Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2023

To designate additions to the Rough Mountain Wilderness and the Rich Hole Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2023 2. Additions to rough mountain and rich hole wildernesses (a) Rough mountain addition Section 1 of Public Law 100–326 16 U.S.C. 1132 (21) Rough mountain addition Certain land in the George Washington National Forest comprising approximately 1,000 acres, as generally depicted as the Rough Mountain Addition GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST – South half – Alternative I – Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions – Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement . (b) Rich hole addition (1) Potential wilderness designation In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq. Rich Hole Addition GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST – South half – Alternative I – Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions – Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement Public Law 100–326 16 U.S.C. 1132 (2) Wilderness designation The potential wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) shall be designated as wilderness and incorporated in the Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by section 1(2) of Public Law 100–326 16 U.S.C. 1132 (A) the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the Secretary (B) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Management Except as provided in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall manage the potential wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq. (4) Water quality improvement activities (A) In general To enhance natural ecosystems within the potential wilderness area designated by paragraph (1) by implementing certain activities to improve water quality and aquatic passage, as set forth in the Forest Service document entitled Decision Notice for the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project (B) Requirement In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall use the minimum tool or administrative practice necessary to carry out that subparagraph with the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and resources.

Summary: Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2023This billadds specified additional lands in the George Washington National Forest (a part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky) to the Rough Mountain Wilderness, and designates specified land in the forest as a potential wilderness area for incorporation into the Rich Hole Wilderness. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) may use motorized equipment and mechanized transport in the potential wilderness area until it is incorporated into the Rich Hole Wilderness in order to enhance natural ecosystems by implementing certain activities to improve water quality and aquatic passage, as described in the Forest Service document titled Decision Notice for the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project and dated December 2015. In carrying out such water quality and aquatic passage improvement activities, USDA must use the minimum tool or administrative practice that has the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and resources.