II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 948 

To designate as wilderness certain Federal portions of the red rock canyons 

of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin Deserts in the State 

of Utah for the benefit of present and future generations of people 

in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2017 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, 

Mr. BOOKER, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MARKEY, 

Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. PETERS, Mr. REED, Mr. SCHATZ, Ms. 

STABENOW, Ms. WARREN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and 

Mr. MENENDEZ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To designate as wilderness certain Federal portions of the 

red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Great 

Basin Deserts in the State of Utah for the benefit of 

present and future generations of people in the United 

States. 

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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2017’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS 

Sec. 101. Great Basin Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 102. Grand Staircase-Escalante Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 103. Moab-La Sal Canyons Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 104. Henry Mountains Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 105. Glen Canyon Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 106. San Juan-Anasazi Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 107. Canyonlands Basin Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 108. San Rafael Swell Wilderness Areas. 

Sec. 109. Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin Wilderness Areas. 

TITLE II—ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 

Sec. 201. General provisions. 

Sec. 202. Administration. 

Sec. 203. State school trust land within wilderness areas. 

Sec. 204. Water. 

Sec. 205. Roads. 

Sec. 206. Livestock. 

Sec. 207. Fish and wildlife. 

Sec. 208. Management of newly acquired land. 

Sec. 209. Withdrawal. 

3 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

6 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bu7 reau of Land Management. 

8 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

9 of Utah. 

10 TITLE I—DESIGNATION OF 

11 WILDERNESS AREAS 

12 SEC. 101. GREAT BASIN WILDERNESS AREAS. 

13 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 


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1 (1) the Great Basin region of western Utah is 

2 comprised of starkly beautiful mountain ranges that 

3 rise as islands from the desert floor; 

4 (2) the Wah Wah Mountains in the Great 

5 Basin region are arid and austere, with massive cliff 

6 faces and leathery slopes speckled with pin ̃on and ju7 niper; 

8 (3) the Pilot Range and Stansbury Mountains 

9 in the Great Basin region are high enough to draw 

10 moisture from passing clouds and support eco11 systems found nowhere else on earth; 

12 (4) from bristlecone pine, the world’s oldest liv13 ing organism, to newly flowered mountain meadows, 

14 mountains of the Great Basin region are islands of 

15 nature that— 

16 (A) support remarkable biological diversity; 

17 and 

18 (B) provide opportunities to experience the 

19 colossal silence of the Great Basin; and 

20 (5) the Great Basin region of western Utah 

21 should be protected and managed to ensure the pres22 ervation of the natural conditions of the region. 

23 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder24 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 


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1 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com2 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

3 (1) Antelope Range (approximately 17,000 

4 acres). 

5 (2) Barn Hills (approximately 20,000 acres). 

6 (3) Black Hills (approximately 9,000 acres). 

7 (4) Bullgrass Knoll (approximately 15,000 

8 acres). 

9 (5) Burbank Hills/Tunnel Spring (approxi10 mately 92,000 acres). 

11 (6) Conger Mountains (approximately 21,000 

12 acres). 

13 (7) Crater Bench (approximately 35,000 acres). 

14 (8) Crater and Silver Island Mountains (ap15 proximately 121,000 acres). 

16 (9) Cricket Mountains Cluster (approximately 

17 62,000 acres). 

18 (10) Deep Creek Mountains (approximately 

19 126,000 acres). 

20 (11) Drum Mountains (approximately 39,000 

21 acres). 

22 (12) Dugway Mountains (approximately 24,000 

23 acres). 

24 (13) Essex Canyon (approximately 1,300 

25 acres). 


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1 (14) Fish Springs Range (approximately 

2 64,000 acres). 

3 (15) Granite Peak (approximately 19,000 

4 acres). 

5 (16) Grassy Mountains (approximately 23,000 

6 acres). 

7 (17) Grouse Creek Mountains (approximately 

8 15,000 acres). 

9 (18) House Range (approximately 201,000 

10 acres). 

11 (19) Keg Mountains (approximately 38,000 

12 acres). 

13 (20) Kern Mountains (approximately 15,000 

14 acres). 

15 (21) King Top (approximately 110,000 acres). 

16 (22) Ledger Canyon (approximately 9,000 

17 acres). 

18 (23) Little Goose Creek (approximately 1,200 

19 acres). 

20 (24) Middle/Granite Mountains (approximately 

21 80,000 acres). 

22 (25) Mount Escalante (approximately 18,000 

23 acres). 

24 (26) Mountain Home Range (approximately 

25 90,000 acres). 


