39–010 

Calendar No. 391 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 113–165 

FOREST JOBS AND RECREATION 

MAY 22, 2014.—Ordered to be printed 

Ms. LANDRIEU, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 37] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 37) to sustain the economic development and 

recreational use of National Forest System land and other public 

land in the State of Montana, to add certain land to the National 

Wilderness Preservation System, to release certain wilderness 

study areas, to designate new areas for recreation, and for other 

purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 

with an amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do 

pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Forest Jobs and Recreation Act 

of 2013’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—MONTANA FOREST JOBS AND RESTORATION INITIATIVE 

Sec. 101. Purpose. 

Sec. 102. Definitions. 

Sec. 103. Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative. 

Sec. 104. Authorized forest and watershed restoration projects. 

Sec. 105. Miscellaneous. 

TITLE II—DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AND SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS IN MONTANA 

Sec. 201. Purposes. 

Sec. 202. Definitions. 

Sec. 203. Designation of wilderness areas. 

Sec. 204. Administration of wilderness areas. 

Sec. 205. Release of Bureau of Land Management study areas. 

Sec. 206. Release of Sapphire and West Pioneer Wilderness Study Areas. 

Sec. 207. Special management and recreation management areas. 

Sec. 208. All-terrain-vehicle study and report. 


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TITLE I—MONTANA FOREST JOBS AND 

RESTORATION INITIATIVE 

SEC. 101. PURPOSE. 

The purpose of this title is to establish an initiative— 

(1) to preserve and create local jobs in rural communities that are located in 

or near National Forest System land; 

(2) to create an immediate, predictable, and increased flow of wood fiber with 

commercial value to support and maintain locally based infrastructure and 

economies that are necessary for the appropriate management and restoration 

of National Forest System land; 

(3) to promote cooperation and collaboration in the management of National 

Forest System land; 

(4) to restore and improve the ecological structure, composition, and function 

and the natural processes of priority watersheds within the National Forest 

System; 

(5) to carry out collaborative projects to reduce the risk of disturbances from 

fire, insects, and disease to communities, watersheds, and natural resources 

through a collaborative process of planning, prioritizing, and implementing ecological restoration and hazardous fuel reduction projects; and 

(6) to collect information from the projects carried out under this title in an 

effort to better understand the manner in which to improve forest restoration 

and management activities. 

SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) AUTHORIZED FOREST AND WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT.—The term 

‘‘authorized forest and watershed restoration project’’ means a collection of activities within a watershed area that are carried out— 

(A) on eligible land; and 

(B) to achieve the purposes of this title. 

(2) DECOMMISSION.—The term ‘‘decommission’’ means— 

(A) to reestablish vegetation on a road or trail; and 

(B) to restore any natural drainage, watershed function, or other ecological processes that are disrupted or adversely impacted by the road or trail 

by removing or hydrologically disconnecting the road prism. 

(3) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘‘eligible land’’ means— 

(A) land within the approximately 1,900,000 acres of land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest designated as ‘‘Suitable for Timber Production’’ and ‘‘Timber Harvest Is Allowed’’ as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Revised Forest Plan, Modeled Timber Harvest Classification’’ and dated December 10, 2008; and 

(B) land within the Kootenai National Forest. 

(4) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘‘Initiative’’ means the Montana Forest Jobs and 

Restoration Pilot Initiative established by section 103(a). 

(5) NATIONAL FOREST.—The term ‘‘National Forest’’ means all or part of a unit 

of the National Forest System. 

(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Agriculture, 

acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. 

(7) STEWARDSHIP CONTRACT.—The term ‘‘stewardship contract’’ means a contract authorized under section 347 of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency 

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (16 U.S.C. 2104 note; Public Law 105– 

277) or a successor law to carry out land management goals that meet local and 

rural community needs through a source that is selected on a best-value basis. 

(8) WATERSHED AREA.—The term ‘‘watershed area’’ means 1 or more subwatersheds (also known as 6th code hydrologic units). 

SEC. 103. MONTANA FOREST JOBS AND RESTORATION PILOT INITIATIVE. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative under which the Secretary shall implement authorized forest 

and watershed restoration projects and other land management projects on eligible 

land to achieve— 

(1) the performance requirements under subsection (b); and 

(2) the purposes of this title. 

(b) PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (g), on the eligible land, the Secretary 

shall place under contract for treatment of vegetation— 


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(A) on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, a minimum of 5,000 

acres annually until the date on which a total of 70,000 acres in the National Forest have been placed under contract; and 

(B) on the Kootenai National Forest— 

(i) 2,000 acres during the first year after the date of enactment of 

this Act; 

(ii) 2,500 acres during the second year after the date of enactment 

of this Act; and 

(iii) 3,000 acres during each subsequent year until the date on which 

a total of 30,000 acres in the National Forest have been placed under 

contract. 

(2) PRIORITY FOR TREATMENT IN THE THREE RIVERS DISTRICT; ADJACENT RANG- ER DISTRICTS.— (A) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall seek to meet the majority of the requirements under paragraph (1)(B) by placing under contract land within 

the Three Rivers District of the Kootenai National Forest. 

(B) ADJACENT RANGER DISTRICTS.—The Secretary may place under contract land in the Libby District, the Rexford District, or the Cabinet District 

of the Kootenai National Forest to meet the requirements under paragraph 

(1)(B). 

(3) QUALIFIED TREATMENTS.—To meet the requirements under paragraph (1), 

treatments shall— 

(A) reduce the density of trees in a project area or reduce hazardous 

fuels; 

(B) be accomplished through the cutting of vegetation with mechanized 

equipment or by hand with a power saw; and 

(C) primarily yield products that have commercial value in local markets. 

(4) LIMITATION.—Prescribed fire may not be used to accomplish the qualified 

treatments of vegetation required under paragraph (1). 

(c) COLLABORATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—For each National Forest within the Initiative, the Secretary may identify 1 or more collaborative groups or resource advisory committees that support the achievement of the purposes of this title. 

(2) COMPOSITION.—A collaborative group or resource advisory committee identified under paragraph (1) shall include multiple interested persons representing diverse interests in forest and watershed management. 

(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult with any collaborative groups 

or resource advisory committees identified under paragraph (1) in the development and implementation of each authorized forest and watershed restoration 

project carried out under the Initiative. 

(4) EXPANSION.—The Secretary shall seek to expand the public participation 

and diversity of interests involved in the implementation of authorized forest 

and watershed restoration projects on the eligible land through the Initiative. 

(d) ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW.— 

(1) PREDECISIONAL OBJECTION PROCESS.—The Secretary shall apply section 

105(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6515(a)) to proposed actions of the Forest Service concerning authorized forest and watershed 

restoration projects. 

(2) ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.—A person may bring a civil action challenging 

an authorized forest and watershed restoration project in a Federal district 

court only in accordance with the provisions of section 105(c) of the Healthy 

Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6515(c)). 

(3) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Any judicial proceeding of a civil action brought in a 

Federal District court against an authorized forest and watershed restoration 

project shall be conducted in accordance with section 106 of the Healthy Forests 

Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6516). 

(e) REPORTS.— 

(1) COMPLIANCE REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the end of any fiscal 

year in which the Secretary fails to meet the performance requirements under 

subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 

Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of 

the House of Representatives a report that includes— 

(A) a description of the work carried out for the fiscal year on the eligible 

land; 

(B) a detailed explanation of the reasons why the performance requirements described in subsection (b)(1) were not met; and 

(C) any specific actions the Secretary plans to take in the subsequent 

year to ensure that the performance requirements described in subsection 

(b)(1) are met. 


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(2) PROGRESS REPORT.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of 

this Act and every 5 years thereafter until the date on which the Initiative 

is terminated under subsection (h), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 

on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and make available 

to the public, a report that assesses the progress of the Initiative toward 

accomplishing the purposes of this title. 

(B) INCLUSIONS.—The report under subparagraph (A) shall include— 

(i) an analysis, with respect to eligible land in the Initiative, of 

changes in— 

(I) risk from wildfire, including in the proportion of treated acres 

exhibiting a change in fire regime condition class; 

(II) biodiversity and wildlife habitat; 

(III) soil and water characteristics, including changes in road 

density and water quality; 

(IV) economic effects, including job creation, labor income, obligations of appropriated funds, and collected receipts; and 

(V) social implications, including attitudes towards land use; 

(ii) recommendations concerning— 

(I) the need and appropriateness of seeking permanent authorization for any of the authorities that would otherwise be terminated under subsection (h); and 

(II) the need and appropriateness of expanding any of the authorities or requirements provided under this title to the National 

Forest System; and 

(iii) an analysis of any additional measures for which the Secretary 

chooses to gather data and report on to determine if the Initiative is 

meeting the purposes of this title. 

