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Union Calendar No. 364 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2110 

[Report No. 109–624] 

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

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

Forests in Colorado, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 4, 2005 

Mr. UDALL of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Resources 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 4, 2005] 

A BILL 

To provide for a study of options for protecting the open 

space characteristics of certain lands in and adjacent 

to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

2 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Col3 orado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protec4 tion Study Act’’. 

5 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

6 (1) Rising dramatically from the Great Plains, 

7 the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains provides a 

8 scenic mountain backdrop to many communities in 

9 the Denver metropolitan area and elsewhere in Colo10 rado. The portion of the range within and adjacent 

11 to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests also 

12 includes a diverse array of wildlife habitats and pro13 vides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. 

14 (2) The open space character of this mountain 

15 backdrop is an important esthetic and economic asset 

16 for adjoining communities, making them attractive 

17 locations for homes and businesses. 

18 (3) Rapid population growth in the northern 

19 Front Range area of Colorado is increasing rec20 reational use of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National 

21 Forests and is also placing increased pressure for de22 velopment of other lands within and adjacent to that 

23 national forest. 

24 (4) Efforts by local governments and other enti25 ties have provided important protection for portions 

26 of this mountain backdrop, especially in the northern 


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1 Denver metropolitan area. However, some portions of 

2 the mountain backdrop in this part of Colorado re3 main unprotected and are at risk of losing their open 

4 space qualities. 

5 (5) 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 pro8 tection of the mountain backdrop in the northern 

9 Front Range area of Colorado. 

10 (c) 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 lands that are part of the 

13 mountain backdrop of communities in the northern section 

14 of the Front Range area of Colorado. 

15 SEC. 2. COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN 

16 BACKDROP STUDY. 

17 (a) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Secretary of Agri18 culture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service and 

19 in consultation with the State and local officials and agen20 cies specified in subsection (c), shall review the lands within 

21 the study area and, not later than one year after the date 

22 of the enactment of this Act, shall report to such officials 

23 and to Congress regarding the following: 

24 (1) The present ownership of such lands. 


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1 (2) Which undeveloped land may be at risk of 

2 development. 

3 (3) Actions that could be taken by the United 

4 States, the State of Colorado or a political subdivision 

5 of such State, or any other parties to preserve the 

6 open and undeveloped character of such lands. 

7 (b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the 

8 following definitions apply: 

9 (1) STUDY AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ means 

10 those lands in southern Boulder, northern Jefferson, 

11 and northern Gilpin Counties, Colorado, that are sit12 uated west of Colorado State Highway 93, south and 

13 east of Colorado State Highway 119, and north of 

14 Colorado State Highway 46, excluding lands within 

15 the city limits of the cities of Boulder or Golden, Colo16 rado, as generally depicted on the map entitled 

17 ‘‘Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop Study 

18 Area’’ dated April, 2006. 

19 (2) UNDEVELOPED LAND.—The term ‘‘undevel20 oped land’’ means land that— 

21 (A) is located within the study area; 

22 (B) is free or primarily free of structures; 

23 and 


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1 (C) the development of which is likely to ad2 versely affect the scenic, wildlife, or recreational 

3 value of the study area. 

4 (c) CONSULTATIONS.—In implementing this Act, the 

5 Secretary shall consult with the following: 

6 (1) The Colorado Department of Natural Re7 sources. 

8 (2) Colorado State Forest Service. 

9 (3) Colorado State Conservation Board. 

10 (4) Great Outdoors Colorado. 

11 (5) The Boards of County Commissioners of 

12 Boulder, Jefferson, and Gilpin Counties, Colorado. 

13 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 

14 shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary of Agri15 culture to take any action that would affect the use of any 

16 lands not owned by the United States. 


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Union Calendar No. 364 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2110 

[Report No. 109

–624] 

A BILL 

To provide for a study of options for protecting the 

Forests in Colorado, and for other purposes. adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National open space characteristics of certain lands in and 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


pwalker on PRODPC60 with BILLS