IB 

Union Calendar No. 371 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5151 

[Report No. 110–598, Part I] 

To designate as wilderness additional National Forest System lands in the 

Monongahela National Forest in the State of West Virginia, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 29, 2008 

Mr. RAHALL (for himself, Mrs. CAPITO, and Mr. MOLLOHAN) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 

and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

APRIL 22, 2008 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

APRIL 22, 2008 

Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the 

Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 29, 2008] 

A BILL 

To designate as wilderness additional National Forest System 

lands in the Monongahela National Forest in the State 

of West Virginia, and for other purposes. 


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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 ‘‘Wild Monongahela Act: 

5 A National Legacy for West Virginia’s Special Places’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS, MONONGAHELA NA7 TIONAL FOREST, WEST VIRGINIA. 

8 (a) DESIGNATION.—In furtherance of the purposes of 

9 the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following 

10 Federal lands within the Monongahela National Forest in 

11 the State of West Virginia are designated as wilderness and 

12 as either a new component of the National Wilderness Pres13 ervation System or as an addition to an existing component 

14 of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 

15 (1) Certain Federal land comprising approxi16 mately 5,144 acres, as generally depicted on the map 

17 entitled ‘‘Big Draft Proposed Wilderness’’ and dated 

18 March 11, 2008, which shall be known as the ‘‘Big 

19 Draft Wilderness’’. 

20 (2) Certain Federal land comprising approxi21 mately 11,951 acres, as generally depicted on the map 

22 entitled ‘‘Cranberry Expansion Proposed Wilderness’’ 

23 and dated March 11, 2008, which shall be added to 

24 and administered as part of the Cranberry Wilderness 


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1 designated by section 1(1) of Public Law 97–466 (96 

2 Stat. 2538). 

3 (3) Certain Federal land comprising approxi4 mately 7,156 acres, as generally depicted on the map 

5 entitled ‘‘Dolly Sods Expansion Proposed Wilderness’’ 

6 and dated March 11, 2008, which shall be added to 

7 and administered as part of the Dolly Sods Wilder8 ness designated by section 3(a)(13) of Public Law 93– 

9 622 (88 Stat. 2098). 

10 (4) Certain Federal land comprising approxi11 mately 698 acres, as generally depicted on the map 

12 entitled ‘‘Otter Creek Expansion Proposed Wilder13 ness’’ and dated March 11, 2008, which shall be 

14 added to and administered as part of the Otter Creek 

15 Wilderness designated by section 3(a)(14) of Public 

16 Law 93–622 (88 Stat. 2098). 

17 (5) Certain Federal land comprising approxi18 mately 6,792 acres, as generally depicted on the map 

19 entitled ‘‘Roaring Plains Proposed Wilderness’’ and 

20 dated March 11, 2008, which shall be known as the 

21 ‘‘Roaring Plains West Wilderness’’. 

22 (6) Certain Federal land comprising approxi23 mately 6,030 acres, as generally depicted on the map 

24 entitled ‘‘Spice Run Proposed Wilderness’’ and dated 


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1 March 11, 2008, which shall be known as the ‘‘Spice 

2 Run Wilderness’’. 

3 (b) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 

4 (1) FILING AND AVAILABILITY.—As soon as prac5 ticable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

6 Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of 

7 the Forest Service, shall file with the Committee on 

8 Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 

9 and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

10 of the Senate a map and legal description of each wil11 derness area designated or expanded by subsection 

12 (a). The maps and legal descriptions shall be on file 

13 and available for public inspection in the office of the 

14 Chief of the Forest Service and the office of the Super15 visor of the Monongahela National Forest. 

16 (2) FORCE AND EFFECT.—The maps and legal 

17 descriptions referred to in this subsection shall have 

18 the same force and effect as if included in this Act, 

19 except that the Secretary may correct errors in the 

20 maps and descriptions. 

