H. R. 5200
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two
An Act
To establish wilderness areas, promote conservation, improve public land, and pro-
vide for high quality development in Clark County, Nevada, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Clark County Conservation
of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE I—RED ROCK CANYON NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA LAND
EXCHANGE AND BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 104. Red Rock Canyon land exchange.
Sec. 105. Status and management of lands.
Sec. 106. General provisions.
TITLE II—WILDERNESS AREAS
Sec. 201. Findings.
Sec. 202. Additions to National Wilderness Preservation System.
Sec. 203. Administration.
Sec. 204. Adjacent management.
Sec. 205. Military overflights.
Sec. 206. Native American cultural and religious uses.
Sec. 207. Release of wilderness study areas.
Sec. 208. Wildlife management.
Sec. 209. Wildfire management.
Sec. 210. Climatological data collection.
Sec. 211. National Park Service lands.
TITLE III—TRANSFERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION
Sec. 301. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction to the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Sec. 302. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction to National Park Service.
TITLE IV—AMENDMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN NEVADA PUBLIC LAND
MANAGEMENT ACT
Sec. 401. Disposal and exchange.
TITLE V—IVANPAH CORRIDOR
Sec. 501. Interstate Route 15 south corridor.
Sec. 502. Area of Critical Environmental Concern segregation.
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TITLE VI—SLOAN CANYON NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Purpose.
Sec. 603. Definitions.
Sec. 604. Establishment.
Sec. 605. Management.
Sec. 606. Sale of Federal parcel.
Sec. 607. Right-of-way.
TITLE VII—PUBLIC INTEREST CONVEYANCES
Sec. 701. Definition of map.
Sec. 702. Conveyance to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas Research Founda-
tion.
Sec. 703. Conveyance to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Sec. 704. Conveyance to the City of Henderson for the Nevada State College at
Henderson.
Sec. 705. Conveyance to the City of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sec. 706. Sale of Federal parcel.
TITLE VIII—HUMBOLDT PROJECT CONVEYANCE
Sec. 801. Short title.
Sec. 802. Definitions.
Sec. 803. Authority to convey title.
Sec. 804. Payment.
Sec. 805. Compliance with other laws.
Sec. 806. Revocation of withdrawals.
Sec. 807. Liability.
Sec. 808. National Environmental Policy Act.
Sec. 809. Future benefits.
TITLE IX—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 901. Technical amendments to the Mesquite Lands Act 2001.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘Agreement’’ means the Agree-
ment entitled ‘‘Interim Cooperative Management Agreement
Between the United States of the Interior Bureau of Land
Management and Clark County’’, dated November 4, 1992.
(2) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means Clark County,
Nevada.
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means—
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to land
in the National Forest System; or
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to other
Federal land.
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Nevada.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this Act.
TITLE I—RED ROCK CANYON NATIONAL
CONSERVATION 
AREA 
LAND 
EX-
CHANGE AND 
BOUNDARY 
ADJUST-
MENT
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Red Rock Canyon National
Conservation Area Protection and Enhancement Act of 2002’’.
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SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this title:
(1) CORPORATION.—The term ‘‘Corporation’’ means the
Howard Hughes Corporation, an affiliate of the Rouse Com-
pany, with its principal place of business at 10000 West
Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada.
(2) RED
ROCK
CANYON.—The term ‘‘Red Rock Canyon’’
means the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, con-
sisting of approximately 195,780 acres of public lands in Clark
County, Nevada, specially designated for protection in the Red
Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460ccc et seq.), as depicted on the Red
Rock Canyon Map.
(3) RED ROCK CANYON MAP.—The term ‘‘Red Rock Canyon
Map’’ means the map entitled ‘‘Southern Nevada Public Land
Management Act’’, dated October 1, 2002.
SEC. 103. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Red Rock Canyon is a natural resource of major signifi-
cance to the people of Nevada and the United States. It must
be protected in its natural state for the enjoyment of future
generations of Nevadans and Americans, and enhanced wher-
ever possible.
(2) In 1998, the Congress enacted the Southern Nevada
Public Lands Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–263),
which provided among other things for the protection and
enhancement of Red Rock Canyon.
(3) The Corporation owns much of the private land on
Red Rock Canyon’s eastern boundary, and is engaged in devel-
oping a large-scale master-planned community.
(4) Included in the Corporation’s land holdings are 1,071
acres of high-ground lands at the eastern edge of Red Rock
Canyon. These lands were intended to be included in Red
Rock, but to date have not been acquired by the United States.
The protection of this high-ground acreage would preserve an
important element of the western Las Vegas Valley viewshed.
(5) The Corporation has volunteered to forgo development
of the high-ground lands, and proposes that the United States
acquire title to the lands so that they can be preserved in
perpetuity to protect and expand Red Rock Canyon.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this title are:
(1) To accomplish an exchange of lands between the United
States and the Corporation that would transfer certain high-
ground lands to the United States in exchange for the transfer
of other lands of approximately equal value to the Corporation.
(2) To protect Red Rock Canyon and to expand its bound-
aries as contemplated by the Bureau of Land Management,
as depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map.
(3) To further fulfill the purposes of the Southern Nevada
Public Lands Management Act of 1998 and the Red Rock
Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990.
SEC. 104. RED ROCK CANYON LAND EXCHANGE.
(a) ACQUISITION REQUIREMENT.—If the Corporation offers to
convey to the United States all right, title, and interest in and
to the approximately 1,082 acres of non-Federal land owned by
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the Corporation and depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map as
‘‘Offered Lands proposed addition to the Red Rock Canyon NCA’’,
the Secretary shall accept such offer on behalf of the United States,
and not later than 90 days after the date of the offer, except
as otherwise provided in this title, shall make the following convey-
ances:
(1) To the Corporation, the approximately 998 acres of
Federal lands depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map as ‘‘Public
land selected for exchange’’.
(2) To Clark County, Nevada, the approximately 1,221 acres
of Federal lands depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map as
‘‘Proposed BLM transfer for county park’’.
(b) SIMULTANEOUS CONVEYANCES.—Title to the private property
and the Federal property to be conveyed pursuant to this section
shall be conveyed at the same time.
(c) MAP.—The Secretary shall keep the Red Rock Canyon Map
on file and available for public inspection in the Las Vegas District
Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, and the
State Office of the Bureau of Land Management, Reno, Nevada.
(d) CONDITIONS.—
(1) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.—As a condition of the convey-
ance under ––subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall require that
the Corporation be responsible for removal of and remediation
related to any hazardous materials that are present on the
property conveyed to the United States under subsection (a).
(2) SURVEY.—As a condition of the conveyance under sub-
section (a)(1), the Secretary shall require that not later than
90 days after the date of the offer referred to in subsection
(a), the Corporation shall provide a metes and bounds survey,
that is acceptable to the Corporation, Clark County, and the
Secretary, of the common boundary between the parcels of
land to be conveyed under subsection (a).
(3) LANDS CONVEYED TO CLARK COUNTY.—As a condition
of the conveyance under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall
require that—
(A) the lands transferred to Clark County by the
United States must be held in perpetuity by the County
for use only as a public park or as part of a public regional
trail system; and
(B) if the County attempts to transfer the lands or
to undertake a use on the lands that is inconsistent with
their preservation and use as described in subparagraph
(A), such lands shall, at the discretion of the Secretary,
revert to the United States.
(e) VALUATION.—
(1) EQUAL VALUE EXCHANGE.—The values of the Federal
parcel and the non-Federal parcel, as determined under para-
graph (2)—
(A) shall be equal; or
(B) if the values are not equal, shall be equalized
in accordance with paragraph (3).
(2) APPRAISAL.—The values of the Federal parcel and the
non-Federal parcel shall be determined by an appraisal, to
be approved by the Secretary, that complies with the Uniform
Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions.
(3) EQUALIZATION.—
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(A) IN GENERAL.—If the value of the non-Federal parcel
is less than the value of the Federal parcel—
(i) the Corporation shall make a cash equalization
payment to the Secretary; or
(ii) the Secretary shall, as determined to be appro-
priate by the Secretary and the Corporation, reduce
the acreage of the Federal parcel.
(B) DISPOSITION
OF
PROCEEDS.—The Secretary shall
deposit any cash equalization payments received under
subparagraph (A)(i) in accordance with section 4(e)(1)(C)
of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of
1998 (112 Stat. 2345).
SEC. 105. STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF LANDS.
(a) INCLUSION AND MANAGEMENT OF LANDS.—Upon the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall administer the
lands depicted on the Red Rock Map as ‘‘Public Lands-proposed
addition to the Red Rock Canyon NCA’’, exclusive of those lands
used for the Corps of Engineers R–4 Detention Basin, as part
of Red Rock and in accordance with the Red Rock Canyon National
Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460ccc
et seq.) and all other applicable laws.
(b) INCLUSION OF ACQUIRED LANDS.—Upon acquisition by the
United States of lands under this Act, the Secretary shall—
(1) administer the lands as part of Red Rock and in accord-
ance with the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Establishment Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460ccc et seq.), the
Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 (Public
Law 105–263), and all other applicable laws; and
(2) create new maps showing the boundaries of Red Rock
as modified or pursuant to this Act, and make such maps
available for review at the Las Vegas District Office of the
Bureau of Land Management and the State Office of the Bureau
of Land Management, Reno, Nevada.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3(a)(2) of the Red Rock
Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990
(16 U.S.C. 460ccc–1(a)(2)) is amended by inserting before the period
the following: ‘‘, and such additional areas as are included in the
conservation area pursuant to the Red Rock Canyon National Con-
servation Area Protection and Enhancement Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 106. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) REVIEW OF APPRAISAL.—Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete
a review of the appraisal entitled, ‘‘Complete Self-Contained
Appraisal Red Rock Exchange, Las Vegas, Nevada’’, completed on
or about June 3, 2002. The difference in appraisal values shall
be reimbursed to the Secretary by the Corporation in accordance
with the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998.
(b) VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.—The land exchange under this
Act shall be subject to valid existing rights. Each party to which
property is conveyed under this Act shall succeed to the rights
and obligations of the conveying party with respect to any lease,
right-of-way, permit, or other valid existing right to which the
property is subject.
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Nothing in this Act prohibits
the parties to the conveyances under this Act from agreeing to
H. R. 5200—6
the correction of technical errors or omissions in the Red Rock
Map.
(d) WITHDRAWAL
OF AFFECTED LANDS.—To the extent not
already accomplished under law or administrative action, the Sec-
retary shall withdraw from operation of the public land and mining
laws, subject to valid existing rights—
(1) those Federal lands acquired by the United States under
this Act; and
(2) those Federal lands already owned by the United States
on the date of enactment of this Act but included within the
Red Rock National Conservation Area boundaries by this Act.
TITLE II—WILDERNESS AREAS
SEC. 201. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) public land in the County contains unique and spectac-
ular natural resources, including—
(A) priceless habitat for numerous species of plants
and wildlife; and
(B) thousands of acres of pristine land that remain
in a natural state;
(2) continued preservation of those areas would benefit
the County and all of the United States by—
(A) ensuring the conservation of ecologically diverse
habitat;
(B) conserving primitive recreational resources; and
(C) protecting air and water quality.
SEC. 202. ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION
SYSTEM.
(a) ADDITIONS.—The following land in the State is designated
as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness
Preservation System:
(1) ARROW
CANYON
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising
approximately 27,530 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ‘‘Arrow Canyon’’, dated October 1, 2002, which shall
be known as the ‘‘Arrow Canyon Wilderness’’.
(2) BLACK
CANYON
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, comprising approximately 17,220 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Eldorado/Spirit Mountain’’,
dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the ‘‘Black
Canyon Wilderness’’.
(3) BRIDGE
CANYON
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising
approximately 7,761 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ‘‘Eldorado/Spirit Mountain’’, dated October 1, 2002,
which shall be known as the ‘‘Bridge Canyon Wilderness’’.
(4) ELDORADO WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land within
the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adjacent por-
tion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, comprising approximately 31,950 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Eldorado/Spirit Mountain’’, dated
H. R. 5200—7
October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the ‘‘Eldorado Wilder-
ness’’.
(5) IRETEBA
PEAKS
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, comprising approximately 32,745 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Eldorado/Spirit Mountain’’,
dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the ‘‘Ireteba
Peaks Wilderness’’.
(6) JIMBILNAN WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land within
the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising approxi-
mately 18,879 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
‘‘Muddy Mountains’’, dated October 1, 2002, which shall be
known as the ‘‘Jimbilnan Wilderness’’.
(7) JUMBO
SPRINGS
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising
approximately 4,631 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ‘‘Gold Butte’’, dated October 1, 2002, which shall be
known as the ‘‘Jumbo Springs Wilderness’’.
(8) LA
MADRE
MOUNTAIN
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal
land within the Toiyabe National Forest and an adjacent por-
tion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, comprising approximately 47,180 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Spring Mountains’’, dated October
1, 2002, which shall be known as the ‘‘La Madre Mountain
Wilderness’’.
(9) LIME CANYON WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land man-
aged by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approxi-
mately 23,233 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled
‘‘Gold Butte’’, dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known
as the ‘‘Lime Canyon Wilderness’’.
