I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1379

To provide for a study of options for protecting the open space characteristics

of certain lands in and adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National

Forests in Colorado, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 3, 2001

Mr. UDALL of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Resources

A BILL

To provide for a study of options for protecting the open

space characteristics of certain lands in and adjacent

to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, and for other purposes.

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; FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the

5 ‘‘Colorado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop

6 Protection Study Act’’.

7 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
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1 (1) Rising dramatically from the Great Plains,

2 the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains provides

3 a scenic mountain backdrop to many communities in

4 the Denver metropolitan area and elsewhere in Colo5 rado. The portion of the range within and adjacent

6 to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests also

7 includes a diverse array of wildlife habitats and pro8 vides many opportunities for outdoor recreation.

9 (2) The open space character of this mountain

10 backdrop is an important esthetic and economic

11 asset for adjoining communities, making them at12 tractive locations for homes and businesses.

13 (3) Rapid population growth in the northern

14 Front Range area of Colorado is increasing rec15 reational use of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National

16 Forests and is also placing increased pressure for

17 development of other lands within and adjacent to

18 that national forest.

19 (4) Efforts by local governments and other enti20 ties have provided important protection for portions

21 of this mountain backdrop, especially in the northern

22 Denver metropolitan area. However, some portions

23 of the mountain backdrop in this part of Colorado

24 remain unprotected and are at risk of losing their

25 open space qualities.
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1 (5) It is in the national interest for the Federal

2 Government, in collaboration with local communities,

3 to assist in identifying options for increasing the

4 protection of the mountain backdrop in the northern

5 Front Range area of Colorado.

6 (c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to identify

7 options that may be available to assist in maintaining the

8 open space characteristics of lands that are part of the

9 mountain backdrop of communities in the northern section

10 of the Front Range area of Colorado.

11 SEC. 2. COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN

12 BACKDROP STUDY.

13 (a) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Secretary of Agri14 culture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service and

15 in consultation with appropriate State and local agencies,

16 shall review the lands within the study area and not later

17 than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act

18 shall report to Congress regarding the following:

19 (1) The present ownership of such lands.

20 (2) Which undeveloped land may be at risk of

21 development.

22 (3) Identification of and recommendations con23 cerning actions that could be taken by the United

24 States, the State of Colorado, or any other parties
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1 to preserve the open and undeveloped character of

2 such lands.

3 (b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this Act, the

4 following definitions apply:

5 (1) STUDY AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’

6 means all lands in southern Boulder, northern Jef7 ferson, and northern Gilpin Counties, Colorado, that

8 are situated west of Colorado State Highway 93,

9 south and east of Colorado State Highway 119, and

10 north of Colorado State Highway 46, excluding

11 lands within the city limits of the cities of Boulder

12 or Golden, Colorado.

13 (2) UNDEVELOPED LAND.—The term ‘‘undevel14 oped land’’ means land that—

15 (A) is located within the study area;

16 (B) is free or primarily free of structures;

17 and

18 (C) the development of which is likely to

19 adversely affect the scenic, wildlife, or rec20 reational value of the study area.

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