IB 
Union Calendar No. 442 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3606 
[Report No. 113–595] 
To preserve the opportunity for pack and saddle stock that are part of 
the history and character of traditional uses, practices and access within 
the Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest in the State 
of California as appropriate within the wilderness designation, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 21, 2013 
Mr. MCCLINTOCK (for himself, Mr. STEWART, and Mr. NUNES) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 
Additional sponsor: Mr. DENHAM 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 21, 2013] 
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A BILL 
To preserve the opportunity for pack and saddle stock that 
are part of the history and character of traditional uses, 
practices and access within the Emigrant Wilderness of 
Stanislaus National Forest in the State of California 
as appropriate within the wilderness designation, and 
for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Emigrant Wilderness 
Historical Use Preservation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to ensure that— 
(1) an increasing population within the vicinity 
of the Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National 
Forest in the State of California may continue to 
enjoy the traditional variety of appropriate wilder-
ness uses and practices, including a wilderness eques-
trian experience of pack and saddle stock use, con-
sistent with protecting untrammeled and unimpaired 
wilderness character; 
(2) the Federal land comprising the Emigrant 
Wilderness retains wilderness character consistent 
with the time of designation and that changes in use 
levels and social preferences are not allowed to dis-
place historical and traditional uses, including rec-
reational commercial services provided by pack stock 
stations, which existed at the time of designation; and 
(3) future generations of Americans continue to 
have the opportunity to enjoy the variety of tradi-
tional wilderness experiences, including a true wilder-
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ness equestrian experience, consistent with what ex-
isted when the Emigrant Wilderness was designated. 
SEC. 3. PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL EQUESTRIAN AC-
TIVITIES AND ACCESS TO CERTAIN FEDERAL 
LAND. 
(a) PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL EQUESTRIAN AC-
TIVITIES AND LEVEL OF USE.—The Secretary shall take 
such actions as may be necessary to ensure that, within the 
area designated as the Emigrant Wilderness, all pack and 
saddle stock use, including commercial pack and saddle 
stock services, are recognized as appropriate wilderness ac-
tivities, along with their associated effect on soil, water, and 
vegetation. Conditions of camps, trails, and grazing areas, 
at the time of designation, should be considered an accept-
able benchmark level for monitoring the preservation of wil-
derness character. No action shall be taken to limit or ex-
clude pack and saddle stock without an appropriate envi-
ronmental analysis with an express finding that it is nec-
essary to limit or exclude pack and saddle stock, or modify 
stock practices, in order to preserve the wilderness character 
of the area to that which existed at the time of the designa-
tion of the Emigrant Wilderness. 
(b) TYPES OF ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT.—The histor-
ical use and activities in the Emigrant Wilderness, includ-
ing commercial outfitting and guiding, camping, pack stock 
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grazing, and associated campsites, campfires, tent locations, 
and social trails, are traditional uses that are consistent 
with and part of an unconfined recreational experience, 
and the signs of use created by these historical uses are to 
be considered substantially unnoticeable and acceptable as 
long as they do not exceed the level present at the time of 
wilderness designation. The Secretary shall take such ac-
tions to ensure that these traditional uses do not result in 
impacts that are greater than those experienced at the time 
the Emigrant Wilderness was designated. 
(c) EMIGRANT WILDERNESS PLAN.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall complete an updated wilderness plan to incor-
porate management direction for the preservation of pack 
and saddle stock use and all legally acceptable recreational 
uses within the Emigrant Wilderness, including estab-
lishing the following: 
(1) Desired future conditions that recognize nor-
mal and expected pack and saddle stock use impacts 
as an accepted component of the wilderness character 
of the area. 
(2) Standards, and guidelines for pack and sad-
dle stock that use ‘‘leave no trace’’ or gentle use prin-
ciples for pack and saddle stock in the future con-
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