SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) it is in the national interest to provide, and 
encourage citizens of the United States to take ad-
vantage of, opportunities during all 4 seasons to en-
gage in outdoor recreational activities that could 
contribute to the health and well-being of the citi-
zens of the United States; 
(2) as of 2009, under Federal law (including 
regulations), National Forest System land has been 
managed in ways that— 
(A) encourage understanding and apprecia-
tion of nature and the importance of conserving 
natural resources; and 
(B) provide year-round opportunities for 
natural resource-based, outdoor-developed rec-
reational activities outside of urban settings; 
(3) by increasing the extent to which National 
Forest System land is managed to provide opportu-
nities for outdoor recreational activities, more citi-
zens of the United States may gain the opportunity 
to engage in such activities; 
(4) National Forest System land that is used 
for skiing and other snow-sports can provide addi-
tional opportunities for seasonal and year-round rec-
reational activities, which promotes jobs and en-
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hances the economy of local communities that serve 
these areas as well as the State and the United 
States; 
(5) the authorization of increased use of certain 
National Forest System land for seasonal and year- 
round recreational activities and associated facilities 
can reduce the impact of such activities and facilities 
on other National Forest System land; and 
(6) it is desirable to amend the National Forest 
Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b)— 
(A) to enable snow-sports (other than nor-
dic and alpine skiing) to be permitted on Na-
tional Forest System land, subject to ski area 
permits issued by the Secretary of Agriculture 
(referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 
under section 3 of the National Forest Ski Area 
Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b); and 
(B) to clarify the authority of the Sec-
retary to permit appropriate additional seasonal 
or year-round recreational activities and facili-
ties on National Forest System land, subject to 
ski area permits issued by the Secretary under 
section 3 of the National Forest Ski Area Per-
mit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b). 
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(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to amend 
the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 
U.S.C. 497b)— 
(1) to enable snow-sports (other than nordic 
and alpine skiing) to be permitted on National For-
est System land, subject to ski area permits issued 
by the Secretary under section 3 of the National 
Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 
497b); and 
(2) to clarify the authority of the Secretary to 
permit appropriate additional seasonal or year-round 
recreational activities and facilities on National For-
est System land, subject to ski area permits issued 
by the Secretary under section 3 of the National 
Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 
497b). 
SEC. 3. SKI AREA PERMITS. 
Section 3 of the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act 
of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘nordic and 
alpine ski areas and facilities’’ and inserting ‘‘ski 
areas and associated facilities’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘nordic and alpine skiing 
operations and purposes’’ and inserting ‘‘skiing and 
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other snow-sports and such other seasonal or year- 
round recreational activities associated with moun-
tain resorts as the Secretary may authorize pursuant 
to subsection (c)’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) OTHER RECREATIONAL USES.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—Subject to 
paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary may authorize 
the holder of a ski area permit issued pursuant to 
subsection (b) to provide on National Forest System 
land subject to the ski area permit such other sea-
sonal or year-round natural resource-based, outdoor- 
developed recreational activities and associated facili-
ties (in addition to skiing and other snow-sports) as 
the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND FACILI-
TIES.—Each activity and facility authorized by the 
Secretary under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) encourage outdoor recreation; 
‘‘(B) to the extent practicable, harmonize 
with the natural environment of the National 
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Forest System land on which the activity or fa-
cility is located; and 
‘‘(C) be subject to such terms and condi-
tions as the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not au-
thorize any activity or facility under paragraph (1) 
if the Secretary determines that the authorization of 
the activity or facility would result in the primary 
recreational purpose of a National Forest System 
land that is subject to a ski area permit to be a pur-
pose other than skiing or any other snow-sport.’’; 
and 
(5) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by para-
graph (3))— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Within one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of the Ski Area Recreational Oppor-
tunity Enhancement Act of 2009, the’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘within 3 years of the date 
of enactment of this Act’’. 
SEC. 4. EFFECT. 
Nothing in this Act (including an amendment made 
by this Act) affects any authority of the Secretary (includ-
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ing the authority of the Secretary with respect to rec-
reational activities or facilities located on National Forest 
System land) under any Federal law (including regula-
tions) other than the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act 
of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b). 
Æ 
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