I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8446 

To provide greater conservation, recreation, economic development and local 

management of Federal lands in Garfield and Kane Counties, Utah. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 

Mr. STEWART introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To provide greater conservation, recreation, economic development and local management of Federal lands in Garfield and Kane Counties, Utah. 

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 ‘‘Grand Staircase 

5 Escalante Enhancement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

7 The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

Sec. 3. Definitions. 

Sec. 4. Establishment of Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve. 

Sec. 5. Withdrawals. 


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Sec. 6. Map and legal description. 

Sec. 7. Grand Staircase National Monument. 

Sec. 8. Kaiparowits National Monument. 

Sec. 9. Escalante Canyons National Monument. 

Sec. 10. Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, Grand Staircase National Monument, Kaiparowits National Monument, and 

Escalante Canyons National Monument Management Council. 

Sec. 11. Federal land manager adherence. 

Sec. 12. Clarification. 

Sec. 13. Restoration of land status. 

Sec. 14. Hole in the Rock Road. 

Sec. 15. Effect on proclamations. 

1 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) MANAGEMENT COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Man4 agement Council’’ means the council established 

5 under section 10. 

6 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

7 the Secretary of the Interior. 

8 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ESCALANTE CANYONS NA9 TIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established 

11 within the Escalante Canyons National Monument the 

12 ‘‘Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve’’ in the 

13 State of Utah. 

14 (b) BOUNDARIES.—The boundaries of Escalante 

15 Canyons National Park and Preserve are as generally de16 picted on the map entitled ‘‘llll’’, numbered 

17 lll, and dated llll. The map shall be on file 

18 and available for public inspection in the appropriate of19 fices of the National Park Service. 


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1 (c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Escalante Can2 yons National Park and Preserve shall be to protect, con3 serve, and enhance in the Escalante Canyons National 

4 Park and Preserve— 

5 (1) the unique and nationally important his6 toric, natural, scenic, and natural resources; 

7 (2) recreation, including hunting; and 

8 (3) grazing. 

9 SEC. 5. WITHDRAWALS. 

10 Subject to valid existing rights, any Federal land 

11 within the Escalante Canyons National Park and Pre12 serve, including any land or interest in land that is ac13 quired by the United States after the date of enactment 

14 of this Act, is withdrawn from— 

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

16 public land laws; 

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

18 laws; and 

19 (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 

20 materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

21 SEC. 6. MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the 

23 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub24 mit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

25 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 


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1 Natural Resources of the Senate a map and legal descrip2 tion of the Escalante Canyons National Park and Pre3 serve. 

4 (b) FORCE AND EFFECT.—The map and legal de5 scription submitted under this section shall have the same 

6 force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the 

7 Secretary may make minor modifications of any clerical 

8 or typographical errors in the map or legal description 

9 provided these changes are first reported to the State of 

10 Utah, Garfield and Kane Counties in Utah, and the Man11 agement Council. 

12 SEC. 7. GRAND STAIRCASE NATIONAL MONUMENT. 

13 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to valid existing 

14 rights, the Federal land comprising approximately 

15 211,983 acres, identified as ‘‘Grand Staircase Unit’’ and 

16 generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Grand Staircase17 Escalante National Monument Modification’’ is hereby es18 tablished as the ‘‘Grand Staircase National Monument’’. 

19 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Grand Staircase 

20 National Monument shall be to protect, conserve, and en21 hance the monument’s— 

22 (1) unique and nationally important historic, 

23 scenic, and natural resources; 

24 (2) recreation, including hunting; and 

25 (3) grazing. 


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1 (c) MAP.— 

2 (1) As soon as practicable after the date of the 

3 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 

4 the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

5 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 

6 and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and 

7 legal description of the Grand Staircase National 

8 Monument established in this section. 

9 (2) The map and legal description submitted 

10 under this section shall have the same force and ef11 fect as if included in this title, except that the Sec12 retary may make minor modification of any clerical 

13 or typographical errors in the map or legal descrip14 tion provided these changes are first reported to the 

15 State of Utah, Kane County, Utah, and the Manage16 ment Council. 

17 (3) A copy of the map and legal description 

18 shall be on file and available for public inspection in 

19 the appropriate field offices of the Bureau of Land 

20 Management. 

21 SEC. 8. KAIPAROWITS NATIONAL MONUMENT. 

22 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to valid existing 

23 rights, the Federal land comprising approximately 

24 551,117 acres, identified as ‘‘Kaiparowits Unit’’ and gen25 erally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Grand StaircaseVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:57 Oct 26, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8446.IH H8446

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1 Escalante National Monument Modification’’ is hereby es2 tablished as the ‘‘Kaiparowits National Monument’’. 

