II 

Calendar No. 328 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 556 

[Report No. 114–183] 

To protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and 

shooting, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 25, 2015 

Ms. MURKOWSKI introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

DECEMBER 16, 2015 

Reported by Ms. MURKOWSKI, with an amendment and an amendment to the 

title 

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

A BILL 

To protect and enhance opportunities for recreational 

hunting, fishing, and shooting, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

5 ‘‘Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—REGULATORY REFORMS 

Sec. 101. Recreational fishing, hunting, and recreational shooting on Federal 

public land. 

Sec. 102. Annual permit and fee for film crews of 5 persons or fewer. 

Sec. 103. Federal action transparency. 

Sec. 104. Bows in the Parks. 

TITLE II—HABITAT CONSERVATION 

Sec. 201. Availability of Land and Water Conservation Fund for recreational 

public access projects. 

Sec. 202. Identifying opportunities for recreation, hunting, and fishing on Federal land. 

Sec. 203. Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act. 

3 TITLE I—REGULATORY 

4 REFORMS 

5 SEC. 101. RECREATIONAL FISHING, HUNTING, AND REC6 REATIONAL SHOOTING ON FEDERAL PUBLIC 

7 LAND. 

8 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

9 (1) FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Federal 

11 public land’’ means any land or water that is— 

12 (i) owned by the United States; and 

13 (ii) managed by a Federal agency (in14 cluding the Department of the Interior and 

15 the Forest Service) for purposes that in16 clude the conservation of natural resources. 

17 (B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘Federal 

18 public land’’ does not include— 


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1 (i) land or water held or managed in 

2 trust for the benefit of Indian tribes or in3 dividual Indians; 

4 (ii) land or water managed by the Di5 rector of the National Park Service or the 

6 Director of the United States Fish and 

7 Wildlife Service; 

8 (iii) fish hatcheries; or 

9 (iv) conservation easements on private 

10 land. 

11 (2) HUNTING.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘hunting’’ 

13 means use of a firearm, bow, or other author14 ized means in the lawful— 

15 (i) pursuit, shooting, capture, collec16 tion, trapping, or killing of wildlife; or 

17 (ii) attempt to pursue, shoot, capture, 

18 collect, trap, or kill wildlife. 

19 (B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘hunting’’ 

20 does not include the use of skilled volunteers to 

21 cull excess animals (as defined by Federal law 

22 (including regulations)). 

23 (3) RECREATIONAL FISHING.—The term ‘‘rec24 reational fishing’’ means— 


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1 (A) an activity for sport or pleasure that 

2 involves the lawful— 

3 (i) catching, taking, or harvesting of 

4 fish; or 

5 (ii) attempted catching, taking, or 

6 harvesting of fish; or 

7 (B) any other activity for sport or pleasure 

8 that can reasonably be expected to result in the 

9 lawful catching, taking, or harvesting of fish. 

10 (4) RECREATIONAL SHOOTING.—The term 

11 ‘‘recreational shooting’’ means any form of sport, 

12 training, competition, or pastime, whether formal or 

13 informal, that involves— 

14 (A) the discharge of a rifle, handgun, or 

15 shotgun; or 

16 (B) the use of a bow and arrow. 

17 (b) RECREATIONAL FISHING, HUNTING, AND REC18 REATIONAL SHOOTING.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing 

20 rights, and in cooperation with the respective State 

21 fish and wildlife agency, a Federal public land man22 agement official shall exercise the authority of the 

23 official under existing law (including provisions re24 garding land use planning) to facilitate use of and 

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1 ing, hunting, and recreational shooting except as 

2 limited by— 

3 (A) any Federal law (including regula4 tions) that authorizes action or withholding ac5 tion for reasons of national security, public 

6 safety, or resource conservation; 

7 (B) any other Federal law (including regu8 lations) that precludes recreational fishing, 

9 hunting, or recreational shooting on specific 

10 Federal public land units of Federal public 

11 land, or water; or 

12 (C) discretionary limitations on rec13 reational fishing, hunting, and recreational 

14 shooting determined to be necessary and rea15 sonable, as supported by the best scientific evi16 dence and advanced through a transparent pub17 lic process. 

18 (2) MANAGEMENT.—Consistent with paragraph 

19 (1), the head of each Federal public land manage20 ment agency shall exercise the land management dis21 cretion of the head— 

22 (A) in a manner that supports and facili23 tates recreational fishing, hunting, and rec24 reational shooting opportunities; 


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1 (B) to the extent authorized under applica2 ble State law; and 

3 (C) in accordance with applicable Federal 

4 law. 

5 (3) PLANNING.— 

6 (A) EFFECTS OF PLANS AND ACTIVI7 TIES.— 

8 (i) EVALUATION OF EFFECTS ON OP9 PORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN REC10 REATIONAL FISHING, HUNTING, OR REC11 REATIONAL SHOOTING.—Federal public 

12 land planning documents (including land 

13 resources management plans, resource 

14 management plans, travel management 

15 plans, and energy development plans) shall 

16 include a specific evaluation of the effects 

17 of the plans on opportunities to engage in 

18 recreational fishing, hunting, or rec19 reational shooting. 

20 (ii) OTHER ACTIVITY NOT CONSID21 ERED.— 

22 (I) IN GENERAL.—Federal public 

23 land management officials shall not be 

24 required to consider the existence or 

25 availability of recreational fishing, 


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1 hunting, or recreational shooting op2 portunities on private or public land 

3 that is located adjacent to, or in the 

4 vicinity of, Federal public land for 

5 purposes of— 

6 (aa) planning for or deter7 mining which units of Federal 

8 public land are open for rec9 reational fishing, hunting, or rec10 reational shooting; or 

11 (bb) setting the levels of use 

12 for recreational fishing, hunting, 

13 or recreational shooting on Fed14 eral public land. 

15 (II) ENHANCED OPPORTUNI16 TIES.—Federal public land manage17 ment officials may consider the oppor18 tunities described in subclause (I) if 

19 the combination of those opportunities 

20 would enhance the recreational fish21 ing, hunting, or shooting opportunities 

22 available to the public. 

23 (B) USE OF VOLUNTEERS.—If hunting is 

24 prohibited by law, all Federal public land plan25 ning documents described in subparagraph 


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1 (A)(i) of an agency shall, after appropriate co2 ordination with State fish and wildlife agencies, 

3 allow the participation of skilled volunteers in 

4 the culling and other management of wildlife 

5 populations on Federal public land unless the 

6 head of the agency demonstrates, based on the 

7 best scientific data available or applicable Fed8 eral law, why skilled volunteers should not be 

9 used to control overpopulation of wildlife on the 

10 land that is the subject of the planning docu11 ment. 

12 (4) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND FOR13 EST SERVICE LAND.— 

14 (A) LAND OPEN.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—Land under the ju16 risdiction of the Bureau of Land Manage17 ment or the Forest Service (including a 

18 component of the National Wilderness 

19 Preservation System, land designated as a 

20 wilderness study area or administratively 

21 classified as wilderness eligible or suitable, 

22 and primitive or semiprimitive areas, but 

23 excluding land on the outer Continental 

24 Shelf) shall be open to recreational fishing, 

25 hunting, and recreational shooting unless 


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1 the managing Federal public land agency 

2 acts to close the land to the activity. 

3 (ii) MOTORIZED ACCESS.—Nothing in 

4 this subparagraph authorizes or requires 

5 motorized access or the use of motorized 

6 vehicles for recreational fishing, hunting, 

7 or recreational shooting purposes within 

8 land designated as a wilderness study area 

9 or administratively classified as wilderness 

10 eligible or suitable. 

11 (B) CLOSURE OR RESTRICTION.—Land de12 scribed in subparagraph (A)(i) may be subject 

13 to closures or restrictions if determined by the 

14 head of the agency to be necessary and reason15 able and supported by facts and evidence for 

16 purposes including resource conservation, public 

17 safety, energy or mineral production, energy 

18 generation or transmission infrastructure, water 

19 supply facilities, protection of other permittees, 

20 protection of private property rights or inter21 ests, national security, or compliance with other 

22 law, as determined appropriate by the Director 

23 of the Bureau of Land Management or the 

24 Chief of the Forest Service, as applicable. 

25 (C) SHOOTING RANGES.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

2 in clause (iii), the head of each Federal 

3 public land agency may use the authorities 

4 of the head, in a manner consistent with 

5 this section and other applicable law— 

6 (I) to lease or permit use of land 

7 under the jurisdiction of the head for 

8 shooting ranges; and 

9 (II) to designate specific land 

10 under the jurisdiction of the head for 

11 recreational shooting activities. 

12 (ii) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.—Any 

13 designation under clause (i)(II) shall not 

14 subject the United States to any civil ac15 tion or claim for monetary damages for in16 jury or loss of property or personal injury 

17 or death caused by any recreational shoot18 ing activity occurring at or on the des19 ignated land. 

20 (iii) EXCEPTION.—The head of each 

21 Federal public land agency shall not lease 

22 or permit use of Federal public land for 

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1 vation System, land designated as a wilder2 ness study area or administratively classi3 fied as wilderness eligible or suitable, and 

4 primitive or semiprimitive areas. 

