IB

Union Calendar No. 591

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 1500

[Report No. 106–1017]

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

OCTOBER 30, 2000

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union

and ordered to be printed

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,
2

•HR 1500 RH

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as ‘‘America’s Wilderness Pro3 tection Act’’.

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

5 The Congress finds that—

6 (1) The designation of certain Federal lands as

7 Wilderness is beneficial to the American people.

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

9 Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976

10 provided for the study of certain lands for wilderness

11 suitability. Areas undergoing such a study have been

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

13 (3) Wilderness Study Areas were intended as

14 interim management designations pending comple15 tion of wilderness suitability studies. Wilderness

16 Study Area status was not intended as a substitute

17 for wilderness designation by Congress.

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

19 continue under Wilderness Study Area status indefi20 nitely. Perpetuation of Wilderness Study Area status

21 is undesirable and hinders the Wilderness designa22 tion process. Lands that merit Wilderness designa23 tion should be granted the full protection that such

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

25 merit such a designation should be released so that
3

•HR 1500 RH

1 they can be managed for the public good as accorded

2 by law.

3 (5) The establishment of a timetable for the

4 completion of wilderness studies would facilitate the

5 wilderness designation process by supplying a time6 frame within which Congress must Act.

7 SEC. 3. TIMETABLE FOR WILDERNESS STUDY COMPLETION.

8 (a) EXISTING WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.—All

9 areas designated as wilderness study areas as of the date

10 of the enactment of this Act shall be released from wilder11 ness study area status on the earlier of the following:

12 (1) The date 10 years after the date of enact13 ment of this Act.

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

15 Act of Congress as wilderness.

16 (b) SUBSEQUENT WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.—Any

17 wilderness study area designated after the date of enact18 ment of this Act shall remain in wilderness study area sta19 tus until the earlier of the following:

20 (1) The date 10 years after the date of designa21 tion.

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

23 Act of Congress as wilderness.
4

•HR 1500 RH

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

2 as wilderness by Act of Congress shall be released from

3 wilderness study area status.

Union Calendar No. 591

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 1500

[Report No. 106–1017]

A BILL

To accelerate the Wilderness designation process by

establishing a timetable for the completion of wilderness studies on Federal Lands.

OCTOBER 30, 2000

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the

State of the Union and ordered to be printed