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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1170 Referred in House (RFH)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1170

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 16, 2005

                 Referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 
 To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation 
                                 Area.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave 
National Conservation Area Act''. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Conservation area.--The term ``Conservation Area'' 
        means the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation 
        Area established by section 3(a).
            (2) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
        the management plan developed for the Conservation Area under 
        section 4(c).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of 
        Land Management.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT STANTON-SNOWY RIVER CAVE NATIONAL 
              CONSERVATION AREA.

    (a) Establishment; Purposes.--There is established the Fort 
Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area in Lincoln County, 
New Mexico, to protect, conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally 
important historic, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and 
educational subterranean cave resources of the Fort Stanton-Snowy River 
cave system.
    (b) Area Included.--The Conservation Area shall include the area 
within the boundaries depicted on the map entitled ``Fort Stanton-Snowy 
River Cave National Conservation Area'' and dated November 2005.
    (c) Map and Legal Description.--
            (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
        map and legal description of the Conservation Area.
            (2) Effect.--The map and legal description of the 
        Conservation Area shall have the same force and effect as if 
        included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct any 
        minor errors in the map and legal description.
            (3) Public availability.--The map and legal description of 
        the Conservation Area shall be available for public inspection 
        in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.

SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSERVATION AREA.

    (a) Management.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the 
        Conservation Area--
                    (A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and 
                enhances the resources and values of the Conservation 
                Area, including the resources and values described in 
                section 3(a); and
                    (B) in accordance with--
                            (i) this Act;
                            (ii) the Federal Land Policy and Management 
                        Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
                            (iii) any other applicable laws.
            (2) Uses.--The Secretary shall only allow uses of the 
        Conservation Area that are consistent with the protection of 
        the cave resources.
            (3) Requirements.--In administering the Conservation Area, 
        the Secretary shall provide for--
                    (A) the conservation and protection of the natural 
                and unique features and environs for scientific, 
                educational, and other appropriate public uses of the 
                Conservation Area;
                    (B) public access, as appropriate, while providing 
                for the protection of the cave resources and for public 
                safety;
                    (C) the continuation of other existing uses or 
                other new uses of the Conservation Area that do not 
                impair the purposes for which the Conservation Area is 
                established;
                    (D) management of the surface area of the 
                Conservation Area in accordance with the Fort Stanton 
                Area of Critical Environmental Concern Final Activity 
                Plan dated March, 2001, or any amendments to the plan, 
                consistent with this Act; and
                    (E) scientific investigation and research 
                opportunities within the Conservation Area, including 
                through partnerships with colleges, universities, 
                schools, scientific institutions, researchers, and 
                scientists to conduct research and provide educational 
                and interpretive services within the Conservation Area.
    (b) Withdrawals.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal 
surface and subsurface land within the Conservation Area and all land 
and interests in the land that are acquired by the United States after 
the date of enactment of this Act for inclusion in the Conservation 
Area, are withdrawn from--
            (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under 
        the general land laws;
            (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
            (3) operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal 
        leasing laws.
    (c) Management Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a 
        comprehensive plan for the long-term management of the 
        Conservation Area.
            (2) Purposes.--The management plan shall--
                    (A) describe the appropriate uses and management of 
                the Conservation Area;
                    (B) incorporate, as appropriate, decisions 
                contained in any other management or activity plan for 
                the land within or adjacent to the Conservation Area;
                    (C) take into consideration any information 
                developed in studies of the land and resources within 
                or adjacent to the Conservation Area; and
                    (D) provide for a cooperative agreement with 
                Lincoln County, New Mexico, to address the historical 
                involvement of the local community in the 
                interpretation and protection of the resources of the 
                Conservation Area.
    (d) Activities Outside Conservation Area.--The establishment of the 
Conservation Area shall not--
            (1) create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the 
        Conservation Area; or
            (2) preclude uses or activities outside the Conservation 
        Area that are permitted under other applicable laws, even if 
        the uses or activities are prohibited within the Conservation 
        Area.
    (e) Research and Interpretive Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may establish facilities 
        for--
                    (A) the conduct of scientific research; and
                    (B) the interpretation of the historical, cultural, 
                scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational 
                resources of the Conservation Area.
            (2) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may, in a manner 
        consistent with this Act, enter into cooperative agreements 
        with the State of New Mexico and other institutions and 
        organizations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
    (f) Water Rights.--Nothing in this Act constitutes an express or 
implied reservation of any water right.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act. To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave 
National Conservation Area.

            Passed the Senate November 16, 2005.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.
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