5 (5) REPORT.—Not later than October 1 of 

6 every other year, beginning with the second October 

7 1 after the date of enactment of this Act, the head 

8 of each Federal public land agency who has author9 ity to manage Federal public land on which rec10 reational fishing, hunting, or recreational shooting 

11 occurs shall submit to the Committee on Natural 

12 Resources of the House of Representatives and the 

13 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 

14 Senate a report that describes— 

15 (A) any Federal public land administered 

16 by the agency head that was closed to rec17 reational fishing, hunting, or recreational shoot18 ing at any time during the preceding year; and 

19 (B) the reason for the closure. 

20 (6) CLOSURES OR SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS

21 OF 1,280 OR MORE ACRES.— 

22 (A) IN GENERAL.—Other than closures es23 tablished or prescribed by land planning actions 

24 referred to in paragraph (4)(B) or emergency 

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1 manent or temporary withdrawal, change of 

2 classification, or change of management status 

3 of Federal public land or water that effectively 

4 closes or significantly restricts 1,280 or more 

5 contiguous acres of Federal public land or 

6 water to access or use for recreational fishing 

7 or hunting or activities relating to fishing or 

8 hunting shall take effect only if, before the date 

9 of withdrawal or change, the head of the Fed10 eral public land agency that has jurisdiction 

11 over the Federal public land or water— 

12 (i) publishes appropriate notice of the 

13 withdrawal or change, respectively; 

14 (ii) demonstrates that coordination 

15 has occurred with a State fish and wildlife 

16 agency; and 

17 (iii) submits to the Committee on 

18 Natural Resources of the House of Rep19 resentatives and the Committee on Energy 

20 and Natural Resources of the Senate writ21 ten notice of the withdrawal or change, re22 spectively. 

23 (B) AGGREGATE OR CUMULATIVE EF24 FECTS.—If the aggregate or cumulative effect 

25 of separate withdrawals or changes effectively 


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1 closes or significantly restricts or affects 1,280 

2 or more acres of land or water, the withdrawals 

3 and changes shall be treated as a single with4 drawal or change for purposes of subparagraph 

5 (A). 

6 (C) EMERGENCY CLOSURES.— 

7 (i) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this sec8 tion prohibits a Federal public land man9 agement agency from establishing or im10 plementing emergency closures or restric11 tions of the smallest practicable area of 

12 Federal public land to provide for public 

13 safety, resource conservation, national se14 curity, or other purposes authorized by 

15 law. 

16 (ii) TERMINATION.—An emergency 

17 closure under clause (i) shall terminate 

18 after a reasonable period of time unless the 

19 temporary closure is converted to a perma20 nent closure consistent with this section. 

21 (7) NO PRIORITY.—Nothing in this section re22 quires a Federal agency to give preference to rec23 reational fishing, hunting, or recreational shooting 

24 over other uses of Federal public land or over land 


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1 or water management priorities established by other 

2 Federal law. 

3 (8) CONSULTATION WITH COUNCILS.—In car4 rying out this section, the heads of Federal public 

5 land agencies shall consult with the appropriate ad6 visory councils established under Executive Order 

7 12962 (16 U.S.C. 1801 note; relating to recreational 

8 fisheries) and Executive Order 13443 (16 U.S.C. 

9 661 note; relating to facilitation of hunting heritage 

10 and wildlife conservation). 

11 (9) AUTHORITY OF STATES.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section 

13 interferes with, diminishes, or conflicts with the 

14 authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of any 

15 State to manage, control, or regulate fish and 

16 wildlife under State law (including regulations) 

17 on land or water within the State, including on 

18 Federal public land. 

19 (B) FEDERAL LICENSES.— 

20 (i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

21 in clause (ii), nothing in this subsection 

22 authorizes the head of a Federal public 

23 land agency head to require a license, fee, 

24 or permit to fish, hunt, or trap on land or 


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1 water in a State, including on Federal pub2 lic land in the State. 

3 (ii) MIGRATORY BIRD STAMPS.—Noth4 ing in this subparagraph affects any mi5 gratory bird stamp requirement of the Mi6 gratory Bird Hunting and Conservation 

7 Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718a et seq.). 

8 SEC. 102. ANNUAL PERMIT AND FEE FOR FILM CREWS OF 

9 5 PERSONS OR FEWER. 

10 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro11 vide commercial film crews of 5 persons or fewer access 

12 to film in areas designated for public use during public 

13 hours on Federal land and waterways. 

14 (b) NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM LAND.—Section 

15 100905 of title 54, United States Code, is amended— 

16 (1) in subsection (a)— 

17 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The 

18 Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided 

19 in paragraph (3), the Secretary’’; and 

20 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

21 ‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULES FOR FILM CREWS OF 5

22 PERSONS OR FEWER.— 

23 ‘‘(A) DEFINITION OF FILM CREW.—In this 

24 paragraph, the term ‘film crew’ means any per25 sons present on Federal land or waterways 


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1 under the jurisdiction of the Secretary who are 

2 associated with the production of a film. 

3 ‘‘(B) REQUIRED PERMIT AND FEE.—For 

4 any film crew of 5 persons or fewer, the Sec5 retary shall require a permit and assess an an6 nual fee of $200 for commercial filming activi7 ties or similar projects on Federal land and wa8 terways administered by the Secretary. 

9 ‘‘(C) COMMERCIAL FILMING ACTIVITIES.— 

10 A permit issued under subparagraph (B) shall 

11 be valid for commercial filming activities or 

12 similar projects that occur in areas designated 

13 for public use during public hours on all Fed14 eral land and waterways administered by the 

15 Secretary for a 1-year period beginning on the 

16 date of issuance of the permit. 

17 ‘‘(D) NO ADDITIONAL FEES.—For persons 

18 holding a permit issued under this paragraph, 

19 during the effective period of the permit, the 

20 Secretary shall not assess any fees in addition 

21 to the fee assessed under subparagraph (B). 

22 ‘‘(E) USE OF CAMERAS.—The Secretary 

23 shall not prohibit, as a mechanized apparatus 

24 or under any other purposes, use of cameras or 

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1 mercial filming activities or similar projects in 

2 accordance with this paragraph on Federal land 

3 and waterways administered by the Secretary. 

4 ‘‘(F) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—A film 

5 crew of 5 persons or fewer subject to a permit 

6 issued under this paragraph shall notify the ap7 plicable land management agency with jurisdic8 tion over the Federal land at least 48 hours be9 fore entering the Federal land. 

10 ‘‘(G) DENIAL OF ACCESS.—The head of 

11 the applicable land management agency may 

12 deny access to a film crew under this paragraph 

13 if— 

14 ‘‘(i) there is a likelihood of resource 

15 damage that cannot be mitigated; 

16 ‘‘(ii) there would be an unreasonable 

17 disruption of the use and enjoyment of the 

18 site by the public; 

19 ‘‘(iii) the activity poses health or safe20 ty risks to the public; or 

21 ‘‘(iv) the filming includes the use of 

22 models or props that are not part of the 

23 natural or cultural resources or adminis24 trative facilities of the Federal land.’’; and 


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1 (2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by 

2 striking ‘‘collect any costs’’ and inserting ‘‘recover 

3 any costs’’. 

4 (c) OTHER FEDERAL LAND.—Section 1 of Public 

5 Law 106–206 (16 U.S.C. 460l–6d) is amended— 

6 (1) in subsection (a)— 

7 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The 

8 Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided 

9 in paragraph (3), the Secretary’’; and 

10 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULES FOR FILM CREWS OF 5

12 PERSONS OR FEWER.— 

13 ‘‘(A) DEFINITION OF FILM CREW.—In this 

14 paragraph, the term ‘film crew’ means any per15 sons present on Federal land or waterways 

16 under the jurisdiction of the Secretary who are 

17 associated with the production of a film. 

18 ‘‘(B) REQUIRED PERMIT AND FEE.—For 

19 any film crew of 5 persons or fewer, the Sec20 retary shall require a permit and assess an an21 nual fee of $200 for commercial filming activi22 ties or similar projects on Federal land and wa23 terways administered by the Secretary. 

24 ‘‘(C) COMMERCIAL FILMING ACTIVITIES.— 

25 A permit issued under subparagraph (B) shall 


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1 be valid for commercial filming activities or 

2 similar projects that occur in areas designated 

3 for public use during public hours on all Fed4 eral land and waterways administered by the 

5 Secretary for a 1-year period beginning on the 

6 date of issuance of the permit. 

7 ‘‘(D) NO ADDITIONAL FEES.—For persons 

8 holding a permit issued under this paragraph, 

9 during the effective period of the permit, the 

10 Secretary shall not assess any fees in addition 

11 to the fee assessed under subparagraph (B). 

12 ‘‘(E) USE OF CAMERAS.—The Secretary 

13 shall not prohibit, as a mechanized apparatus 

14 or under any other purposes, use of cameras or 

15 related equipment used for the purpose of com16 mercial filming activities or similar projects in 

17 accordance with this paragraph on Federal land 

18 and waterways administered by the Secretary. 

