I

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 134

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 6, 2000

Referred to the Committee on Resources

AN ACT

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study whether

the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore should be protected as a wilderness area.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gaylord Nelson Apos5 tle Islands Stewardship Act of 2000’’.
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1 SEC. 2. GAYLORD NELSON APOSTLE ISLANDS.

2 (a) DECLARATIONS.—Congress declares that—

3 (1) the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a

4 national and a Wisconsin treasure;

5 (2) the State of Wisconsin is particularly in6 debted to former Senator Gaylord Nelson for his

7 leadership in the creation of the Lakeshore;

8 (3) after more than 28 years of enjoyment,

9 some issues critical to maintaining the overall eco10 logical, recreational, and cultural vision of the Lake11 shore need additional attention;

12 (4) the general management planning process

13 for the Lakeshore has identified a need for a formal

14 wilderness study;

15 (5) all land within the Lakeshore that might be

16 suitable for designation as wilderness are zoned and

17 managed to protect wilderness characteristics pend18 ing completion of such a study;

19 (6) several historic lighthouses within the Lake20 shore are in danger of structural damage due to se21 vere erosion;

22 (7) the Secretary of the Interior has been un23 able to take full advantage of cooperative agree24 ments with Federal, State, local, and tribal govern25 mental agencies, institutions of higher education,

26 and other nonprofit organizations that could assist
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1 the National Park Service by contributing to the

2 management of the Lakeshore;

3 (8) because of competing needs in other units

4 of the National Park System, the standard author5 izing and budgetary process has not resulted in up6 dated legislative authority and necessary funding for

7 improvements to the Lakeshore; and

8 (9) the need for improvements to the Lakeshore

9 and completion of a wilderness study should be ac10 corded a high priority among National Park Service

11 activities.

12 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

13 (1) LAKESHORE.—The term ‘‘Lakeshore’’

14 means the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

15 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means

16 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di17 rector of the National Park Service.

18 (c) WILDERNESS STUDY.—In fulfillment of the re19 sponsibilities of the Secretary under the Wilderness Act

20 (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and of applicable agency policy,

21 the Secretary shall evaluate areas of land within the Lake22 shore for inclusion in the National Wilderness System.

23 (d) APOSTLE ISLANDS LIGHTHOUSES.—The Sec24 retary shall undertake appropriate action (including pro25 tection of the bluff toe beneath the lighthouses, stabiliza-
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1 tion of the bank face, and dewatering of the area imme2 diately shoreward of the bluffs) to protect the lighthouse

3 structures at Raspberry Lighthouse and Outer Island

4 Lighthouse on the Lakeshore.

5 (e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Section 6 of Pub6 lic Law 91–424 (16 U.S.C. 460w–5) is amended—

7 (1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 6. The lakeshore’’ and in8 serting the following:

9 ‘‘SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT.

10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The lakeshore’’; and

11 (2) by adding at the end the following:

12 ‘‘(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary

13 may enter into a cooperative agreement with a Federal,

14 State, tribal, or local government agency or a nonprofit

15 private entity if the Secretary determines that a coopera16 tive agreement would be beneficial in carrying out section

17 7.’’.

18 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There

19 are authorized to be appropriated—

20 (1) $200,000 to carry out subsection (c); and

21 (2) $3,900,000 to carry out subsection (d).

Passed the Senate October 5 (legislative day, September 22), 2000.

Attest: GARY SISCO,

Secretary.