II 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1511 

To provide for a study of options for protecting the open space characteristics 

of certain land in and adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National 

Forests in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 27, 2005 

Mr. SALAZAR introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To provide for a study of options for protecting the open 

space characteristics of certain land in and adjacent to 

the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in the State 

of Colorado, 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 ‘‘Colorado Northern 

5 Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
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1 (1) rising dramatically from the Great Plains, 

2 the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains provides 

3 a scenic mountain backdrop to many communities in 

4 the Denver metropolitan area and elsewhere in Colo5 rado; 

6 (2) the portion of the range within and adjacent 

7 to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests— 

8 (A) includes a diverse array of wildlife 

9 habitats; and 

10 (B) provides many opportunities for out11 door recreation; 

12 (3) the open space character of the Front 

13 Range of the Rocky Mountains is an important es14 thetic and economic asset for adjoining communities, 

15 making the communities attractive locations for 

16 homes and businesses; 

17 (4) rapid population growth in the northern 

18 Front Range area of Colorado has— 

19 (A) increased recreational use of the Arap20 aho and Roosevelt National Forests; and 

21 (B) placed increased pressure for develop22 ment of other land within and adjacent to the 

23 National Forests; 

24 (5) while efforts by local governments and other 

25 entities have provided important protection for por-
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1 tions of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, 

2 especially in the northern Denver metropolitan area, 

3 some portions remain unprotected and are at risk of 

4 losing the open space qualities of the area; and 

5 (6) it is in the national interest for the Federal 

6 Government, in collaboration with local communities, 

7 to assist in identifying options for increasing the 

8 protection of the mountain backdrop in the northern 

9 Front Range area of Colorado. 

10 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to identify 

11 options that may be available to assist in maintaining the 

12 open space characteristics of land that is part of the 

13 mountain backdrop of communities in the northern section 

14 of the Front Range area of Colorado. 

15 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

16 In this Act: 

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

18 the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 

19 Chief of the Forest Service. 

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

21 of Colorado. 

22 (3) STUDY AREA.— 

23 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 

24 means any land in southern Boulder, northern 

25 Jefferson, and northern Gilpin Counties, Colo-
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1 rado, that is located west of Colorado State 

2 Highway 93, south and east of Colorado State 

3 Highway 119, and north of Colorado State 

4 Highway 46. 

5 (B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 

6 does not include land within the city limits of 

7 the cities of Boulder or Golden, Colorado. 

8 (4) UNDEVELOPED LAND.—The term ‘‘undevel9 oped land’’ means land— 

10 (A) that is located within the study area; 

11 (B) that is free or primarily free of struc12 tures; and 

13 (C) the development of which is likely to 

14 adversely affect the scenic, wildlife, or rec15 reational value of the study area. 

16 SEC. 4. COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN 

17 BACKDROP STUDY. 

18 The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate State 

19 and local agencies, shall— 

20 (1) conduct a study of land within the study 

21 area; and 

22 (2) not later than 1 year after the date of en23 actment of this Act, submit to Congress a report 

24 that— 
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1 (A) describes the ownership of the land 

2 within the study area; 

3 (B) identifies any undeveloped land in the 

4 study area that may be at risk of development; 

5 and 

6 (C) identifies and makes any recommenda7 tions concerning actions that could be taken by 

8 the United States, the State, or any other par9 ties to preserve the open and undeveloped char10 acter of the study area. 

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