IIB 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2110 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 

Received 

NOVEMBER 13, 2006 

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

AN ACT 

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 

3 ‘‘Colorado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop 

4 Protection 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 

8 a 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 

16 asset for adjoining communities, making them at17 tractive 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 

22 development of other lands within and adjacent to 

23 that 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 

2 of the mountain backdrop in this part of Colorado 

3 remain unprotected and are at risk of losing their 

4 open 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 

8 protection 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 with21 in the study area and, not later than one year after the 

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

23 officials 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 subdivi5 sion of such State, or any other parties to preserve 

6 the open and undeveloped character of such lands. 

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

8 the following definitions apply: 

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

10 means those lands in southern Boulder, northern 

11 Jefferson, and northern Gilpin Counties, Colorado, 

12 that are situated west of Colorado State Highway 

13 93, south and east of Colorado State Highway 119, 

14 and north of Colorado State Highway 46, excluding 

15 lands within the city limits of the cities of Boulder 

16 or Golden, Colorado, as generally depicted on the 

17 map entitled ‘‘Northern Front Range Mountain 

18 Backdrop Study 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 

2 adversely affect the scenic, wildlife, or rec3 reational 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 

16 any lands not owned by the United States. 

Passed the House of Representatives September 27, 

2006. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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