fork of Rock
Creek, comprising approximately 5 miles, to be administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`(K) The segment of the Middle Fork of Rock Creek, from its source to the
mouth of Senate Creek, within the Deerlodge National Forest, comprising
approximately 5 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map entitled
`Middle Fork Wild and Scenic River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; the segment of the Middle
Fork of Rock Creek, from the mouth of Senate Creek to the confluence with
Copper Creek, comprising approximately 6 miles, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river.
`(L) The segment of Carpp Creek, from its source to its confluence with
the Middle Fork of Rock Creek, within the Deerlodge National Forest,
comprising approximately 6 miles, as generally depicted on the boundary map
entitled `Carpp Creek Wild River', dated March 1, 1997, to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.
`(M) The segment of the East Fork of Rock Creek, from its source to its
confluence with the head of the East Fork Reservoir, within the Deerlodge
National Forest, comprising approximately 10 miles, as generally depicted on
the boundary map entitled `East Fork Wild River', dated March 1, 1997, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.'.
TITLE V--NATIONAL WILDLAND RESTORATION AND RECOVERY SYSTEM
SEC. 501. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Certain National Forest System lands and surrounding areas have been
damaged by unwise resource extraction and development activities and
practices, and the productive potential of the lands and waters of these
areas has been reduced by development activities.
(2) Recovery activities are required to reverse severe damage to native
fish and wildlife populations and water quality in these areas.
(3) Recovery work associated with these areas will create new job
opportunities for local communities, assist in the economic transition
ongoing in the region, and contribute to the economic sustainability of
these rural areas by restoring the productive capability of the land.
SEC. 502. NATIONAL WILDLAND RESTORATION AND RECOVERY SYSTEM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is hereby established the National Wildland
Restoration and Recovery System.
(b) COMPONENTS- The following areas, as depicted on the maps dated January
1, 1997, and entitled `National Wildland Restoration and Recovery Area', shall
be components of the National Wildland Recovery and Restoration System and may
be referred to as recovery areas:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery areas Acres National Forest
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skyland 10,126 Flathead National Forest
Hungry Horse (except Hungry Horse Dam and Reservoir) 204,981 Flathead National Forest
Lolo Creek 59,398 Lolo/Clearwater National Forests
Yellowstone West 164,445 Targhee National Forest
Mt. Leidy 69,912 Bridger/Teton National Forests
Cabinet/Yaak 99,591 Kootenai National Forest
Lightning Creek 30,722 Panhandle National Forest
Coeur d'Alene River 372,072 Panhandle National Forest
Magruder Corridor 11,522 Nez Perce/Bitterroot National Forests
Area Total 1,022,769
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC. 503. MANAGEMENT OF RECOVERY SYSTEM.
(a) MANAGEMENT DURING RECOVERY-
(1) RESTORATION- All lands within the Recovery System shall be managed
so as to restore their native vegetative cover and species diversity,
stabilize slopes and soils to prevent or reduce further erosion, recontour
slopes to their original contours, remove barriers to natural fish spawning
runs, and generally restore, as much as possible, such lands to their
natural condition as existed prior to their entry and development.
(2) WATER QUALITY RESTORATION- In the management of Recovery System
lands, special consideration shall be given to restoration of water quality
in the Recovery System.
(3) MANAGEMENT METHODS- Recovery System lands shall be managed using
methods such as road obliteration, planting of trees and other vegetation
native to the lands, and removal by heavy equipment of sediment from
streambeds. Existing methods developed by the Forest Service, the National
Park Service, and other persons shall be considered and, when appropriate,
applied to the lands within the Recovery System. To the extent practicable,
the Secretary shall carry out this section using existing, available
equipment. When renting or leasing heavy equipment necessary for recovery
efforts pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall use local contractors
to the extent practicable.
(b) POST RECOVERY MANAGEMENT- When recovery is achieved for a component of
the Recovery System, the Forest Service shall evaluate the suitability of such
component for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System or for
other uses consistent with the purposes of this Act. The Forest Service shall
make a recommendation concerning the future management status of the
component, and shall submit the recommendation and an evaluation to the
Congress. The evaluation shall be conducted in the same manner as, and subject
to the same requirements that apply to, the preparation of an environmental
impact statement under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). The evaluation shall include documentation
of the component's values as wilderness and as wildlife habitat, its role in
maintaining water quality and native biodiversity, its role in the forest
reserve system, a list of alternative designations for the component
consistent with the purposes of this Act, and a roadless inventory for the
component. No provision of this subsection shall be construed to diminish the
responsibilities of the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to land and
resource management
plans under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).
SEC. 504. NATIONAL WILDLAND RECOVERY CORPS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is hereby established a special unit of the
Forest Service, to be known as the National Wildland Recovery Corps. The
National Wildland Recovery Corps shall hire the necessary personnel and
purchase the necessary equipment to carry out its land recovery
responsibilities under this title.
(b) RECOVERY PLANS- The National Wildland Recovery Corps shall be
responsible for the development of a wildland recovery plan for each area of
the Recovery System. Each recovery plan shall detail necessary work and
funding requirements needed to implement the management direction established
under section 503. Each recovery plan shall take into account the specific
conditions of an area in the Recovery System, including soil type, slope,
native species composition, road densities, forest cover, the number of road
crossings and culverts, and when possible, predevelopment conditions. Each
recovery plan shall set forth definite timelines for expected recovery of the
area to which the plan applies, including a list of management activities
planned each year, with projected dates for recovery. Each recovery plan shall
map out the portion, within the area of the Recovery System to which the plan
applies, which will be recovered using active management efforts, as well as
the portion of such area in which natural recovery will occur.
(c) EVALUATION- The National Wildland Recovery Corps shall use measurable
criteria to judge the success of recovery efforts taken pursuant to this
section. Such criteria shall include the results of sediment monitoring,
reductions in open and total road densities, percent forest cover, increase in
stream mileage available to native fish migrations, the results of
hydrological measurements to determine water flow rates for key watersheds,
and the abundance of management indicator species that are indicative of
ecosystem health.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
TITLE VI--IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING
SEC. 601. IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.
(a) REPORT REQUIRED- Within 3 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture shall jointly submit to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee
on Resources of the House of Representatives a report that details the
implementation of this Act. The report shall also detail any additional work
and funding requirements necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act.
(b) PREPARATION- The report shall be produced by a panel of independent
scientists appointed by the National Academy of Sciences, in consultation with
the Society for Conservation Biology.
SEC. 602. INTERAGENCY TEAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the
Interior shall jointly establish an interagency team, containing equal numbers
of participants from the public and private sectors, to monitor, evaluate, and
make recommendations to ensure long-term results required by this Act.
(b) GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM-
(1) DEVELOPMENT- The interagency team shall develop a geographic
information system for monitoring the Northern Rockies Bioregion. The
geographic information system shall be based on satellite-gathered data and
shall include comprehensive maps and databases to assist in the detection of
changes in the Northern Rockies Bioregion.
(2) TYPES OF INFORMATION- The maps and databases included in the
geographic information system shall be updated periodically to record the
following:
(A) Vegetation cover (with species occurrence and densities).
(C) Water and air quality.
(D) Activities that bear on forest husbandry and restoration.
(3) STATUS REPORTS- The geographic information system shall include
status reports on the progress of ecosystem protection, corridor
consolidation, and forest recovery efforts and reports on the status of
threatened and endangered species which are primary indicators of ecosystem
health.
(c) WILDLIFE MOVEMENTS- The interagency team shall assess the potential
for facilitating wildlife movements across or under major highways and rail
lines within the biological corridors established in title II. This assessment
shall identify major crossing points and identify possible management actions
to enhance the suitability of such crossing points as movement corridors,
including underpasses, overpasses, and other methods for reducing the danger
to native wildlife while facilitating movements within the Northern Rockies
Bioregion.
SEC. 603. ROADLESS LANDS EVALUATION.
(a) EVALUATION REQUIRED- Roadless lands that are located within the
National Forest System in the State of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, or
Wyoming and that are not designated as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System (under this or any other Act) shall be identified and
evaluated by the panel of independent scientists appointed under section 601.
In identifying and evaluating these lands, the panel shall make use of
existing satellite information and Geographic Information System data
developed by the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, in addition to other information sources.
The panel shall study the role of such lands in maintaining biological
diversity in the Northern Rockies and as part of the overall forest reserve
system. The panel shall make recommendations regarding the management of the
lands, and shall include the recommendations in the report required by section
601.
(b) PROHIBITION- Until the Congress enacts a law stating otherwise, no new
road construction or reconstruction, or timber harvest (except firewood
gathering) shall be allowed in the lands described in subsection (a).
Additionally, no oil or gas leasing, mining, or other development which
impairs the natural and roadless qualities of these lands shall be allowed on
the lands.
SEC. 604. REVIEW OF GOALS AND MANDATES OF FEDERAL NATURAL RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND REVIEW- The Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior shall jointly establish a governmental review board,
containing equal numbers of participants from the public and private sectors,
to review the goals and mandates of all Federal agencies that are responsible
for natural resource management.
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS- On the basis of the review conducted under subsection
(a), the governmental review board shall prepare and submit to the Congress a
report containing recommendations to legally restate and unify the resource
management mandates of Federal agencies. These recommendations shall be guided
by holistic and scientific methods of resource management, and shall seek to
ensure the long-term health of the Northern Rockies Bioregion's ecology for
this and future generations. The report shall be submitted to the Congress at
the same time that the report required by section 601 is submitted.
SEC. 605. NATIVE AMERICAN USES.
(a) DEFINITION- For purposes of this section and section 606, the term
`protected areas' means the Wilderness areas, National Park and Preserve Study
areas, Wildland Recovery areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and biological
corridors designated by this Act.
(b) NONEXCLUSIVE ACCESS- In recognition of the past use of portions of the
protected areas by Native Americans for traditional cultural and religious
purposes, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall
ensure nonexclusive access to these protected areas by native people for such
traditional cultural and religious purposes. Such access shall be consistent
with the purpose and intent of Public Law 95-341 (42 U.S.C. 1996; commonly
known as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act). The Secretaries, in
accordance with such Act, upon request of an Indian tribe, may from
time-to-time temporarily close to the general public use of one or more
specific portions of these protected areas in order to protect the privacy of
religious activities and cultural uses in such portions by an Indian people.
As part of the preparation of general management plans for the protected
areas, the Secretaries shall request that the chief executive officers of
appropriate Indian tribes make recommendations with respect to assuring access
to important sites, enhancing the privacy of traditional cultural and
religious activities, and protecting cultural and religious sites.
(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT- The Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management shall enter into cooperative management agreements with the
appropriate Indian tribes to assure protection of religious, burial, and
gathering sites in the protected areas, and shall work cooperatively on the
management of all uses in the protected areas that impact Indian lands and
people.
SEC. 606. CULTURAL RESOURCES.
In managing the protected areas described in section 605 in accordance
with the provisions of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior shall give particular emphasis to the preservation
and protection of cultural resources located within these areas, in accordance
with the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470aa et
seq.) and the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).
Cultural resources within the protected areas shall be managed in consultation
with State Historic Preservation Officers, Indian tribes, and other
appropriate parties in the States affected, with emphasis on the preservation
of resources in the areas and the interpretive, educational, and long-term
scientific uses of these resources.
TITLE VII--RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
SEC. 701. WATER RIGHTS.
Nothing in this Act may be construed as a relinquishment or reduction of
any water rights reserved, appropriated, or otherwise secured by the United
States in the State of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, or Washington on or
before the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 702. FUTURE DESIGNATIONS.
Nothing in this Act may be construed as establishing a precedent with
regard to any future designations, including designations of wilderness, or as
constituting an interpretation of any other Act or designations made pursuant
thereto.
SEC. 703. INDIAN TRIBES.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to affect or modify any treaty or
other right of an Indian tribe.
END