(10) MT. CHARLESTON
WILDERNESS
ADDITIONS.—Certain
Federal land within the Toiyabe National Forest and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, comprising approximately 13,598 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Spring Mountains’’, dated
October 1, 2002, which shall be included in the Mt. Charleston
Wilderness.
(11) MUDDY
MOUNTAINS
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal
land within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an
adjacent portion of land managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, comprising approximately 48,019 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Muddy Mountains’’, dated
October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the ‘‘Muddy Moun-
tains Wilderness’’.
(12) NELLIS
WASH
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising
approximately 16,423 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ‘‘Eldorado/Spirit Mountain’’, dated October 1, 2002,
which shall be known as the ‘‘Nellis Wash Wilderness’’.
(13) NORTH
MCCULLOUGH
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal
land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising
approximately 14,763 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ‘‘McCulloughs’’, dated October 1, 2002, which shall
be known as the ‘‘North McCullough Wilderness’’.
(14) PINTO
VALLEY
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising
H. R. 5200—8
approximately 39,173 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ‘‘Muddy Mountains’’, dated October 1, 2002, which
shall be known as the ‘‘Pinto Valley Wilderness’’.
(15) RAINBOW
MOUNTAIN
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal
land within the Toiyabe National Forest and an adjacent por-
tion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, comprising approximately 24,997 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Spring Mountains’’, dated October
1, 2002, which shall be known as the ‘‘Rainbow Mountain
Wilderness’’.
(16) SOUTH
MCCULLOUGH
WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal
land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising
approximately 44,245 acres, as generally depicted on the map
entitled ‘‘McCulloughs’’, dated October 1, 2002, which shall
be known as the ‘‘South McCullough Wilderness’’.
(17) SPIRIT MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, comprising approximately 33,518 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Eldorado/Spirit Mountain’’,
dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the ‘‘Spirit
Mountain Wilderness’’.
(18) WEE THUMP JOSHUA TREE WILDERNESS.—Certain Fed-
eral land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, com-
prising approximately 6,050 acres, as generally depicted on
the map entitled ‘‘McCulloughs’’, dated October 1, 2002, which
shall be known as the ‘‘Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness’’.
(b) BOUNDARY.—
(1) LAKE OFFSET.—The boundary of any portion of a wilder-
ness area designated by subsection (a) that is bordered by
Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, or the Colorado River shall be 300
feet inland from the high water line.
(2) ROAD OFFSET.—The boundary of any portion of a wilder-
ness area designated by subsection (a) that is bordered by
a road shall be at least 100 feet from the edge of the road
to allow public access.
(c) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and
legal description of each wilderness area designated by sub-
section (a) with the Committee on Resources of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate.
(2) EFFECT.—Each map and legal description shall have
the same force and effect as if included in this section, except
that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors
in the map or legal description.
(3) AVAILABILITY.—Each map and legal description shall
be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate
offices of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park
Service, or Forest Service, as applicable.
(d) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, the wilder-
ness areas designated in this section are withdrawn from—
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws;
and
H. R. 5200—9
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,
and geothermal leasing laws.
SEC. 203. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) MANAGEMENT.—Subject to valid existing rights, each area
designated as wilderness by this title shall be administered by
the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131 et seq.), except that—
(1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall
be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture
shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of the
Interior with respect to lands administered by the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) LIVESTOCK.—Within the wilderness areas designated under
this title that are administered by the Bureau of Land Management,
the grazing of livestock in areas in which grazing is established
as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be allowed to continue,
subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices that
the Secretary considers necessary, consistent with section 4(d)(4)
of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), including the guide-
lines set forth in Appendix A of House Report 101–405.
(c) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LANDS AND INTERESTS.—Any
land or interest in land within the boundaries of an area designated
as wilderness by this title that is acquired by the United States
after the date of enactment of this Act shall be added to and
administered as part of the wilderness area within which the
acquired land or interest is located.
(d) WATER RIGHTS.—
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(A) the lands designated as Wilderness by this Act
are within the Mojave Desert, are arid in nature, and
include ephemeral streams;
(B) the hydrology of the lands designated as wilderness
by this Act is locally characterized by complex flow patterns
and alluvial fans with impermanent channels;
(C) the subsurface hydrogeology of the region is
characterized by ground water subject to local and regional
flow gradients and artesian aquifers;
(D) the lands designated as wilderness by this Act
are generally not suitable for use or development of new
water resource facilities and there are no actual or proposed
water resource facilities and no opportunities for diversion,
storage, or other uses of water occurring outside such lands
that would adversely affect the wilderness or other values
of such lands; and
(E) because of the unique nature and hydrology of
these desert lands designated as wilderness by this Act
and the existence of the Clark County Multi-Species
Habitat Conservation Plan it is possible to provide for
proper management and protection of the wilderness,
perennial springs and other values of such lands in ways
different from those used in other legislation.