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1 (27) Newfoundland Mountains (approximately 

2 22,000 acres). 

3 (28) Ochre Mountain (approximately 13,000 

4 acres). 

5 (29) Oquirrh Mountains (approximately 9,000 

6 acres). 

7 (30) Painted Rock Mountain (approximately 

8 26,000 acres). 

9 (31) Paradise/Steamboat Mountains (approxi10 mately 144,000 acres). 

11 (32) Pilot Range (approximately 45,000 acres). 

12 (33) Red Tops (approximately 28,000 acres). 

13 (34) Rockwell-Little Sahara (approximately 

14 21,000 acres). 

15 (35) San Francisco Mountains (approximately 

16 39,000 acres). 

17 (36) Sand Ridge (approximately 73,000 acres). 

18 (37) Simpson Mountains (approximately 42,000 

19 acres). 

20 (38) Snake Valley (approximately 100,000 

21 acres). 

22 (39) Spring Creek Canyon (approximately 

23 4,000 acres). 

24 (40) Stansbury Island (approximately 10,000 

25 acres). 


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1 (41) Stansbury Mountains (approximately 

2 24,000 acres). 

3 (42) Thomas Range (approximately 36,000 

4 acres). 

5 (43) Tule Valley (approximately 159,000 

6 acres). 

7 (44) Wah Wah Mountains (approximately 

8 167,000 acres). 

9 (45) Wasatch/Sevier Plateaus (approximately 

10 29,000 acres). 

11 (46) White Rock Range (approximately 5,200 

12 acres). 

13 SEC. 102. GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE WILDERNESS 

14 AREAS. 

15 (a) GRAND STAIRCASE AREA.— 

16 (1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

17 (A) the area known as the Grand Staircase 

18 rises more than 6,000 feet in a series of great 

19 cliffs and plateaus from the depths of the 

20 Grand Canyon to the forested rim of Bryce 

21 Canyon; 

22 (B) the Grand Staircase— 

23 (i) spans 6 major life zones, from the 

24 lower Sonoran Desert to the alpine forest; 

25 and 


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1 (ii) encompasses geologic formations 

2 that display 3,000,000,000 years of 

3 Earth’s history; 

4 (C) land managed by the Secretary lines 

5 the intricate canyon system of the Paria River 

6 and forms a vital natural corridor connection to 

7 the deserts and forests of those national parks; 

8 (D) land described in paragraph (2) (other 

9 than East of Bryce, Upper Kanab Creek, 

10 Moquith Mountain, Bunting Point, and 

11 Vermillion Cliffs) is located within the Grand 

12 Staircase-Escalante National Monument; and 

13 (E) the Grand Staircase in Utah should be 

14 protected and managed as a wilderness area. 

15 (2) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the 

16 Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the fol17 lowing areas in the State are designated as wilder18 ness areas and as components of the National Wil19 derness Preservation System: 

20 (A) Bryce View (approximately 4,500 

21 acres). 

22 (B) Bunting Point (approximately 11,000 

23 acres). 

24 (C) Canaan Mountain (approximately 

25 16,000 acres in Kane County). 


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1 (D) Canaan Peak Slopes (approximately 

2 2,300 acres). 

3 (E) East of Bryce (approximately 750 

4 acres). 

5 (F) Glass Eye Canyon (approximately 

6 24,000 acres). 

7 (G) Ladder Canyon (approximately 14,000 

8 acres). 

9 (H) Moquith Mountain (approximately 

10 16,000 acres). 

11 (I) Nephi Point (approximately 14,000 

12 acres). 

13 (J) Orderville Canyon (approximately 

14 9,200 acres). 

15 (K) Paria-Hackberry (approximately 

16 188,000 acres). 

17 (L) Paria Wilderness Expansion (approxi18 mately 3,300 acres). 

19 (M) Parunuweap Canyon (approximately 

20 43,000 acres). 

21 (N) Pine Hollow (approximately 11,000 

22 acres). 

23 (O) Slopes of Bryce (approximately 2,600 

24 acres). 


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1 (P) Timber Mountain (approximately 

2 51,000 acres). 

3 (Q) Upper Kanab Creek (approximately 

4 49,000 acres). 

5 (R) Vermillion Cliffs (approximately 

6 26,000 acres). 

7 (S) Willis Creek (approximately 21,000 

8 acres). 

9 (b) KAIPAROWITS PLATEAU.— 

10 (1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

11 (A) the Kaiparowits Plateau east of the 

12 Paria River is one of the most rugged and iso13 lated wilderness regions in the United States; 

14 (B) the Kaiparowits Plateau, a windswept 

15 land of harsh beauty, contains distant vistas 

16 and a remarkable variety of plant and animal 

17 species; 

18 (C) ancient forests, an abundance of big 

19 game animals, and 22 species of raptors thrive 

20 undisturbed on the grassland mesa tops of the 

21 Kaiparowits Plateau; 

22 (D) each of the areas described in para23 graph (2) (other than Heaps Canyon, Little 

24 Valley, and Wide Hollow) is located within the 


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1 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; 

2 and 

3 (E) the Kaiparowits Plateau should be pro4 tected and managed as a wilderness area. 

5 (2) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the 

6 Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the fol7 lowing areas in the State are designated as wilder8 ness areas and as components of the National Wil9 derness Preservation System: 

10 (A) Andalex Not (approximately 18,000 

11 acres). 

12 (B) The Blues (approximately 21,000 

13 acres). 

14 (C) Box Canyon (approximately 2,800 

15 acres). 

16 (D) Burning Hills (approximately 80,000 

17 acres). 

18 (E) Carcass Canyon (approximately 

19 83,000 acres). 

20 (F) The Cockscomb (approximately 11,000 

21 acres). 

22 (G) Fiftymile Bench (approximately 

23 12,000 acres). 

24 (H) Fiftymile Mountain (approximately 

25 203,000 acres). 


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1 (I) Heaps Canyon (approximately 4,000 

2 acres). 

3 (J) Horse Spring Canyon (approximately 

4 31,000 acres). 

5 (K) Kodachrome Headlands (approxi6 mately 10,000 acres). 

7 (L) Little Valley Canyon (approximately 

8 4,000 acres). 

9 (M) Mud Spring Canyon (approximately 

10 65,000 acres). 

11 (N) Nipple Bench (approximately 32,000 

12 acres). 

13 (O) Paradise Canyon-Wahweap (approxi14 mately 262,000 acres). 

15 (P) Rock Cove (approximately 16,000 

16 acres). 

17 (Q) Warm Creek (approximately 23,000 

18 acres). 

19 (R) Wide Hollow (approximately 6,800 

20 acres). 

21 (c) ESCALANTE CANYONS.— 

22 (1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

23 (A) glens and coves carved in massive 

24 sandstone cliffs, spring-watered hanging gar25 dens, and the silence of ancient Anasazi ruins 


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1 are examples of the unique features that entice 

2 hikers, campers, and sightseers from around 

3 the world to Escalante Canyon; 

4 (B) Escalante Canyon links the spruce fir 

5 forests of the 11,000-foot Aquarius Plateau 

6 with winding slickrock canyons that flow into 

7 Glen Canyon; 

8 (C) Escalante Canyon, one of Utah’s most 

9 popular natural areas, contains critical habitat 

10 for deer, elk, and wild bighorn sheep that also 

11 enhances the scenic integrity of the area; 

12 (D) each of the areas described in para13 graph (2) is located within the Grand Staircase14 Escalante National Monument; and 

15 (E) Escalante Canyon should be protected 

16 and managed as a wilderness area. 

17 (2) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the 

18 Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the fol19 lowing areas in the State are designated as wilder20 ness areas and as components of the National Wil21 derness Preservation System: 

22 (A) Brinkerhof Flats (approximately 3,000 

23 acres). 

24 (B) Colt Mesa (approximately 28,000 

25 acres). 


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1 (C) Death Hollow (approximately 49,000 

2 acres). 

3 (D) Forty Mile Gulch (approximately 

4 6,600 acres). 

5 (E) Hurricane Wash (approximately 9,000 

6 acres). 

7 (F) Lampstand (approximately 7,900 

8 acres). 

9 (G) Muley Twist Flank (approximately 

10 3,600 acres). 

11 (H) North Escalante Canyons (approxi12 mately 176,000 acres). 

13 (I) Pioneer Mesa (approximately 11,000 

14 acres). 

15 (J) Scorpion (approximately 53,000 acres). 

16 (K) Sooner Bench (approximately 390 

17 acres). 

18 (L) Steep Creek (approximately 35,000 

19 acres). 

20 (M) Studhorse Peaks (approximately 

21 24,000 acres). 

22 SEC. 103. MOAB-LA SAL CANYONS WILDERNESS AREAS. 

23 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 


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1 (1) the canyons surrounding the La Sal Moun2 tains and the town of Moab offer a variety of ex3 traordinary landscapes; 

4 (2) outstanding examples of natural formations 

5 and landscapes in the Moab-La Sal area include the 

6 huge sandstone fins of Behind the Rocks, the mys7 terious Fisher Towers, and the whitewater rapids of 

8 Westwater Canyon; and 

9 (3) the Moab-La Sal area should be protected 

10 and managed as a wilderness area. 

11 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder12 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 

13 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com14 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

15 (1) Arches Adjacent (approximately 12,000 

16 acres). 

17 (2) Beaver Creek (approximately 41,000 acres). 

18 (3) Behind the Rocks and Hunters Canyon (ap19 proximately 22,000 acres). 

20 (4) Big Triangle (approximately 20,000 acres). 

21 (5) Coyote Wash (approximately 28,000 acres). 

22 (6) Dome Plateau-Professor Valley (approxi23 mately 35,000 acres). 

24 (7) Fisher Towers (approximately 18,000 

25 acres). 


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1 (8) Goldbar Canyon (approximately 9,000 

2 acres). 

3 (9) Granite Creek (approximately 5,000 acres). 

4 (10) Mary Jane Canyon (approximately 25,000 

5 acres). 

6 (11) Mill Creek (approximately 14,000 acres). 

7 (12) Porcupine Rim and Morning Glory (ap8 proximately 20,000 acres). 

9 (13) Renegade Point (approximately 6,600 

10 acres). 

11 (14) Westwater Canyon (approximately 37,000 

12 acres). 

13 (15) Yellow Bird (approximately 4,200 acres). 

14 SEC. 104. HENRY MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS AREAS. 

15 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

16 (1) the Henry Mountain Range, the last moun17 tain range to be discovered and named by early ex18 plorers in the contiguous United States, still retains 

19 a wild and undiscovered quality; 

20 (2) fluted badlands that surround the flanks of 

21 11,000-foot Mounts Ellen and Pennell contain areas 

22 of critical habitat for mule deer and for the largest 

23 herd of free-roaming buffalo in the United States; 


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1 (3) despite their relative accessibility, the Henry 

2 Mountain Range remains one of the wildest, least3 known ranges in the United States; and 

4 (4) the Henry Mountain range should be pro5 tected and managed to ensure the preservation of 

6 the range as a wilderness area. 

7 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder8 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 

9 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com10 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

11 (1) Bull Mountain (approximately 16,000 

12 acres). 

13 (2) Bullfrog Creek (approximately 35,000 

14 acres). 

15 (3) Dogwater Creek (approximately 3,400 

16 acres). 

17 (4) Fremont Gorge (approximately 20,000 

18 acres). 

19 (5) Long Canyon (approximately 16,000 acres). 

20 (6) Mount Ellen-Blue Hills (approximately 

21 140,000 acres). 

22 (7) Mount Hillers (approximately 21,000 

23 acres). 

24 (8) Mount Pennell (approximately 147,000 

25 acres). 


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1 (9) Notom Bench (approximately 6,200 acres). 

2 (10) Oak Creek (approximately 1,700 acres). 

3 (11) Ragged Mountain (approximately 28,000 

4 acres). 

5 SEC. 105. GLEN CANYON WILDERNESS AREAS. 

6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

7 (1) the side canyons of Glen Canyon, including 

8 the Dirty Devil River and the Red, White and Blue 

9 Canyons, contain some of the most remote and out10 standing landscapes in southern Utah; 

11 (2) the Dirty Devil River, once the fortress 

12 hideout of outlaw Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, has 

13 sculpted a maze of slickrock canyons through an im14 posing landscape of monoliths and inaccessible 

15 mesas; 

16 (3) the Red and Blue Canyons contain colorful 

17 Chinle/Moenkopi badlands found nowhere else in the 

18 region; and 

19 (4) the canyons of Glen Canyon in the State 

20 should be protected and managed as wilderness 

21 areas. 

22 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder23 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 

24 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com25 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 


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1 (1) Cane Spring Desert (approximately 18,000 

2 acres). 

3 (2) Dark Canyon (approximately 134,000 

4 acres). 

5 (3) Dirty Devil (approximately 242,000 acres). 

6 (4) Fiddler Butte (approximately 92,000 acres). 

7 (5) Flat Tops (approximately 30,000 acres). 

8 (6) Little Rockies (approximately 64,000 

9 acres). 

10 (7) The Needle (approximately 11,000 acres). 

11 (8) Red Rock Plateau (approximately 213,000 

12 acres). 

13 (9) White Canyon (approximately 98,000 

14 acres). 

15 SEC. 106. SAN JUAN-ANASAZI WILDERNESS AREAS. 

16 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

17 (1) more than 1,000 years ago, the Anasazi In18 dian culture flourished in the slickrock canyons and 

19 on the pin ̃on-covered mesas of southeastern Utah; 

20 (2) evidence of the ancient presence of the 

21 Anasazi pervades the Cedar Mesa area of the San 

22 Juan-Anasazi area where cliff dwellings, rock art, 

23 and ceremonial kivas embellish sandstone overhangs 

24 and isolated benchlands; 


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1 (3) the Cedar Mesa area is in need of protec2 tion from the vandalism and theft of its unique cul3 tural resources; 

4 (4) the Cedar Mesa wilderness areas should be 

5 created to protect both the archaeological heritage 

6 and the extraordinary wilderness, scenic, and eco7 logical values of the United States; and 

8 (5) the San Juan-Anasazi area should be pro9 tected and managed as a wilderness area to ensure 

10 the preservation of the unique and valuable re11 sources of that area. 

12 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder13 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 

14 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com15 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

16 (1) Allen Canyon (approximately 5,900 acres). 

17 (2) Arch Canyon (approximately 30,000 acres). 

18 (3) Comb Ridge (approximately 15,000 acres). 

19 (4) East Montezuma (approximately 45,000 

20 acres). 

21 (5) Fish and Owl Creek Canyons (approxi22 mately 73,000 acres). 

23 (6) Grand Gulch (approximately 159,000 

24 acres). 


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1 (7) Hammond Canyon (approximately 4,400 

2 acres). 

3 (8) Nokai Dome (approximately 93,000 acres). 

4 (9) Road Canyon (approximately 63,000 acres). 

5 (10) San Juan River (Sugarloaf) (approxi6 mately 15,000 acres). 

7 (11) The Tabernacle (approximately 7,000 

8 acres). 

9 (12) Valley of the Gods (approximately 21,000 

10 acres). 

11 SEC. 107. CANYONLANDS BASIN WILDERNESS AREAS. 

12 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

13 (1) Canyonlands National Park safeguards only 

14 a small portion of the extraordinary red-hued, cliff15 walled canyonland region of the Colorado Plateau; 

16 (2) areas near Arches National Park and 

17 Canyonlands National Park contain canyons with 

18 rushing perennial streams, natural arches, bridges, 

19 and towers; 

20 (3) the gorges of the Green and Colorado Riv21 ers lie on adjacent land managed by the Secretary; 

22 (4) popular overlooks in Canyonlands Nations 

23 Park and Dead Horse Point State Park have views 

24 directly into adjacent areas, including Lockhart 

25 Basin and Indian Creek; and 


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1 (5) designation of those areas as wilderness 

2 would ensure the protection of this erosional master3 piece of nature and of the rich pockets of wildlife 

4 found within its expanded boundaries. 

5 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder6 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 

7 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com8 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

9 (1) Bridger Jack Mesa (approximately 33,000 

10 acres). 

11 (2) Butler Wash (approximately 27,000 acres). 

12 (3) Dead Horse Cliffs (approximately 5,300 

13 acres). 

14 (4) Demon’s Playground (approximately 3,700 

15 acres). 

16 (5) Duma Point (approximately 14,000 acres). 

17 (6) Gooseneck (approximately 9,000 acres). 

18 (7) Hatch Point Canyons/Lockhart Basin (ap19 proximately 149,000 acres). 

20 (8) Horsethief Point (approximately 15,000 

21 acres). 

22 (9) Indian Creek (approximately 28,000 acres). 

23 (10) Labyrinth Canyon (approximately 150,000 

24 acres). 


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1 (11) San Rafael River (approximately 101,000 

2 acres). 

3 (12) Shay Mountain (approximately 14,000 

4 acres). 

5 (13) Sweetwater Reef (approximately 69,000 

6 acres). 

7 (14) Upper Horseshoe Canyon (approximately 

8 60,000 acres). 

9 SEC. 108. SAN RAFAEL SWELL WILDERNESS AREAS. 

10 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

11 (1) the San Rafael Swell towers above the 

12 desert like a castle, ringed by 1,000-foot ramparts of 

13 Navajo Sandstone; 

14 (2) the highlands of the San Rafael Swell have 

15 been fractured by uplift and rendered hollow by ero16 sion over countless millennia, leaving a tremendous 

17 basin punctuated by mesas, buttes, and canyons and 

18 traversed by sediment-laden desert streams; 

19 (3) among other places, the San Rafael wilder20 ness offers exceptional back country opportunities in 

21 the colorful Wild Horse Badlands, the monoliths of 

22 North Caineville Mesa, the rock towers of Cliff 

23 Wash, and colorful cliffs of Humbug Canyon; 


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1 (4) the mountains within these areas are among 

2 Utah’s most valuable habitat for desert bighorn 

3 sheep; and 

4 (5) the San Rafael Swell area should be pro5 tected and managed to ensure its preservation as a 

6 wilderness area. 

7 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder8 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 

9 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com10 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

11 (1) Cedar Mountain (approximately 15,000 

12 acres). 

13 (2) Devils Canyon (approximately 23,000 

14 acres). 

15 (3) Eagle Canyon (approximately 38,000 

16 acres). 

17 (4) Factory Butte (approximately 22,000 

18 acres). 

19 (5) Hondu Country (approximately 20,000 

20 acres). 

21 (6) Jones Bench (approximately 2,800 acres). 

22 (7) Limestone Cliffs (approximately 25,000 

23 acres). 

24 (8) Lost Spring Wash (approximately 37,000 

25 acres). 


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1 (9) Mexican Mountain (approximately 100,000 

2 acres). 

3 (10) Molen Reef (approximately 33,000 acres). 

4 (11) Muddy Creek (approximately 240,000 

5 acres). 

6 (12) Mussentuchit Badlands (approximately 

7 25,000 acres). 

8 (13) Pleasant Creek Bench (approximately 

9 1,100 acres). 

10 (14) Price River-Humbug (approximately 

11 120,000 acres). 

12 (15) Red Desert (approximately 40,000 acres). 

13 (16) Rock Canyon (approximately 18,000 

14 acres). 

15 (17) San Rafael Knob (approximately 15,000 

16 acres). 

17 (18) San Rafael Reef (approximately 114,000 

18 acres). 

19 (19) Sids Mountain (approximately 107,000 

20 acres). 

21 (20) Upper Muddy Creek (approximately 

22 19,000 acres). 

23 (21) Wild Horse Mesa (approximately 92,000 

24 acres). 


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1 SEC. 109. BOOK CLIFFS AND UINTA BASIN WILDERNESS 

2 AREAS. 

3 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

4 (1) the Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin wilderness 

5 areas offer— 

6 (A) unique big game hunting opportunities 

7 in verdant high-plateau forests; 

8 (B) the opportunity for float trips of sev9 eral days duration down the Green River in 

10 Desolation Canyon; and 

11 (C) the opportunity for calm water canoe 

12 weekends on the White River; 

13 (2) the long rampart of the Book Cliffs bounds 

14 the area on the south, while seldom-visited uplands, 

15 dissected by the rivers and streams, slope away to 

16 the north into the Uinta Basin; 

17 (3) bears, Bighorn sheep, cougars, elk, and 

18 mule deer flourish in the back country of the Book 

19 Cliffs; and 

20 (4) the Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin areas 

21 should be protected and managed to ensure the pro22 tection of the areas as wilderness. 

23 (b) DESIGNATION.—In accordance with the Wilder24 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in 

25 the State are designated as wilderness areas and as com26 ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 


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1 (1) Bourdette Draw (approximately 15,000 

2 acres). 

3 (2) Bull Canyon (approximately 2,800 acres). 

4 (3) Chipeta (approximately 95,000 acres). 

5 (4) Dead Horse Pass (approximately 8,000 

6 acres). 

7 (5) Desbrough Canyon (approximately 13,000 

8 acres). 

9 (6) Desolation Canyon (approximately 555,000 

10 acres). 

11 (7) Diamond Breaks (approximately 9,000 

12 acres). 

13 (8) Diamond Canyon (approximately 166,000 

14 acres). 

15 (9) Diamond Mountain (also known as ‘‘Wild 

16 Mountain’’) (approximately 27,000 acres). 

17 (10) Dinosaur Adjacent (approximately 10,000 

18 acres). 

19 (11) Goslin Mountain (approximately 4,900 

20 acres). 

21 (12) Hideout Canyon (approximately 12,000 

22 acres). 

23 (13) Lower Bitter Creek (approximately 14,000 

24 acres). 


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1 (14) Lower Flaming Gorge (approximately 

2 21,000 acres). 

3 (15) Mexico Point (approximately 15,000 

4 acres). 

5 (16) Moonshine Draw (also known as ‘‘Daniels 

6 Canyon’’) (approximately 10,000 acres). 

7 (17) Mountain Home (approximately 9,000 

8 acres). 

9 (18) O-Wi-Yu-Kuts (approximately 13,000 

10 acres). 

11 (19) Red Creek Badlands (approximately 3,600 

12 acres). 

13 (20) Seep Canyon (approximately 21,000 

14 acres). 

15 (21) Sunday School Canyon (approximately 

16 18,000 acres). 

17 (22) Survey Point (approximately 8,000 acres). 

18 (23) Turtle Canyon (approximately 39,000 

19 acres). 

20 (24) White River (approximately 23,000 acres). 

21 (25) Winter Ridge (approximately 38,000 

22 acres). 

23 (26) Wolf Point (approximately 15,000 acres). 


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1 TITLE II—ADMINISTRATIVE 

2 PROVISIONS 

3 SEC. 201. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

4 (a) NAMES OF WILDERNESS AREAS.—Each wilder5 ness area named in title I shall— 

6 (1) consist of the quantity of land referenced 

7 with respect to that named area, as generally de8 picted on the map entitled ‘‘Utah BLM Wilderness’’; 

9 and 

10 (2) be known by the name given to it in title 

11 I. 

12 (b) MAP AND DESCRIPTION.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

14 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

15 shall file a map and a legal description of each wil16 derness area designated by this Act with— 

17 (A) the Committee on Natural Resources 

18 of the House of Representatives; and 

19 (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural 

20 Resources of the Senate. 

21 (2) FORCE OF LAW.—A map and legal descrip22 tion filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same 

23 force and effect as if included in this Act, except 

24 that the Secretary may correct clerical and typo25 graphical errors in the map and legal description. 


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1 (3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each map and 

2 legal description filed under paragraph (1) shall be 

3 filed and made available for public inspection in the 

4 Office of the Director of the Bureau of Land Man5 agement. 

6 SEC. 202. ADMINISTRATION. 

7 Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of en8 actment of this Act, each wilderness area designated under 

9 this Act shall be administered by the Secretary in accord10 ance with— 

11 (1) the Federal Land Policy and Management 

12 Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and 

13 (2) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 

14 seq.). 

15 SEC. 203. STATE SCHOOL TRUST LAND WITHIN WILDER16 NESS AREAS. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), if State18 owned land is included in an area designated by this Act 

19 as a wilderness area, the Secretary shall offer to exchange 

20 land owned by the United States in the State of approxi21 mately equal value in accordance with section 603(c) of 

22 the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 

23 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)) and section 5(a) of the Wilderness 

24 Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)). 


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1 (b) MINERAL INTERESTS.—The Secretary shall not 

2 transfer any mineral interests under subsection (a) unless 

3 the State transfers to the Secretary any mineral interests 

4 in land designated by this Act as a wilderness area. 

5 SEC. 204. WATER. 

6 (a) RESERVATION.— 

7 (1) WATER FOR WILDERNESS AREAS.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—With respect to each 

9 wilderness area designated by this Act, Con10 gress reserves a quantity of water determined 

11 by the Secretary to be sufficient for the wilder12 ness area. 

13 (B) PRIORITY DATE.—The priority date of 

14 a right reserved under subparagraph (A) shall 

15 be the date of enactment of this Act. 

16 (2) PROTECTION OF RIGHTS.—The Secretary 

17 and other officers and employees of the United 

18 States shall take any steps necessary to protect the 

19 rights reserved by paragraph (1)(A), including the 

20 filing of a claim for the quantification of the rights 

21 in any present or future appropriate stream adju22 dication in the courts of the State— 

23 (A) in which the United States is or may 

24 be joined; and 


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1 (B) that is conducted in accordance with 

2 section 208 of the Department of Justice Ap3 propriation Act, 1953 (66 Stat. 560, chapter 

4 651). 

5 (b) PRIOR RIGHTS NOT AFFECTED.—Nothing in this 

6 Act relinquishes or reduces any water rights reserved or 

7 appropriated by the United States in the State on or be8 fore the date of enactment of this Act. 

9 (c) ADMINISTRATION.— 

10 (1) SPECIFICATION OF RIGHTS.—The Federal 

11 water rights reserved by this Act are specific to the 

12 wilderness areas designated by this Act. 

13 (2) NO PRECEDENT ESTABLISHED.—Nothing in 

14 this Act related to reserved Federal water rights— 

15 (A) shall establish a precedent with regard 

16 to any future designation of water rights; or 

17 (B) shall affect the interpretation of any 

18 other Act or any designation made under any 

19 other Act. 

20 SEC. 205. ROADS. 

21 (a) SETBACKS.— 

22 (1) MEASUREMENT IN GENERAL.—A setback 

23 under this section shall be measured from the center 

24 line of the road. 


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1 (2) WILDERNESS ON 1 SIDE OF ROADS.—Ex2 cept as provided in subsection (b), a setback for a 

3 road with wilderness on only 1 side shall be set at— 

4 (A) 300 feet from a paved Federal or 

5 State highway; 

6 (B) 100 feet from any other paved road or 

7 high standard dirt or gravel road; and 

8 (C) 30 feet from any other road. 

9 (3) WILDERNESS ON BOTH SIDES OF ROADS.— 

10 Except as provided in subsection (b), a setback for 

11 a road with wilderness on both sides (including cher12 ry-stems or roads separating 2 wilderness units) 

13 shall be set at— 

14 (A) 200 feet from a paved Federal or 

15 State highway; 

16 (B) 40 feet from any other paved road or 

17 high standard dirt or gravel road; and 

18 (C) 10 feet from any other roads. 

19 (b) SETBACK EXCEPTIONS.— 

20 (1) WELL-DEFINED TOPOGRAPHICAL BAR21 RIERS.—If, between the road and the boundary of a 

22 setback area described in paragraph (2) or (3) of 

23 subsection (a), there is a well-defined cliff edge, 

24 stream bank, or other topographical barrier, the SecVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:41 Apr 27, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S948.IS S948

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1 retary shall use the barrier as the wilderness bound2 ary. 

3 (2) FENCES.—If, between the road and the 

4 boundary of a setback area specified in paragraph 

5 (2) or (3) of subsection (a), there is a fence running 

6 parallel to a road, the Secretary shall use the fence 

7 as the wilderness boundary if, in the opinion of the 

8 Secretary, doing so would result in a more manage9 able boundary. 

10 (3) DEVIATIONS FROM SETBACK AREAS.— 

11 (A) EXCLUSION OF DISTURBANCES FROM

12 WILDERNESS BOUNDARIES.—In cases where 

13 there is an existing livestock development, dis14 persed camping area, borrow pit, or similar dis15 turbance within 100 feet of a road that forms 

16 part of a wilderness boundary, the Secretary 

17 may delineate the boundary so as to exclude the 

18 disturbance from the wilderness area. 

19 (B) LIMITATION ON EXCLUSION OF DIS20 TURBANCES.—The Secretary shall make a 

21 boundary adjustment under subparagraph (A) 

22 only if the Secretary determines that doing so 

23 is consistent with wilderness management goals. 

24 (C) DEVIATIONS RESTRICTED TO MINIMUM

25 NECESSARY.—Any deviation under this paraVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:41 Apr 27, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S948.IS S948

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1 graph from the setbacks required under in 

2 paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a) shall be 

3 the minimum necessary to exclude the disturb4 ance. 

5 (c) DELINEATION WITHIN SETBACK AREA.—The 

6 Secretary may delineate a wilderness boundary at a loca7 tion within a setback under paragraph (2) or (3) of sub8 section (a) if, as determined by the Secretary, the delinea9 tion would enhance wilderness management goals. 

10 SEC. 206. LIVESTOCK. 

11 Within the wilderness areas designated under title I, 

12 the grazing of livestock authorized on the date of enact13 ment of this Act shall be permitted to continue subject 

14 to such reasonable regulations and procedures as the Sec15 retary considers necessary, as long as the regulations and 

16 procedures are consistent with— 

17 (1) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 

18 seq.); and 

19 (2) section 101(f) of the Arizona Desert Wilder20 ness Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–628; 104 Stat. 

21 4469). 

22 SEC. 207. FISH AND WILDLIFE. 

23 Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the 

24 State with respect to wildlife and fish on the public land 

25 located in the State. 


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1 SEC. 208. MANAGEMENT OF NEWLY ACQUIRED LAND. 

2 Any land within the boundaries of a wilderness area 

3 designated under this Act that is acquired by the Federal 

4 Government shall— 

5 (1) become part of the wilderness area in which 

6 the land is located; and 

7 (2) be managed in accordance with this Act and 

8 other laws applicable to wilderness areas. 

9 SEC. 209. WITHDRAWAL. 

10 Subject to valid rights existing on the date of enact11 ment of this Act, the Federal land referred to in title I 

12 is withdrawn from all forms of— 

13 (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under pub14 lic law; 

15 (2) location, entry, and patent under mining 

16 law; and 

17 (3) disposition under all laws pertaining to min18 eral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. 

Æ 


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