I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 827 
To establish certain conservation and recreation areas in the State of 
California, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 2, 2017 
Mr. VARGAS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish certain conservation and recreation areas 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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Imperial Valley Desert 
Conservation and Recreation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF LAND TO ANZA-BORREGO DESERT 
STATE PARK, CALIFORNIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—On termination of all mining 
claims to the land described in paragraph (2), the Sec-
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retary shall transfer the land described in that paragraph 
to the State. 
(b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The land referred to in 
paragraph (1) is certain Bureau of Land Management 
land in San Diego County, California, comprising approxi-
mately 934 acres, as generally depicted on the map enti-
tled ‘‘Table Mountain Wilderness Study Area Proposed 
Transfer to the State’’ and dated March 17, 2015. 
(c) MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The land transferred under 
paragraph (1) shall be managed in accordance with 
the provisions of the California Wilderness Act (Cali-
fornia Public Resources Code sections 5093.30– 
5093.40). 
(2) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing 
rights, the land transferred under paragraph (1) is 
withdrawn from— 
(A) all forms of entry, appropriation, or 
disposal under the public land laws; 
(B) location, entry, and patent under the 
mining laws; and 
(C) disposition under all laws relating to 
mineral and geothermal leasing. 
(3) REVERSION.—If the State ceases to manage 
the land transferred under paragraph (1) as part of 
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the State Park System or in a manner inconsistent 
with the California Wilderness Act (California Public 
Resources Code sections 5093.30–5093.40), the land 
shall revert to the Secretary at the discretion of the 
Secretary, to be managed as a Wilderness Study 
Area. 
SEC. 3. HOLTVILLE AIRPORT, IMPERIAL COUNTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—On the submission of an applica-
tion by Imperial County, California, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall, in accordance with section 47125 of 
title 49, United States Code, and section 2641.1 of title 
43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations) 
seek a conveyance from the Secretary of approximately 
3,500 acres of Bureau of Land Management land adjacent 
to the Imperial County Holtville Airport (L04) for the 
purposes of airport expansion. 
(b) SEGREGATION.—The Secretary (acting through 
the Director of the Bureau of Land Management) shall, 
with respect to the land to be conveyed under subsection 
(a)— 
(1) segregate the land; 
(2) endeavor to develop a joint Memorandum of 
Understanding with the Imperial County Board of 
Supervisors, the Department of Defense, and the 
Department of Transportation; such an agreement 
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shall not impose any obligation, term, or condition 
on the property owned by Imperial County; and 
(3) prohibit the appropriation of the land 
until— 
(A) the date on which a joint Memo-
randum of Understanding is signed by the par-
ties listed in paragraph (2); 
(B) the date on which a notice of realty ac-
tion terminates the application; and 
(C) the date on which a document of con-
veyance is published. 
SEC. 4. VINAGRE WASH SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
Vinagre Wash Special Management Area in the State, to 
be managed by the El Centro Field Office and the Yuma 
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Management 
Area is to conserve, protect, and enhance— 
(1) the plant and wildlife values of the Manage-
ment Area; and 
(2) the outstanding and nationally significant 
ecological, geological, scenic, recreational, archae-
ological, cultural, historic, and other resources of the 
Management Area. 
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(c) BOUNDARIES.—The Management Area shall con-
sist of the public land in Imperial County, California, com-
prising approximately 81,880 acres, as generally depicted 
on the map. 
(d) MAP; LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable, but 
not later than 3 years, after the date of enactment 
of this title, the Secretary shall submit a map and 
legal description of the Management Area to— 
(A) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate. 
(2) EFFECT.—The map and legal description 
submitted under paragraph (1) shall have the same 
force and effect as if included in this title, except 
that the Secretary may correct any errors in the 
map and legal description. 
(3) AVAILABILITY.—Copies of the map sub-
mitted under paragraph (1) shall be on file and 
available for public inspection in— 
(A) the Office of the Director of the Bu-
reau of Land Management; and 
(B) the appropriate office of the Bureau of 
Land Management in the State. 
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SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall allow hiking, 
camping, hunting, and sightseeing and the use of motor-
ized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses on designated 
routes in the Management Area in a manner that— 
(1) is consistent with the purpose of the Man-
agement Area described in section 4(b); 
(2) ensures public health and safety; and 
(3) is consistent with applicable laws and regu-
lations, including the Desert Renewable Energy Con-
servation Plan. 
(b) OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE USE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 
and (3) and all other applicable laws, the use of off- 
highway vehicles shall be permitted on routes in the 
Management Area generally depicted on the map. 
(2) CLOSURE.—The Secretary may temporarily 
close or permanently reroute a portion of a route de-
scribed in paragraph (1)— 
(A) to prevent, or allow for restoration of, 
resource damage; 
(B) to protect tribal cultural resources, in-
cluding the resources identified in the tribal cul-
tural resources management plan; 
(C) to address public safety concerns; or 
(D) as otherwise required by law. 
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