I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1380 

To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior 

to issue guidance on climbing management in designated wilderness 

areas, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 7, 2023 

Mr. CURTIS (for himself and Mr. NEGUSE) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to 

the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined 

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 

of the Interior to issue guidance on climbing management in designated wilderness areas, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Protecting America’s 

5 Rock Climbing Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1380 IH

1 SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON CLIMBING MANAGEMENT IN DES2 IGNATED WILDERNESS AREAS. 

3 (a) CLIMBING GUIDANCE REQUIRED.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 

5 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec6 retary concerned shall issue guidance on climbing 

7 management in designated wilderness areas that rec8 ognizes the appropriateness of the allowable activi9 ties described in paragraph (2) in such areas, if the 

10 allowable activities are undertaken in accordance 

11 with— 

12 (A) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 

13 seq.); 

14 (B) other applicable laws (including regu15 lations); and 

16 (C) any terms and conditions that are de17 termined to be necessary by the Secretary con18 cerned. 

19 (2) ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES.—The allowable 

20 activities referred to in paragraph (1) are— 

21 (A) recreational climbing; 

22 (B) the placement, use, and maintenance 

23 of fixed anchors; and 

24 (C) the use of other equipment necessary 

25 for recreational climbing. 

26 (b) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1380 IH

1 (1) REQUIREMENT.—Except as provided in 

2 paragraph (2), prior to taking any significant man3 agement action affecting the allowable activities de4 scribed in subsection (a)(2) on the land described in 

5 subsection (c)(1)(B), the Secretary concerned shall 

6 provide the public with notice and an opportunity to 

7 comment on the proposed action. 

8 (2) EXCEPTION WITH RESPECT TO EMERGENCY

9 ACTIONS.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an 

10 emergency action that has a duration of less than 2 

11 years. 

12 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

13 (1) DESIGNATED WILDERNESS AREA.—The 

14 term ‘‘designated wilderness area’’ means an area— 

15 (A) designated as a wilderness area pursu16 ant to the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 

17 seq.); and 

18 (B) located in— 

19 (i) National Forest System lands; or 

20 (ii) lands under the administrative ju21 risdiction of the Secretary of the Interior. 

22 (2) EMERGENCY ACTION.—The term ‘‘emer23 gency action’’ means a time sensitive action nec24 essary to protect natural resources or public health 

25 and safety. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 1380 IH

1 (3) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec2 retary concerned’’ means— 

3 (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re4 spect to National Forest System lands; and 

5 (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re6 spect to lands under the administrative jurisdic7 tion of such Secretary. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS