IIB 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 496 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MAY 24, 2016 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources 
AN ACT 
To establish the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area in 
the State of California, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Alabama Hills National Scenic Area Establishment Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
Sec. 3. Alabama Hills National Scenic Area, California. 
Sec. 4. Management plan. 
Sec. 5. Land taken into trust for Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation. 
Sec. 6. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction. 
Sec. 7. Protection of services and recreational opportunities. 
Sec. 8. Clarification regarding funding. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan for the Na-
tional Scenic Area developed under section 4(a). 
(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map ti-
tled ‘‘Proposed Alabama Hills National Scenic 
Area’’, dated September 8, 2014. 
(3) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—The term ‘‘motor-
ized vehicles’’ means motorized or mechanized vehi-
cles and includes, when used by utilities, mechanized 
equipment, helicopters, and other aerial devices nec-
essary to maintain electrical or communications in-
frastructure. 
(4) NATIONAL SCENIC AREA.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Scenic Area’’ means the Alabama Hills Na-
tional Scenic Area established by section 3(a). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of California. 
(7) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Lone 
Pine Paiute-Shoshone. 
(8) UTILITY FACILITY.—The term ‘‘utility facil-
ity’’ means any and all existing and future water 
system facilities including aqueducts, streams, 
ditches, and canals; water facilities including, but 
not limited to, flow measuring stations, gauges, 
gates, values, piping, conduits, fencing, and electrical 
power and communications devices and systems; and 
any and all existing and future electric generation 
facilities, electric storage facilities, overhead and/or 
underground electrical supply systems and commu-
nication systems consisting of electric substations, 
electric lines, poles and towers made of various ma-
terials, ‘‘H’’ frame structures, guy wires and an-
chors, crossarms, wires, underground conduits, ca-
bles, vaults, manholes, handholes, above-ground en-
closures, markers and concrete pads and other fix-
tures, appliances and communication circuits, and 
other fixtures, appliances and appurtenances con-
nected therewith necessary or convenient for the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
construction, operation, regulation, control, ground-
ing and maintenance of electric generation, storage, 
lines and communication circuits, for the purpose of 
transmitting intelligence and generating, storing, 
distributing, regulating and controlling electric en-
ergy to be used for light, heat, power, communica-
tion, and other purposes. 
SEC. 3. ALABAMA HILLS NATIONAL SCENIC AREA, CALI-
FORNIA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to valid, existing 
rights, there is established in Inyo County, California, the 
Alabama Hills National Scenic Area. The National Scenic 
Area shall be comprised of the approximately 18,610 acres 
generally depicted on the Map as ‘‘National Scenic Area’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the National Scenic 
Area is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit, 
use, and enjoyment of present and future generations the 
nationally significant scenic, cultural, geological, edu-
cational, biological, historical, recreational, cinemato-
graphic, and scientific resources of the National Scenic 
Area managed consistent with section 302(a) of the Fed-
eral Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1732(a)). 
(c) MAP; LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall file a map and a legal description of the Na-
tional Scenic Area with— 
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives. 
(2) FORCE OF LAW.—The map and legal de-
scriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall have the 
same force and effect as if included in this Act, ex-
cept that the Secretary may correct any clerical and 
typographical errors in the map and legal descrip-
tions. 
(3) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—Each map and 
legal description filed under paragraph (1) shall be 
on file and available for public inspection in the ap-
propriate offices of the Forest Service and Bureau 
of Land Management. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall manage 
the National Scenic Area— 
(1) as a component of the National Landscape 
Conservation System; 
(2) so as not to impact the future continuing 
operations and maintenance of any activities associ-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
ated with valid, existing rights, including water 
rights; 
(3) in a manner that conserves, protects, and 
enhances the resources and values of the National 
Scenic Area described in subsection (b); and 
(4) in accordance with— 
(A) the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); 
(B) this Act; and 
(C) any other applicable laws. 
(e) MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall allow 
only such uses of the National Scenic Area as the 
Secretary determines would support the purposes of 
the National Scenic Area as described in subsection 
(b). 
(2) RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES.—Except as 
otherwise provided in this Act or other applicable 
law, or as the Secretary determines to be necessary 
for public health and safety, the Secretary shall 
allow existing recreational uses of the National Sce-
nic Area to continue, including hiking, mountain 
biking, rock climbing, sightseeing, horseback riding, 
hunting, fishing, and appropriate authorized motor-
ized vehicle use. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
(3) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—Except as speci-
fied within this Act and/or in cases in which motor-
ized vehicles are needed for administrative purposes, 
or to respond to an emergency, the use of motorized 
vehicles in the National Scenic Area shall be per-
mitted only on— 
(A) roads and trails designated by the Di-
rector of the Bureau of Land Management for 
use of motorized vehicles as part of a manage-
ment plan sustaining a semi-primitive motorized 
experience; or 
(B) on county-maintained roads in accord-
ance with applicable State and county laws. 
(f) NO BUFFER ZONES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act creates 
a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Na-
tional Scenic Area. 
(2) ACTIVITIES
OUTSIDE
NATIONAL
SCENIC 
AREA.—The fact that an activity or use on land out-
side the National Scenic Area can be seen or heard 
within the National Scenic Area shall not preclude 
the activity or use outside the boundaries of the Na-
tional Scenic Area. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
(g) ACCESS.—The Secretary shall continue to provide 
private landowners adequate access to inholdings in the 
National Scenic Area. 
(h) FILMING.—Nothing in this Act prohibits filming 
(including commercial film production, student filming, 
and still photography) within the National Scenic Area— 
(1) subject to— 
(A) such reasonable regulations, policies, 
and practices as the Secretary considers to be 
necessary; and 
(B) applicable law; and 
(2) in a manner consistent with the purposes 
described in subsection (b). 
(i) FISH AND WILDLIFE.—Nothing in this Act affects 
the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State with respect 
to fish and wildlife. 
(j) LIVESTOCK.—The grazing of livestock in the Na-
tional Scenic Area, including grazing under the Alabama 
Hills allotment and the George Creek allotment, as estab-
lished before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be 
permitted to continue— 
(1) subject to— 
(A) such reasonable regulations, policies, 
and practices as the Secretary considers to be 
necessary; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
HR 496 RFS 
(B) applicable law; and 
(2) in a manner consistent with the purposes 
described in subsection (b). 
(k) OVERFLIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act restricts or 
precludes flights over the National Scenic Area or over-
flights that can be seen or heard within the National Sce-
nic Area, including— 
(1) transportation, sightseeing and filming 
flights, general aviation planes, helicopters, hang- 
gliders, and balloonists, for commercial or rec-
reational purposes; 
(2) low-level overflights of military aircraft; 
(3) flight testing and evaluation; or 
(4) the designation or creation of new units of 
special use airspace, or the establishment of military 
flight training routes, over the National Scenic Area. 
(l) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to this Act’s provisions 
and valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of 
this Act, including rights established by prior withdrawals, 
the Federal land within the National Scenic Area is with-
drawn from all forms of— 
(1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the 
public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 
laws; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:38 May 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H496.RFS
H496
emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS