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106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2277

To designate all unreserved and unappropriated California coastal rocks and

islands currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management as

a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 18, 1999

Mr. FARR of California (for himself, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr.

CAMPBELL, Mr. STARK, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. BILBRAY, and Ms. ESHOO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL

To designate all unreserved and unappropriated California

coastal rocks and islands currently administered by the

Bureau of Land Management as a component of the

National Wilderness Preservation System.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF CALIFORNIA COASTAL ROCKS

4 AND ISLANDS WILDERNESS AREA TO BE AD5 MINISTERED BY BUREAU OF LAND MANAGE6 MENT.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
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1 (1) The California coastal rocks and islands are

2 a critical component of a unique ecosystem of Cali3 fornia.

4 (2) The California coastal rocks and islands

5 comprise a narrow flight lane in the Pacific Flyway,

6 providing protected nest sites as well as feeding and

7 perching areas for millions of seabirds.

8 (3) This unique ecosystem is also important for

9 the continued survival of endangered or threatened

10 sea mammals, such as stellar sea lions and elephant

11 seals.

12 (4) Designation of the California coastal rocks

13 and islands as wilderness would add a significant

14 natural component to the National Wilderness Pres15 ervation System.

16 (b) DESIGNATION AS WILDERNESS.—In furtherance

17 of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131

18 et seq.), all unreserved and unappropriated ocean islands

19 in the State of California (as more fully described in sub20 section (c)) that, as of the date of the enactment of this

21 Act, are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land

22 Management are hereby designated as wilderness and,

23 therefore, as components of the National Wilderness Pres24 ervation System, and shall be known as the California

25 Coastal Rocks and Islands Wilderness.
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1 (c) DESCRIPTION OF COVERED ISLANDS.—The ocean

2 islands covered by subsection (b) are those islands, reefs,

3 rocks, and islets lying within three miles off the Pacific

4 coast of the State of California from Oregon to the Mexi5 can border and above the mean high tides, except those

6 already reserved and appropriated for other uses as listed

7 in the exhibit titled ‘‘Lands Not Affected By Wilderness

8 Designation’’ dated February 26, 1997, and on file and

9 available for public review in the California office of the

10 Bureau of Land Management.

11 (d) MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY.—The California

12 Coastal Rocks and Islands Wilderness shall remain under

13 the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and

14 the islands, reefs, rocks, and islets designated as wilder15 ness under subsection (b) are managed, as of the date of

16 the enactment of this Act, under a memorandum of under17 standing by the California Department of Fish and Game.

18 (e) MANAGEMENT.—Subject to valid existing rights,

19 the California Coastal Rocks and Islands Wilderness shall

20 be administered by the Secretary of the Interior in accord21 ance with the Wilderness Act, except that, with respect

22 to such wilderness area, any reference in the Wilderness

23 Act to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall be

24 deemed to be a reference to the date of the enactment

25 of this Act and any reference to the Secretary of Agri-
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1 culture shall be deemed to be a reference to the Secretary

2 of the Interior.

3 (f) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—This section shall

4 take precedence over and supersede the temporary res5 ervation made by the Act of February 18, 1931 (Chapter

6 226; 46 Stat. 1172).

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