I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2218 

To expand the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness and Sampson Mountain Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest in the State of Tennessee, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2017 

Mr. ROE of Tennessee 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 expand the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness and Sampson 

Mountain Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest 

in the State of Tennessee, 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 ‘‘Tennessee Wilderness 

5 Act of 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL WILDERNESS, CHER2 OKEE NATIONAL FOREST, TENNESSEE. 

3 (a) DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS.—In accordance 

4 with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the fol5 lowing parcels of Federal land in the Cherokee National 

6 Forest in the State of Tennessee are designated as wilder7 ness and as additions to existing components of the Na8 tional Wilderness Preservation System: 

9 (1) Certain land comprising approximately 

10 4,446 acres, as generally depicted as the ‘‘Big Lau11 rel Branch Addition’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Proposed 

12 Wilderness Areas and Additions-Cherokee National 

13 Forest’’ and dated January 20, 2010, which shall be 

14 incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part 

15 of, the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness. 

16 (2) Certain land comprising approximately 

17 2,922 acres, as generally depicted as the ‘‘Sampson 

18 Mountain Addition’’ on the map referred to in para19 graph (1), which shall be incorporated in, and shall 

20 be considered to be a part of, the Sampson Moun21 tain Wilderness. 

22 (b) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 

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

24 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

25 of Agriculture shall submit maps and legal descripVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:53 May 02, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2218.IH H2218

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1 tions of the wilderness designated by subsection (a) 

2 with the appropriate committees of Congress. 

3 (2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The maps and 

4 legal descriptions submitted under paragraph (1) 

5 shall be on file and available for public inspection in 

6 the office of the Chief of the Forest Service and the 

7 office of the Supervisor of the Cherokee National 

8 Forest. 

9 (3) FORCE OF LAW.—The maps and legal de10 scriptions submitted under paragraph (1) shall have 

11 the same force and effect as if included in this Act, 

12 except that the Secretary may correct typographical 

13 errors in the maps and descriptions. 

14 (c) ADMINISTRATION.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing 

16 rights, the Secretary of Agriculture shall administer 

17 the Federal land designated as wilderness by sub18 section (a) in accordance with the Wilderness Act 

19 (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference 

20 in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be 

21 deemed to be a reference to the date of the enact22 ment of this Act. 

23 (2) FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.—In ac24 cordance with section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act 

25 (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this Act affects 


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1 the jurisdiction of the State of Tennessee with re2 spect to fish and wildlife management (including the 

3 regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping) on the 

4 Federal land designated as wilderness by subsection 

5 (a). 

Æ 


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