(2) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—
(A) Nothing in this Act shall constitute or be construed
to constitute either an express or implied reservation by
H. R. 5200—10
the United States of any water or water rights with respect
to the lands designated as Wilderness by this Act.
(B) Nothing in this Act shall affect any water rights
in the State of Nevada existing on the date of the enactment
of this Act, including any water rights held by the United
States.
(C) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as
establishing a precedent with regard to any future wilder-
ness designations.
(D) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting,
altering, modifying, or amending any of the interstate com-
pacts or equitable apportionment decrees that apportion
water among and between the State of Nevada and other
States.
(E) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as
limiting, altering, modifying, or amending the Clark County
Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) with
respect to the lands designated as Wilderness by this Act
including the MSHCP’s specific management actions for
the conservation of perennial springs.
(3) NEVADA WATER LAW.—The Secretary shall follow the
procedural and substantive requirements of the law of the
State of Nevada in order to obtain and hold any water rights
not in existence on the date of enactment of this Act with
respect to the wilderness areas designated by this Act.
(4) NEW PROJECTS.—
(A) As used in this paragraph, the term ‘‘water
resource’’ facility means irrigation and pumping facilities,
reservoirs, water conservation works, aqueducts, canals,
ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, and trans-
mission and other ancillary facilities, and other water diver-
sion, storage, and carriage structures. The term ‘‘water
resource’’ facility does not include wildlife guzzlers.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, on and
after the date of the enactment of this Act, neither the
President nor any other officer, employee, or agent of the
United States shall fund, assist, authorize, or issue a
license or permit for the development of any new water
resource facility within the wilderness areas designated
by this Act.
SEC. 204. ADJACENT MANAGEMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Congress does not intend for the designation
of wilderness in the State pursuant to this title to lead to the
creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around any such
wilderness area.
(b) NONWILDERNESS ACTIVITIES.—The fact that nonwilderness
activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within a wilder-
ness designated under this title shall not preclude the conduct
of those activities or uses outside the boundary of the wilderness
area.
SEC. 205. MILITARY OVERFLIGHTS.
Nothing in this title restricts or precludes—
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the areas
designated as wilderness by this title, including military over-
flights that can be seen or heard within the wilderness areas;
(2) flight testing and evaluation; or
H. R. 5200—11
(3) the designation or creation of new units of special
use airspace, or the establishment of military flight training
routes, over the wilderness areas.
SEC. 206. NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS USES.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the rights
of any Indian Tribe. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
diminish tribal rights regarding access to Federal lands for tribal
activities, including spiritual, cultural, and traditional food-gath-
ering activities.
SEC. 207. RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section
603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1782), the public land in the County administered by the
Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the following
areas have been adequately studied for wilderness designation:
(1) The Garrett Buttes Wilderness Study Area.
(2) The Quail Springs Wilderness Study Area.
(3) The Nellis A, B, C Wilderness Study Area.
(4) Any portion of the wilderness study areas—
(A) not designated as wilderness by section 202(a);
and
(B) designated for release on—
(i) the map entitled ‘‘Muddy Mountains’’ and dated
October 1, 2002;
(ii) the map entitled ‘‘Spring Mountains’’ and dated
October 1, 2002;
(iii) the map entitled ‘‘Arrow Canyon’’ and dated
October 1, 2002;
(iv) the map entitled ‘‘Gold Butte’’ and dated
October 1, 2002;
(v) the map entitled ‘‘McCullough Mountains’’ and
dated October 1, 2002;
(vi) the map entitled ‘‘El Dorado/Spirit Mountain’’
and dated October 1, 2002; or
(vii) the map entitled ‘‘Southern Nevada Public
Land Management Act’’ and dated October 1, 2002.
(b) RELEASE.—Except as provided in subsection (c), any public
land described in subsection (a) that is not designated as wilderness
by this title—
(1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c));
and
(2) shall be managed in accordance with—
(A) land management plans adopted under section 202
of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1712); and
(B) existing cooperative conservation agreements.
(c) RIGHT-OF-WAY GRANT.—The Secretary shall issue to the
State-regulated sponsor of the Centennial Project the right-of-way
for the construction and maintenance of two 500-kilovolt electrical
transmission lines. The construction shall occur within a 500-foot-
wide corridor that is released from the Sunrise Mountains Instant
Study Area in the County as depicted on the Southern Nevada
Public Land Management Act map, dated October 1, 2002.
H. R. 5200—12
SEC. 208. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title affects
or diminishes the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish
and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting,
fishing, and trapping, in the wilderness areas designated by this
title.
(b) MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.—In furtherance of the purposes
and principles of the Wilderness Act, management activities to
maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations and the habitats
to support such populations may be carried out within wilderness
areas designated by this title where consistent with relevant wilder-
ness management plans, in accordance with appropriate policies
such as those set forth in Appendix B of House Report 101–405,
including the occasional and temporary use of motorized vehicles,
if such use, as determined by the Secretary, would promote healthy,
viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife populations that
would enhance wilderness values and accomplish those purposes
with the minimum impact necessary to reasonably accomplish the
task.
(c) EXISTING ACTIVITIES.—Consistent with section 4(d)(1) of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)) and in accordance with appro-
priate policies such as those set forth in Appendix B of House
Report 101–405, the State may continue to use aircraft, including
helicopters, to survey, capture, transplant, monitor, and provide
water for wildlife populations, including bighorn sheep, and feral
stock, horses, and burros.
(d) WILDLIFE WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.—Subject to sub-
section (f), the Secretary shall, authorize structures and facilities,
including existing structures and facilities, for wildlife water
development projects, including guzzlers, in the wilderness areas
designated by this title if—
(1) the structures and facilities will, as determined by
the Secretary, enhance wilderness values by promoting healthy,
viable and more naturally distributed wildlife populations; and
(2) the visual impacts of the structures and facilities on
the wilderness areas can reasonably be minimized.
(e) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.—The Secretary may des-
ignate by regulation areas in consultation with the appropriate
State agency (except in emergencies), in which, and establish
periods during which, for reasons of public safety, administration,
or compliance with applicable laws, no hunting, fishing, or trapping
will be permitted in the wilderness areas designated by this title.
(f) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—No later than one year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into
a cooperative agreement with the State of Nevada. The cooperative
agreement shall specify the terms and conditions under which the
State (including a designee of the State) may use wildlife manage-
ment activities in the wilderness areas designated by this title.
SEC. 209. WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT.
Consistent with section 4 of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1133), nothing in this title precludes a Federal, State, or local
agency from conducting wildfire management operations (including
operations using aircraft or mechanized equipment) to manage
wildfires in the wilderness areas designated by this title.
H. R. 5200—13
SEC. 210. CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION.
Subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may
prescribe, nothing in this title precludes the installation and mainte-
nance of hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological collection devices
in the wilderness areas designated by this title if the facilities
and access to the facilities are essential to flood warning, flood
control, and water reservoir operation activities.
SEC. 211. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LANDS.
To the extent any of the provisions of this title are in conflict
with laws, regulations, or management policies applicable to the
National Park Service for Lake Mead National Recreation Area,
those laws, regulations, or policies shall control.
TITLE III—TRANSFERS OF
ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION
SEC. 301. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION TO THE
UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Administrative jurisdiction over the land
described in subsection (b) is transferred from the Bureau of Land
Management to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for
inclusion in the Desert National Wildlife Range.
(b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcel of land referred to in
subsection (a) is the approximately 26,433 acres of land adminis-
tered by the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted
on the map entitled ‘‘Arrow Canyon’’ and dated October 1, 2002.
(c) WILDERNESS RELEASE.—
(1) Congress finds that the parcel of land described in
subsection (b) has been adequately studied for wilderness des-
ignation for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).
(2) The parcel of land described in subsection (b)—
(A) shall not be subject to section 603(c) of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1782(c)); and
(B) shall be managed in accordance with
(i) the National Wildlife Refuge System Adminis-
tration Act, as amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C.
668dd–668ee); and
(ii) existing cooperative conservation agreements.
SEC. 302. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION TO NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Administrative jurisdiction over the parcel
of land described in subsection (b) is transferred from the Bureau
of Land Management to the National Park Service for inclusion
in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
(b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcel of land referred to in
subsection (a) is the approximately 10 acres of Bureau of Land
Management land, as depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Eldorado/Spirit
Mountain’’ and dated October 1, 2002.
(c) USE OF LAND.—The parcel of land described in subsection
(b) shall be used by the National Park Service for administrative
facilities.