I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1380 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior 
to issue guidance on climbing management in designated wilderness 
areas, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 7, 2023 
Mr. CURTIS (for himself and Mr. NEGUSE) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to 
the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 
of the Interior to issue guidance on climbing manage-
ment in designated wilderness areas, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Protecting America’s 
Rock Climbing Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON CLIMBING MANAGEMENT IN DES-
IGNATED WILDERNESS AREAS. 
(a) CLIMBING GUIDANCE REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary concerned shall issue guidance on climbing 
management in designated wilderness areas that rec-
ognizes the appropriateness of the allowable activi-
ties described in paragraph (2) in such areas, if the 
allowable activities are undertaken in accordance 
with— 
(A) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 
seq.); 
(B) other applicable laws (including regu-
lations); and 
(C) any terms and conditions that are de-
termined to be necessary by the Secretary con-
cerned. 
(2) ALLOWABLE
ACTIVITIES.—The allowable 
activities referred to in paragraph (1) are— 
(A) recreational climbing; 
(B) the placement, use, and maintenance 
of fixed anchors; and 
(C) the use of other equipment necessary 
for recreational climbing. 
(b) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.— 
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(1) REQUIREMENT.—Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), prior to taking any significant man-
agement action affecting the allowable activities de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2) on the land described in 
subsection (c)(1)(B), the Secretary concerned shall 
provide the public with notice and an opportunity to 
comment on the proposed action. 
(2) EXCEPTION WITH RESPECT TO EMERGENCY 
ACTIONS.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an 
emergency action that has a duration of less than 2 
years. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DESIGNATED
WILDERNESS
AREA.—The 
term ‘‘designated wilderness area’’ means an area— 
(A) designated as a wilderness area pursu-
ant to the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 
seq.); and 
(B) located in— 
(i) National Forest System lands; or 
(ii) lands under the administrative ju-
risdiction of the Secretary of the Interior. 
(2) EMERGENCY
ACTION.—The term ‘‘emer-
gency action’’ means a time sensitive action nec-
essary to protect natural resources or public health 
and safety. 
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(3) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System lands; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to lands under the administrative jurisdic-
tion of such Secretary. 
Æ 
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