Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act

Subjects: Public Lands and Natural Resources, Land use and conservation, Outdoor recreation, Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:  <p><strong>Protecting America's Rock Climbing Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to issue guidance on managing recreational climbing in designated wilderness areas.</p> <p>Specifically, such departments must issue guidance not later than 18 months after this bill's enactment. </p> <p>No significant management action may be taken without notice to the public and an opportunity to comment on the proposed action, with an exception for limited emergency action (time sensitive action necessary to protect natural resources or public health and safety).</p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1380 Introduced in House (IH)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1380

   To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the 
    Interior to issue guidance on climbing management in designated 
               wilderness areas, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 7, 2023

Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Neguse) 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the 
    Interior to issue guidance on climbing management in designated 
               wilderness areas, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting America's Rock Climbing 
Act''.

SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON CLIMBING MANAGEMENT IN DESIGNATED WILDERNESS AREAS.

    (a) Climbing Guidance Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall issue 
        guidance on climbing management in designated wilderness areas 
        that recognizes the appropriateness of the allowable activities 
        described in paragraph (2) in such areas, if the allowable 
        activities are undertaken in accordance with--
                    (A) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.);
                    (B) other applicable laws (including regulations); 
                and
                    (C) any terms and conditions that are determined to 
                be necessary by the Secretary concerned.
            (2) Allowable activities.--The allowable activities 
        referred to in paragraph (1) are--
                    (A) recreational climbing;
                    (B) the placement, use, and maintenance of fixed 
                anchors; and
                    (C) the use of other equipment necessary for 
                recreational climbing.
    (b) Public Notice and Comment.--
            (1) Requirement.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        prior to taking any significant management action affecting the 
        allowable activities described in subsection (a)(2) on the land 
        described in subsection (c)(1)(B), the Secretary concerned 
        shall provide the public with notice and an opportunity to 
        comment on the proposed action.
            (2) Exception with respect to emergency actions.--Paragraph 
        (1) shall not apply to an emergency action that has a duration 
        of less than 2 years.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Designated wilderness area.--The term ``designated 
        wilderness area'' means an area--
                    (A) designated as a wilderness area pursuant to the 
                Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
                    (B) located in--
                            (i) National Forest System lands; or
                            (ii) lands under the administrative 
                        jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.
            (2) Emergency action.--The term ``emergency action'' means 
        a time sensitive action necessary to protect natural resources 
        or public health and safety.
            (3) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
                National Forest System lands; and
                    (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
                lands under the administrative jurisdiction of such 
                Secretary.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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