(C) DATA ANALYSIS.—In preparing the report under this paragraph, the 

Secretary may consult with regional institutions of higher education and institutions with the capacity to collect, coordinate, analyze, and archive the 

data to be used to prepare the report. 

(D) LIMITATION ON LENGTH.—The report under subparagraph (A) shall 

not exceed 7 pages in length. 

(f) FUNDING.— 

(1) EFFECT ON OTHER FUNDS.—The Secretary may not divert funding from a 

National Forest or grassland located outside of the State of Montana to meet 

the performance requirements of the Initiative. 

(2) REPROGRAMMING AUTHORITY.—On notifying the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, the Secretary may reprogram any funds— 

(A) made available through an appropriation for the National Forest System; and 

(B) allocated to be used on the eligible land. 

(g) EXPANSION OF INITIATIVE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may elect to include the Seeley Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest in the Initiative, if— 

(A) the Seeley Ranger District no longer receives funding under section 

4003(b)(1)(B) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 

U.S.C. 7303(b)(1)(B)); and 

(B) a collaborative group or resource advisory committee identified by the 

Secretary under subsection (c)(1) requests inclusion in the Initiative. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—On the election by the Secretary to include the Seeley 

Ranger District in the Initiative, the project requirements of the Initiative 

under this title shall apply to the District. 

(h) TERMINATION DATE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Initiative shall terminate on the later of— 

(A) the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act; or 

(B) the date on which the Secretary determines that the performance requirements under subsection (b)(1) have been achieved. 

(2) EFFECT.—Nothing in this subsection affects a valid contract in effect on 

the termination date under paragraph (1). 

SEC. 104. AUTHORIZED FOREST AND WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECTS. 

(a) IMPLEMENTATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall annually implement 1 or more authorized forest and watershed restoration projects on the eligible land. 

(2) LANDSCAPE-SCALE PROJECTS.—The Secretary shall implement in 1 or more 

watershed areas authorized forest and watershed restoration projects in a manVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:23 May 30, 2014 Jkt 039010 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\SR165.XXX SR165

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ner that provides landscape-scale work with the goal of minimizing entries into 

the watershed. 

(3) STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTS.—The Secretary may enter into stewardship contracts or agreements to carry out authorized forest and watershed restoration 

projects. 

(4) PRIORITIZATION.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the purposes of this title, the Secretary 

shall give priority to carrying out authorized forest and watershed restoration projects in areas— 

(i) in which the road density exceeds 1.5 miles per square mile; 

(ii) in the wildland-urban interface (as defined in section 101 of the 

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511)) that are at 

risk of wildfire that would threaten public infrastructure or private 

property; 

(iii) in which fish and wildlife habitat connectivity is compromised as 

a result of past management practices; and 

(iv) that contain forests that are identified on the National Insect and 

Disease Risk Map as having a significant risk of tree mortality. 

(B) EFFECT.—Nothing in this paragraph precludes the Secretary from 

carrying out authorized forest and watershed restoration projects on other 

land as necessary to fulfill— 

(i) the purposes of this title; and 

(ii) the performance requirements under section 103(b)(1). 

(5) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.—An environmental review of an authorized forest and watershed restoration projects shall be carried out in accordance with 

the provisions for hazardous fuel reduction projects set forth in section 104 of 

the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6514), except that— 

(A) in addition to the requirements of that section, the review shall address whether the proposed authorized forest and watershed restoration 

projects meets the purposes and requirements of this title; 

(B) on signing of a decision document for the authorized forest and watershed restoration project, the Secretary shall implement the authorized forest and watershed restoration project; 

(C) the predecisional objection process promulgated under part 218 of 

title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (and successor regulations), shall 

apply; and 

(D) if the Secretary or a court determines that additional review is warranted due to significant new circumstances after implementation of an authorized forest and watershed restoration project has begun, the additional 

analysis shall not interrupt the implementation of the activities that are 

not subject to the additional review, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 

(b) PROJECT REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) RIPARIAN HABITAT PROTECTION.—The Secretary may develop an aquatic 

and riparian habitat protection strategy to modify the aquatic and riparian conservation requirements in existing forest plans, if the Secretary determines, 

after considering the best available science, that the modifications would meet 

or exceed the aquatic and riparian protection requirements in the existing forest 

plans. 

(2) ROADS.—In carrying out any authorized forest and watershed restoration 

project under this title, the Secretary shall— 

(A) not construct any permanent road, unless— 

(i) the Secretary determines that the road is a justifiable realignment 

of a permanent road to restore or improve the ecological structure, composition, and function and the natural processes of the affected forest 

or watershed; and 

(ii) the replaced road bed is decommissioned by removing the road 

prism; 

(B) decommission any temporary road constructed to carry out the land 

management project by the conclusion of the contract; and 

(C) decommission National Forest System roads and unauthorized 

roads— 

(i) subject to appropriations; and 

(ii) consistent with the analysis required by subparts A and B of part 

212 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations. 

(3) VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary shall design authorized forest 

and watershed restoration projects to produce commercial and noncommercial 

wood products, consistent with the purposes of this title. 


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SEC. 105. MISCELLANEOUS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in this title, the Secretary shall 

administer the National Forests subject to the Initiative in accordance with applicable law. 

(b) AGENCY PARTICIPATION.—The Secretary may, in accordance with applicable 

law, permit a Field Manager from each applicable Bureau of Land Management office, the Seeley Lake District Ranger of the Lolo National Forest, and the Lincoln 

District Ranger of the Helena National Forest to serve on the Board of Directors 

of the Blackfoot Challenge in the official capacities of the Bureau of Land Management and the districts, respectively. 

TITLE II—DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AND 

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS IN MONTANA 

SEC. 201. PURPOSES. 

The purposes of this title are— 

(1) to protect and enhance motorized recreational opportunities in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the Lolo National Forest, and the Kootenai National Forest; and 

(2) to protect and enhance the wild heritage and backcountry traditions of the 

State through— 

(A) the addition of certain land to the National Wilderness Preservation 

System; and 

(B) the management of other land in a manner that preserves existing 

primitive and semi-primitive recreational activities. 

SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) BEAVERHEAD-DEERLODGE NATIONAL FOREST.—The term ‘‘BeaverheadDeerlodge National Forest’’ means the National Forest that is— 

(A) comprised of— 

(i) the Beaverhead National Forest; and 

(ii) the Deerlodge National Forest; and 

(B) managed by the Secretary concerned as a single administrative unit. 

(2) DESIGNATED ROAD, TRAIL, OR AREA.—The term ‘‘designated road, trail, or 

area’’ has the meaning given the term in section 212.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). 

(3) FOREST PLAN.—The term ‘‘forest plan’’ means a land and resource management plan prepared in accordance with section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland 

Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604). 

(4) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— 

(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 

Service, with respect to National Forest System land; and 

(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (including land held for the benefit of an Indian 

tribe). 

(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Montana. 

SEC. 203. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS. 

(a) LAND ADMINISTERED BY THE FOREST SERVICE.—In furtherance of the purposes 

of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 

designated as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

(1) ANACONDA PINTLER WILDERNESS ADDITIONS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 65,407 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Additions’’ 

and dated December 17, 2013, is incorporated in, and shall be considered to be 

a part of, the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. 

(2) BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS ADDITIONS.—Certain land in the Lolo National 

Forest, comprising approximately 40,072 acres generally depicted as the ‘‘North 

Fork Blackfoot-Monture Creek Wilderness Addition (Bob Marshall Addition)’’ 

and approximately 7,792 acres generally depicted as the ‘‘Grizzly Basin of the 

Swan Range Wilderness Addition’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Bob Marshall, Mission 

Mountains and Scapegoat Wilderness Additions and Otatsy Recreation Management Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, is incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Bob Marshall Wilderness. 

(3) DOLUS LAKES WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 

National Forest, comprising approximately 9,407 acres, as generally depicted on 


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the map entitled ‘‘Dolus Lakes Wilderness’’ and dated December 17, 2013, 

which shall be known as the ‘‘Dolus Lakes Wilderness’’. 