19 ‘‘(F) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—A film 

20 crew of 5 persons or fewer subject to a permit 

21 issued under this paragraph shall notify the ap22 plicable land management agency with jurisdic23 tion over the Federal land at least 48 hours be24 fore entering the Federal land. 


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1 ‘‘(G) DENIAL OF ACCESS.—The head of 

2 the applicable land management agency may 

3 deny access to a film crew under this paragraph 

4 if— 

5 ‘‘(i) there is a likelihood of resource 

6 damage that cannot be mitigated; 

7 ‘‘(ii) there would be an unreasonable 

8 disruption of the use and enjoyment of the 

9 site by the public; 

10 ‘‘(iii) the activity poses health or safe11 ty risks to the public; or 

12 ‘‘(iv) the filming includes the use of 

13 models or props that are not part of the 

14 natural or cultural resources or adminis15 trative facilities of the Federal land.’’; and 

16 (2) in the first sentence of subsection (b)— 

17 (A) by striking ‘‘collect any costs’’ and in18 serting ‘‘recover any costs’’; and 

19 (B) by striking ‘‘similar project’’ and in20 serting ‘‘similar projects’’. 

21 SEC. 103. FEDERAL ACTION TRANSPARENCY. 

22 (a) MODIFICATION OF EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE

23 PROVISIONS.— 

24 (1) AGENCY PROCEEDINGS.—Section 504 of 

25 title 5, United States Code, is amended— 


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1 (A) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘, 

2 United States Code’’; 

3 (B) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub4 section (i); and 

5 (C) by striking subsection (e) and inserting 

6 the following: 

7 ‘‘(e)(1) Not later than March 31 of the first fiscal 

8 year beginning after the date of enactment of the Bipar9 tisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, and every fiscal year there10 after, the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of 

11 the United States, after consultation with the Chief Coun12 sel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, 

13 shall submit to Congress and make publicly available on14 line a report on the amount of fees and other expenses 

15 awarded during the preceding fiscal year under this sec16 tion. 

17 ‘‘(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall describe 

18 the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims 

19 involved in the controversy, and any other relevant infor20 mation that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope and 

21 impact of such awards. 

22 ‘‘(3)(A) Each report under paragraph (1) shall ac23 count for all payments of fees and other expenses awarded 

24 under this section that are made pursuant to a settlement 

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1 ment is sealed or otherwise subject to a nondisclosure pro2 vision. 

3 ‘‘(B) The disclosure of fees and other expenses re4 quired under subparagraph (A) shall not affect any other 

5 information that is subject to a nondisclosure provision in 

6 a settlement agreement. 

7 ‘‘(f) As soon as practicable, and in any event not later 

8 than the date on which the first report under subsection 

9 (e)(1) is required to be submitted, the Chairman of the 

10 Administrative Conference of the United States shall cre11 ate and maintain online a searchable database containing, 

12 with respect to each award of fees and other expenses 

13 under this section made on or after the date of enactment 

14 of the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, the following 

15 information: 

16 ‘‘(1) The case name and number of the adver17 sary adjudication, if available, hyperlinked to the 

18 case, if available. 

19 ‘‘(2) The name of the agency involved in the 

20 adversary adjudication. 

21 ‘‘(3) A description of the claims in the adver22 sary adjudication. 

23 ‘‘(4) The name of each party to whom the 

24 award was made. 

25 ‘‘(5) The amount of the award. 


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1 ‘‘(6) The basis for the finding that the position 

2 of the agency concerned was not substantially justi3 fied. 

4 ‘‘(g) The online searchable database described in sub5 section (f) may not reveal any information the disclosure 

6 of which is prohibited by law or a court order. 

7 ‘‘(h) The head of each agency shall provide to the 

8 Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United 

9 States in a timely manner all information requested by 

10 the Chairman to comply with the requirements of sub11 sections (e), (f), and (g).’’. 

12 (2) COURT CASES.—Section 2412(d) of title 28, 

13 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

14 end the following: 

15 ‘‘(5)(A) Not later than March 31 of the first fiscal 

16 year beginning after the date of enactment of the Bipar17 tisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, and every fiscal year there18 after, the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of 

19 the United States shall submit to Congress and make pub20 licly available online a report on the amount of fees and 

21 other expenses awarded during the preceding fiscal year 

22 pursuant to this subsection. 

23 ‘‘(B) Each report under subparagraph (A) shall de24 scribe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the 

25 claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant 


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1 information that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope 

2 and impact of such awards. 

3 ‘‘(C)(i) Each report under subparagraph (A) shall ac4 count for all payments of fees and other expenses awarded 

5 under this subsection that are made pursuant to a settle6 ment agreement, regardless of whether the settlement 

7 agreement is sealed or otherwise subject to a nondisclosure 

8 provision. 

9 ‘‘(ii) The disclosure of fees and other expenses re10 quired under clause (i) shall not affect any other informa11 tion that is subject to a nondisclosure provision in a settle12 ment agreement. 

13 ‘‘(D) The Chairman of the Administrative Conference 

14 of the United States shall include and clearly identify in 

15 each annual report under subparagraph (A), for each case 

16 in which an award of fees and other expenses is included 

17 in the report— 

18 ‘‘(i) any amounts paid under section 1304 of 

19 title 31 for a judgment in the case; 

20 ‘‘(ii) the amount of the award of fees and other 

21 expenses; and 

22 ‘‘(iii) the statute under which the plaintiff filed 

23 suit. 

24 ‘‘(6) As soon as practicable, and in any event not 

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1 graph (5)(A) is required to be submitted, the Chairman 

2 of the Administrative Conference of the United States 

3 shall create and maintain online a searchable database 

4 containing, with respect to each award of fees and other 

5 expenses under this subsection made on or after the date 

6 of enactment of the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, 

7 the following information: 

8 ‘‘(A) The case name and number, hyperlinked 

9 to the case, if available. 

10 ‘‘(B) The name of the agency involved in the 

11 case. 

12 ‘‘(C) The name of each party to whom the 

13 award was made. 

14 ‘‘(D) A description of the claims in the case. 

15 ‘‘(E) The amount of the award. 

16 ‘‘(F) The basis for the finding that the position 

17 of the agency concerned was not substantially justi18 fied. 

19 ‘‘(7) The online searchable database described in 

20 paragraph (6) may not reveal any information the disclo21 sure of which is prohibited by law or a court order. 

22 ‘‘(8) The head of each agency (including the Attorney 

23 General of the United States) shall provide to the Chair24 man of the Administrative Conference of the United 

25 States in a timely manner all information requested by 


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1 the Chairman to comply with the requirements of para2 graphs (5), (6), and (7).’’. 

3 (3) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND4 MENTS.—Section 2412 of title 28, United States 

5 Code, is amended— 

6 (A) in subsection (d)(3), by striking 

7 ‘‘United States Code,’’; and 

8 (B) in subsection (e)— 

9 (i) by striking ‘‘of section 2412 of 

10 title 28, United States Code,’’ and insert11 ing ‘‘of this section’’; and 

12 (ii) by striking ‘‘of such title’’ and in13 serting ‘‘of this title’’. 

14 (b) JUDGMENT FUND TRANSPARENCY.—Section 

15 1304 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by add16 ing at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(d) Beginning not later than the date that is 60 

18 days after the date of enactment of the Bipartisan Sports19 men’s Act of 2015, and unless the disclosure of such infor20 mation is otherwise prohibited by law or a court order, 

21 the Secretary of the Treasury shall make available to the 

22 public on a website, as soon as practicable, but not later 

23 than 30 days after the date on which a payment under 

24 this section is tendered, the following information with re25 gard to that payment: 


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1 ‘‘(1) The name of the specific agency or entity 

2 whose actions gave rise to the claim or judgment. 

3 ‘‘(2) The name of the plaintiff or claimant. 

4 ‘‘(3) The name of counsel for the plaintiff or 

5 claimant. 

6 ‘‘(4) The amount paid representing principal li7 ability, and any amounts paid representing any an8 cillary liability, including attorney fees, costs, and 

9 interest. 

10 ‘‘(5) A brief description of the facts that gave 

11 rise to the claim. 

12 ‘‘(6) The name of the agency that submitted 

13 the claim.’’. 

14 SEC. 104. BOWS IN THE PARKS. 

15 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

17 the Director of the National Park Service. 

18 (2) NOT READY FOR IMMEDIATE USE.—The 

19 term ‘‘not ready for immediate use’’ means— 

20 (A) a bow or crossbow, the arrows of which 

21 are secured or stowed in a quiver or other 

22 arrow transport case; and 

23 (B) with respect to a crossbow, uncocked. 

24 (b) VEHICULAR TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZED.— 

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1 tion that prohibits an individual from transporting bows 

2 and crossbows that are not ready for immediate use across 

3 any unit of the National Park System in the vehicle of 

4 the individual if— 

5 (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by 

6 law from possessing the bows and crossbows; 

7 (2) the bows or crossbows that are not ready 

8 for immediate use remain inside the vehicle of the 

9 individual throughout the period during which the 

10 bows or crossbows are transported across National 

11 Park System land; and 

12 (3) the possession of the bows and crossbows is 

13 in compliance with the law of the State in which the 

14 unit of the National Park System is located. 

15 TITLE II—HABITAT 

16 CONSERVATION 

17 SEC. 201. AVAILABILITY OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVA18 TION FUND FOR RECREATIONAL PUBLIC AC19 CESS PROJECTS. 

20 (a) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 200303 of 

21 title 54, United States Code, is amended to read as fol22 lows: 

23 ‘‘§ 200303. Availability of funds for certain projects 

24 ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the 

25 Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure 


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1 that, of the amounts appropriated for the fund for each 

2 fiscal year, not less than the greater of 1.5 percent of the 

3 amounts or $10,000,000 shall be made available for 

4 projects that secure public access to Federal land for hunt5 ing, fishing, and other recreational purposes through ease6 ments, rights-of-way, or fee title acquisitions from willing 

7 sellers.’’. 

8 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

9 (1) AVAILABILITY OF DEPOSITS.—Section 

10 200302(c)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is 

11 amended by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding section 

12 200303 of this title, money’’ and inserting ‘‘Money’’. 

13 (2) CONTRACTS FOR ACQUISITION OF LAND

14 AND WATER.—Section 200308 of title 54, United 

15 States Code, is amended in the first sentence, by 

16 striking ‘‘by section 200303 of this title’’. 

17 (3) CONTRACTS FOR OPTIONS TO ACQUIRE

18 LAND AND WATER IN SYSTEM.—Section 200309 of 

19 title 54, United States Code, is amended in the third 

20 sentence by striking ‘‘by section 200303 of this 

21 title’’. 

22 SEC. 202. IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, 

23 HUNTING, AND FISHING ON FEDERAL LAND. 

24 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT

2 AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal public land manage3 ment agency’’ means any of the National Park Serv4 ice, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the 

5 Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Manage6 ment. 

7 (2) STATE OR REGIONAL OFFICE.—The term 

8 ‘‘State or regional office’’ means— 

9 (A) a State office of the Bureau of Land 

10 Management; or 

11 (B) a regional office of the National Park 

12 Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife 

13 Service, or the Forest Service. 

14 (3) TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term 

15 ‘‘travel management plan’’ means a plan for the 

16 management of travel— 

17 (A) with respect to land under the jurisdic18 tion of the National Park Service, on park 

19 roads and designated routes under section 4.10 

20 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or suc21 cessor regulations); 

22 (B) with respect to land under the jurisdic23 tion of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

24 Service, on the land under a comprehensive con25 servation plan prepared under section 4(e) of 


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1 the National Wildlife Refuge System Adminis2 tration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(e)); 

3 (C) with respect to land under the jurisdic4 tion of the Forest Service, on National Forest 

5 System land under part 212 of title 36, Code 

6 of Federal Regulations (or successor regula7 tions); and 

8 (D) with respect to land under the jurisdic9 tion of the Bureau of Land Management, under 

10 a resource management plan developed under 

11 the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 

12 of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

13 (b) PRIORITY LISTS REQUIRED.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

15 after the date of enactment of this Act, annually 

16 during the 10-year period beginning on the date on 

17 which the first priority list is completed, and every 

18 5 years after the end of the 10-year period, each 

19 head of each State or regional office shall prepare a 

20 priority list, to be made publicly available on the 

21 website of the applicable Federal public land man22 agement agency, which shall identify the location 

23 and acreage of land under the jurisdiction of the 

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1 lowed, under Federal or State law, to hunt, fish, or 

2 use the land for other recreational purposes but— 

3 (A) to which there is no public access or 

4 egress; or 

5 (B) to which public access or egress to the 

6 legal boundaries of the land is significantly re7 stricted (as determined by the head of the State 

8 or regional office). 

9 (2) MINIMUM SIZE.—Any land identified under 

10 paragraph (1) shall consist of contiguous acreage of 

11 at least 640 acres. 

12 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In preparing the pri13 ority list required under paragraph (1), the head of 

14 the State or regional office shall consider with re15 spect to the land— 

16 (A) whether access is absent or merely re17 stricted, including the extent of the restriction; 

18 (B) the likelihood of resolving the absence 

19 of or restriction to public access; 

20 (C) the potential for recreational use; 

21 (D) any information received from the 

22 public or other stakeholders during the nomina23 tion process described in paragraph (5); and 

24 (E) any other factor as determined by the 

25 head of the State or regional office. 


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1 (4) ADJACENT LAND STATUS.—For each parcel 

2 of land on the priority list, the head of the State or 

3 regional office shall state whether resolving the issue 

4 of public access or egress to the land would require 

5 acquisition of an easement, right-of-way, or fee title 

6 from— 

7 (A) another Federal agency; 

8 (B) a State, local, or tribal government; or 

9 (C) a private landowner. 

10 (5) NOMINATION PROCESS.—In preparing a pri11 ority list under this section, the head of the State 

12 or regional office shall provide an opportunity for 

13 members of the public to nominate parcels for inclu14 sion on the priority list. 

15 (c) ACCESS OPTIONS.—With respect to land included 

16 on a priority list described in subsection (b), the head of 

17 the State or regional office shall develop and submit to 

18 the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Nat19 ural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Ap20 propriations and Natural Resources of the House of Rep21 resentatives a report on options for providing access 

22 that— 

23 (1) identifies how public access and egress 

24 could reasonably be provided to the legal boundaries 


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1 of the land in a manner that minimizes the impact 

2 on wildlife habitat and water quality; 

3 (2) specifies the steps recommended to secure 

4 the access and egress, including acquiring an ease5 ment, right-of-way, or fee title from a willing owner 

6 of any land that abuts the land or the need to co7 ordinate with State land management agencies or 

8 other Federal, State, or tribal governments to allow 

9 for such access and egress; and 

10 (3) is consistent with the travel management 

11 plan in effect on the land. 

12 (d) PROTECTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING IN13 FORMATION.—In making the priority list and report pre14 pared under subsections (b) and (c) available, the head 

15 of the State or regional office shall ensure that no person16 ally identifying information is included, such as names or 

17 addresses of individuals or entities. 

18 (e) WILLING OWNERS.—For purposes of providing 

19 any permits to, or entering into agreements with, a State, 

20 local, or tribal government or private landowner with re21 spect to the use of land under the jurisdiction of the gov22 ernment or landowner, a Federal land management agen23 cy shall not take into account whether the State, local, 

24 or tribal government or private landowner has granted or 

25 denied public access or egress to the land. 


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1 (f) MEANS OF PUBLIC ACCESS AND EGRESS IN2 CLUDED.—In considering public access and egress under 

3 subsections (b) and (c), the head of the applicable Federal 

4 public land management agency shall consider public ac5 cess and egress to the legal boundaries of the land de6 scribed in those subsections, including access and egress— 

7 (1) by motorized or non-motorized vehicles; and 

8 (2) on foot or horseback. 

9 (g) EFFECT.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—This section shall have no 

11 effect on whether a particular recreational use shall 

12 be allowed on the land included in a priority list 

13 under this section. 

14 (2) EFFECT OF ALLOWABLE USES ON AGENCY

15 CONSIDERATION.—In preparing the priority list 

16 under subsection (b), the head of the applicable 

17 State or regional office shall only consider rec18 reational uses that are allowed on the land at the 

19 time that the priority list is prepared. 

20 SEC. 203. FEDERAL LAND TRANSACTION FACILITATION 

21 ACT. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Land Transaction 

23 Facilitation Act is amended— 


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1 (1) in section 203(2) (43 U.S.C. 2302(2)), by 

2 striking ‘‘on the date of enactment of this Act was’’ 

3 and inserting ‘‘is’’; 

4 (2) in section 205 (43 U.S.C. 2304)— 

5 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(as in 

6 effect on the date of enactment of this Act)’’; 

7 and 

8 (B) by striking subsection (d); 

9 (3) in section 206 (43 U.S.C. 2305), by striking 

10 subsection (f); and 

11 (4) in section 207(b) (43 U.S.C. 2306(b))— 

12 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

13 (i) by striking ‘‘96–568’’ and insert14 ing ‘‘96–586’’; and 

15 (ii) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting a 

16 semicolon; 

17 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

18 (i) by inserting ‘‘Public Law 105– 

19 263;’’ before ‘‘112 Stat.’’; and 

20 (ii) by striking the period at the end 

21 and inserting a semicolon; and 

22 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(3) the White Pine County Conservation, 

24 Recreation, and Development Act of 2006 (Public 

25 Law 109–432; 120 Stat. 3028); 


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1 ‘‘(4) the Lincoln County Conservation, Recre2 ation, and Development Act of 2004 (Public Law 

3 108–424; 118 Stat. 2403); 

4 ‘‘(5) subtitle F of title I of the Omnibus Public 

5 Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 1132 

6 note; Public Law 111–11); 

7 ‘‘(6) subtitle O of title I of the Omnibus Public 

8 Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 460www 

9 note, 1132 note; Public Law 111–11); 

10 ‘‘(7) section 2601 of the Omnibus Public Land 

11 Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 

12 Stat. 1108); or 

13 ‘‘(8) section 2606 of the Omnibus Public Land 

14 Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 

15 Stat. 1121).’’. 

16 (b) FUNDS TO THE TREASURY.—Of the amounts de17 posited in the Federal Land Disposal Account, there shall 

18 be transferred to the Treasury $1,000,000 for each of fis19 cal years 2016 through 2025. 

