I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1989 
To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 20, 2007 
Mr. PEARCE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National 
Conservation Area, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Fort Stanton-Snowy 
River Cave National Conservation Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CONSERVATION
AREA.—The term ‘‘Con-
servation Area’’ means the Fort Stanton-Snowy 
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River Cave National Conservation Area established 
by section 3(a). 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan developed 
for the Conservation Area under section 4(c). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the Bureau of Land Management. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT STANTON-SNOWY RIVER 
CAVE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES.—There is estab-
lished the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Con-
servation Area in Lincoln County, New Mexico, to protect, 
conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally impor-
tant historic, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, 
and educational subterranean cave resources of the Fort 
Stanton-Snowy River cave system. 
(b) AREA INCLUDED.—The Conservation Area shall 
include the area within the boundaries depicted on the 
map titled ‘‘Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National 
Conservation Area’’ and dated January 25, 2007. 
(c) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
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shall submit to Congress a map and legal description 
of the Conservation Area. 
(2) EFFECT.—The map and legal description of 
the Conservation Area shall have the same force and 
effect as if included in this Act, except that the Sec-
retary may correct any minor errors in the map and 
legal description. 
(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The map and legal 
description of the Conservation Area shall be avail-
able for public inspection in the appropriate offices 
of the Bureau of Land Management. 
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSERVATION AREA. 
(a) MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 
the Conservation Area— 
(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, 
and enhances the resources and values of the 
Conservation Area, including the resources and 
values described in section 3(a); and 
(B) in accordance with— 
(i) this Act; 
(ii) the Federal Land Policy and Man-
agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.); and 
(iii) any other applicable laws. 
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(2) USES.—The Secretary shall only allow uses 
of the Conservation Area that are consistent with 
the protection of the cave resources. 
(3) REQUIREMENTS.—In administering the 
Conservation Area, the Secretary shall provide for— 
(A) the conservation and protection of the 
natural and unique features and environs for 
scientific, educational, and other appropriate 
public uses of the Conservation Area; 
(B) public access, as appropriate, while 
providing for the protection of the cave re-
sources and for public safety; 
(C) the continuation of other existing uses 
or other new uses of the Conservation Area that 
do not impair the purposes for which the Con-
servation Area is established; 
(D) management of the surface area of the 
Conservation Area in accordance with the Fort 
Stanton Area of Critical Environmental Con-
cern Final Activity Plan dated March, 2001, or 
any amendments to the plan, consistent with 
this Act; and 
(E) scientific investigation and research 
opportunities within the Conservation Area, in-
cluding through partnerships with colleges, uni-
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versities, schools, scientific institutions, re-
searchers, and scientists to conduct research 
and provide educational and interpretive serv-
ices within the Conservation Area. 
(b) WITHDRAWALS.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
all Federal surface and subsurface land within the Con-
servation Area and all land and interests in the land that 
are acquired by the United States after the date of enact-
ment of this Act for inclusion in the Conservation Area, 
are withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal 
under the general land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 
laws; and 
(3) operation under the mineral leasing and 
geothermal leasing laws. 
(c) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term 
management of the Conservation Area. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The management plan shall— 
(A) describe the appropriate uses and 
management of the Conservation Area; 
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(B) incorporate, as appropriate, decisions 
contained in any other management or activity 
plan for the land within or adjacent to the Con-
servation Area; 
(C) take into consideration any informa-
tion developed in studies of the land and re-
sources within or adjacent to the Conservation 
Area; and 
(D) provide for a cooperative agreement 
with Lincoln County, New Mexico, to address 
the historical involvement of the local commu-
nity in the interpretation and protection of the 
resources of the Conservation Area. 
(d) ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE CONSERVATION AREA.— 
The establishment of the Conservation Area shall not— 
(1) create a protective perimeter or buffer zone 
around the Conservation Area; or 
(2) preclude uses or activities outside the Con-
servation Area that are permitted under other appli-
cable laws, even if the uses or activities are prohib-
ited within the Conservation Area. 
(e) RESEARCH AND INTERPRETIVE FACILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish 
facilities for— 
(A) the conduct of scientific research; and 
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(B) the interpretation of the historical, cul-
tural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and 
educational resources of the Conservation Area. 
(2) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may, in a manner consistent with this Act, 
enter into cooperative agreements with the State of 
New Mexico and other institutions and organizations 
to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(f) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act constitutes 
an express or implied reservation of any water right. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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