I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1500

To accelerate the Wilderness designation process by establishing a timetable

for the completion of wilderness studies on Federal Lands.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 21, 1999

Mr. HANSEN (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. HILL of Montana, Mrs.

CHENOWETH, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. SALMON, Mr. STUMP, Mr. HEFLEY,

Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. POMBO, Mr. HUNTER,

Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr.

MCINNIS, and Mr. ROHRABACHER) introduced the following bill; which

was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL

To accelerate the Wilderness designation process by establishing a timetable for the completion of wilderness studies on Federal Lands.

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 ‘‘America’s Wilderness Pro5 tection Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

7 The Congress finds that—
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1 (1) The designation of certain Federal lands as

2 Wilderness is beneficial to the American people.

3 (2) The Wilderness Act of 1964 and of the

4 Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976

5 provided for the study of certain lands for wilderness

6 suitability. Areas undergoing such a study have been

7 generally known as ‘‘Wilderness Study Areas’’.––

8 (3) Wilderness Study Areas were intended as

9 interim management designations pending comple10 tion of wilderness suitability studies. Wilderness

11 Study Area status was not intended as a substitute

12 for wilderness designation by Congress.

13 (4) It was not the intent of Congress that areas

14 continue under Wilderness Study Area status indefi15 nitely. Perpetuation of Wilderness Study Area status

16 is undesirable and hinders the Wilderness designa17 tion process. Lands that merit Wilderness designa18 tion should be granted the full protection that such

19 a status would afford, and those lands which do not

20 merit such a designation should be released so that

21 they can be managed for the public good as accorded

22 by law.

23 (5) The establishment of a timetable for the

24 completion of wilderness studies would facilitate the
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1 wilderness designation process by supplying a time2 frame within which Congress must Act.

3 SEC. 3. TIMETABLE FOR WILDERNESS STUDY COMPLETION.

4 (a) EXISTING WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.—All

5 areas designated as wilderness study areas as of the date

6 of the enactment of this Act shall be released from wilder7 ness study area status on the earlier of the following:

8 (1) The date 10 years after the date of enact9 ment of this Act.

10 (2) The date on which the area is designated by

11 Act of Congress as wilderness.

12 (b) SUBSEQUENT WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.—Any

13 wilderness study area designated after the date of enact14 ment of this Act shall remain in wilderness study area sta15 tus until the earlier of the following:

16 (1) The date 10 years after the date of designa17 tion.

18 (2) The date on which the area is designated by

19 Act of Congress as wilderness.

20 After such 10-year period, any such area not designated

21 as wilderness by Act of Congress shall be released from

22 wilderness study area status.

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