20 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

22 ‘‘Sportsmen’s Act of 2015’’. 

23 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this 

24 Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 


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TITLE I—NATIONAL POLICY 

Sec. 101. Congressional declaration of national policy. 

TITLE II—SPORTSMEN’S ACCESS TO FEDERAL LAND 

Sec. 201. Definitions. 

Sec. 202. Federal land open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. 

Sec. 203. Closure of Federal land to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. 

Sec. 204. Shooting ranges. 

Sec. 205. Federal action transparency. 

TITLE III—FILMING ON FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY 

LAND 

Sec. 301. Commercial filming. 

TITLE IV—BOWS, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, AND ACCESS 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, HUNTING, AND FISHING 

Sec. 401. Bows in parks. 

Sec. 402. Wildlife management in parks. 

Sec. 403. Identifying opportunities for recreation, hunting, and fishing on Federal land. 

TITLE V—FEDERAL LAND TRANSACTION FACILITATION ACT 

Sec. 501. Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act. 

TITLE VI—CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION 

Sec. 601. National Park Service Maintenance and Revitalization Conservation 

Fund. 

Sec. 602. Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

Sec. 603. Historic Preservation Fund. 

TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 701. Respect for treaties and rights. 

Sec. 702. No priority. 

1 TITLE I—NATIONAL POLICY 

2 SEC. 101. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF NATIONAL 

3 POLICY. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Congress declares that it is the pol5 icy of the United States that Federal departments and agen6 cies, in accordance with the missions of the departments 

7 and agencies, Executive Orders 12962 and 13443 (60 Fed. 


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1 Reg. 30769 (June 7, 1995); 72 Fed. Reg. 46537 (August 

2 16, 2007)), and applicable law, shall— 

3 (1) facilitate the expansion and enhancement of 

4 hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportuni5 ties on Federal land, in consultation with the Wildlife 

6 and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, the 

7 Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, 

8 State and tribal fish and wildlife agencies, and the 

9 public; 

10 (2) conserve and enhance aquatic systems and 

11 the management of game species and the habitat of 

12 those species on Federal land, including through 

13 hunting and fishing, in a manner that respects— 

14 (A) State management authority over wild15 life resources; and 

16 (B) private property rights; and 

17 (3) consider hunting, fishing, and recreational 

18 shooting opportunities as part of all Federal plans for 

19 land, resource, and travel management. 

20 (b) EXCLUSION.—In this Act, the term ‘‘fishing’’ does 

21 not include commercial fishing in which fish are harvested, 

22 either in whole or in part, that are intended to enter com23 merce through sale. 


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1 TITLE II—SPORTSMEN’S ACCESS 

2 TO FEDERAL LAND 

3 SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this title: 

5 (1) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 

6 means— 

7 (A) any land in the National Forest System 

8 (as defined in section 11(a) of the Forest and 

9 Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 

10 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a))) that is administered 

11 by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 

12 the Chief of the Forest Service; and 

13 (B) public lands (as defined in section 103 

14 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 

15 of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)), the surface of which 

16 is administered by the Secretary of the Interior, 

17 acting through the Director of the Bureau of 

18 Land Management. 

19 (2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec20 retary concerned’’ means— 

21 (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re22 spect to land described in paragraph (1)(A); and 

23 (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re24 spect to land described in paragraph (1)(B). 


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1 SEC. 202. FEDERAL LAND OPEN TO HUNTING, FISHING, AND 

2 RECREATIONAL SHOOTING. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), Federal 

4 land shall be open to hunting, fishing, and recreational 

5 shooting, in accordance with applicable law, unless the Sec6 retary concerned closes an area in accordance with section 

7 203. 

8 (b) EFFECT OF TITLE.—Nothing in this title opens to 

9 hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting any land that is 

10 not open to those activities as of the date of enactment of 

11 this Act. 

12 SEC. 203. CLOSURE OF FEDERAL LAND TO HUNTING, FISH13 ING, AND RECREATIONAL SHOOTING. 

14 (a) AUTHORIZATION.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) and 

16 in accordance with section 302(b) of the Federal Land 

17 Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

18 1732(b)), the Secretary concerned may designate any 

19 area on Federal land in which, and establish any pe20 riod during which, for reasons of public safety, ad21 ministration, or compliance with applicable laws, no 

22 hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting shall be per23 mitted. 

24 (2) REQUIREMENT.—In making a designation 

25 under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall 

26 designate the smallest area for the least amount of 


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1 time that is required for public safety, administra2 tion, or compliance with applicable laws. 

3 (b) CLOSURE PROCEDURES.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except in an emergency, be5 fore permanently or temporarily closing any Federal 

6 land to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting, the 

7 Secretary concerned shall— 

8 (A) consult with State fish and wildlife 

9 agencies; and 

10 (B) provide public notice and opportunity 

11 for comment under paragraph (2). 

12 (2) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.— 

13 (A) IN GENERAL.—Public notice and com14 ment shall include— 

15 (i) a notice of intent— 

16 (I) published in advance of the 

17 public comment period for the clo18 sure— 

19 (aa) in the Federal Register; 

20 (bb) on the website of the ap21 plicable Federal agency; 

22 (cc) on the website of the 

23 Federal land unit, if available; 

24 and 


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1 (dd) in at least 1 local news2 paper; 

3 (II) made available in advance of 

4 the public comment period to local of5 fices, chapters, and affiliate organiza6 tions in the vicinity of the closure that 

7 are signatories to the memorandum of 

8 understanding entitled ‘‘Federal Lands 

9 Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting 

10 Sports Roundtable Memorandum of 

11 Understanding’’; and 

12 (III) that describes— 

13 (aa) the proposed closure; 

14 and 

15 (bb) the justification for the 

16 proposed closure, including an ex17 planation of the reasons and ne18 cessity for the decision to close the 

19 area to hunting, fishing, or rec20 reational shooting; and 

21 (ii) an opportunity for public comment 

22 for a period of— 

23 (I) not less than 60 days for a 

24 permanent closure; or 


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1 (II) not less than 30 days for a 

2 temporary closure. 

3 (B) FINAL DECISION.—In a final decision 

4 to permanently or temporarily close an area to 

5 hunting, fishing, or recreation shooting, the Sec6 retary concerned shall— 

7 (i) respond in a reasoned manner to 

8 the comments received; 

9 (ii) explain how the Secretary con10 cerned resolved any significant issues raised 

11 by the comments; and 

12 (iii) show how the resolution led to the 

13 closure. 

14 (c) TEMPORARY CLOSURES.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—A temporary closure under 

16 this section may not exceed a period of 180 days. 

17 (2) RENEWAL.—Except in an emergency, a tem18 porary closure for the same area of land closed to the 

19 same activities— 

20 (A) may not be renewed more than 3 times 

21 after the first temporary closure; and 

22 (B) must be subject to a separate notice and 

23 comment procedure in accordance with sub24 section (b)(2). 


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1 (3) EFFECT OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE.—Any 

2 Federal land that is temporarily closed to hunting, 

3 fishing, or recreational shooting under this section 

4 shall not become permanently closed to that activity 

5 without a separate public notice and opportunity to 

6 comment in accordance with subsection (b)(2). 

7 (d) REPORTING.—On an annual basis, the Secretaries 

8 concerned shall— 

9 (1) publish on a public website a list of all areas 

10 of Federal land temporarily or permanently subject to 

11 a closure under this section; and 

12 (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and Nat13 ural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, 

14 Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Com15 mittee on Natural Resources and the Committee on 

16 Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report 

17 that identifies— 

18 (A) a list of each area of Federal land tem19 porarily or permanently subject to a closure; 

20 (B) the acreage of each closure; and 

21 (C) a survey of— 

22 (i) the aggregate areas and acreage 

23 closed under this section in each State; and 

24 (ii) the percentage of Federal land in 

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1 spect to hunting, fishing, and recreational 

2 shooting. 

3 (e) APPLICATION.—This section shall not apply if the 

4 closure is— 

5 (1) less than 14 days in duration; and 

6 (2) covered by a special use permit. 

7 SEC. 204. SHOOTING RANGES. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

9 (b), the Secretary concerned may, in accordance with this 

10 section and other applicable law, lease or permit the use 

11 of Federal land for a shooting range. 

12 (b) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary concerned shall not 

13 lease or permit the use of Federal land for a shooting range, 

14 within— 

15 (1) a component of the National Landscape Con16 servation System; 

17 (2) a component of the National Wilderness Pres18 ervation System; 

19 (3) any area that is— 

20 (A) designated as a wilderness study area; 

21 (B) administratively classified as— 

22 (i) wilderness-eligible; or 

23 (ii) wilderness-suitable; or 

24 (C) a primitive or semiprimitive area; 


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1 (4) a national monument, national volcanic 

2 monument, or national scenic area; or 

3 (5) a component of the National Wild and Sce4 nic Rivers System (including areas designated for 

5 study for potential addition to the National Wild and 

6 Scenic Rivers System). 

7 SEC. 205. FEDERAL ACTION TRANSPARENCY. 

8 (a) MODIFICATION OF EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE

9 PROVISIONS.— 

10 (1) AGENCY PROCEEDINGS.—Section 504 of title 

11 5, United States Code, is amended— 

12 (A) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘, 

13 United States Code’’; 

14 (B) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub15 section (i); and 

16 (C) by striking subsection (e) and inserting 

17 the following: 

18 ‘‘(e)(1) Not later than March 31 of the first fiscal year 

19 beginning after the date of enactment of the Sportsmen’s 

20 Act of 2015, and every fiscal year thereafter, the Chairman 

21 of the Administrative Conference of the United States, after 

22 consultation with the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 

23 Small Business Administration, shall submit to Congress 

24 and make publicly available online a report on the amount 


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1 of fees and other expenses awarded during the preceding fis2 cal year under this section. 

3 ‘‘(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall describe 

4 the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims 

5 involved in the controversy, and any other relevant infor6 mation that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope and 

7 impact of such awards. 

8 ‘‘(3)(A) Each report under paragraph (1) shall ac9 count for all payments of fees and other expenses awarded 

10 under this section that are made pursuant to a settlement 

11 agreement, regardless of whether the settlement agreement 

12 is sealed or otherwise subject to a nondisclosure provision. 

13 ‘‘(B) The disclosure of fees and other expenses required 

14 under subparagraph (A) shall not affect any other informa15 tion that is subject to a nondisclosure provision in a settle16 ment agreement. 

17 ‘‘(f) As soon as practicable, and in any event not later 

18 than the date on which the first report under subsection 

19 (e)(1) is required to be submitted, the Chairman of the Ad20 ministrative Conference of the United States shall create 

21 and maintain online a searchable database containing, 

22 with respect to each award of fees and other expenses under 

23 this section made on or after the date of enactment of the 

24 Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, the following information: 


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1 ‘‘(1) The case name and number of the adversary 

2 adjudication, if available, hyperlinked to the case, if 

3 available. 

4 ‘‘(2) The name of the agency involved in the ad5 versary adjudication. 

6 ‘‘(3) A description of the claims in the adversary 

7 adjudication. 

8 ‘‘(4) The name of each party to whom the award 

9 was made. 

10 ‘‘(5) The amount of the award. 

11 ‘‘(6) The basis for the finding that the position 

12 of the agency concerned was not substantially justi13 fied. 

14 ‘‘(g) The online searchable database described in sub15 section (f) may not reveal any information the disclosure 

16 of which is prohibited by law or a court order. 

17 ‘‘(h) The head of each agency shall provide to the 

18 Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United 

19 States in a timely manner all information requested by the 

20 Chairman to comply with the requirements of subsections 

21 (e), (f), and (g).’’. 

22 (2) COURT CASES.—Section 2412(d) of title 28, 

23 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

24 the following: 


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1 ‘‘(5)(A) Not later than March 31 of the first fiscal year 

2 beginning after the date of enactment of the Sportsmen’s 

3 Act of 2015, and every fiscal year thereafter, the Chairman 

4 of the Administrative Conference of the United States shall 

5 submit to Congress and make publicly available online a 

6 report on the amount of fees and other expenses awarded 

7 during the preceding fiscal year pursuant to this subsection. 

8 ‘‘(B) Each report under subparagraph (A) shall de9 scribe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the 

10 claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant 

11 information that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope 

12 and impact of such awards. 

13 ‘‘(C)(i) Each report under subparagraph (A) shall ac14 count for all payments of fees and other expenses awarded 

15 under this subsection that are made pursuant to a settle16 ment agreement, regardless of whether the settlement agree17 ment is sealed or otherwise subject to a nondisclosure provi18 sion. 

19 ‘‘(ii) The disclosure of fees and other expenses required 

20 under clause (i) shall not affect any other information that 

21 is subject to a nondisclosure provision in a settlement agree22 ment. 

23 ‘‘(D) The Chairman of the Administrative Conference 

24 of the United States shall include and clearly identify in 

25 each annual report under subparagraph (A), for each case 


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1 in which an award of fees and other expenses is included 

2 in the report— 

3 ‘‘(i) any amounts paid under section 1304 of 

4 title 31 for a judgment in the case; 

5 ‘‘(ii) the amount of the award of fees and other 

6 expenses; and 

7 ‘‘(iii) the statute under which the plaintiff filed 

8 suit. 

9 ‘‘(6) As soon as practicable, and in any event not later 

10 than the date on which the first report under paragraph 

11 (5)(A) is required to be submitted, the Chairman of the Ad12 ministrative Conference of the United States shall create 

13 and maintain online a searchable database containing, 

14 with respect to each award of fees and other expenses under 

15 this subsection made on or after the date of enactment of 

16 the Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, the following information: 

17 ‘‘(A) The case name and number, hyperlinked to 

18 the case, if available. 

19 ‘‘(B) The name of the agency involved in the 

20 case. 

21 ‘‘(C) The name of each party to whom the award 

22 was made. 

23 ‘‘(D) A description of the claims in the case. 

24 ‘‘(E) The amount of the award. 


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1 ‘‘(F) The basis for the finding that the position 

2 of the agency concerned was not substantially justi3 fied. 

4 ‘‘(7) The online searchable database described in para5 graph (6) may not reveal any information the disclosure 

6 of which is prohibited by law or a court order. 

7 ‘‘(8) The head of each agency (including the Attorney 

8 General of the United States) shall provide to the Chairman 

9 of the Administrative Conference of the United States in 

10 a timely manner all information requested by the Chair11 man to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (5), 

12 (6), and (7).’’. 

13 (3) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND14 MENTS.—Section 2412 of title 28, United States Code, 

15 is amended— 

16 (A) in subsection (d)(3), by striking 

17 ‘‘United States Code,’’; and 

18 (B) in subsection (e)— 

19 (i) by striking ‘‘of section 2412 of title 

20 28, United States Code,’’ and inserting ‘‘of 

21 this section’’; and 

22 (ii) by striking ‘‘of such title’’ and in23 serting ‘‘of this title’’. 


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1 (b) JUDGMENT FUND TRANSPARENCY.—Section 1304 

2 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at 

3 the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(d) Beginning not later than the date that is 60 days 

5 after the date of enactment of the Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, 

6 and unless the disclosure of such information is otherwise 

7 prohibited by law or a court order, the Secretary of the 

8 Treasury shall make available to the public on a website, 

9 as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days after the 

10 date on which a payment under this section is tendered, 

11 the following information with regard to that payment: 

12 ‘‘(1) The name of the specific agency or entity 

13 whose actions gave rise to the claim or judgment. 

14 ‘‘(2) The name of the plaintiff or claimant. 

15 ‘‘(3) The name of counsel for the plaintiff or 

16 claimant. 

17 ‘‘(4) The amount paid representing principal li18 ability, and any amounts paid representing any an19 cillary liability, including attorney fees, costs, and 

20 interest. 

21 ‘‘(5) A brief description of the facts that gave rise 

22 to the claim. 

23 ‘‘(6) The name of the agency that submitted the 

24 claim.’’. 


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1 TITLE III—FILMING ON FEDERAL 

2 LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY 

3 LAND 

4 SEC. 301. COMMERCIAL FILMING. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1 of Public Law 106–206 

6 (16 U.S.C. 460l–6d) is amended— 

7 (1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (f) 

8 as subsections (b) through (g), respectively; 

9 (2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so re10 designated) the following: 

11 ‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.—The term ‘Sec12 retary’ means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary 

13 of Agriculture, as applicable, with respect to land under 

14 the respective jurisdiction of the Secretary.’’; 

15 (3) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)— 

16 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

17 (i) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘of 

18 the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture 

19 (hereafter individually referred to as the 

20 ‘Secretary’ with respect to land (except land 

21 in a System unit as defined in section 

22 100102 of title 54, United States Code) 

23 under their respective jurisdictions)’’; and 

24 (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 

25 ‘‘, except in the case of film crews of 3 or 


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1 fewer individuals’’ before the period at the 

2 end; and 

3 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(3) FEE SCHEDULE.—Not later than 180 days 

5 after the date of enactment of the Sportsmen’s Act of 

6 2015, to enhance consistency in the management of 

7 Federal land, the Secretaries shall publish a single 

8 joint land use fee schedule for commercial filming and 

9 still photography.’’; 

10 (4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), in the 

11 second sentence, by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and in12 serting ‘‘subsection (b)’’; 

13 (5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), in the 

14 heading, by inserting ‘‘Commercial’’ before ‘‘Still’’; 

15 (6) in paragraph (1) of subsection (f) (as so re16 designated), by inserting ‘‘in accordance with the 

17 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

18 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.),’’ after ‘‘without further appro19 priation,’’; 

20 (7) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated)— 

21 (A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and 

22 inserting the following: 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall’’; and 

24 (B) by adding at the end the following: 


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1 ‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Secretary shall not 

2 consider subject matter or content as a criterion for 

3 issuing or denying a permit under this Act.’’; and 

4 (8) by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(h) EXEMPTION FROM COMMERCIAL FILMING OR

6 STILL PHOTOGRAPHY PERMITS AND FEES.—The Secretary 

7 shall not require persons holding commercial use authoriza8 tions or special recreation permits to obtain an additional 

9 permit or pay a fee for commercial filming or still photog10 raphy under this Act if the filming or photography con11 ducted is— 

12 ‘‘(1) incidental to the permitted activity that is 

13 the subject of the commercial use authorization or spe14 cial recreation permit; and 

15 ‘‘(2) the holder of the commercial use authoriza16 tion or special recreation permit is an individual or 

17 small business concern (within the meaning of section 

18 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)). 

