IB 
Union Calendar No. 136 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 986 
[Report No. 110–220] 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments 
of the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut as components of 
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2007 
Mr. COURTNEY (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. LARSON of Con-
necticut, and Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
JULY 10, 2007 
Reported with an amendment, 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 February 12, 2007] 
A BILL 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate 
certain segments of the Eightmile River in the State 
of Connecticut as components of the National Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System, 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 Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Eightmile Wild and Sce-
nic River Act’’. 
SEC. 2. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATION, EIGHTMILE 
RIVER, CONNECTICUT. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Eightmile River Wild and Scenic River 
Study Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–65; 115 Stat. 
484) authorized the study of the Eightmile River in 
the State of Connecticut from its headwaters down-
stream to its confluence with the Connecticut River 
for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Sce-
nic Rivers System. 
(2) The segments of the Eightmile River covered 
by the study are in a free-flowing condition, and the 
outstanding resource values of the river segments in-
clude the cultural landscape, water quality, watershed 
hydrology, unique species and natural communities, 
geology, and watershed ecosystem. 
(3) The Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study 
Committee has determined that— 
(A) the outstanding resource values of these 
river segments depend on sustaining the integ-
rity and quality of the Eightmile River water-
shed; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
(B) these resource values are manifest with-
in the entire watershed; and 
(C) the watershed as a whole, including its 
protection, is itself intrinsically important to 
this designation. 
(4) The Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study 
Committee took a watershed approach in studying 
and recommending management options for the river 
segments and the Eightmile River watershed as a 
whole. 
(5) During the study, the Eightmile River Wild 
and Scenic Study Committee, with assistance from 
the National Park Service, prepared a comprehensive 
management plan for the Eightmile River watershed, 
dated December 8, 2005 (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan’’), 
which establishes objectives, standards, and action 
programs that will ensure long-term protection of the 
outstanding values of the river and compatible man-
agement of the land and water resources of the 
Eightmile River and its watershed, without Federal 
management of affected lands not owned by the 
United States. 
(6) The Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study 
Committee voted in favor of inclusion of the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
Eightmile River in the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System and included this recommendation as 
an integral part of the Eightmile River Watershed 
Management Plan. 
(7) The residents of the towns lying along the 
Eightmile River and comprising most of its watershed 
(Salem, East Haddam, and Lyme, Connecticut), as 
well as the Boards of Selectmen and Land Use Com-
missions of these towns, voted to endorse the 
Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan and to 
seek designation of the river as a component of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
(8) The State of Connecticut General Assembly 
enacted Public Act 05–18 to endorse the Eightmile 
River Watershed Management Plan and to seek des-
ignation of the river as a component of the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
(b) DESIGNATION.—Section 3(a) of the Wild and Sce-
nic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(l) EIGHTMILE RIVER, CONNECTICUT.—Segments 
of the main stem and specified tributaries of the Eightmile 
River in the State of Connecticut, totaling approximately 
25.3 miles, to be administered by the Secretary of the Inte-
rior as follows: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
‘‘(A) The entire 10.8-mile segment of the main 
stem, starting at its confluence with Lake Hayward 
Brook to its confluence with the Connecticut River at 
the mouth of Hamburg Cove, as a scenic river. 
‘‘(B) The 8.0-mile segment of the East Branch of 
the Eightmile River starting at Witch Meadow Road 
to its confluence with the main stem of the Eightmile 
River, as a scenic river. 
‘‘(C) The 3.9-mile segment of Harris Brook start-
ing with the confluence of an unnamed stream lying 
0.74 miles due east of the intersection of Hartford 
Road (State Route 85) and Round Hill Road to its 
confluence with the East Branch of the Eightmile 
River, as a scenic river. 
‘‘(D) The 1.9-mile segment of Beaver Brook 
starting at its confluence with Cedar Pond Brook to 
its confluence with the main stem of the Eightmile 
River, as a scenic river. 
‘‘(E) The 0.7-mile segment of Falls Brook from 
its confluence with Tisdale Brook to its confluence 
with the main stem of the Eightmile River at Ham-
burg Cove, as a scenic river.’’. 
(c) MANAGEMENT.—The segments of the main stem 
and certain tributaries of the Eightmile River in the State 
of Connecticut designated as components of the National 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
Wild and Scenic Rivers System by the amendment made 
by subsection (b) (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Eightmile River’’) shall be managed in accordance with 
the Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan and such 
amendments to the plan as the Secretary of the Interior 
determines are consistent with this section. The Eightmile 
River Watershed Management Plan is deemed to satisfy the 
requirements for a comprehensive management plan re-
quired by section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1274(d)). 
(d) COMMITTEE.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
coordinate the management responsibilities of the Secretary 
with regard to the Eightmile River with the Eightmile 
River Coordinating Committee, as specified in the 
Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan. 
(e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In order to provide 
for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement 
of the Eightmile River, the Secretary of the Interior may 
enter into cooperative agreements pursuant to sections 10(e) 
and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
1281(e), 1282(b)(1)) with the State of Connecticut, the 
towns of Salem, Lyme, and East Haddam, Connecticut, 
and appropriate local planning and environmental organi-
zations. All cooperative agreements authorized by this sub-
section shall be consistent with the Eightmile River Water-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
shed Management Plan and may include provisions for fi-
nancial or other assistance from the United States. 
(f) RELATION TO NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.—Notwith-
standing section 10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), the Eightmile River shall not be ad-
ministered as part of the National Park System or be sub-
ject to regulations which govern the National Park System. 
(g) LAND
MANAGEMENT.—The zoning ordinances 
adopted by the towns of Salem, East Haddam, and Lyme, 
Connecticut, in effect as of December 8, 2005, including 
provisions for conservation of floodplains, wetlands, and 
watercourses associated with the segments, are deemed to 
satisfy the standards and requirements of section 6(c) of 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277 (c)). For 
the purpose of section 6(c) of that Act, such towns shall be 
deemed ‘‘villages’’ and the provisions of that section, which 
prohibit Federal acquisition of lands by condemnation, 
shall apply to the segments designated by subsection (a). 
The authority of the Secretary to acquire lands for the pur-
poses of this Act shall be limited to acquisition by donation 
or acquisition with the consent of the owner thereof, and 
shall be subject to the additional criteria set forth in the 
Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan. 
(h) WATERSHED APPROACH.— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—In furtherance of the water-
shed approach to resource preservation and enhance-
ment articulated in the Eightmile River Watershed 
Management Plan, the tributaries of the Eightmile 
River watershed specified in paragraph (2) are recog-
nized as integral to the protection and enhancement 
of the Eightmile River and its watershed. 
(2) COVERED TRIBUTARIES.—Paragraph (1) ap-
plies with respect to Beaver Brook, Big Brook, 
Burnhams Brook, Cedar Pond Brook, Cranberry 
Meadow Brook, Early Brook, Falls Brook, Fraser 
Brook, Harris Brook, Hedge Brook, Lake Hayward 
Brook, Malt House Brook, Muddy Brook, Ransom 
Brook, Rattlesnake Ledge Brook, Shingle Mill Brook, 
Strongs Brook, Tisdale Brook, Witch Meadow Brook, 
and all other perennial streams within the Eightmile 
River watershed. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this section and the amendment made by sub-
section (b). 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 136 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 986 
[Report No. 110–220] 
A BILL 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to des-
ignate certain segments of the Eightmile River in 
the State of Connecticut as components of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for 
other purposes. 
JULY 10, 2007 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:05 Jul 11, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6651
Sfmt 6651
E:\BILLS\H986.RH
H986
bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS