I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 856 

To establish the Gold Butte National Conservation Area in Clark County, 

Nevada, in order to conserve, protect, and enhance the cultural, archaeological, natural, wilderness, scientific, geological, historical, biological, 

wildlife, educational, and scenic resources of the area, to designate wilderness areas, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 10, 2015 

Ms. TITUS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish the Gold Butte National Conservation Area 

in Clark County, Nevada, in order to conserve, protect, 

and enhance the cultural, archaeological, natural, wilderness, scientific, geological, historical, biological, wildlife, 

educational, and scenic resources of the area, to designate wilderness areas, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Gold Butte National Conservation Area Act’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Findings. 

Sec. 3. Definitions. 

TITLE I—GOLD BUTTE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA 

Sec. 101. Establishment of Gold Butte National Conservation Area. 

Sec. 102. Management of Conservation Area. 

Sec. 103. General provisions. 

Sec. 104. Gold Butte National Conservation Area Advisory Council. 

TITLE II—DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS IN CLARK 

COUNTY, NEVADA 

Sec. 201. Findings. 

Sec. 202. Additions to National Wilderness Preservation System. 

Sec. 203. Administration. 

Sec. 204. Adjacent management. 

Sec. 205. Military, law enforcement, and emergency overflights. 

Sec. 206. Release of wilderness study areas. 

Sec. 207. Native American cultural and religious uses. 

Sec. 208. Wildlife management. 

Sec. 209. Wildfire, insect, and disease management. 

Sec. 210. Climatological data collection. 

Sec. 211. National Park System land. 

TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Sec. 301. Relationship to Clark County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation 

Plan. 

Sec. 302. Visitor center, research, and interpretation. 

Sec. 303. Termination of withdrawal of Bureau of Land Management land. 

3 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds that— 

5 (1) the public land in southeastern Nevada gen6 erally known as ‘‘Gold Butte’’ is recognized for out7 standing— 

8 (A) scenic values; 

9 (B) natural resources, including critical 

10 habitat, sensitive species, wildlife, desert tor11 toise habitat, and geology; 


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1 (C) historic resources, including historic 

2 mining, ranching and other western cultures, 

3 and pioneer activities; and 

4 (D) cultural resources, including evidence 

5 of prehistoric habitation and rock art; 

6 (2) Gold Butte has become a destination for di7 verse recreation opportunities, including camping, 

8 hiking, hunting, motorized recreation, and sight9 seeing; 

10 (3) Gold Butte draws visitors from throughout 

11 the United States; 

12 (4) Gold Butte provides important economic 

13 benefits to Mesquite and other nearby communities; 

14 (5) inclusion of the Gold Butte National Con15 servation Area in the National Landscape Conserva16 tion System would provide increased opportunities 

17 for— 

18 (A) interpretation of the diverse values of 

19 the area for the visiting public; and 

20 (B) education and community outreach in 

21 the region; and 

22 (6) designation of Gold Butte as a National 

23 Conservation Area will permanently protect the sce24 nic, biological, natural, historical, scientific, paleonVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Feb 17, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H856.IH H856

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1 tological, recreational, ecological, wilderness, and 

2 cultural resources within the area. 

3 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 

6 Council’’ means the Gold Butte National Conserva7 tion Area Advisory Council established under section 

8 104(a). 

9 (2) CONSERVATION AREA.—The term ‘‘Con10 servation Area’’ means the Gold Butte National 

11 Conservation Area established by section 101(a). 

12 (3) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means Clark 

13 County, Nevada. 

14 (4) DESIGNATED ROUTE.—The term ‘‘des15 ignated route’’ means a road that is designated as 

16 open by the Route Designations for Selected Areas 

17 of Critical Environmental Concern Located in the 

18 Northeast Portion of the Las Vegas BLM District 

19 Environmental Assessment, NV–052–2006–0433. 

20 (5) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage21 ment plan’’ means the management plan for the 

22 Conservation Area developed under section 102(b). 

23 (6) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en24 titled ‘‘Gold Butte National Conservation Area’’ and 

25 dated May 23, 2013. 


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1 (7) PUBLIC LAND.—The term ‘‘public land’’ 

2 has the meaning given the term ‘‘public lands’’ in 

3 section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Manage4 ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702). 

5 (8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

6 the Secretary of the Interior. 

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

8 of Nevada. 

9 (10) WILDERNESS AREA.—The term ‘‘wilder10 ness area’’ means a wilderness areas designated by 

11 section 202(a). 

12 TITLE I—GOLD BUTTE NA13 TIONAL CONSERVATION AREA 

14 SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF GOLD BUTTE NATIONAL 

15 CONSERVATION AREA. 

16 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Gold 

17 Butte National Conservation Area in the State. 

18 (b) AREA INCLUDED.—The Conservation Area shall 

19 consist of approximately 348,515 acres of public land ad20 ministered by the Bureau of Land Management in the 

21 County, as generally depicted on the Map. 

22 (c) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

25 shall file a map and legal description of the ConVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Feb 17, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H856.IH H856

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1 servation Area with the Committee on Natural Re2 sources of the House of Representatives and the 

3 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 

4 Senate. 

5 (2) EFFECT.—The map and legal description 

6 prepared under paragraph (1) shall have the same 

7 force and effect as if included in this title, except 

8 that the Secretary may correct minor errors in the 

9 map or legal description. 

10 (3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—A copy of the map 

11 and legal description shall be on file and available 

12 for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the 

13 Bureau of Land Management and the National Park 

14 Service. 

15 SEC. 102. MANAGEMENT OF CONSERVATION AREA. 

16 (a) PURPOSES.—In accordance with this title, the 

17 Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 

18 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and other applicable laws, the Sec19 retary shall manage the Conservation Area in a manner 

20 that conserves, protects, and enhances the scenic, biologi21 cal, natural, historical, scientific, paleontological, rec22 reational, ecological, wilderness, and cultural resources of 

23 the Conservation Area. 

24 (b) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 


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1 (1) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 3 years 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec3 retary shall develop a management plan for the long4 term protection and management of the Conserva5 tion Area. 

6 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall pre7 pare the management plan in consultation with the 

8 State, local and tribal government entities, the Advi9 sory Council, and the public. 

10 (3) REQUIREMENTS.—The management plan 

11 shall— 

12 (A) describe the appropriate uses and 

13 management of the Conservation Area; and 

14 (B) include a recommendation on interpre15 tive and educational materials regarding the 

16 cultural and biological resources of the region 

17 within which the Conservation Area is located. 

18 (4) INCORPORATION OF ROUTE DESIGNA19 TIONS.—The management plan shall incorporate the 

20 decisions in the Route Designations for Selected 

21 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern Located in 

22 the Northeast Portion of the Las Vegas BLM Dis23 trict Environmental Assessment, NV–052–2006– 

24 0433. 


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1 (c) USES.—The Secretary shall allow only such uses 

2 of the Conservation Area that the Secretary determines 

3 would further the purpose of the Conservation Area de4 scribed in subsection (a). 

5 (d) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LAND AND IN6 TERESTS.—Any land or interests in land located within 

7 the boundary of the Conservation Area that is acquired 

8 by the United States after the date of enactment of this 

9 Act shall become part of the Conservation Area and be 

10 managed as provided in subsection (a). 

11 (e) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except in cases in which 

13 motorized vehicles are needed for administrative pur14 poses or to respond to an emergency, the use of mo15 torized vehicles shall be permitted only on des16 ignated routes. 

17 (2) MONITORING AND EVALUATION.—The Sec18 retary shall annually— 

19 (A) assess the effects of the use of motor20 ized vehicles on designated routes; and 

21 (B) in consultation with the Nevada De22 partment of Wildlife, assess the effects of des23 ignated routes on wildlife and wildlife habitat to 

24 minimize environmental impacts and prevent 


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1 damage to cultural and historical resources 

2 from the use of designated routes. 

3 (3) MANAGEMENT.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

5 manage designated routes in a manner that— 

6 (i) is consistent with motorized and 

7 mechanized use of the designated routes 

8 that is authorized on the date of the enact9 ment of this Act; 

10 (ii) ensures the safety of the people 

11 that use the designated routes; 

12 (iii) does not damage sensitive habitat 

13 or cultural or historical resources; and 

14 (iv) provides for adaptive management 

15 of resources and restoration of damaged 

16 habitat or resources. 

17 (B) REROUTING.— 

18 (i) IN GENERAL.—A designated route 

19 may be temporarily closed or rerouted if 

20 the Secretary, in consultation with the 

21 State, the County, and the Advisory Coun22 cil, subject to subparagraph (C), deter23 mines that— 

24 (I) the designated route is having 

25 an adverse impact on— 


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1 (aa) sensitive habitat; 

2 (bb) natural resources; 

3 (cc) cultural resources; or 

4 (dd) historical resources; 

5 (II) the designated route threat6 ens public safety; 

7 (III) temporary closure of the 

8 designated route is necessary to re9 pair— 

10 (aa) the designated route; or 

11 (bb) resource damage; or 

12 (IV) modification of the des13 ignated route would not significantly 

14 affect access within the Conservation 

15 Area. 

16 (ii) PRIORITY.—If the Secretary de17 termines that the rerouting of a designated 

18 route is necessary under clause (i), the 

19 Secretary may give priority to existing 

20 roads designated as closed. 