19 ‘‘(i) EXCEPTION FROM CERTAIN FEES.—Commercial 

20 filming or commercial still photography shall be exempt 

21 from fees under this Act, but not from recovery of costs 

22 under subsection (c), if the activity— 

23 ‘‘(1) is conducted by an entity that is a small 

24 business concern (within the meaning of section 3 of 

25 the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)); 


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1 ‘‘(2) is conducted by a crew of not more than 3 

2 individuals; and 

3 ‘‘(3) uses only a camera and tripod. 

4 ‘‘(j) APPLICABILITY TO NEWS GATHERING ACTIVI5 TIES.— 

6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—News gathering shall not be 

7 considered a commercial activity. 

8 ‘‘(2) INCLUDED ACTIVITIES.—In this subsection, 

9 the term ‘news gathering’ includes, at a minimum, 

10 the gathering, recording, and filming of news and in11 formation related to news in any medium.’’. 

12 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 1009 of 

13 title 54, United States Code, is amended— 

14 (1) by striking section 100905; and 

15 (2) in the table of contents, by striking the item 

16 relating to section 100905. 

17 TITLE IV—BOWS, WILDLIFE MAN18 AGEMENT, AND ACCESS OP19 PORTUNITIES FOR RECRE20 ATION, HUNTING, AND FISH21 ING 

22 SEC. 401. BOWS IN PARKS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1049 of title 54, United 

24 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 


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1 ‘‘§ 104908. Bows in parks 

2 ‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF NOT READY FOR IMMEDIATE

3 USE.—The term ‘not ready for immediate use’ means— 

4 ‘‘(1) a bow or crossbow, the arrows of which are 

5 secured or stowed in a quiver or other arrow trans6 port case; and 

7 ‘‘(2) with respect to a crossbow, uncocked. 

8 ‘‘(b) VEHICULAR TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZED.— 

9 The Director shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation 

10 that prohibits an individual from transporting bows and 

11 crossbows that are not ready for immediate use across any 

12 System unit in the vehicle of the individual if— 

13 ‘‘(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited 

14 by law from possessing the bows and crossbows; 

15 ‘‘(2) the bows or crossbows that are not ready for 

16 immediate use remain inside the vehicle of the indi17 vidual throughout the period during which the bows 

18 or crossbows are transported across System land; and 

19 ‘‘(3) the possession of the bows and crossbows is 

20 in compliance with the law of the State in which the 

21 System unit is located.’’. 

22 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 

23 chapter 1049 of title 54, United States Code, is amended 

24 by inserting after the item relating to section 104907 the 

25 following: 

‘‘104908. Bows in parks.’’. 


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1 SEC. 402. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN PARKS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1049 of title 54, United 

3 States Code (as amended by section 401(a)), is amended 

4 by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 104909. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN PARKS. 

6 ‘‘(a) USE OF QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS.—If the Sec7 retary determines it is necessary to reduce the size of a wild8 life population on System land in accordance with applica9 ble law (including regulations), the Secretary may use 

10 qualified volunteers to assist in carrying out wildlife man11 agement on System land. 

12 ‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS.— 

13 Qualified volunteers providing assistance under subsection 

14 (a) shall be subject to— 

15 ‘‘(1) any training requirements or qualifications 

16 established by the Secretary; and 

17 ‘‘(2) any other terms and conditions that the 

18 Secretary may require.’’. 

19 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 

20 chapter 1049 of title 54 (as amended by section 401(b)), 

21 United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 

22 relating to section 104907 the following: 

‘‘104909 . Wildlife management in parks. .................................................... ’’. 

23 SEC. 403. IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, 

24 HUNTING, AND FISHING ON FEDERAL LAND. 

25 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

2 means— 

3 (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with re4 spect to land administered by— 

5 (i) the Director of the National Park 

6 Service; 

7 (ii) the Director of the United States 

8 Fish and Wildlife Service; and 

9 (iii) the Director of the Bureau of 

10 Land Management; and 

11 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re12 spect to land administered by the Chief of the 

13 Forest Service. 

14 (2) STATE OR REGIONAL OFFICE.—The term 

15 ‘‘State or regional office’’ means— 

16 (A) a State office of the Bureau of Land 

17 Management; or 

18 (B) a regional office of— 

19 (i) the National Park Service; 

20 (ii) the United States Fish and Wild21 life Service; or 

22 (iii) the Forest Service. 

23 (3) TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term 

24 ‘‘travel management plan’’ means a plan for the 

25 management of travel— 


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1 (A) with respect to land under the jurisdic2 tion of the National Park Service, on park roads 

3 and designated routes under section 4.10 of title 

4 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 

5 regulations); 

6 (B) with respect to land under the jurisdic7 tion of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv8 ice, on the land under a comprehensive conserva9 tion plan prepared under section 4(e) of the Na10 tional Wildlife Refuge System Administration 

11 Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(e)); 

12 (C) with respect to land under the jurisdic13 tion of the Forest Service, on National Forest 

14 System land under part 212 of title 36, Code of 

15 Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); 

16 and 

17 (D) with respect to land under the jurisdic18 tion of the Bureau of Land Management, under 

19 a resource management plan developed under the 

20 Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 

21 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

22 (b) PRIORITY LISTS REQUIRED.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, annually during the 

25 10-year period beginning on the date on which the 


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1 first priority list is completed, and every 5 years after 

2 the end of the 10-year period, the Secretary shall pre3 pare a priority list, to be made publicly available on 

4 the website of the applicable Federal agency referred 

5 to in subsection (a)(1), which shall identify the loca6 tion and acreage of land within the jurisdiction of 

7 each State or regional office on which the public is al8 lowed, under Federal or State law, to hunt, fish, or 

9 use the land for other recreational purposes but— 

10 (A) to which there is no public access or 

11 egress; or 

12 (B) to which public access or egress to the 

13 legal boundaries of the land is significantly re14 stricted (as determined by the Secretary). 

15 (2) MINIMUM SIZE.—Any land identified under 

16 paragraph (1) shall consist of contiguous acreage of 

17 at least 640 acres. 

18 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In preparing the pri19 ority list required under paragraph (1), the Secretary 

20 shall consider with respect to the land— 

21 (A) whether access is absent or merely re22 stricted, including the extent of the restriction; 

23 (B) the likelihood of resolving the absence of 

24 or restriction to public access; 

25 (C) the potential for recreational use; 


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1 (D) any information received from the pub2 lic or other stakeholders during the nomination 

3 process described in paragraph (5); and 

4 (E) any other factor as determined by the 

5 Secretary. 

6 (4) ADJACENT LAND STATUS.—For each parcel of 

7 land on the priority list, the Secretary shall include 

8 in the priority list whether resolving the issue of pub9 lic access or egress to the land would require acquisi10 tion of an easement, right-of-way, or fee title from— 

11 (A) another Federal agency; 

12 (B) a State, local, or tribal government; or 

13 (C) a private landowner. 

14 (5) NOMINATION PROCESS.—In preparing a pri15 ority list under this section, the Secretary shall pro16 vide an opportunity for members of the public to 

17 nominate parcels for inclusion on the priority list. 

18 (c) ACCESS OPTIONS.—With respect to land included 

19 on a priority list described in subsection (b), the Secretary 

20 shall develop and submit to the Committees on Appropria21 tions and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 

22 the Committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources 

23 of the House of Representatives a report on options for pro24 viding access that— 


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1 (1) identifies how public access and egress could 

2 reasonably be provided to the legal boundaries of the 

3 land in a manner that minimizes the impact on wild4 life habitat and water quality; 

5 (2) specifies the steps recommended to secure the 

6 access and egress, including acquiring an easement, 

7 right-of-way, or fee title from a willing owner of any 

8 land that abuts the land or the need to coordinate 

9 with State land management agencies or other Fed10 eral, State, or tribal governments to allow for such ac11 cess and egress; and 

12 (3) is consistent with the travel management 

13 plan in effect on the land. 

14 (d) PROTECTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFOR15 MATION.—In making the priority list and report prepared 

16 under subsections (b) and (c) available, the Secretary shall 

17 ensure that no personally identifying information is in18 cluded, such as names or addresses of individuals or enti19 ties. 