3 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Kaiparowits Na4 tional Monument shall be to protect, conserve, and en5 hance the monument’s— 

6 (1) unique and nationally important historic, 

7 scenic, and natural resources; 

8 (2) recreation, including hunting; and 

9 (3) grazing. 

10 (c) MAP.— 

11 (1) As soon as practicable after the date of the 

12 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 

13 the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

14 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 

15 and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and 

16 legal description of the Kaiparowits National Monu17 ment established in this section. 

18 (2) The map and legal description submitted 

19 under this section shall have the same force and ef20 fect as if included in this title, except that the Sec21 retary may make minor modification of any clerical 

22 or typographical errors in the map or legal descrip23 tion provided these changes are first reported to the 

24 State of Utah, Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah, 

25 and the Management Council. 


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1 (3) A copy of the map and legal description 

2 shall be on file and available for public inspection in 

3 the appropriate field offices of the Bureau of Land 

4 Management. 

5 SEC. 9. ESCALANTE CANYONS NATIONAL MONUMENT. 

6 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the valid existing 

7 rights, the Federal land comprising approximately 

8 243,241 acres, identified as ‘‘Escalante Canyons Unit’’ 

9 and generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Grand Stair10 case-Escalante National Monument Modification’’ is here11 by established as the ‘‘Escalante Canyons National Monu12 ment’’. 

13 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Escalante Can14 yons National Monument shall be to protect, conserve, and 

15 enhance the monument’s— 

16 (1) unique and nationally important historic, 

17 scenic, and natural resources; 

18 (2) recreation, including hunting; and 

19 (3) grazing. 

20 (c) MAP.— 

21 (1) As soon as practicable after the date of the 

22 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 

23 the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

24 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 

25 and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and 


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1 legal description of the Escalante Canyons National 

2 Monument established in this section. 

3 (2) The map and legal description submitted 

4 under this section shall have the same force and ef5 fect as if included in this title, except that the Sec6 retary may make minor modification of any clerical 

7 or typographical errors in the map or legal descrip8 tion provided these changes are first reported to the 

9 State of Utah, Garfield County, Utah, and the Man10 agement Council. 

11 (3) A copy of the map and legal description 

12 shall be on file and available for public inspection in 

13 the appropriate field offices of the Bureau of Land 

14 Management. 

15 SEC. 10. ESCALANTE CANYONS NATIONAL PARK AND PRE16 SERVE, GRAND STAIRCASE NATIONAL MONU17 MENT, KAIPAROWITS NATIONAL MONUMENT, 

18 AND ESCALANTE CANYONS NATIONAL MONU19 MENT MANAGEMENT COUNCIL. 

20 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Management Council is 

21 hereby established. 

22 (b) DUTIES.—The Management Council shall develop 

23 and implement the comprehensive management plans for 

24 the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, the 

25 Grand Staircase National Monument, the Kaiparowits NaVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:57 Oct 26, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8446.IH H8446

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1 tional Monument, and the Escalante Canyons National 

2 Monument consistently with the purposes of those areas 

3 as provided in this Act. 

4 (c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Management Council shall 

5 be composed of 7 members appointed not later than 180 

6 days after the date of the enactment of this Act as follows: 

7 (1) One individual from the Department of In8 terior, appointed by the President. 

9 (2) Five individuals, appointed by the President 

10 in consultation with the Congressional delegation 

11 from the State of Utah and the Governor of Utah, 

12 who shall represent the following: 

13 (A) Two from the Garfield County, Utah, 

14 Board of Commissioners. 

15 (B) Two from the Kane County, Utah, 

16 Board of Commissioners. 

17 (C) One Utah State Legislator rep18 resenting Kane County, Garfield County, or 

19 both. 