(4) EAST PIONEERS WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 

National Forest, comprising approximately 77,438 acres, as generally depicted 

on the map entitled ‘‘East Pioneers Wilderness’’ and dated December 17, 2013, 

which shall be known as the ‘‘East Pioneers Wilderness’’. 

(5) ELECTRIC PEAK WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 

National Forest, comprising approximately 4,992 acres, as generally depicted on 

the map entitled ‘‘Electric Peak Wilderness and Thunderbolt Creek Recreation 

Management Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which shall be known as the 

‘‘Electric Peak Wilderness’’. 

(6) HIGHLANDS WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 15,659 acres, as generally depicted on 

the map entitled ‘‘Highlands Wilderness Area and Special Management Area’’ 

and dated December 17, 2013, which shall be known as the ‘‘Highlands Wilderness’’. 

(7) ITALIAN PEAKS WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 

National Forest, comprising approximately 29,677 acres, as generally depicted 

on the map entitled ‘‘Italian Peaks Wilderness’’ and dated December 17, 2013, 

which shall be known as the ‘‘Italian Peaks Wilderness’’. 

(8) LEE METCALF WILDERNESS ADDITIONS.—Certain land in the BeaverheadDeerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 17,201 acres, as generally 

depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Lee Metcalf Wilderness Additions’’ and dated December 17, 2013, is incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the 

Lee Metcalf Wilderness. 

(9) LIMA PEAKS WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 35,012 acres, as generally depicted on 

the map entitled ‘‘Lima Peaks Wilderness’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which 

shall be known as the ‘‘Lima Peaks Wilderness’’. 

(10) MISSION MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS ADDITION.—Certain land in the Lolo 

National Forest, which comprises approximately 4,460 acres, as generally depicted as the ‘‘West Fork Clearwater Wilderness Addition’’ on the map entitled 

‘‘Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains and Scapegoat Wilderness Additions and 

Otatsy Recreation Management Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, is incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Mission Mountains Wilderness designated by Public Law 93–632 (88 Stat. 2153). 

(11) MOUNT JEFFERSON WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the BeaverheadDeerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 2,110 acres, as generally 

depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Mount Jefferson Wilderness’’ and dated December 

17, 2013, which shall be known as the ‘‘Mount Jefferson Wilderness’’. 

(12) QUIGG PEAK WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 

National Forest, comprising approximately 8,275 acres, as generally depicted on 

the map entitled ‘‘Quigg Peak Wilderness’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which 

shall be known as the ‘‘Quigg Peak Wilderness’’. 

(13) RODERICK WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Kootenai National Forest, 

which comprises approximately 29,467 acres, as generally depicted as the ‘‘Roderick Wilderness Area’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Roderick Wilderness and Special 

Management Area and Three Rivers Special Management Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which shall be known as the ‘‘Roderick Wilderness’’. 

(14) SAPPHIRES WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 43,101 acres, as generally depicted on 

the map entitled ‘‘Sapphires Wilderness’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which 

shall be known as the ‘‘Sapphires Wilderness’’. 

(15) SCAPEGOAT WILDERNESS ADDITIONS.—Certain land in the Lolo National 

Forest, which comprises approximately 30,967 acres, as generally depicted as 

the ‘‘North Fork Blackfoot-Monture Creek Wilderness Addition (Scapegoat Addition)’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains and Scapegoat 

Wilderness Additions and Otatsy Recreation Management Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, is incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the 

Scapegoat Wilderness designated by Public Law 92–395 (86 Stat. 578). 

(16) SNOWCREST WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 71,068 acres, as generally depicted on 

the map entitled ‘‘Snowcrest Wilderness’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which 

shall be known as the ‘‘Snowcrest Wilderness’’. 

(17) STONY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the BeaverheadDeerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 14,213 acres, as generally 

depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Stony Mountain Wilderness’’ and dated December 

17, 2013, which shall be known as the ‘‘Stony Mountain Wilderness’’. 


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(18) WEST BIG HOLE WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 

National Forest, comprising approximately 44,156 acres, as generally depicted 

on the map entitled ‘‘West Big Hole Wilderness and Recreation Management 

Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which shall be known as the ‘‘West Big 

Hole Wilderness’’. 

(19) WEST PIONEERS WILDERNESS.—Certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 

National Forest, comprising approximately 26,534 acres, as generally depicted 

on the map entitled ‘‘West Pioneers Wilderness and Recreation Management 

Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which shall be known as the ‘‘West Pioneers Wilderness’’. 

(b) LAND ADMINISTERED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.—In furtherance 

of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas 

in the State are designated as wilderness areas and as components of the National 

Wilderness Preservation System: 

(1) BLACKTAIL MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS.—Certain public land administered by 

the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 10,675 acres, as 

generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Blacktail Mountains Wilderness’’ and 

dated July 27, 2010, which shall be known as the ‘‘Blacktail Mountains Wilderness’’. 

(2) CENTENNIAL MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS.—Certain public land administered 

by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 23,700 acres, as 

generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Centennial Mountains Wilderness’’ and 

dated June 1, 2012, which shall be known as the ‘‘Centennial Mountains Wilderness’’. 

(3) RUBY MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS.—Certain public land administered by the 

Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 16,300 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Ruby Mountains Wilderness’’ and dated 

July 27, 2010, which shall be known as the ‘‘Ruby Mountains Wilderness’’. 

(4) EAST FORK BLACKTAIL WILDERNESS.—Certain public land administered by 

the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 6,125 acres, as 

generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘East Fork Blacktail Wilderness’’ and 

dated July 27, 2010, which shall be known as the ‘‘East Fork Blacktail Wilderness’’. 

(5) HUMBUG SPIRES WILDERNESS.—Certain public land administered by the 

Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 8,900 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Humbug Spires Wilderness’’ and dated July 

27, 2010, which shall be known as the ‘‘Humbug Spires Wilderness’’. 

(c) TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION.—Administrative jurisdiction over 

certain public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising 

approximately 663 acres, as generally known as ‘‘Farlin Creek Administrative 

Transfer’’ depicted on the map entitled ‘‘East Pioneers Wilderness’’ and dated September 13, 2010, is transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture, and is incorporated 

in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the East Pioneers Wilderness designated 

by subsection (a)(4). 

SEC. 204. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS. 

(a) MANAGEMENT.—Subject to valid existing rights, each area designated as wilderness by section 203 shall be administered by the Secretary concerned in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that— 

(1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall be considered to be 

a reference to the date of enactment of this Act; and 

(2) with respect to public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of the Interior. 

(b) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary concerned shall file a map and a legal description of each wilderness area and potential wilderness area designated by this section, with— 

(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and 

(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. 

(2) FORCE OF LAW.—The maps and legal descriptions filed under paragraph 

(1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this title, except that 

the Secretary concerned may correct typographical errors in the maps and legal 

descriptions. 

(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each map and legal description filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate 

offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. 


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(c) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LAND AND INTERESTS.—Any land within the 

boundary of a wilderness area designated by section 203 that is acquired by the 

United States shall— 

(1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is located; and 

(2) be managed in accordance with this section, the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 

1131 et seq.), and any other applicable law. 

(d) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land designated as 

wilderness by section 203 is withdrawn from all forms of— 

(1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; 

(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and 

(3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing 

or mineral materials. 

(e) FIRE, INSECTS, AND DISEASES.—In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), within the wilderness areas designated by section 203, the Secretary concerned may take such measures as are necessary to control fire, insects, and diseases, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 

concerned determines to be appropriate. 

(f) ACCESS TO PRIVATE LAND.—In accordance with section 5(a) of the Wilderness 

Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)), the Secretary concerned shall provide any owner of private 

land within the boundary of a wilderness area designated by section 203 adequate 

access to the private land. 

(g) FISH AND WILDLIFE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this title affects the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State with respect to fish and wildlife, including the regulation of 

hunting, fishing, and trapping. 

(2) MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.—In furtherance of the purposes and principles 

of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary concerned may 

carry out management activities to maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations (including activities to maintain and restore fish and wildlife habitats 

to support the populations) in a wilderness area designated by section 203 if 

the activities are— 

(A) consistent with applicable wilderness management plans; and 

(B) carried out in accordance with applicable guidelines and policies. 