21 (iii) DURATION.—A designated route 

22 that is temporarily closed under clause (i) 

23 shall remain closed only until the date on 

24 which the resource or public safety issue 


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1 that led to the temporary closure has been 

2 resolved. 

3 (C) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide 

4 information to the public regarding any des5 ignated routes that are open, have been re6 routed, or are temporarily closed through— 

7 (i) use of appropriate signage within 

8 the Conservation Area; and 

9 (ii) the distribution of maps, safety 

10 education materials, law enforcement, and 

11 other information considered to be appro12 priate by the Secretary. 

13 (4) NO EFFECT ON NON-FEDERAL LAND OR IN14 TERESTS IN NON-FEDERAL LAND.—Nothing in this 

15 section affects ownership, management, or other 

16 rights relating to non-Federal land or interests in 

17 non-Federal land. 

18 (5) MAP ON FILE.—The Secretary shall keep a 

19 current map on file at the appropriate offices of the 

20 Bureau of Land Management. 

21 (6) ROAD CONSTRUCTION.—Except as nec22 essary for administrative purposes or to respond to 

23 an emergency, the Secretary shall not construct any 

24 permanent or temporary road within the Conserva25 tion Area after the date of enactment of this Act. 


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1 (f) NATIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION SYS2 TEM.—The Conservation Area shall be administered as a 

3 component of the National Landscape Conservation Sys4 tem. 

5 (g) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.—Nothing in 

6 this title affects the jurisdiction of the State with respect 

7 to fish and wildlife, including hunting, fishing, and trap8 ping in the Conservation Area. 

9 SEC. 103. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

10 (a) NO BUFFER ZONES.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The establishment of the 

12 Conservation Area shall not create an express or im13 plied protective perimeter or buffer zone around the 

14 Conservation Area. 

15 (2) PRIVATE LAND.—If the use of, or conduct 

16 of an activity on, private land that shares a bound17 ary with the Conservation Area is consistent with 

18 applicable law, nothing in this title concerning the 

19 establishment of the Conservation Area prohibits or 

20 limits the use or conduct of the activity. 

21 (b) WITHDRAWALS.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

22 all public land within the Conservation Area, including any 

23 land or interest in land that is acquired by the United 

24 States within the Conservation Area after the date of en25 actment of this Act, is withdrawn from— 


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1 (1) entry, appropriation or disposal under the 

2 public land laws; 

3 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

4 laws; and 

5 (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 

6 materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

7 (c) SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The establishment of the 

9 Conservation Area shall not affect the management 

10 status of any area within the boundary of the Con11 servation Area that is protected under the Clark 

12 County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. 

13 (2) CONFLICT OF LAWS.—If there is a conflict 

14 between the laws applicable to an area described in 

15 paragraph (1) and this title, the more restrictive 

16 provision shall control. 

17 SEC. 104. GOLD BUTTE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA 

18 ADVISORY COUNCIL. 

19 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

20 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es21 tablish an advisory council, to be known as the ‘‘Gold 

22 Butte National Conservation Area Advisory Council’’. 

23 (b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Council shall advise the 

24 Secretary with respect to the preparation and implementa25 tion of the management plan. 


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1 (c) APPLICABLE LAW.—The Advisory Council shall 

2 be subject to— 

3 (1) the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

4 U.S.C. App.); and 

5 (2) the Federal Land Policy and Management 

6 Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

7 (d) MEMBERS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Council shall 

9 include 13 members to be appointed by the Sec10 retary, of whom, to the extent practicable— 

11 (A) 4 members shall be appointed after 

12 considering the recommendations of the Mes13 quite, Nevada, City Council; 

14 (B) 1 member shall be appointed after con15 sidering the recommendations of the 

16 Bunkerville, Nevada, Town Advisory Board; 

17 (C) 1 member shall be appointed after con18 sidering the recommendations of the Moapa 

19 Valley, Nevada, Town Advisory Board; 

20 (D) 1 member shall be appointed after 

21 considering the recommendations of the Moapa, 

22 Nevada, Town Advisory Board; 

23 (E) 1 member shall be appointed after con24 sidering the recommendations of the Moapa 

25 Band of Paiutes Tribal Council; and 


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1 (F) 5 at-large members from the County 

2 shall be appointed after considering the rec3 ommendations of the County Commission. 

4 (2) SPECIAL APPOINTMENT CONSIDER5 ATIONS.—The at-large members appointed under 

6 paragraph (1)(F) shall have backgrounds that re7 flect— 

8 (A) the purposes for which the Conserva9 tion Area was established; and 

10 (B) the interests of persons affected by the 

11 planning and management of the Conservation 

12 Area. 

13 (3) REPRESENTATION.—The Secretary shall en14 sure that the membership of the Advisory Council is 

15 fairly balanced in terms of the points of view rep16 resented and the functions to be performed by the 

17 Advisory Council. 

18 (4) INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 

19 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 

20 Secretary shall appoint the initial members of the 

21 Advisory Council in accordance with paragraph (1). 

22 (e) DUTIES OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The Advi23 sory Council shall advise the Secretary with respect to the 

24 preparation and implementation of the management plan, 


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1 including budgetary matters relating to the Conservation 

2 Area. 

3 (f) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Advisory Coun4 cil shall receive no compensation for serving on the Advi5 sory Council. 

6 (g) CHAIRPERSON.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Council shall 

8 elect a Chairperson from among the members of the 

9 Advisory Council. 

10 (2) TERM.—The term of the Chairperson shall 

11 be 3 years. 

12 (h) TERM OF MEMBERS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The term of a member of 

14 the Advisory Council shall be 3 years. 

15 (2) SUCCESSORS.—Notwithstanding the expira16 tion of a 3-year term of a member of the Advisory 

17 Council, a member may continue to serve on the Ad18 visory Council until a successor is appointed. 

19 (i) VACANCIES.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the Advisory 

21 Council shall be filled in the same manner in which 

22 the original appointment was made. 

23 (2) APPOINTMENT FOR REMAINDER OF

24 TERM.—A member appointed to fill a vacancy on the 


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1 Advisory Council shall serve for the remainder of the 

2 term for which the predecessor was appointed. 

3 (j) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Council shall ter4 minate not later than 3 years after the date on which the 

5 final version of the management plan is published. 

6 TITLE II—DESIGNATION OF WIL7 DERNESS AREAS IN CLARK 

8 COUNTY, NEVADA 

9 SEC. 201. FINDINGS. 

10 Congress finds that— 

11 (1) public land administered by the Bureau of 

12 Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Na13 tional Park Service in the County contains unique 

14 and spectacular natural, cultural, and historical re15 sources, including— 

16 (A) priceless habitat for numerous species 

17 of plants and wildlife; 

18 (B) thousands of acres of land that remain 

19 in a natural state; and 

20 (C) numerous sites containing significant 

21 cultural and historical artifacts; and 

22 (2) continued preservation of the public land 

23 would benefit the County and all of the United 

24 States by— 


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1 (A) ensuring the conservation of eco2 logically diverse habitat; 

3 (B) protecting prehistoric cultural re4 sources; 

5 (C) conserving primitive recreational re6 sources; and 

7 (D) protecting air and water quality. 

8 SEC. 202. ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESER9 VATION SYSTEM. 

10 (a) ADDITIONS.—In furtherance of the Wilderness 

11 Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following public land 

12 administered by the National Park Service or the Bureau 

13 of Land Management in the County is designated as wil14 derness and as components of the National Wilderness 

15 Preservation System: 

16 (1) VIRGIN PEAK WILDERNESS.—Certain public 

17 land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, 

18 comprising approximately 18,296 acres, as generally 

19 depicted on the Map, which shall be known as the 

20 ‘‘Virgin Peak Wilderness’’. 

21 (2) BLACK RIDGE WILDERNESS.—Certain pub22 lic land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage23 ment, comprising approximately 18,192 acres, as 

24 generally depicted on the Map, which shall be known 

25 as the ‘‘Black Ridge Wilderness’’. 


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1 (3) BITTER RIDGE NORTH WILDERNESS.—Cer2 tain public land managed by the Bureau of Land 

3 Management comprising approximately 15,114 

4 acres, as generally depicted on the Map, which shall 

5 be known as the ‘‘Bitter Ridge North Wilderness’’. 

6 (4) BITTER RIDGE SOUTH WILDERNESS.—Cer7 tain public land managed by the Bureau of Land 

8 Management, comprising approximately 12,646 

9 acres, as generally depicted on the Map, which shall 

10 be known as the ‘‘Bitter Ridge Wilderness’’. 

11 (5) BILLY GOAT PEAK WILDERNESS.—Certain 

12 public land managed by the Bureau of Land Man13 agement, comprising approximately 30,460 acres, as 

14 generally depicted on the Map, which shall be known 

15 as the ‘‘Billy Goat Peak Wilderness’’. 

16 (6) MILLION HILLS WILDERNESS.—Certain 

17 public land managed by the Bureau of Land Man18 agement, comprising approximately 24,818 acres, as 

19 generally depicted on the Map, which shall be known 

20 as the ‘‘Million Hills Wilderness’’. 

21 (7) OVERTON WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal 

22 land within the Lake Mead National Recreation 

23 Area, comprising approximately 23,227 acres, as 

24 generally depicted on the Map, which shall be known 

25 as the ‘‘Overton Wilderness’’. 


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1 (8) TWIN SPRINGS WILDERNESS.—Certain Fed2 eral land within the Lake Mead National Recreation 

3 Area, comprising approximately 9,684 acres, as gen4 erally depicted on the Map, which shall be known as 

5 the ‘‘Twin Springs Wilderness’’. 

6 (9) SCANLON WASH WILDERNESS.—Certain 

7 Federal land within the Lake Mead National Recre8 ation Area, comprising approximately 22,826 acres, 

9 as generally depicted on the Map, which shall be 

10 known as the ‘‘Scanlon Wash Wilderness’’. 

11 (10) HILLER MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS.—Cer12 tain Federal land within the Lake Mead National 

13 Recreation Area, comprising approximately 14,832 

14 acres, as generally depicted on the Map, which shall 

15 be known as the ‘‘Hiller Mountains Wilderness’’. 

16 (11) HELL’S KITCHEN WILDERNESS.—Certain 

17 Federal land within the Lake Mead National Recre18 ation Area, comprising approximately 12,439 acres, 

19 as generally depicted on the Map, which shall be 

20 known as the ‘‘Hell’s Kitchen Wilderness’’. 

21 (12) INDIAN HILLS WILDERNESS.—Certain 

22 Federal land within the Lake Mead National Recre23 ation Area, comprising approximately 8,955 acres, 

24 as generally depicted on the Map, which shall be 

25 known as the ‘‘Indian Hills Wilderness’’. 


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1 (13) LIME CANYON WILDERNESS ADDITIONS.— 

2 Certain public land managed by the Bureau of Land 

3 Management, comprising approximately 10,069 

4 acres, as generally depicted on the Map, which is in5 corporated in, and shall be managed as part of, the 

6 ‘‘Lime Canyon Wilderness’’ designated by section 

7 202(a)(9) of the Clark County Conservation of Pub8 lic Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 (16 

9 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 107–282). 

10 (b) NATIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION SYS11 TEM.—The wilderness areas administered by the Bureau 

12 of Land Management shall be administered as components 

13 of the National Landscape Conservation System. 

14 (c) ROAD OFFSET.—The boundary of any portion of 

15 a wilderness area that is bordered by a road shall be at 

16 least 100 feet away from the centerline of the road so as 

17 not to interfere with public access. 

18 (d) LAKE OFFSET.—The boundary of any portion of 

19 a wilderness area that is bordered by Lake Mead or the 

20 Colorado River shall be 300 feet inland from the high 

21 water line. 

22 (e) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

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1 ness area with the Committee on Natural Resources 

2 of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

3 on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. 

4 (2) EFFECT.—Each map and legal description 

5 under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and 

6 effect as if included in this title, except that the Sec7 retary may correct clerical and typographical errors 

8 in the map or legal description. 

9 (3) AVAILABILITY.—Each map and legal de10 scription under paragraph (1) shall be on file and 

11 available for public inspection in the appropriate of12 fices of the Bureau of Land Management and the 

13 National Park Service. 

14 SEC. 203. ADMINISTRATION. 

15 (a) MANAGEMENT.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

16 the wilderness areas shall be administered by the Sec17 retary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 

18 1131 et seq.), except that— 

19 (1) any reference in that Act to the effective 

20 date of that Act shall be considered to be a reference 

21 to the date of enactment of this Act; and 

22 (2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary 

23 of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference 

24 to the Secretary. 


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1 (b) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LAND AND IN2 TERESTS.—Any land or interest in land within the bound3 aries of a wilderness area that is acquired by the United 

4 States after the date of enactment of this Act shall be 

5 added to, and administered as part of, the wilderness area 

6 within which the acquired land or interest is located. 

7 (c) WATER RIGHTS.— 

8 (1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

9 (A) the land designated as a wilderness 

10 area— 

11 (i) is within the Mojave Desert; 

12 (ii) is arid in nature; and 

13 (iii) includes ephemeral streams; 

14 (B) the hydrology of the land designated 

15 as a wilderness area is locally characterized by 

16 complex flow patterns and alluvial fans with im17 permanent channels; 

18 (C) the subsurface hydrogeology of the re19 gion within which the land designated as a wil20 derness area is located is characterized by 

21 ground water subject to local and regional flow 

22 gradients and artesian aquifers; 

23 (D) the land designated as a wilderness 

24 area is generally not suitable for use or develop25 ment of new water resource facilities; 


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1 (E) there are no actual or proposed water 

2 resource facilities and no opportunities for di3 version, storage, or other uses of water occur4 ring outside the land designated as a wilderness 

5 area that would adversely affect the wilderness 

6 or other values of the land; and 

7 (F) because of the unique nature and hy8 drology of the desert land designated as a wil9 derness area and the existence of the Clark 

10 County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation 

11 Plan, it is possible to provide for proper man12 agement and protection of the wilderness, pe13 rennial springs, and other values of the land in 

14 ways different than the methods used in other 

15 laws. 

16 (2) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 

17 (A) NO RESERVATION.—Nothing in this 

18 title constitutes an express or implied reserva19 tion by the United States of any water or water 

20 rights with respect to the land designated as a 

21 wilderness area. 

22 (B) STATE RIGHTS.—Nothing in this title 

23 affects any water rights in the State existing on 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, including any 

25 water rights held by the United States. 


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1 (C) NO PRECEDENT.—Nothing in this sub2 section establishes a precedent with regard to 

3 any future wilderness designations. 

4 (D) NO EFFECT ON COMPACTS.—Nothing 

5 in this title limits, alters, modifies, or amends 

6 any of the interstate compacts or equitable ap7 portionment decrees that apportion water 

8 among and between the State and other States. 

9 (E) CLARK COUNTY MULTI-SPECIES HABI10 TAT CONSERVATION PLAN.—Nothing in this 

11 title limits, alters, modifies, or amends the 

12 Clark County Multi-Species Habitat Conserva13 tion Plan with respect to the land designated as 

14 a wilderness area, including specific manage15 ment actions for the conservation of perennial 

16 springs. 

17 (3) NEVADA WATER LAW.—The Secretary shall 

18 follow the procedural and substantive requirements 

19 of State law in order to obtain and hold any water 

20 rights not in existence on the date of enactment of 

21 this Act with respect to the land designated as a wil22 derness area. 

23 (4) NEW PROJECTS.— 

24 (A) DEFINITION.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—In this paragraph, 

2 the term ‘‘water resource facility’’ means 

3 irrigation and pumping facilities, res4 ervoirs, water conservation works, aque5 ducts, canals, ditches, pipelines, wells, hy6 dropower projects, and transmission and 

7 other ancillary facilities, and other water 

8 diversion, storage, and carriage structures. 

9 (ii) EXCLUSION.—In this paragraph, 

10 the term ‘‘water resource facility’’ does not 

11 include wildlife guzzlers. 

12 (B) NO LICENSES OR PERMITS.—Except 

13 as otherwise provided in this title, on and after 

14 the date of enactment of this Act, neither the 

15 President nor any other officer, employee, or 

16 agent of the United States shall fund, assist, 

17 authorize, or issue a license or permit for the 

18 development of any new water resource facility 

19 within the land designated as a wilderness area. 

20 (d) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

21 any Federal land within the wilderness areas, including 

22 any land or interest in land that is acquired by the United 

23 States within the Conservation Area after the date of en24 actment of this Act, is withdrawn from— 


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1 (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the 

2 public land laws; 

3 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

4 laws; and 

5 (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 

6 materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

7 SEC. 204. ADJACENT MANAGEMENT. 

8 (a) NO BUFFER ZONES.—Congress does not intend 

9 for the designation of land as wilderness areas to lead to 

10 the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones 

11 around the wilderness areas. 

12 (b) NONWILDERNESS ACTIVITIES.—The fact that 

13 nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from 

14 areas within a wilderness area shall not preclude the con15 duct of those activities or uses outside the boundary of 

16 the wilderness area. 

17 SEC. 205. MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND EMERGENCY 

18 OVERFLIGHTS. 

19 Nothing in this Act restricts or precludes— 

20 (1) low-level overflights of military, law enforce21 ment, or emergency medical services aircraft over 

22 the area designated as wilderness by this Act, in23 cluding military, law enforcement, or emergency 

24 medical services overflights that can be seen or 

25 heard within the wilderness area; 


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1 (2) flight testing and evaluation; or 

2 (3) the designation or creation of new units of 

3 special use airspace, or the establishment of military, 

4 law enforcement, or emergency medical services 

5 flight training routes, over the wilderness area. 

6 SEC. 206. RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS. 

7 (a) FINDING.—Congress finds that, for the purposes 

8 of section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Manage9 ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), the Bureau of Land 

10 Management land in any portion of the wilderness study 

11 areas located within the Conservation Area not designated 

12 as a wilderness area has been adequately studied for wil13 derness designation. 

14 (b) RELEASE.—Any Bureau of Land Management 

15 land described in subsection (a) that is not designated as 

16 a wilderness area— 

17 (1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the 

18 Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 

19 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); 

20 (2) shall be managed in accordance with— 

21 (A) the land management plans adopted 

22 under section 202 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 

23 1712); and 


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1 (B) cooperative conservation agreements in 

2 existence on the date of enactment of this Act; 

3 and 

4 (3) shall be subject to the Endangered Species 

5 Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

6 SEC. 207. NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS 

7 USES. 

8 Nothing in this title diminishes— 

9 (1) the rights of any Indian tribe; or 

10 (2) tribal rights regarding access to Federal 

11 land for tribal activities, including spiritual, cultural, 

12 and traditional food-gathering activities. 

13 SEC. 208. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 

15 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), 

16 nothing in this title affects or diminishes the jurisdiction 

17 of the State with respect to fish and wildlife management, 

18 including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping, 

19 in the wilderness areas. 

20 (b) MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—In furtherance of the pur22 poses and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 

23 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), management activities to 

24 maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations and 

25 the habitats to support the populations may be carVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Feb 17, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H856.IH H856

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1 ried out within the wilderness areas, if the activi2 ties— 

3 (A) are consistent with relevant wilderness 

4 management plans; and 

5 (B) are carried out in accordance with ap6 propriate policies, such as those set forth in Ap7 pendix B of House Report 101–405. 

8 (2) USE OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—The man9 agement activities under paragraph (1) may include 

10 the occasional and temporary use of motorized vehi11 cles, if the use, as determined by the Secretary, 

12 would— 

13 (A) promote healthy, viable, and more nat14 urally distributed wildlife populations that 

15 would enhance wilderness values; and 

16 (B) accomplish the purposes described in 

17 subparagraph (A) with the minimum impact 

18 necessary to reasonably accomplish the task. 

19 (c) EXISTING ACTIVITIES.—Consistent with section 

20 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and 

21 in accordance with appropriate policies such as those set 

22 forth in Appendix B of House Report 101–405, the State 

23 may continue to use aircraft (including helicopters) to sur24 vey, capture, transplant, monitor, and provide water for 


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1 wildlife populations, including bighorn sheep, and feral 

2 stock, horses, and burros. 

3 (d) WILDLIFE WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.— 

4 Subject to subsection (f), the Secretary shall authorize 

5 structures and facilities, including existing structures and 

6 facilities, for wildlife water development projects, including 

7 guzzlers, in the wilderness areas if— 

8 (1) the structures and facilities will, as deter9 mined by the Secretary, enhance wilderness values 

10 by promoting healthy, viable and more naturally dis11 tributed wildlife populations; and 

12 (2) the visual impacts of the structures and fa13 cilities on the wilderness areas can reasonably be 

14 minimized. 

15 (e) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may des17 ignate, by regulation, areas in which, and establish 

18 periods during which, for reasons of public safety, 

19 administration, or compliance with applicable laws, 

20 no hunting, fishing, or trapping will be permitted in 

21 the wilderness areas. 

22 (2) CONSULTATION.—Except in emergencies, 

23 the Secretary shall consult with the appropriate 

24 State agency before promulgating regulations under 

25 paragraph (1). 


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1 (f) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—The State, includ2 ing a designee of the State, may conduct wildlife manage3 ment activities in the wilderness areas— 

4 (1) in accordance with the terms and conditions 

5 specified in the cooperative agreement between the 

6 Secretary and the State entitled ‘‘Memorandum of 

7 Understanding between the Bureau of Land Man8 agement and the Nevada Department of Wildlife 

9 Supplement No. 9’’ and signed November and De10 cember 2003, including any amendments to the co11 operative agreement agreed to by the Secretary and 

12 the State; and 

13 (2) subject to all applicable laws (including reg14 ulations). 

15 SEC. 209. WILDFIRE, INSECT, AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 

17 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), the 

18 Secretary may take such measures in each wilderness area 

19 as the Secretary determines to be necessary for the control 

20 of fire, insects, and diseases (including, as the Secretary 

21 determines to be appropriate, the coordination of the ac22 tivities with a State or local agency). 

23 (b) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act precludes a Fed24 eral, State, or local agency from conducting wildfire man25 agement operations (including operations using aircraft or 


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1 mechanized equipment) in accordance with section 4(d)(1) 

2 of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)). 

3 SEC. 210. CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION. 

4 Subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 

5 may require, nothing in this title precludes the installation 

6 and maintenance of hydrologic, meteorologic, or climato7 logical collection devices in the wilderness areas if the fa8 cilities and access to the facilities are essential to flood 

9 warning, flood control, and water reservoir operation ac10 tivities. 

11 SEC. 211. NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM LAND. 

12 To the extent any of the provisions of this title are 

13 in conflict with laws (including regulations) or manage14 ment policies applicable to Federal land within the Lake 

15 Mead National Recreation Area designated as a wilderness 

16 area, the laws (including regulations) or policies shall con17 trol. 

18 TITLE III—GENERAL 

19 PROVISIONS 

20 SEC. 301. RELATIONSHIP TO CLARK COUNTY MULTI-SPE21 CIES HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act limits, alters, 

23 modifies, or amends the Clark County Multi-Species Habi24 tat Conservation Plan with respect to the Conservation 

25 Area and the wilderness areas, including the specific manVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Feb 17, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H856.IH H856

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1 agement actions contained in the Clark County Multi-Spe2 cies Habitat Conservation Plan for the conservation of pe3 rennial springs. 

4 (b) CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT AREAS.—The Sec5 retary shall credit the Conservation Area and the wilder6 ness areas as Conservation Management Areas, as may 

7 be required by the Clark County Multi-Species Habitat 

8 Conservation Plan (including amendments to the plan). 

9 (c) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—In developing the manage10 ment plan, to the extent consistent with this section, the 

11 Secretary may incorporate any provision of the Clark 

12 County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. 

13 SEC. 302. VISITOR CENTER, RESEARCH, AND INTERPRETA14 TION. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 

16 Director of the Bureau of Land Management, may estab17 lish, in cooperation with any other public or private enti18 ties that the Secretary may determine to be appropriate, 

19 a visitor center and field office in Mesquite, Nevada— 

20 (1) to serve visitors; and 

21 (2) to assist in fulfilling the purposes of— 

22 (A) the Lake Mead National Recreation 

23 Area; 

24 (B) the Grand Canyon-Parashant National 

25 Monument; and 


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1 (C) the Conservation Area. 

2 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure 

3 that the visitor center authorized under subsection (a) is 

4 designed— 

5 (1) to interpret the scenic, biological, natural, 

6 historical, scientific, paleontological, recreational, ec7 ological, wilderness, and cultural resources of each of 

8 the areas described in that subsection; and 

9 (2) to serve as an interagency field office for 

10 each of the areas described in that subsection. 

11 (c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary 

12 may, in a manner consistent with this Act, enter into coop13 erative agreements with the State, the State of Arizona, 

14 and any other appropriate institutions and organizations 

15 to carry out the purposes of this section. 

16 SEC. 303. TERMINATION OF WITHDRAWAL OF BUREAU OF 

17 LAND MANAGEMENT LAND. 

18 (a) TERMINATION OF WITHDRAWAL.—The with19 drawal of the parcels of Bureau of Land Management land 

20 described in subsection (b) for use by the Bureau of Rec21 lamation is terminated. 

22 (b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcels of land re23 ferred to in subsection (a) consist of the Bureau of Land 

24 Management land identified on the Map as ‘‘Transfer 

25 from BOR to BLM’’. 


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1 (c) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

3 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

4 shall finalize the legal description of the land revert5 ing to the Bureau of Land Management under sub6 section (a). 

7 (2) MINOR ERRORS.—The Secretary may cor8 rect any minor error in— 

9 (A) the Map; or 

10 (B) the legal description. 

11 (3) AVAILABILITY.—The Map and legal descrip12 tion shall be on file and available for public inspec13 tion in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of 

14 Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation. 

Æ 


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