20 (3) One at-large representative appointed by 

21 the President. 

22 (d) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members appointed 

23 under subsections (c) (2) and (3) shall not be employees 

24 of the Federal Government. 


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1 (e) TERMS.—The President shall appoint the mem2 bers under subsections (c) (2) and (3) for a term of 5 

3 years, except that the President shall designate staggered 

4 terms for the members initially appointed to the Manage5 ment Council. The President may reappoint a member to 

6 not more than three consecutive terms. 

7 (f) VACANCIES.—Vacancies of members appointed 

8 under subsections (c) (2) and (3) shall be filled in the 

9 same manner as such positions were originally filled as 

10 soon as practicable after the vacancy has occurred. 

11 (g) COMPENSATION.—Members appointed under sub12 sections (c) (2) and (3) shall serve without pay, except 

13 for reasonable travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 

14 of subsistence, at the rate authorized for employees of 

15 agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 

16 United States Code, while away from their homes or reg17 ular places of business in the performance of duties for 

18 the Council. 

19 (h) CHAIR.—The members shall select the chair of 

20 the Management Council from the members appointed 

21 under subsection (c) (2) and (3) for a term beginning on 

22 the date of selection, and ending in 5 years or until the 

23 member’s term of office expires, whichever occurs first. 

24 (i) STAFF ASSISTANCE.—The Management Council 

25 may request administrative assistance from Federal emVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:57 Oct 26, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8446.IH H8446

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1 ployees under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Inte2 rior or the Secretary of Agriculture. 

3 (j) MEETINGS.— 

4 (1) FREQUENCY.—The Management Council 

5 shall meet at the call of the Chair or a majority of 

6 the members. Meetings shall be held no less than 

7 once per year. A majority must be present to con8 stitute a quorum to conduct official business. 

9 (2) ANNOUNCEMENT; OPEN MEETINGS.—All 

10 meetings of the Management Council shall be an11 nounced at least one week in advance in publications 

12 of general circulation and shall be open to the pub13 lic. 

14 (k) ADMINISTRATION.— 

15 (1) The Management Council shall allow hunt16 ing, fishing and trapping on lands and water under 

17 the jurisdiction of the Secretary within the 

18 Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve in 

19 accordance with the applicable laws of the State of 

20 Utah. 

21 (2) The Management Council shall ensure that 

22 the privilege of grazing domestic livestock on lands 

23 with the Escalante Canyons National Park and Pre24 serve shall continue to be exercised and enhanced in 

25 perpetuity. Grazing within the Escalante Canyons 


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1 National Park and Preserve shall be administered by 

2 the National Park Service. 

3 SEC. 11. FEDERAL LAND MANAGER ADHERENCE. 

4 Federal land managers shall adhere to the manage5 ment plans created by the Management Council. 

6 SEC. 12. CLARIFICATION. 

7 Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the 

8 State of Utah with respect to the management of fish, 

9 wildlife and predators in the State. 

10 SEC. 13. RESTORATION OF LAND STATUS. 

11 Subject to valid existing rights, the provisions of ex12 isting withdrawals, and the requirements of applicable law, 

13 the public lands excluded from the monument reservation 

14 under Presidential Proclamation 9682, dated December 4, 

15 2017, and issued under chapter 3203 of title 54, United 

16 States Code, shall be open to: 

17 (1) entry, location, selection, sale or other dis18 position under the public land laws; 

19 (2) disposition under all laws relating to min20 eral and geothermal leasing; and 

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

22 laws. 


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1 SEC. 14. HOLE IN THE ROCK ROAD. 

2 The Secretary shall convey to the State of Utah all 

3 right, title and interest of the United States in and to the 

4 Hole in the Rock Road (BLM Road 200). 

5 SEC. 15. EFFECT ON PROCLAMATIONS. 

6 Any provision of Presidential Proclamation 6920, 

7 dated September 18, 1996, and Presidential Proclamation 

8 9682, dated December 4, 2017, and issued under chapter 

9 3203 of title 54, United States Code, that is inconsistent 

10 with this Act is hereby declared null and void. 

Æ 


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