(h) SNOW SENSORS AND STREAM GAUGES.—Nothing in this title prevents the installation or maintenance of hydrological, meteorological, or climatological instrumentation in a wilderness area designated by section 203 if the Secretary concerned 

determines that the installation or maintenance of the instrumentation is necessary 

to further the scientific, educational, or conservation purposes of the wilderness 

area. 

(i) LIVESTOCK.—Within the wilderness areas, the grazing of livestock in which 

grazing is established before the date of enactment of this Act shall be allowed to 

continue, subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary, in accordance with— 

(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131(d)(4)); 

(2) with respect to wilderness areas administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, the guidelines described in House Report 96–617 of the 96th Congress; 

and 

(3) with respect to wilderness areas administered by the Secretary of the Interior, the guidelines described in Appendix A of House Report 101–405 of the 

101st Congress. 

(j) OUTFITTING AND GUIDE ACTIVITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness Act (16 

U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)), commercial services (including authorized outfitting and 

guide activities) within the wilderness areas designated by section 203 may be 

performed to the extent necessary for activities that are proper for realizing the 

recreational or other wilderness purposes of the wilderness areas. 

(2) EFFECT.—Nothing in this title requires the Secretary concerned to modify 

permits in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act to provide outfitting 

and guide services within the areas designated as wilderness by section 203, if 

the Secretary concerned determines that the activities are in compliance with 

section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)). 

(k) ADJACENT MANAGEMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The designation of a wilderness area by section 203 shall 

not create any protective perimeter or buffer zone around the wilderness area. 

(2) NONWILDERNESS ACTIVITIES.—The fact that nonwilderness activities or 

uses can be seen or heard from areas within a wilderness area designated by 

section 203 shall not preclude the conduct of the activities or uses outside the 

boundary of the wilderness area. 

(l) WATER IMPOUNDMENT STRUCTURES.— 


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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned may issue a special use authorization to an owner of a water storage, transport, or diversion facility located within the areas designated as wilderness by section 203 for the continued operation, maintenance, and reconstruction of the facility if— 

(A) the facility was in existence before the date of the designation of the 

wilderness area; and 

(B) the Secretary concerned determines that— 

(i) the facility has been in substantially continuous use to deliver 

water for the beneficial use on the non-Federal land of the owner since 

the date of the designation of the wilderness area; 

(ii) the owner of the facility holds a valid water right for use of the 

water under State law, with a priority date that predates the date of 

the designation of the wilderness area; and 

(iii) it is not practicable or feasible to relocate the facility to land outside the boundary of the wilderness and continue the beneficial use of 

water on the non-Federal land recognized under State law. 

(2) USE OF MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT AND MECHANIZED TRANSPORT.—The special 

use authorization under paragraph (1) may allow for the use of motorized equipment and mechanized transport if the Secretary concerned determines, after 

conducting a minimum tool analysis, that the use of nonmotorized equipment 

and nonmechanized transport is impracticable or infeasible. 

(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Secretary concerned may include such 

terms and conditions in the special use authorization under paragraph (1) as 

the Secretary concerned determines appropriate to protect the wilderness values 

of the area. 

(m) SNOWCREST WILDERNESS AREA.—With respect to the Snowcrest Wilderness 

Area— 

(1) the continuation of motorized access to maintain water infrastructure for 

cattle that was constructed to protect fluvial Arctic Grayling and other aquatic 

species in the Ruby River may continue— 

(A) subject to a permit; and 

(B) in accordance with— 

(i) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and 

(ii) the guidelines described in House Report 96–617 of the 96th Congress; and 

(2) the trailing of sheep across the Snowcrest Wilderness area to reach existing grazing allotments in the Gravelly Mountains may be continued for the tenure of the allotments— 

(A) subject to— 

(i) a permit; and 

(ii) a determination by the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through 

the Forest Supervisor) that the use of nonmechanized transport is impracticable or infeasible; and 

(B) to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance with the guidelines 

described in House Report 96–617 of the 96th Congress. 

SEC. 205. RELEASE OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT STUDY AREAS. 

(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that, for purposes of section 603 of the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), any portion of a wilderness 

study area described in subsection (b) that is not designated as a wilderness area 

by section 203 or any other Act enacted before the date of enactment of this Act 

has been adequately studied for wilderness. 

(b) DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREAS.—The study areas referred to in subsection (a) 

are— 

(1) the Axolotl Lakes Wilderness Study Area; 

(2) the Bell and Limekiln Canyons Wilderness Study Area; 

(3) the Blacktail Mountains Wilderness Study Area; 

(4) the Centennial Mountains Wilderness Study Area; 

(5) the Farlin Creek Wilderness Study Area; 

(6) the Henneberry Ridge Wilderness Study Area; 

(7) the Hidden Pasture Wilderness Study Area; 

(8) the Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area; and 

(9) the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Study Area. 

(c) RELEASE.—Any study area described in subsection (b) that is not designated 

as a wilderness area by section 203— 

(1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and 

(2) shall be managed in accordance with the applicable land management 

plans adopted under section 202 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1712). 


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SEC. 206. RELEASE OF SAPPHIRE AND WEST PIONEER WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

(1) the studies conducted under section 2 of the Montana Wilderness Study 

Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1243) regarding each study area described in subsection (b) are adequate for the consideration of the suitability of 

each study area for inclusion as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; and 

(2) the Secretary of Agriculture is not required— 

(A) to review the wilderness option for each study area described in subsection (b) prior to the revision of the forest plan required for each land that 

comprises each study area in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland 

Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.); and 

(B) to manage the portion of each study area described in subsection (b) 

that is not designated as wilderness by section 203 to ensure the suitability 

of the area for designation as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System pending revision of the applicable forest plan. 

(b) DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREAS.—The study areas referred to in subsection (a) 

are those portions of the following wilderness study areas which are not designated 

as wilderness by section 203: 

(1) The portion of the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area that is located on the 

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, as described in section 2(4) of the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1243). 

(2) The West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area, as described in section 2(1) of 

the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1243). 

SEC. 207. SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREAS. 

(a) DESIGNATION.—To conserve, protect, and enhance the scenic, fish and wildlife, 

recreational, backcountry heritage, and other natural resource values of the areas, 

the following areas in the State are designated for special management by the Secretary concerned in accordance with this section: 

(1) HIGHLANDS SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 5,011 acres, as 

generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Highlands Wilderness Area and Special 

Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 2010, which is designated as the 

‘‘Highlands Special Management Area’’. 

(2) LOST CREEK RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in the 

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 14,589 acres, 

as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Lost Creek Recreation Management 

Area’’ and dated September 13, 2010, which is designated as the ‘‘Lost Creek 

Recreation Management Area’’. 

(3) OTATSY RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in the Lolo 

National Forest, comprising approximately 1,859 acres, as generally depicted on 

the map entitled ‘‘Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains and Scapegoat Wilderness 

Additions and Otatsy Recreation Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 

2010, which is designated as the ‘‘Otatsy Recreation Management Area’’. 

(4) RODERICK SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in the 

Kootenai National Forest, comprising approximately 3,715 acres, as generally 

depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Roderick Wilderness and Special Management 

Area and Three Rivers Special Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 

2010, which is designated as the ‘‘Roderick Special Management Area’’. 

(5) SNOWCREST SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in the 

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 20,493 acres, 

as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Snowcrest Special Management 

Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013, which is designated as the ‘‘Snowcrest Special Management Area’’. 

(6) THREE RIVERS SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in the 

Kootenai National Forest, comprising approximately 71,994 acres, as generally 

depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Roderick Wilderness and Special Management 

Area and Three Rivers Special Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 

2010, which is designated as the ‘‘Three Rivers Special Management Area’’. 

(7) THUNDERBOLT CREEK RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal 

land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 

20,432 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Electric Peak Wilderness and Thunderbolt Creek Recreation Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 2010, which is designated as the ‘‘Thunderbolt Recreation Management Area’’. 

(8) TOBACCO ROOTS RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in 

the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 29,186 

acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Tobacco Roots Recreation 


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Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 2010, which is designated as the 

‘‘Tobacco Roots Recreation Management Area’’. 

(9) WEST BIG HOLE RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land in 

the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest comprising approximately 95,144 

acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘West Big Hole Wilderness and 

Recreation Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 2010, which is designated as the ‘‘West Big Hole Recreation Management Area’’. 

