Northern Front Range Roadless Area and Mountain Backdrop Protection Act

Summary: Requires the Secretary to review, and report to Congress on, appropriate actions for preserving the open and undeveloped character of certain lands within the Rocky Flats Front Range Mountain Backdrop west of the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site in Jefferson County, Colorado.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Northern Front Range Roadless Area 
and Mountain Backdrop Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. PROTECTED ROADLESS AREAS.

    (a) Areas Designated.--Subject to the requirements of subsection 
(c), the following lands within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National 
Forests in Colorado shall be managed as protected roadless areas:
            (1) Indian peaks wilderness adjacent areas.--
                    (A) Certain lands in the Roosevelt National Forest 
                comprising approximately 10,804 acres, as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Indian Peaks Adjacent Area 
                Unit C'' dated July 2000, and which shall be known as 
                ``South St. Vrain Protected Roadless Area''.
                    (B) Certain lands in the Roosevelt National Forest 
                comprising approximately 1,085 acres, as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Indian Peaks Adjacent Area 
                Unit A'' dated July 2000, and which shall be known as 
                ``Fourth of July Protected Roadless Area''.
            (2) Mount evans wilderness adjacent areas.--
                    (A) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
                comprising approximately 5,741 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Mount Evans Adjacent Area 
                Unit A'' dated July 2000, and which shall be known as 
                ``South Chicago Creek Protected Roadless Area''.
                    (B) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
                comprising approximately 717 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Mount Evans Adjacent Area 
                Unit B'' dated July 2000, and which shall be known as 
                ``Mount Goliath Protected Roadless Area''.
                    (C) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
                comprising approximately 1,038 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Mount Evans Adjacent Area 
                Unit C'' dated July 2000, and which shall be known as 
                ``Chief Mountain Protected Roadless Area''.
                    (D) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
                comprising approximately 2,787 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Mount Evans Adjacent Area 
                Unit D'' dated July 2000, and which shall be known as 
                ``Bear Creek Protected Roadless Area''.
            (3) Vasquez peak wilderness adjacent areas.--Certain lands 
        in the Arapaho National Forest comprising approximately 6,133 
        acres as generally depicted on a map entitled ``Vasquez 
        Adjacent Area'' dated July 2000, and which shall be known as 
        ``Jones Pass Protected Roadless Area''.
            (4) Other areas.--
                    (A) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
                comprising approximately 25,382 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Bard Creek'' dated July 
                2000, and which shall be known as ``Bard Creek 
                Protected Roadless Area''.
                    (B) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
                comprising approximately 8,317 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Mt. Sniktau'' dated July 
                2000, and which shall be known as ``Mt. Sniktau 
                Protected Roadless Area''.
                    (C) Certain lands in the Roosevelt National Forest 
                comprising approximately 11,718 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``North St. Vrain'' dated 
                July 2000, and which shall be known as ``North St. 
                Vrain Protected Roadless Area''.
                    (D) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
                comprising approximately 6,444 acres as generally 
                depicted on a map entitled ``Square Top Mtn.'' dated 
                July 2000, and which shall be known as ``Square Top 
                Mountain Protected Roadless Area''.
    (b) Maps and Descriptions.--As soon as practicable after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall file 
with the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and a 
boundary description of each of the areas designated as protected 
roadless areas in subsection (a). Such maps and boundary descriptions 
shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of 
the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
    (c) Management.--The lands identified in subsection (a) shall be 
managed and administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in the same 
manner as lands included in the ``recommended for wilderness'' category 
for management direction in the 1997 Revision of the Land and Resource 
Management Plan for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and the 
Pawnee National Grasslands so as to maintain their presently existing 
roadless character and potential for inclusion in the National 
Wilderness Preservation System until Congress determines otherwise. 
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, with respect to the grazing of 
livestock, such lands shall be managed according to the laws generally 
applicable to the National Forest System.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years following the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall report to 
Congress recommendations on the suitability or unsuitability of the 
lands identified in subsection (a) for inclusion in the National 
Wilderness Preservation System and such other recommendations as the 
Secretary may wish to make regarding management of such lands.

SEC. 3. ROCKY FLATS FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN BACKDROP PROTECTION AREA 
              STUDY.

    (a) Study and Report.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
consultation with appropriate State and local agencies, shall review 
the lands within the area specified in subsection (b) and not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act shall report to 
Congress regarding--
            (1) the present ownership of such lands;
            (2) which of such lands are undeveloped land (as defined in 
        subsection (b)(2)) but may be at risk of development; and
            (3) what actions could be taken by the United States, the 
        State of Colorado, or any other parties to preserve the open 
        and undeveloped character of such lands.
    (b) Study Area and Definition.--
            (1) Study area.--The study required by this section shall 
        include all lands in southern Boulder, northern Jefferson, and 
        northern Gilpin Counties, Colorado, situated west of Colorado 
        State Highway 93, south and east of Colorado State Highway 119, 
        and north of Colorado State Highway 46, excluding lands within 
        the city limits of the city of Boulder or Golden, Colorado.
            (2) Definition.--As used in this section, the term 
        ``undeveloped land'' means land that is primarily undeveloped 
        open space that is part of the Front Range Mountain Backdrop 
        west of the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site in 
        Jefferson County, Colorado.