20 (e) WILLING OWNERS.—For purposes of providing any 

21 permits to, or entering into agreements with, a State, local, 

22 or tribal government or private landowner with respect to 

23 the use of land under the jurisdiction of the government or 

24 landowner, the Secretary shall not take into account wheth25 er the State, local, or tribal government or private landVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:41 Dec 18, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S556.RS S556

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1 owner has granted or denied public access or egress to the 

2 land. 

3 (f) MEANS OF PUBLIC ACCESS AND EGRESS IN4 CLUDED.—In considering public access and egress under 

5 subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall consider public 

6 access and egress to the legal boundaries of the land de7 scribed in those subsections, including access and egress— 

8 (1) by motorized or non-motorized vehicles; and 

9 (2) on foot or horseback. 

10 (g) EFFECT.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—This section shall have no ef12 fect on whether a particular recreational use shall be 

13 allowed on the land included in a priority list under 

14 this section. 

15 (2) EFFECT OF ALLOWABLE USES ON AGENCY

16 CONSIDERATION.—In preparing the priority list 

17 under subsection (b), the Secretary shall only consider 

18 recreational uses that are allowed on the land at the 

19 time that the priority list is prepared. 

20 TITLE V—FEDERAL LAND TRANS21 ACTION FACILITATION ACT 

22 SEC. 501. FEDERAL LAND TRANSACTION FACILITATION 

23 ACT. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Land Transaction Fa25 cilitation Act is amended— 


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1 (1) in section 203(2) (43 U.S.C. 2302(2)), by 

2 striking ‘‘on the date of enactment of this Act was’’ 

3 and inserting ‘‘is’’; 

4 (2) in section 205 (43 U.S.C. 2304)— 

5 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(as in ef6 fect on the date of enactment of this Act)’’; and 

7 (B) by striking subsection (d); 

8 (3) in section 206 (43 U.S.C. 2305), by striking 

9 subsection (f); and 

10 (4) in section 207(b) (43 U.S.C. 2306(b))— 

11 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

12 (i) by striking ‘‘96–568’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘96–586’’; and 

14 (ii) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting a 

15 semicolon; 

16 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

17 (i) by inserting ‘‘Public Law 105– 

18 263;’’ before ‘‘112 Stat.’’; and 

19 (ii) by striking the period at the end 

20 and inserting a semicolon; and 

21 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

22 ‘‘(3) the White Pine County Conservation, Recre23 ation, and Development Act of 2006 (Public Law 

24 109–432; 120 Stat. 3028); 


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1 ‘‘(4) the Lincoln County Conservation, Recre2 ation, and Development Act of 2004 (Public Law 

3 108–424; 118 Stat. 2403); 

4 ‘‘(5) subtitle F of title I of the Omnibus Public 

5 Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 

6 Public Law 111–11); 

7 ‘‘(6) subtitle O of title I of the Omnibus Public 

8 Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 460www 

9 note, 1132 note; Public Law 111–11); 

10 ‘‘(7) section 2601 of the Omnibus Public Land 

11 Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 

12 Stat. 1108); or 

13 ‘‘(8) section 2606 of the Omnibus Public Land 

14 Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 

15 Stat. 1121).’’. 

16 (b) FUNDS TO TREASURY.—Of the amounts deposited 

17 in the Federal Land Disposal Account, there shall be trans18 ferred to the general fund of the Treasury $1,000,000 for 

19 each of fiscal years 2016 through 2025. 


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1 TITLE VI—CONSERVATION 

2 REAUTHORIZATION 

3 SEC. 601. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MAINTENANCE AND RE4 VITALIZATION CONSERVATION FUND. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1049 of title 54, United 

6 States Code (as amended by section 402(a)), is amended 

7 by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘§ 104910. National Park Service Maintenance and 

9 Revitalization Conservation Fund 

10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Treas11 ury a fund, to be known as the ‘National Park Service Crit12 ical Maintenance and Revitalization Conservation Fund’ 

13 (referred to in this section as the ‘Fund’). 

14 ‘‘(b) DEPOSITS TO FUND.—Notwithstanding any pro15 vision of law providing that the proceeds shall be credited 

16 to miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury, for each fiscal 

17 year, there shall be deposited in the Fund, from revenues 

18 due and payable to the United States under section 9 of 

19 the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1338) 

20 $150,000,000. 

21 ‘‘(c) USE AND AVAILABILITY.— 

22 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts deposited in the 

23 Fund shall— 

24 ‘‘(A) be used only for the purposes described 

25 in subsection (d); and 


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1 ‘‘(B) be available for expenditure only after 

2 the amounts are appropriated for those purposes. 

3 ‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY.—Any amounts in the Fund 

4 not appropriated shall remain available in the Fund 

5 until appropriated. 

6 ‘‘(3) NO LIMITATION.—Appropriations from the 

7 Fund pursuant to this section may be made without 

8 fiscal year limitation. 

9 ‘‘(d) NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM CRITICAL DEFERRED

10 MAINTENANCE.—The Secretary shall use amounts appro11 priated from the Fund for high-priority deferred mainte12 nance needs of the Service that support critical infrastruc13 ture and visitor services. 

14 ‘‘(e) LAND ACQUISITION PROHIBITION.—Amounts in 

15 the Fund shall not be used for land acquisition.’’. 

16 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 

17 chapter 1049 of title 54, United States Code (as amended 

18 by section 402(b)), is amended by inserting after the item 

19 relating to section 104907 the following: 

‘‘104910. National Park Service Maintenance and Revitalization Conservation 

Fund.’’. 

20 SEC. 602. LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND. 

21 (a) REAUTHORIZATION.—Section 200302 of title 54, 

22 United States Code, is amended— 

23 (1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 

24 paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘During the period ending 


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1 September 30, 2015, there’’ and inserting ‘‘There’’; 

2 and 

3 (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘through 

4 September 30, 2015’’. 

5 (b) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—Section 200304 of title 

6 54, United States Code, is amended— 

7 (1) by striking ‘‘There’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) IN

8 GENERAL.—There’’; and 

9 (2) by striking the second sentence and inserting 

10 the following: 

11 ‘‘(b) ALLOCATION.—Of the appropriations from the 

12 Fund— 

13 ‘‘(1) not less than 40 percent shall be used collec14 tively for Federal purposes under section 200306; 

15 ‘‘(2) not less than 40 percent shall be used collec16 tively— 

17 ‘‘(A) to provide financial assistance to 

18 States under section 200305; 

19 ‘‘(B) for the Forest Legacy Program estab20 lished under section 7 of the Cooperative For21 estry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c); 

22 ‘‘(C) for cooperative endangered species 

23 grants authorized under section 6 of the Endan24 gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535); and 


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1 ‘‘(D) for the American Battlefield Protection 

2 Program established under chapter 3081; and 

3 ‘‘(3) not less than 1.5 percent or $10,000,000, 

4 whichever is greater, shall be used for projects that se5 cure recreational public access to Federal public land 

6 for hunting, fishing, or other recreational purposes.’’. 

7 (c) CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.—Section 200306 of 

8 title 54, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

9 end the following: 

10 ‘‘(c) CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.—The Secretary and 

11 the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider the acquisition 

12 of conservation easements and other similar interests in 

13 land where appropriate and feasible.’’. 

14 (d) ACQUISITION CONSIDERATIONS.—Section 200306 

15 of title 54, United States Code (as amended by subsection 

16 (c)), is amended by adding at the end of the following: 

17 ‘‘(d) ACQUISITION CONSIDERATIONS.—The Secretary 

18 and the Secretary of Agriculture shall take into account the 

19 following in determining the land or interests in land to 

20 acquire: 

21 ‘‘(1) Management efficiencies. 

22 ‘‘(2) Management cost savings. 

23 ‘‘(3) Geographic distribution. 

24 ‘‘(4) Significance of the acquisition. 

25 ‘‘(5) Urgency of the acquisition. 


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72 

•S 556 RS

1 ‘‘(6) Threats to the integrity of the land to be ac2 quired. 

3 ‘‘(7) The recreational value of the land.’’. 

4 SEC. 603. HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND. 

5 Section 303102 of title 54, United States Code, is 

6 amended by striking ‘‘of fiscal years 2012 to 2015’’ and 

7 inserting ‘‘fiscal year’’. 

8 TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 

9 SEC. 701. RESPECT FOR TREATIES AND RIGHTS. 

10 Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this 

11 Act— 

12 (1) affects or modifies any treaty or other right 

13 of any federally recognized Indian tribe; or 

14 (2) modifies any provision of Federal law relat15 ing to migratory birds or to endangered or threatened 

16 species. 

17 SEC. 702. NO PRIORITY. 

18 Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this 

19 Act provides a preference to hunting, fishing, or rec20 reational shooting over any other use of Federal land or 

21 water. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to protect and 

enhance opportunities for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, and for other purposes.’’. 


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SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Calendar No. 328 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 556 

[Report No. 114–183] 

A BILL 

To protect and enhance opportunities for recother purposes. reational hunting, fishing, and shooting, and for 

DECEMBER 16, 2015 

Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the 

title 


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