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may select without affecting the status of the trust as a Set-
tlement Trust under such section.
TITLE III—STERLING FOREST
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Sterling Forest Protec-
tion Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 302. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the Palisades Interstate Park Commission
was established pursuant to a joint resolution of the
75th Congress approved in 1937 (Public Resolution
No. 65; ch. 706; 50 Stat. 719), and chapter 170 of the
Laws of 1937 of the State of New York and chapter
148 of the Laws of 1937 of the State of New Jersey;
(2) the Palisades Interstate Park Commission is
responsible for the management of 23 parks and his-
toric sites in New York and New Jersey, comprising
over 82,000 acres;
(3) over 8,000,000 visitors annually seek outdoor
recreational opportunities within the Palisades Park
System;
(4) Sterling Forest is a biologically diverse open
space on the New Jersey border comprising approxi-
mately 17,500 acres, and is a highly significant wa-
tershed area for the State of New Jersey, providing
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the source for clean drinking water for 25 percent of
the State;
(5) Sterling Forest is an important outdoor rec-
reational asset in the northeastern United States,
within the most densely populated metropolitan re-
gion in the Nation;
(6) Sterling Forest supports a mixture of hard-
wood forests, wetlands, lakes, glaciated valleys, is
strategically located on a wildlife migratory route,
and provides important habitat for 27 rare or endan-
gered species;
(7) the protection of Sterling Forest would great-
ly enhance the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a
portion of which passes through Sterling Forest, and
would provide for enhanced recreational opportunities
through the protection of lands which are an integral
element of the trail and which would protect impor-
tant trail viewsheds;
(8) stewardship and management costs for units
of the Palisades Park System are paid for by the
States of New York and New Jersey; thus, the protec-
tion of Sterling Forest through the Palisades Inter-
state Park Commission will involve a minimum of
Federal funds;
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(9) given the nationally significant watershed,
outdoor recreational, and wildlife qualities of Sterling
Forest, the demand for open space in the northeastern
United States, and the lack of open space in the
densely populated tri-state region, there is a clear
Federal interest in acquiring the Sterling Forest for
permanent protection of the watershed, outdoor rec-
reational resources, flora and fauna, and open space;
and
(10) such an acquisition would represent a cost
effective investment, as compared with the costs that
would be incurred to protect drinking water for the
region should the Sterling Forest be developed.
SEC. 303. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this title are—
(1) to establish the Sterling Forest Reserve in the
State of New York to protect the significant water-
shed, wildlife, and recreational resources within the
New York-New Jersey highlands region;
(2) to authorize Federal funding, through the De-
partment of the Interior, for a portion of the acquisi-
tion costs for the Sterling Forest Reserve;
(3) to direct the Palisades Interstate Park Com-
mission to convey to the Secretary of the Interior cer-
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tain interests in lands acquired within the Reserve;
and
(4) to provide for the management of the Sterling
Forest Reserve by the Palisades Interstate Park Com-
mission.
SEC. 304 DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) 
COMMISSION.—The 
term 
‘‘Commission’’
means the Palisades Interstate Park Commission es-
tablished pursuant to Public Resolution No. 65 ap-
proved August 19, 1937 (ch. 707; 50 Stat. 719).
(2) RESERVE.—The term ‘‘Reserve’’ means the
Sterling Forest Reserve.
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 305. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STERLING FOREST RE-
SERVE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Upon the certification by the
Commission to the Secretary that the Commission has ac-
quired sufficient lands or interests therein to constitute a
manageable unit, there is established the Sterling Forest Re-
serve in the State of New York.
(b) MAP.—
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Reserve shall consist of
lands and interests therein acquired by the Commis-
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sion within the approximately 17,500 acres of lands
as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Boundary
Map, Sterling Forest Reserve’’, numbered SFR–
60,001 and dated July 1, 1994.
(2) AVAILABILITY FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.—The
map described in paragraph (1) shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the offices of the
Commission and the appropriate offices of the Na-
tional Park Service.
(c) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—Subject to subjection (d),
the Secretary shall transfer to the Commission such funds
as are appropriated for the acquisition of lands and inter-
ests therein within the Reserve.
(d) CONDITIONS OF FUNDING.—
(1) AGREEMENT BY THE COMMISSION.—Prior to
the receipt of any Federal funds authorized by this
Act, the Commission shall agree to the following:
(A) CONVEYANCE OF LANDS IN EVENT OF
FAILURE TO MANAGE.—If the Commission fails
to manage the lands acquired within the Reserve
in a manner that is consistent with this title, the
Commission shall convey fee title to such lands
to the United States, and the agreement stated in
this subparagraph shall be recorded at the time
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of purchase of all lands acquired within the Re-
serve.
(B) CONSENT OF OWNERS.—No lands or in-
terest in land may be acquired with any Federal
funds authorized or transferred pursuant to this
title except with the consent of the owner of the
land or interest in land.
(C) INABILITY TO ACQUIRE LANDS.—If the
Commission is unable to acquire all of the lands
within the Reserve, to the extent Federal funds
are utilized pursuant to this title, the Commis-
sion shall acquire all or a portion of the lands
identified as ‘‘National Park Service Wilderness
Easement Lands’’ and ‘‘National Park Service
Conservation Easement Lands’’ on the map de-
scribed in section 305(b) before proceeding with
the acquisition of any other lands within the Re-
serve.
(D) CONVEYANCE
OF
EASEMENT.—Within
30 days after acquiring any of the lands identi-
fied as ‘‘National Park Service Wilderness Ease-
ment Lands’’ and ‘‘National Park Service Con-
servation Easement Lands’’ on the map de-
scribed in section 305(b), the Commission shall
convey to the United States—
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(i) conservation easements on the lands
described as ‘‘National Park Service Wilder-
ness Easement Lands’’ on the map described
in section 305(b), which easements shall
provide that the lands shall be managed to
protect their wilderness character; and
(ii) conservation easements on the
lands described as ‘‘National Park Service
Conservation Easement Lands’’ on the map
described in section 305(b), which easements
shall restrict and limit development and use
of the property to that development and use
that is—
(I) compatible with the protection
of the Appalachian National Scenic
Trail; and
(II) consistent with the general
management plan prepared pursuant
to section 306(b).
(2) MATCHING
FUNDS.—Funds may be trans-
ferred to the Commission only to the extent that they
are matched from funds contributed by non-Federal
sources.
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SEC. 306. MANAGEMENT OF THE RESERVE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall manage the
lands acquired within the Reserve in a manner that is con-
sistent with the Commission’s authorities and with the pur-
poses of this title.
(b) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Within 3 years
after the date of enactment of this title, the Commission
shall prepare a general management plan for the Reserve
and submit the plan to the Secretary for approval.
SEC. 307. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as are necessary to carry out this title,
to remain available until expended.
(b) LAND ACQUISITION.—Of amounts appropriated
pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may transfer to
the Commission not more than $17,500,000 for the acquisi-
tion of lands and interests in land within the Reserve.
Attest:
Secretary.
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