(10) WEST PIONEERS RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—Certain Federal land 

in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, comprising approximately 

128,361 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘West Pioneers Wilderness and Recreation Management Area’’ and dated September 13, 2010, which 

is designated as the ‘‘West Pioneers Recreation Management Area’’. 

(b) ADMINISTRATION.— 

(1) APPLICABLE LAW.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall administer each area 

designated by subsection (a)— 

(i) in furtherance of the purposes for which the area is established; 

and 

(ii) in accordance with— 

(I) this section; and 

(II) any laws (including regulations) relating to the National Forest System. 

(B) CLOSURE OF TRAILS.—Nothing in this title precludes the Secretary 

concerned from closing any trail or area located in the areas designated by 

subsection (a)— 

(i) to protect a natural resource; or 

(ii) to help ensure public safety. 

(2) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, any Federal land within 

an area designated by subsection (a) (including any Federal land acquired after 

the date of enactment of this Act for inclusion in an area designated by subsection (a)) is withdrawn from all forms of— 

(A) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; 

(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and 

(C) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. 

(3) TIMBER HARVESTING.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or as authorized under subsection (c), timber harvesting shall not be permitted within 

an area designated by subsection (a). 

(B) FIRE, INSECTS, AND DISEASE.—Timber harvesting may be permitted in 

an area designated by subsection (a) to the extent consistent with protecting and preserving the purposes of the areas designated by subsection 

(a) for purposes relating to the necessary control of fire, insects, and disease. 

(4) USE OF MOTORIZED OR MECHANIZED VEHICLES.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section affects the use of motorized or 

mechanized vehicles that the Secretary concerned determines is necessary 

for administrative use or to respond to an emergency. 

(B) MECHANIZED VEHICLES, PEDESTRIANS, AND HORSE TRAVEL.—Except as 

authorized under subsection (c), nothing in this section prohibits— 

(i) the use of mechanized vehicles, access by pedestrians, or horse 

travel within the areas designated by subsection (a); or 

(ii) the construction of trails for use by mechanized vehicles, pedestrians, and horse travel within the areas designated by subsection (a). 

(5) FIREWOOD.—The Secretary concerned may allow for the collection of firewood for noncommercial personal use within the areas designated by subsection 

(a)— 

(A) in accordance with any applicable laws; and 

(B) subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate. 

(c) AREA SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) HIGHLANDS SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.— 

(A) CAMPGROUND DEVELOPMENT.—No permanent campground may be 

constructed within the Highlands Special Management Area. 

(B) MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED RECREATION.—Except as provided in 

subparagraph (C), and as necessary for administrative use or to respond to 

an emergency, the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles within the 

Highlands Special Management Area shall be prohibited. 


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(C) TRANSMISSION TOWERS AND MUNICIPAL WATER PIPELINES.—Nothing in 

this section affects— 

(i) the reasonable access of the government of the applicable county 

to operate and maintain the communication site located on Table 

Mountain under a special use permit issued by the Forest Service; and 

(ii) the reasonable access of the city of Butte, Montana, to operate, 

maintain, and if necessary, upgrade or replace the water supply pipeline within the Highlands Special Management Area in existence as of 

the date of enactment of this Act for the city of Butte (including the 

surrounding community of the city of Butte). 

(D) HELICOPTER LANDINGS.—Nothing in this section precludes or restricts 

the authority of the Secretary concerned to enter into agreements with the 

Secretary of Defense or the Montana National Guard to authorize limited 

and scheduled landings of aircraft in the Highlands Special Management 

Area. 

(2) LOST CREEK, THUNDERBOLT, AND WEST PIONEERS RECREATION MANAGEMENT

AREAS.— 

(A) MOTORIZED RECREATION.—Subject to any terms and conditions the 

Secretary concerned determines to be necessary, the use of motorized vehicles within the Lost Creek, Thunderbolt, and West Pioneers Recreation 

Management Areas shall be limited to— 

(i) roads, trails, or areas that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, 

are designated roads, trails, or areas; and 

(ii) during periods of adequate snow cover, the areas authorized for 

snowmobile use as of the date of enactment of this Act. 

(B) CAMPGROUND DEVELOPMENT.—No permanent campground may be 

constructed within the Lost Creek Recreation Area. 

(3) OTATSY RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.— 

(A) MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED RECREATION.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—The use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in 

the Otatsy Recreation Management Area shall be permitted only on the 

roads, trails, and areas that are designated for use by motorized and 

mechanized vehicles by the management plan required under subparagraph (B). 

(ii) INTERIM MANAGEMENT.—Until the date on which the management 

plan required under subparagraph (B) is approved, and subject to any 

terms and conditions that the Secretary concerned determines to be 

necessary, the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles in the Otatsy 

Recreation Management Area shall be limited to the roads and trails 

designated for such use as of the date of enactment of this Act, except 

that during periods of adequate snow cover, the use of snowmobiles 

shall be allowed within the Otatsy Recreation Management Area. 

(B) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The Secretary concerned shall prepare a management plan for the Otatsy Recreation Management Area as part of the 

first revision of the applicable forest plan that is carried out after the date 

of enactment of this Act. 

(4) THREE RIVERS AND RODERICK SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.— 

(A) MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED RECREATION.—Except as provided in 

subparagraphs (B) and (C), the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles 

within the Three Rivers Special Management Area and the Roderick Special Management Area shall be limited to the roads on which use by highway legal vehicles is permitted as of the date of enactment of this Act. 

(B) SNOWMOBILE AREA.—Subject to any terms and conditions the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary, during periods of adequate 

snow cover, the use of snowmobiles shall be allowed in the areas designated 

as ‘‘motorized’’ in the map entitled ‘‘Roderick Wilderness and Special Management Area and Three Rivers Special Management Area’’ and dated December 17, 2013. 

(C) GAME CARTS.—The Secretary concerned may authorize the use of nonmotorized game carts in the area identified as ‘‘Roderick Special Management Area’’ on the map described in subparagraph (B). 

(D) CAMPGROUND DEVELOPMENT.—No permanent campground may be 

constructed in the Three Rivers Special Management Area or the Roderick 

Special Management Area. 

(5) SNOWCREST SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.—The Secretary concerned may 

authorize the use of nonmotorized game carts within the Snowcrest Special 

Management Area. 

(6) TOBACCO ROOTS RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—Subject to any terms 

and conditions that the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary, the use 


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of motorized vehicles shall be limited to the roads and trails in the Tobacco 

Roots Recreation Management Area designated for such use as of the date of 

enactment of this Act. 

(7) WEST BIG HOLE RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.— (A) MOTORIZED RECREATION.—Subject to any terms and conditions the 

Secretary concerned determines to be necessary, the use of motorized vehicles within the West Big Hole Recreation Management Area shall be limited to— 

(i) the roads, trails, and areas that, as of the date of enactment of 

this Act, are designated roads, trails, or areas; and 

(ii) during periods of adequate snow cover, the areas authorized for 

snowmobile use as of the date of enactment of this Act. 

(B) TIMBER HARVEST.—The Secretary concerned may authorize post and 

pole, firewood, and fuel reduction timber projects in the West Big Hole 

Recreation Management Area, subject to such terms and conditions that the 

Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate. 

SEC. 208. ALL-TERRAIN-VEHICLE STUDY AND REPORT. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall study and report on— 

(1) the opportunities for expanded all-terrain vehicle roads and trails across 

the Three Rivers District and adjacent areas on the Kootenai National Forest; 

(2) the interconnectedness of roads on private or State land; and 

(3) the opportunities for expanded access points to existing trails. 

PURPOSE

The purposes of S. 37 are to direct the Forest Service to conduct 

certain restoration treatments, to designate Federal land in Montana as wilderness and other special management areas, and to release certain wilderness study areas. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

In recent years, stakeholders interested in the management of 

the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, including both timber 

industry representatives and conservationists, developed a proposal 

to increase timber harvests through projects designed to restore the 

ecological conditions of the National Forest and projects designed 

to reduce the amount of vegetation that could serve as a fuel source 

for wildfires. The proposal also included a list of potential areas to 

be designated as wilderness areas or other protected areas. The 

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is the largest of the national forests in Montana and covers 3.6 million acres scattered 

across the southwest corner of the State. 

Similarly, but separately, stakeholder groups developed proposals 

for expediting forest management and conservation efforts on the 

Three Rivers District of the Kootenai National Forest and the 

Seeley Lake District of the Lolo National Forest. The Kootenai National Forest covers 2.1 million acres in northwest Montana and 

northeast Idaho; the Three Rivers District occupies the land adjacent to the Montana-Idaho and U.S.-Canada borders. The Lolo National Forest covers 2.6 million acres near the middle of the western border of Montana; the Seeley Lake District occupies the land 

northeast of Missoula, Montana. 

As ordered reported, S. 37 would direct the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to implement the key aspects of the proposals, 

which will increase and make predictable the quantity of timber 

sold from these National Forests, to designate new areas for recreation, and to add land to the National Wilderness Preservation 

System. The Secretary would establish an initiative under which 

70,000 acres on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and 


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30,000 acres on the Kootenai National Forest would be placed 

under contract for treatment. Title II of S. 37 would designate approximately 642,700 acres of Federal lands administered by the 

Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management as wilderness, 

and approximately 390,775 acres of National Forest lands as special management areas. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Senator Tester introduced S. 37 on January 22, 2013. Senator 

Walsh is a cosponsor. The Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, 

and Mining held a hearing on S. 37 on July 30, 2013 (S. Hrg. 113– 

85). At its business meeting on December 19, 2013, the Committee 

ordered the bill favorably reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Senators Murkowski, Barrasso, Lee, Heller, 

Flake, Scott, Hoeven, and Portman asked to be recorded as voting 

no. 

A similar bill, S. 268, was introduced by Senators Tester and 

Baucus in the 112th Congress. Senator Inouye was also a cosponsor. The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing 

on S. 268 on May 25, 2011 (S. Hrg. 112–131). In the 111th Congress, similar legislation, S. 1470, was introduced by Senators 

Tester and Baucus. The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests 

held a hearing on S. 1470 on December 17, 2009 (S. Hrg. 111–364). 

Similar language was also included in Title VII of Division G of 

Senate Amendment 4805 to H.R. 3082 (Continuing Appropriations 

and Surface Transportation Extensions Act, 2011), but the Senate 

took no action on that amendment. Later in the 111th Congress, 

similar legislation, S. 4049, was introduced by Senator Tester on 

December 18, 2010; however, no further action was taken on that 

bill. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in an 

open business session on December 19, 2013, by a voice vote of a 

quorum present, recommended that the Senate pass S. 37, if 

amended as described herein. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During its consideration of S. 37, the committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. In addition to making 

several technical, clarifying, and conforming edits, the amendment: 

enables the Secretary of Agriculture to increase stream protections 

in project areas if an increase is determined to be warranted, specifies that projects that would be completed under the Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative would utilize the administrative and judicial review provisions in the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, makes the reporting requirements of the bill 

less burdensome, and updates the map references of the lands to 

be designated as Recreation Management Areas or Wilderness 

areas to reflect boundary and acreage adjustments. 

The amendment is explained in detail in the section-by-section 

analysis, below. 


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SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 contains the short title, the ‘‘Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2013.’’ 

Title I 

Section 101 lists that the purposes of this title are to create jobs, 

to make more predictable the rate of forest products harvesting, to 

encourage collaborative approaches to land management, to restore 

the condition of watersheds, to reduce risks posed by fire, and to 

use monitoring to improve management. 

Section 102 defines key terms and map references used in the 

bill. 

Section 103(a) establishes the Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative as the way to achieve the purposes of this Title. 

Subsection (b) requires the Secretary to treat 70,000 acres on the 

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and 30,000 acres on the 

Kootenai National Forest. On this land, the Secretary is to reduce 

the density of the standing trees in an effort to decrease the risk 

posed by fire. Moreover, this treatment is to be conducted in a 

manner that primarily yields commercial forest products. 

Subsection (c) enables the Secretary to consult with groups, comprised of individuals representing diverse interests, in developing 

projects. 

Subsection (d) extends the administrative and judicial review 

provisions, which govern projects conducted under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, to the projects authorized in this bill. 

Subsection (e) requires the Secretary to report to Congress every 

year in which the Secretary fails to comply with the performance 

requirements in this bill, and more comprehensively every five 

years after the date of enactment. To ensure the Secretary 

prioritizes the preparation and implementation of projects over the 

writing of these reports, the more comprehensive report is limited 

in length to seven pages. 

Subsection (f) enables the Secretary to use funds from various 

budget line items within the National Forest System appropriation 

to realize the performance requirements in this bill; however, the 

Secretary is prohibited from diverting funding from National Forests located outside the State of Montana to complete work on the 

lands identified in this bill. 

Subsection (g) enables the initiative to be expanded to the Seeley 

Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest. 

Subsection (h) requires that the Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative terminate fifteen years after the date of enactment or when the treatments required in this bill have been 

completed. 

Section 104(a) requires the Secretary to give priority to watershed restoration projects that would be conducted in areas with existing roads, in areas that are located close to communities at risk 

of wildfire, and in areas that contain trees likely to be killed by insects or disease. 

Subsection (b) establishes that the stream protections currently 

required for restoration projects can be modified, but they cannot 

be made to be less restrictive than their present state. Subsection 


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(b) also prohibits the Secretary from constructing any additional 

permanent roads to implement projects. 

Section 105(a) specifies that the Secretary must still adhere to all 

other laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the 

Endangered Species Act, when carrying out restoration projects 

under the Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative. 

Subsection (b) clarifies that employees from the Bureau of Land 

Management and the Forest Service may serve on the Board of Directors of the Blackfoot Challenge, a non-profit organization that 

coordinates multi-party conservation efforts in the Blackfoot Watershed. 

Title II—Designation of Wilderness and Special Management Areas 

Section 201 sets forth the purposes of the title, which are to protect and enhance motorized recreational opportunities in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Lolo, and Kootenai National Forests in Montana, and to protect the wild heritage and backcountry traditions 

of the State through designation of certain lands as wilderness or 

other special management designations that preserve existing 

primitive and semi-primitive recreational activities. 

Section 202 defines key terms used in the title. 

Section 203(a) designates approximately 569,216 acres of National Forest lands in Montana as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System. 

Subsection (b) designates approximately 65,700 acres of lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management as additions to the 

National Wilderness Preservation System. 

Subsection (c) transfers administrative jurisdiction over approximately 663 acres of lands administered by the Bureau of Land 

Management to the Forest Service, to be managed as part of the 

East Pioneers Wilderness designated in subsection (a). 

Section 204 provides for the management of the wilderness areas 

designated in section 203. 

Subsection (a) states that the wilderness areas shall be administered by the Secretary concerned in accordance with the Wilderness 

Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) except that any reference in that Act 

to the date of enactment shall be considered to be a reference to 

the date of enactment of this Act and, with respect to wilderness 

areas administered by the Bureau of Land Management, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall 

be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of the Interior. 

Subsection (b) directs the Secretary concerned to file a map and 

legal description of each wilderness area designated by this Act 

with the House and Senate authorizing committees, and to make 

the maps and legal descriptions publically available in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. 

Subsection (c) provides that any land within a wilderness area 

which is acquired by the United States shall become part of the 

wilderness area in which it is located and shall be managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act and other applicable law. 

Subsection (d) withdraws the Federal land designated as wilderness in section 203 entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; from location, entry, and patent under the mining 


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laws; and from disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral or 

geothermal leasing, or mineral materials. 

Subsection (e) provides that, in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of 

the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 11341(d)(1)), the Secretary concerned 

may take such actions within wilderness areas designated by section 203 as are necessary to control fire, insects, and diseases, such 

to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 

Subsection (f) clarifies, in accordance with section 5(a) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)), the Secretary concerned shall provide any owner of private land within the boundary of a wilderness 

area designated by section 203 adequate access to such privatelyowned lands. 

Subsection (g) clarifies that nothing in this title affects the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State of Montana with respect to 

fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, 

fishing, and trapping. The subsection authorizes the Secretary concerned to carry out management activities in a wilderness area to 

maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations, including habitat 

maintenance or restoration, if the activities are consistent with applicable wilderness management plans and are carried out in accordance with applicable guidelines and policies. 

Subsection (h) states that nothing in this title prevents the installation or maintenance of hydrological, meteorological, or climatological instrumentation within a wilderness area designated 

by section 20 if the Secretary concerned determines that the instrumentation is necessary to further the scientific, educational, or conservation purposes of the wilderness area. 

