II

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1966

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study whether the Apostle Islands

National Lakeshore should be protected as a wilderness area.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 22, 1998

Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. KOHL) introduced the following bill;

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study whether

the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore should be protected as a wilderness area.

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 ‘‘Gaylord Nelson Apos5 tle Islands Stewardship Act of 1998’’.

6 SEC. 2. GAYLORD NELSON APOSTLE ISLANDS.

7 (a) DECLARATIONS.—Congress declares that—

8 (1) the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a

9 national and a Wisconsin treasure;
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1 (2) the sesquicentennial year of the State of

2 Wisconsin provides an opportunity to reflect on and

3 act to protect important components of the State’s

4 ecological and cultural identity, such as the Lake5 shore;

6 (3) the State of Wisconsin is particularly in7 debted to former Senator Gaylord Nelson for his

8 leadership in the creation of the Lakeshore;

9 (4) after 28 years of enjoyment, some issues

10 critical to maintaining the overall ecological, rec11 reational, and cultural vision of the Lakeshore need

12 additional attention;

13 (5) the general management planning process

14 for the Lakeshore has identified a need for a formal

15 wilderness study;

16 (6) all lands within the Lakeshore that might

17 be suitable for designation as wilderness are cur18 rently zoned and managed to protect wilderness

19 characteristics pending completion of such a study;

20 (7) several historic lighthouses within the Lake21 shore are currently in danger of structural damage

22 due to severe erosion;

23 (8) the Secretary of the Interior has been un24 able to take full advantage of cooperative agree25 ments with Federal, State, local, and tribal govern-
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1 mental agencies, institutions of higher education,

2 and other nonprofit organizations that could assist

3 the National Park Service by contributing to the

4 management of the Lakeshore;

5 (9) because of competing needs in other units

6 of the National Park System, the standard authoriz7 ing and budgetary process has not resulted in up8 dated legislative authority and necessary funding for

9 improvements to the Lakeshore; and

10 (10) the need for improvements to the Lake11 shore and completion of a wilderness study should be

12 accorded a high priority among National Park Serv13 ice activities.

14 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

15 (1) LAKESHORE.—The term ‘‘Lakeshore’’

16 means the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

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

18 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di19 rector of the National Park Service.

20 (c) WILDERNESS STUDY.—In fulfillment of the re21 sponsibilities of the Secretary under the Wilderness Act

22 (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and of applicable agency policy,

23 the Secretary shall evaluate areas of land within the Lake24 shore for inclusion in the National Wilderness System.
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1 (d) APOSTLE ISLANDS LIGHTHOUSES.—The Sec2 retary shall undertake appropriate action (including pro3 tection of the bluff toe beneath the lighthouses, stabiliza4 tion of the bank face, and dewatering of the area imme5 diately shoreward of the bluffs) to protect the lighthouse

6 structures at Raspberry Lighthouse and Outer Island

7 Lighthouse within the Lakeshore.

8 (e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Section 6 of Pub9 lic Law 91–424 (16 U.S.C. 460w–5) is amended—

10 (1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 6. The lakeshore’’ and in11 serting the following:

12 ‘‘SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT.

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The lakeshore’’; and

14 (2) by adding at the end the following:

15 ‘‘(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary

16 may enter into a cooperative agreement with a Federal,

17 State, tribal, or local government agency or a nonprofit

18 private entity if the Secretary determines that a coopera19 tive agreement would be beneficial in carrying out section

20 7.’’.

21 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There

22 are authorized to be appropriated—

23 (1) $200,000 to carry out subsection (c); and

24 (2) $3,900,000 to carry out subsection (d).

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