I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8535 

To establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness 

in the State of Indiana, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 23, 2024 

Mrs. HOUCHIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation 

Area and Wilderness in the State of Indiana, and for 

other purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Benjamin Harrison 

5 National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment 

6 Act of 2024’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act: 


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1 (1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi2 sory Committee’’ means the advisory committee for 

3 the National Recreation Area established under sec4 tion 4(a)(1). 

5 (2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘Manage6 ment Plan’’ means the management plan for the Na7 tional Recreation Area and Wilderness developed 

8 under section 4(b). 

9 (3) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en10 titled ‘‘Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area 

11 and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023’’ and 

12 dated March 27, 2024. 

13 (4) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.—The term 

14 ‘‘National Recreation Area’’ means the Benjamin 

15 Harrison National Recreation Area established by 

16 section 3(a)(2). 

17 (5) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AND WILDER18 NESS.—The term ‘‘National Recreation Area and 

19 Wilderness’’ means the Benjamin Harrison National 

20 Recreation Area and Wilderness established by sec21 tion 3(a)(1). 

22 (6) NONWILDERNESS CORRIDOR.—The term 

23 ‘‘nonwilderness corridor’’ means the land 100 feet in 

24 width from either side of the centerline of the exist25 ing trails and roads, as depicted on the map as 


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1 ‘‘Non-Wilderness Corridor’’, which is not included as 

2 part of the ‘‘Proposed Wilderness’’, as depicted on 

3 the map. 

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

5 the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 

6 Chief of the Forest Service. 

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

8 of Indiana. 

9 (9) WILDERNESS ADDITION.—The term ‘‘Wil10 derness addition’’ means the land added to the 

11 Charles C. Deam Wilderness by section 3(a)(3). 

12 SEC. 3. BENJAMIN HARRISON NATIONAL RECREATION 

13 AREA AND WILDERNESS. 

14 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 

16 State the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation 

17 Area and Wilderness as a subunit of the Hoosier 

18 National Forest, consisting of— 

19 (A) the National Recreation Area; and 

20 (B) the Wilderness addition. 

21 (2) BENJAMIN HARRISON NATIONAL RECRE22 ATION AREA.—There is established in the State the 

23 Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area, con24 sisting of approximately 29,382 acres of National 


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1 Forest System land depicted on the map as ‘‘Pro2 posed National Recreation Area (NRA)’’. 

3 (3) CHARLES C. DEAM WILDERNESS ADDI4 TION.—The approximately 15,300 acres of National 

5 Forest System land in the State generally depicted 

6 on the map as ‘‘Proposed Wilderness’’ shall be 

7 added to and administered as part of the Charles C. 

8 Deam Wilderness in accordance with Public Law 

9 97–384 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 96 Stat. 1942), con10 sisting of— 

11 (A) the approximately 2,028.8 acres of Na12 tional Forest System land in the State generally 

13 depicted on the map as the ‘‘Deckard Ridge 

14 Units A, B, and C’’; 

15 (B) the approximately 2,633 acres of Na16 tional Forest System land in the State generally 

17 depicted on the map as the ‘‘Panther Creek 

18 Units A and B’’; 

19 (C) the approximately 5,456.9 acres of Na20 tional Forest System land in the State generally 

21 depicted on the map as the ‘‘Nebo Ridge Units 

22 A, B, C, D, and E’’; 

23 (D) the approximately 2,141.4 acres of 

24 National Forest System land in the State genVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:35 Jul 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8535.IH H8535

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1 erally depicted on the map as the ‘‘Browning 

2 Mountain Unit’’; 

3 (E) the approximately 2,161.9 acres of Na4 tional Forest System land in the State generally 

5 depicted on the map as the ‘‘Hickory Ridge 

6 Units A, B, C, D, and E’’; and 

7 (F) the approximately 878.3 acres of Na8 tional Forest System land in the State generally 

9 depicted on the map as the ‘‘Mose Ray Branch 

10 Unit’’. 

11 (4) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—Not later than 30 

12 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 

13 Secretary shall file the map, and make the map 

14 available for public inspection, in the appropriate of15 fices of the Forest Service. 

16 (b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall man17 age— 

18 (1) the Wilderness addition (other than the 

19 nonwilderness corridors) in a manner that is con20 sistent with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 

21 seq.); and 

22 (2) the National Recreation Area in a manner 

23 that ensures— 

24 (A) the protection of the water quality of 

25 the public water supply of Monroe Reservoir in 


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1 the State in accordance with section 303(e)(1) 

2 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 

3 (16 U.S.C. 6542(e)(1)); and 

4 (B) the promotion of recreational opportu5 nities in the National Recreation Area. 

6 (3) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara8 graph (B), the Secretary shall allow hunting, 

9 fishing, and trapping in the National Recre10 ation Area and Wilderness. 

11 (B) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary, in con12 sultation with designees from the State Depart13 ment of Natural Resources and the Corps of 

14 Engineers, may, for reasons of public safety, 

15 species enhancement, or management of a spe16 cies listed as endangered or threatened under 

17 the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 

18 1531 et seq.), designate areas in which, and es19 tablish seasons during which, no hunting, fish20 ing, or trapping is permitted in the National 

21 Recreation Area and Wilderness. 

22 (C) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act affects 

23 the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish 

24 and wildlife in the National Recreation Area 

25 and Wilderness. 


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1 (4) RECREATION.— 

2 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara3 graph (B), the Secretary shall— 

4 (i) in the National Recreation Area, 

5 continue to permit and provide for appro6 priate nonmotorized and motorized rec7 reational uses, including hiking, viewing of 

8 nature and wildlife, camping, horseback 

9 riding, mountain biking, and other existing 

10 recreational uses; and 

11 (ii) permit the nonmechanized rec12 reational use of the Wilderness addition, in 

13 accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 

14 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) within the boundary 

15 of the ‘‘Proposed Wilderness’’ indicated on 

16 the map. 

17 (B) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary, in con18 sultation with designees from the State Depart19 ment of Natural Resources and the Corps of 

20 Engineers, may designate zones in which, and 

21 establish periods during which, a recreational 

22 use shall not be permitted in the National 

23 Recreation Area and Wilderness under subpara24 graph (A) for reasons of public safety, species 

25 enhancement, or management of a species listed 


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1 as endangered or threatened under the Endan2 gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

3 seq.). 

4 (C) TRAIL PLAN.—Notwithstanding any 

5 provisions of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 

6 1131 et seq.) or any other provision of law, the 

7 Secretary, in consultation with interested par8 ties, shall establish a trail plan— 

9 (i) to maintain existing mountain 

10 biking, hiking, and equestrian trails in the 

11 nonwilderness corridors; and 

12 (ii) to develop mountain biking, hik13 ing, and equestrian trails in the National 

14 Recreation Area. 

15 (5) VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.— 

16 (A) WILDERNESS ADDITION.—Consistent 

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

18 seq.), timber removal or management shall not 

19 be permitted in the Wilderness addition, except 

20 as the Secretary determines to be necessary for 

21 public safety and management of diseases, as 

22 described in section 293.3 of title 36, Code of 

23 Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). 


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1 (B) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.—Vege2 tation management within the National Recre3 ation Area shall be consistent with— 

4 (i) the Management Plan; and 

5 (ii) any applicable Forest Service land 

6 management plan. 

7 SEC. 4. NATIONAL RECREATION AREA ADVISORY COM8 MITTEE; MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

9 (a) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA FEDERAL ADVI10 SORY COMMITTEE.— 

11 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—As soon as practicable 

12 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec13 retary shall establish an advisory committee to ad14 vise the Secretary with respect to the management 

15 of the National Recreation Area. 

16 (2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee 

17 shall be composed of members appointed by the Sec18 retary, from among— 

19 (A) representatives of local government; 

20 (B) forest ecologists; 

21 (C) experts in dispersed recreation; 

22 (D) local residents who own or reside in 

23 property located not more than 2 miles from 

24 the boundary of the National Recreation Area; 


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1 (E) representatives of conservation and 

2 outdoor recreation groups; 

3 (F) consulting foresters; 

4 (G) the Director of the State Department 

5 of Natural Resources (or designees); 

6 (H) wildlife experts; and 

7 (I) designees from the Corps of Engineers. 

8 (b) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after 

10 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

11 shall develop a comprehensive management plan for 

12 the long-term protection and management of the 

13 National Recreation Area. 

14 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Management Plan 

15 shall— 

16 (A) be developed— 

17 (i) in consultation with the Advisory 

18 Committee; 

19 (ii) after providing an opportunity for 

20 public comment; and 

21 (iii) after engaging with interested or 

22 affected federally recognized Indian Tribes, 

23 other Federal agencies, and State and local 

24 governments, including the State Depart25 ment of Natural Resources; 


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1 (B) address management issues associated 

2 with the National Recreation Area, including— 

3 (i) fires; 

4 (ii) invasive species; 

5 (iii) the response to insect and disease 

6 infestations; 

7 (iv) measures needed to protect the 

8 public water supply provided by Monroe 

9 Reservoir; 

10 (v) the establishment, maintenance, 

11 and closure of camp sites, campgrounds, 

12 trails, and roadways; and 

13 (vi) any other issues identified by the 

14 Advisory Committee; and 

15 (C) include— 

16 (i) measures to preserve and protect 

17 native and historical resources, flora, 

18 fauna, and recreational, scenic, and aes19 thetic values within the National Recre20 ation Area; and 

21 (ii) measures to prevent degradation 

22 of the public water supply provided by 

23 Monroe Reservoir. 


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1 SEC. 5. FUNDING. 

2 (a) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.—No additional funds 

3 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. 

4 (b) USE OF EXISTING FUNDS.—This Act shall be 

5 carried out using amounts otherwise made available to the 

6 Secretary. 

7 SEC. 6. EFFECT. 

8 Nothing in this Act— 

9 (1) affects the Corps of Engineers use permits 

10 for flowage rights within the National Recreation 

11 Area and Wilderness established by the order enti12 tled ‘‘Joint Order Interchanging Administrative Ju13 risdiction of Department of the Army Lands and 

14 National Forest Lands’’ (35 Fed. Reg. 10382 (June 

15 25, 1970)); 

16 (2) prevents the Corps of Engineers from car17 rying out the water control management plan of the 

18 Corps of Engineers within the National Recreation 

19 Area and Wilderness as described in the Corps of 

20 Engineers water control manual; 

21 (3) prevents the Corps of Engineers from— 

22 (A) disposing of, or otherwise managing, 

23 real estate interests held by the Corps of Engi24 neers as of the date of enactment of this Act; 

25 or 


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1 (B) acquiring additional real estate inter2 ests required to support the operation or main3 tenance of Monroe Lake; 

4 (4) affects the use of motor vessels (as defined 

5 in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code) on 

6 Monroe Lake; 

7 (5) results in the closure of any State or county 

8 roadway in the National Recreation Area and the 

9 nonwilderness corridors; 

10 (6) precludes the ownership, use, or enjoyment 

11 of private land within the National Recreation Area 

12 and Wilderness; 

13 (7) otherwise affects access to private land or 

14 cemeteries within the National Recreation Area and 

15 Wilderness; 

16 (8) affects the access to land within the non17 wilderness corridors and within 100 feet of the outer 

18 boundary of the Wilderness addition by any State or 

19 private entity or organization with a permit, special 

20 use authorization, or other right to access land with21 in the Wilderness addition, as described in section 

22 5(a) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)), for 

23 the purpose of maintaining infrastructure located 

24 within the Wilderness addition, including access 

25 by— 


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1 (A) the Smithville Telephone Company; 

2 (B) Jackson County Water Utility; 

3 (C) Jackson County Rural Electric; 

4 (D) the ANR Pipeline Company; 

5 (E) the Monroe County commissioners; 

6 (F) Hoosier Trails Council, BSA; and 

7 (G) the State Department of Natural Re8 sources; or 

9 (9) affects the access to land within the Wilder10 ness addition by the State Department of Natural 

11 Resources or appropriate public safety officers with 

12 the use of motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, or 

13 motorboats for emergencies involving the health and 

14 safety of persons within the Wilderness addition, in 

15 accordance with section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act 

16 (16 U.S.C. 1133(c)). 

Æ 


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