Subsection (i) allows for the grazing of livestock to continue within the wilderness areas designated by section 203 if the grazing 

was established before the date of enactment of this Act, subject to 

such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary, in accordance with 

section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131(d)(4)), and the 

wilderness grazing guidelines printed in H. Rept. 96–617 (for Forest Service wilderness areas) or Appendix A of H. Rept. 101–405 

(for BLM wilderness areas). 

Subsection (j) provides that commercial services, including authorized outfitting and guide activities, may be performed within 

the wilderness areas designated by section 203 in accordance with 

section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)), to the 

extent necessary for activities that are proper for realizing the recreational or other wilderness purposes of the wilderness areas. The 

subsection also includes a savings clause clarifying that nothing in 

this title requires the Secretary concerned to modify permits in existence as of the date of enactment of this Act which provide outfitting and guide services within the designated wilderness areas if 

the Secretary concerned determines that the activities are in compliance with the Wilderness Act. 

Subsection (k) clarifies that the designation of a wilderness area 

in section 203 does not create any protective perimeter or buffer 

zone around the area, and the fact that non-wilderness activities 

or uses can be seen or heard from within a wilderness area shall 

not preclude the conduct of such activities or uses outside of the 

boundary of the wilderness area. 


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Subsection (l) authorizes the Secretary concerned to issue a special use authorization to an owner of a water storage, transport, or 

diversion facility located within a wilderness area designated in 

section 203 for the continued operation, maintenance, and reconstruction of the facility, if the facility was in existence before the 

date of the designation of the wilderness area and the Secretary 

concerned determines: (1) the facility has been in substantially continuous use to deliver water for the beneficial use of the owner 

since the date of the designation of the wilderness area; (2) the 

owner of the facility holds a valid water right for use of the water 

under State law, with a priority date that predates the designation 

of the wilderness area, and (3) it is not practicable or feasible to 

relocate the facility to land outside the wilderness. 

Subsection (m) provides for the continuation of motorized access 

to maintain water infrastructure for cattle to protect fluvial Artic 

Grayling and other acquatic species in the Ruby River within the 

Snowcrest Wilderness, subject to a permit and in accordance with 

section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act and the guidelines described 

in H. Rept 96–617. The subsection also provides for the trailing of 

sheep across the Snowcrest Wilderness to reach existing grazing allotments in the Gravelly Mountains to be continued for the tenure 

of the allotments, subject to a permit and a determination by the 

Forest Service that the use of non-mechanized transport is impracticable or infeasible, and to the maximum extent practicable in accordance with the guidelines described in H. Rept. 96–617. 

Section 205(a) contains a Congressional finding that, for purposes 

of section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 

1976 (FLPMA; 43 U.S.C. 1782), any portion of a wilderness study 

area described in subsection (b) that is designated as a wilderness 

area in section 203 or any other Act enacted before the date of enactment of this Act has been adequately studied for wilderness. 

Subsection (b) identifies the wilderness study areas covered by 

this subsection. 

Subsection (c) provides that any portion of a BLM wilderness 

study area which is not designated as wilderness is no longer subject to section 603(c) of FLPMA and shall be managed in accordance with the applicable land management plans adopted under 

section 202 of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1712). 

Section 206 contains language similar to section 205 releasing 

those portions of the Sapphire and West Pioneer Wilderness Study 

Areas managed by the Forest Service which are not designated as 

wilderness from further wilderness review or any requirement to 

manage them for wilderness suitability pending revision of the applicable forest plan. 

Section 207(a) designates 10 special management areas in Montana which combined total approximately 390,784 acres, to conserve, protect, and enhance the scenic, fish and wildlife, recreational, backcountry heritage, and other natural resource values 

of the areas. 

Subsection (b)(1) directs that the Secretary concerned shall administer each special management area designated by subsection 

(a) in furtherance of the purposes for which the area is established, 

in accordance with this section and any laws and regulations relating to the National Forest System. 


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Paragraph (1) also provides that nothing in this title precludes 

the Secretary concerned from closing any trail or area located in 

any of the special management areas to protect a natural resource 

or to help ensure public safety. 

Paragraph (2) withdraws the Federal land designated as wilderness in section 203 entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; from location, entry, and patent under the mining 

laws; and from disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral or 

geothermal leasing, or mineral materials. 

Paragraph (3) prohibits timber harvesting within any of the special management areas, except to the extent consistent with protecting and preserving the purposes of the areas, for purposes relating to the necessary control of fire, insects, and disease. 

Paragraph (4) clarifies that the Secretary concerned may allow 

the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles with a special management area that the Secretary concerned determines is necessary for 

administrative use or to respond to an emergency. Except as specified in certain area-specific special management provisions in subsection (c), nothing in this section prohibits the use of mechanized 

vehicles, pedestrian access, or construction of trails within the special management areas. 

Paragraph (5) authorizes the Secretary concerned to allow for the 

collection of firewood for non-commercial, personal use within the 

special management areas, in accordance with applicable laws and 

subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate. 

Subsection (c) contains area-specific management requirements 

and prohibitions for 7 of the special management areas. 

Section 208 directs the Secretary concerned, within one year 

after the date of enactment of this Act, to study and report on the 

opportunities for expanded all-terrain vehicle roads and trails 

across the Three Rivers District and adjacent areas on the 

Kootenai National Forest, the interconnectedness of roads on private or State land, and opportunities for expanded access points to 

existing trails. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 37—Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2013 

Summary: S. 37 would establish a pilot program to carry out watershed restoration projects and increase the area in certain national forests where tree-thinning activities would be undertaken. 

The bill also would add about 640,000 acres of federal lands administered by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Finally, 

the bill would designate parcels totaling about 390,000 acres of federal lands as special management areas. 

Based on information provided by the Forest Service, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $25 million 

over the 2014–2019 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Implementing S. 37 could affect offsetting receipts 

from timber sales; however, any increase in receipts would be contingent on future appropriations and not directly attributable to 


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this bill. Because enacting the bill would not directly affect direct 

spending and would have no effect on revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

S. 37 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates 

as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 37 is shown in the following table. The costs of 

this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014– 

2019 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization Level ..................................... 4 4 4 5 5 5 27 

Estimated Outlays ....................................................... 2 4 4 5 5 5 25 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted in 2014 and that the necessary funds will be 

appropriated for each fiscal year, including supplemental amounts 

for 2014. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for similar programs 

S. 37 would require the Forest Service to reduce the density of 

trees on a specified number of acres each year within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Kootenai National Forests. The bill also would 

require the Forest Service to conduct annual watershed restoration 

projects in the affected forests. Based on information provided by 

the agency regarding the cost of conducting similar activities, CBO 

estimates that implementing those provisions would cost $25 million over the 2014–2019 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. 

The bill also would designate roughly 1 million acres to be managed for conservation and recreational purposes. Because implementing the bill would not significantly affect the costs to administer the affected lands, which are already managed by the Forest 

Service and BLM, CBO estimates that implementing those provisions would have no significant effect on the federal budget. 

Finally, implementing S. 37 could increase gross offsetting receipts from the sale of harvested timber; however, any increase in 

receipts, which CBO estimates would probably be less than 

$500,000 annually, would be contingent on future appropriations. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 37 contains no 

intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA. 

Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on 

State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Michael Hirsch; Impact on 

the Private Sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 37. 


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The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing 

Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 37, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

S. 37, as reported, does not contain any congressionally directed 

spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the Forest Service and the Bureau of 

Land Management on S. 37 at the July 30, 2013, Subcommittee on 

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining hearing follows: 

STATEMENT OF LESLIE WELDON, DEPUTY CHIEF, NATIONAL

FOREST SYSTEM, FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I am Leslie 

Weldon, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share the Department of 

Agriculture’s views on S. 37, the ‘Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2013.’ 

S. 37 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and 

implement forest and watershed restoration projects on 

70,000 acres of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 

and 30,000 acres of the Kootenai National Forest within 

15 years of enactment. The bill prescribes treatment methods, annual acreage targets, and standardized criteria to 

prioritize areas for restoration and hazardous fuel reduction projects. It also requires consultation with an advisory 

committee or collaborative group for each restoration 

project implemented by the Secretary, and calls for a monitoring report every five years. The bill designates twentyfour wilderness areas totaling approximately 666,260 

acres, six recreation areas totaling approximately 288,780 

acres, and three special management areas totaling approximately 80,720 acres. Some of the designations apply 

to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and 

we defer to the Department of the Interior on those provisions. 

The Department (USDA) supports S. 37 and looks forward to continuing to work with the Committee and Sponsor to develop modifications to the bill that could provide 

greater opportunities to accomplish the shared goals of restoration, recreation and economic development. 

The concepts embodied in this legislation, collaboratively 

developed landscape scale projects, increased use of stewardship contracting, and the importance of a viable forest 

products industry in restoring ecosystems and economies 


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are fundamentally sound. USDA does have reservations 

about legislating forest management decisions and would 

hope that the work the Forest Service is doing to increase 

the pace and scale of forest restoration and management 

of the National Forests will make this type of legislation 

unnecessary in the future. In fact, the Forest Service is 

currently engaged in numerous programs and activities on 

the National Forests of Montana and around the nation 

that embrace the concepts in this bill. 

Examples of the work we are carrying out in the spirit 

of this legislation are underway as large-scale restoration 

projects on the national forests of Montana include: the 

Larry Bass Stewardship Project on the Bitterroot National 

Forest where we are completing hazardous fuel reduction 

work and are re-investing stewardship receipts to accomplish hazardous fuel/bark beetle work within and around 

a popular ski area on the forest; Sparring Bulls and Young 

Dodge, two large landscape projects on the Kootenai National Forest developed with a local collaborative group; 

and the Southwestern Crown of the Continent project, 

which will treat close to 200,000 acres on the Lolo, Flathead and Helena National Forests with funding provided 

under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. 

Planned projects are increasingly focused on large landscape ecosystems to address shared issues across forest 

boundaries. For example, the Boulder Vegetation Project 

and a complex of projects planned on the Helena National 

Forest that focus on bark beetle infestations occurring on 

the two forests. 

Efforts such as these have helped the agency and stakeholders gain experience in identifying the factors necessary 

for the success of large-scale restoration projects, and I acknowledge the Senator’s incorporation of their input into 

this legislation. I offer our continued support for further 

collaboration on addressing remaining concerns to ensure 

that it can serve as a model for similar efforts elsewhere. 

We recognize that the proposed bill is the product of a 

collaborative effort. Such efforts are critically important to 

increasing public support for needed forest management 

activities, particularly in light of the bark beetle crisis facing Montana and other western states. We believe these 

efforts can significantly advance forest restoration, reduce 

litigation surrounding restoration where parties are willing to collaborate, and make it easier to provide jobs and 

opportunities in the forest industry for rural communities. 

While we have seen significant successes from collaboration in some parts of the country, there are areas where 

groups are not interested in collaboration and continue to 

use appeals and litigation as methods to delay or stop forest treatments that restore resilient forests, reduce severe 

wildfire potential and other objectives. Montana in particular continues to see substantial litigation activity. 

As noted above, USDA is concerned about legislating forest management direction or specific treatment levels on a 


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site-specific basis. USDA wants to work with the Committee to ensure that this does not negatively impact other 

Forest Service priorities in Region 1 or draw important resources from priority work on other units of the National 

Forest System. We also would like to work with the Committee and sponsor on other aspects of the bill such as defining mechanical treatments, establishing reporting requirements, and provisions effecting other funds and roaddensity standards found in Title I. 

Regarding the land designations in Title II that pertain 

to lands under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, we 

support the wilderness recommendations made in each 

Forest’s land and resource management plan given the 

depth of analysis and public collaboration that goes into 

them. Regarding the input from the Department that the 

Senator has incorporated, there are two items in S. 37 for 

which I would like to express the Department’s appreciation in particular: (1) the adjustments to wilderness area 

designations in Title II, which more closely reflect the extensive collaboration, analysis and resulting recommendations of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 2009 Forest Plan and 

other forest plans; and (2) the incorporation of the CFR 

212.1 definitions of ‘‘designated road, trail or area’’ in the 

bill provides for consistency of implementation. 

In closing, I want to thank Senator Tester once again for 

his strong commitment to Montana’s communities and natural resources. We appreciate the close work of the Senator’s staff with the Forest Service to refine legislation 

that would provide a full suite of significant benefits for 

the people, economy, and forests of Montana and the nation. The continuing commitment to bring diverse interests 

together to find solutions that provide a context for restoration, renewal, and sustainability of public landscapes 

and to foster healthy rural economies is evident in the legislation being considered by this Committee today. 

We want to underscore our commitment to the continuing collaboration with the Senator and his staff, the 

Committee, and all interested stakeholders in an open, inclusive and transparent manner to provide the best land 

stewardship for our National Forest System Lands. 

This concludes my prepared statement, and I would be 

pleased to answer any questions you may have. 

STATEMENT OF NED FARQUHAR, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, LAND & MINERALS MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT

OF THE INTERIOR

Thank you for inviting the Department of the Interior to 

testify on S. 37, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. The 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) supports the wilderness designations on BLM-managed lands included in S. 

37. 

The vast majority of the designations and other substantive provisions of S. 37 apply to activities on National 

Forest System lands. We defer to the Department of Agriculture on those provisions. 


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BACKGROUND

The southwestern corner of Montana is a critically important biological region. Linking the Greater Yellowstone 

Area and the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho and Montana, 

these areas include important wildlife corridors that allow 

natural migrations of wildlife and help prevent species isolation. The Centennial Mountains are particularly noteworthy in this regard. The diversity of wildlife throughout 

this area is a strong indicator of its importance. Elk, mule 

deer, bighorn sheep, and moose, as well as their predators, 

such as bears, mountain lions and wolves, travel through 

this corner of Montana. 

Outstanding dispersed recreational opportunities abound 

in this region as well. A day’s hunting, hiking or fishing 

may be pursued in the splendid isolation of the steeply forested Ruby Mountains or in the foothill prairies of the 

Blacktail Mountains, areas largely untouched and pristine. 

For the more adventurous, Humbug Spires offers 65 million year-old rocks now eroded into fanciful spires, appreciated both for their climbing challenges as well as their 

scientific value. 

S. 37

Title I of S. 37, applies solely to National Forest System 

Lands. Accordingly the Department of the Interior defers 

to the Department of Agriculture on those provisions. The 

majority of the designations in Title II of the bill are also 

on National Forest System Lands, and again we defer to 

the Department of Agriculture. 

Section 203(b) of S. 37 designates five wilderness areas 

on lands administered by the BLM in southwestern Montana: the Blacktail Mountains Wilderness (10,675 acres), 

Centennial Mountains Wilderness (23,700 acres), Humbug 

Spires Wilderness (8,900 acres), East Fork Blacktail Wilderness (6,125 acres), and Ruby Mountains Wilderness 

(16,300 acres). The BLM supports these designations and 

we appreciate the Sponsor and the Committee working 

with us over the last year to refine these boundaries. All 

of these areas meet the definitions of wilderness in that 

they are areas where the land and its community of life 

are untrammeled. These areas have retained their primeval character and have been influenced primarily by the 

forces of nature, with outstanding opportunities for primitive recreation or solitude. We continue to encourage the 

Sponsor and the Committee to consider expanding the 

boundaries of the Centennial Mountains Wilderness in 

order to protect this area as a single coherent corridor, 

thereby providing enhanced benefit for the genetic diversity of the fauna inhabiting the Greater Yellowstone Area 

and the Bitterroot Range. 

Furthermore, we support the transfer of administrative 

jurisdiction over the 660-acre Farlin Creek area to the Forest Service for inclusion in the adjoining 77,000 acre East 

Pioneers Wilderness Area. 


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Section 205 of S. 37 proposes to fully release four BLMmanaged wilderness study areas (WSAs) in Beaverhead 

and Madison counties from WSA management thereby allowing the consideration of a full range of multiple uses. 

In addition, in five other WSAs, some areas would be released from WSA status and other areas would be partially 

designated as wilderness, as noted above. In all, over 

66,000 acres of WSAs are proposed for release, and nearly 

66,000 acres are proposed for wilderness designation; we 

support these provisions. 

CONCLUSION

Thank you for the opportunity to testify. We look forward to working cooperatively with the Congress to designate these special and biologically significant areas in 

this dramatic corner of Montana as wilderness. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by S. 37 as ordered reported. 

Æ 


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