21 (c) ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

22 the Federal lands designated as wilderness by subsection (a) 

23 shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with 

24 the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). Notwith25 standing the designation of the Dolly Sods Wilderness addiVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:33 Apr 23, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H5151.RH H5151

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1 tion by paragraph (3) of subsection (a) and the designation 

2 of the Roaring Plains West Wilderness Area by paragraph 

3 (5) of such subsection, the Secretary may continue to au4 thorize the competitive running event permitted from 2003 

5 through 2007 in the vicinity of the boundaries of the new 

6 wilderness addition and new wilderness area in a manner 

7 compatible with the area’s preservation as wilderness. 

8 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE OF WILDERNESS ACT.—With re9 spect to the Federal lands designated as wilderness by sub10 section (a), any reference in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 

11 1131 et seq.) to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall 

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

13 of this Act. 

14 (e) FISH AND WILDLIFE.—As provided in section 

15 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), noth16 ing in this section affects the jurisdiction or responsibility 

17 of the State of West Virginia with respect to wildlife and 

18 fish. 

19 SEC. 3. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT, LAUREL FORK SOUTH 

20 WILDERNESS, MONONGAHELA NATIONAL 

21 FOREST. 

22 (a) BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.—The boundary of the 

23 Laurel Fork South Wilderness designated by section 1(3) 

24 of Public Law 97–466 (96 Stat. 2538) is modified to exclude 

25 two parcels of land, as generally depicted on the map entiVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:33 Apr 23, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H5151.RH H5151

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1 tled ‘‘Monongahela National Forest Laurel Fork South Wil2 derness Boundary Modification’’ and dated March 11, 

3 2008, and more particularly described according to the site4 specific maps and legal descriptions on file in the office of 

5 the Forest Supervisor, Monongahela National Forest. The 

6 general map shall be on file and available for public inspec7 tion in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service. 

8 (b) MANAGEMENT.—Federally owned land delineated 

9 on the maps referred to in subsection (a) as the Laurel Fork 

10 South Wilderness, as modified by such subsection, shall con11 tinue to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 

12 in accordance with Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). 

13 Any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of 

14 that Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the effective 

15 date of Public Law 97–466 and this Act. 

16 SEC. 4. MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST BOUNDARY 

17 CONFIRMATION. 

18 The boundary of the Monongahela National Forest is 

19 confirmed to include the tracts of land as generally depicted 

20 on the map entitled ‘‘Monongahela National Forest Bound21 ary Confirmation’’ and dated March 13, 2008, and all Fed22 eral lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agri23 culture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, en24 compassed within such boundary shall be managed under 


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1 the laws and regulations pertaining to the National Forest 

2 System. 

3 SEC. 5. ENHANCED TRAIL OPPORTUNITIES. 

4 (a) PLAN.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, 

6 in consultation with interested parties, shall develop 

7 a plan to provide for enhanced nonmotorized recre8 ation trail opportunities on lands not designated as 

9 wilderness within the Monongahela National Forest. 

10 (2) NONMOTORIZED RECREATION TRAIL DE11 FINED.—For the purposes of this subsection, the term 

12 ‘‘nonmotorized recreation trail’’ means a trail de13 signed for hiking, bicycling, and equestrian use. 

14 (b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture 

16 shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation 

17 of the plan required under subsection (a), including the 

18 identification of priority trails for development. 

19 (c) CONSIDERATION OF CONVERSION OF FOREST

20 ROADS TO RECREATIONAL USES.—In considering possible 

21 closure and decommissioning of a Forest Service road with22 in the Monongahela National Forest after the date of the 

23 enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in ac24 cordance with applicable law, may consider converting the 


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1 road to nonmotorized uses to enhance recreational opportu2 nities within the Monongahela National Forest. 


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Union Calendar No. 371 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5151 

[Report No. 110

–598, Part I] 

A BILL 

To designate as wilderness additional National Forother purposes. Forest in the State of West Virginia, and for est System lands in the Monongahela National 

APRIL 22, 2008 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with 

A

an amendment 

PRIL 22, 2008 

Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the 

Union and ordered to be printed Committee of the Whole House on the State of the 


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