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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 63 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 63

 To establish the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in Nevada, 
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 5, 1993

 Mr. Bilbray introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To establish the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in Nevada, 
                        and for other purposes.

    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 ``Spring Mountains National Recreation 
Area Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) National forest lands.--The term ``National Forest 
        lands'' means lands included in the National Forest System (as 
        defined in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
        Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a))).
            (2) Recreation area.--The term ``Recreation Area'' means 
        the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area established by 
        this Act.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) preserve scenic, scientific, historic, cultural, 
        natural, wilderness, watershed, riparian, wildlife, threatened 
        and endangered species, and other values contributing to public 
        enjoyment and biological diversity in the Spring Mountains of 
        Nevada;
            (2) ensure appropriate conservation and management of 
        natural recreation resources in the Spring Mountains; and
            (3) provide for the development of public recreation 
        opportunities in the Spring Mountains for the enjoyment of 
        present and future generations.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF RECREATION AREA.

    (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, there is 
established the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in Nevada.
    (b) Boundaries and Map.--The Recreation Area shall consist of 
approximately 316,000 acres of federally owned lands and waters in the 
Toiyabe National Forest, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
``Spring Mountain National Recreation Area--Proposed'', numbered NV-CH, 
and dated August 2, 1992.
    (c) Map Filing.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map of the Recreation Area with 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of 
Representatives.
    (d) Public Inspection.--The map shall be on file and available for 
public inspection in the offices of the Chief of the Forest Service, 
Department of Agriculture.
    (e) Discrepancies.--In the case of any discrepancy between or among 
the acreage referred to in subsection (b) and the map described in 
subsection (b), the map described in subsection (b) shall control any 
question concerning the boundaries of the Recreation Area.

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the 
Forest Service, shall manage the Recreation Area in accordance with the 
laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the National Forest System 
and this Act to provide for--
            (1) the conservation of scenic, scientific, historic, 
        cultural, and other values contributing to public enjoyment;
            (2) the conservation of fish and wildlife populations and 
        habitat, including the use of prescribed fire to improve or 
        maintain habitat;
            (3) the protection of watersheds and the maintenance of 
        free flowing streams and the quality of ground and surface 
        waters in accordance with applicable Federal and State law;
            (4) public outdoor recreation benefits, including, but not 
        limited to, hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, horseback 
        riding, backpacking, rock climbing, camping, and nature study;
            (5) wilderness areas as designated by Congress; and
            (6) the management, utilization, and disposal of natural 
        resources in a manner compatible with the purposes for which 
        the Recreation Area is established.
    (b) Hunting, Trapping, and Fishing.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        shall permit hunting, trapping, fishing, and habitat management 
        within the Recreation Area in accordance with the laws of the 
        United States and the State of Nevada.
            (2) Exceptions.--The Secretary, after consultation with the 
        Nevada Department of Wildlife, may designate zones where and 
        periods when hunting, trapping, or fishing shall not be 
        permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, or 
        public use and enjoyment.
    (c) Grazing.--The grazing of livestock may be permitted to continue 
pursuant to Federal law and subject to such reasonable regulations, 
policies, and practices as the Secretary considers necessary.
    (d) Preventive Measures.--Nothing in this Act shall preclude such 
reasonable measures as the Secretary considers necessary to protect the 
land and resources from fire or insect or disease infestation in the 
Recreation Area.

SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Procedures.--Not later than 3 full fiscal years after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop 
        a general management plan for the Recreation Area as an 
        amendment to the Toiyabe National Forest Land and Resource 
        Management Plan. Such an amendment shall reflect the 
        establishment of the Recreation Area and conform to the 
        provisions of this Act, except that nothing in this Act shall 
        require the Secretary to revise the Toiyabe National Forest 
        Land and Resource Management Plan pursuant to section 6 of the 
        Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. 
        The provisions of the national forest land and resource 
        management plan relating to the recreation area shall also be 
        available to the public in a document separate from the rest of 
        the forest plan.
            (2) Contents.--The management plan described in paragraph 
        (1) shall be developed with full public participation and shall 
        include--
                    (A) implementation plans for a continuing program 
                of interpretation and public education about the 
                resources and values of the Recreation Area;
                    (B) proposals for public facilities to be 
                developed, expanded, or improved for the Recreation 
                Area, including one or more visitor centers to 
                accommodate both local and out-of-State visitors;
                    (C) plans for the management of natural and 
                cultural resources in the Recreation Area, with 
                emphasis on the preservation and long-term scientific 
                use of archaeological resources, with priority in 
                development given to the enforcement of the 
                Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 
                U.S.C. 470aa et seq.) and the National Historic 
                Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) within the 
                Recreation Area;
                    (D) wildlife and fish resource management plans for 
                the Recreation Area prepared in consultation with 
                appropriate departments of the State of Nevada and 
                using other available studies of the Recreation Area;
                    (E) recreation management plans for the Recreation 
                Area in consultation with appropriate departments of 
                the State of Nevada;
                    (F) wild horse and burro herd management plans for 
                the Recreation Area prepared in consultation with 
                appropriate departments and commissions of the State of 
                Nevada; and
                    (G) an inventory of all lands within the Recreation 
                Area not presently managed as National Forest lands 
                that will permit the Secretary to evaluate possible 
                future acquisitions.
            (3) Consultation.--The plans for the management of natural 
        and cultural resources described in paragraph (2)(C) shall be 
        prepared in consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic 
        Preservation established by title II of the National Historic 
        Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470i et seq.) and the Nevada State 
        Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of 
        Historic Preservation and Archaeology.
    (b) Wilderness Study Areas.--
            (1) Recommendations.--The general management plan for the 
        Recreation Area shall include the recommendations of the Bureau 
        of Land Management as to the suitability or nonsuitability for 
        preservation as wilderness of the 89,270 acres identified as 
        the Mt. Stirling, La Madre Mountains, and Pine Creek Wilderness 
        Study Areas on the Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Status 
        Map, dated March 1990.
            (2) Management.--Pending submission of a recommendation and 
        until otherwise directed by Act of Congress, the Secretary, 
        acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall manage 
        the lands and waters within the wilderness study areas referred 
        to in paragraph (1) so as to maintain their potential for 
        inclusion within the National Wilderness Preservation System.

SEC. 7. ACQUISITION OF LANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire by 
donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, exchange, 
bequest, or otherwise any lands, or lesser interests therein, including 
mineral interests, water rights, and scenic easements, which the 
Secretary determines are needed for the purposes of this Act.
    (b) Exchanges Out of Federal Ownership.--Federally owned lands, 
waters, or interests in lands or waters located within the Recreation 
Area may not be exchanged except in connection with an exchange for 
lands, waters, or interests in lands or waters owned by the State of 
Nevada or a political subdivision of the State.
    (c) Incorporation of Acquired Lands.--Any lands, waters, or 
interests in lands or waters located within the Recreation Area that 
are acquired by the United States or administratively transferred to 
the Secretary after the date of enactment of this Act shall be 
incorporated into the Recreation Area and managed in accordance with 
the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the National Forest 
System and the provisions of this Act.
    (d) Land and Water Conservation Fund.--For purposes of section 7 of 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-9), 
where such boundaries are established for units of the National Forest 
System, such established boundaries shall be treated as if they were 
the boundaries of the National Forests as of January 1, 1965. Money 
appropriated from the Land and Water Conservation Fund shall be 
available for the acquisition of lands, waters, and interests therein 
in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 8. WITHDRAWAL.

    (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights and except for 
lands described in subsection (b), all Federal lands within the 
Recreation Area and all lands, waters, and interests in lands and 
waters within the Recreation Area that are acquired by the United 
States after the date of enactment of this Act are withdrawn from--
            (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under 
        the public land laws;
            (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
            (3) operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal 
        leasing laws.
    (b) Exception.--The lands referred to in subsection (a) are 
described as follows:
        S\1/2\ Sec. 22, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\ Sec. 27, E\1/2\E\1/2\ 
        Sec. 28, T 23 S, R 58 E, Mt. Diablo Meridian.

SEC. 9. COORDINATED MANAGEMENT.

    The Secretary shall coordinate the management of the Recreation 
Area with the management of all proximate lands in a manner that best 
meets the present and future needs of the people of the United States.

SEC. 10. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

    In order to encourage unified and cost-effective management and 
interpretation of natural and cultural resources in southern Nevada, 
the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with other Federal, 
State, and local agencies, and with nonprofit entities, that provide 
for the management and interpretation of natural and cultural resources 
in southern Nevada.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.

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