I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3902
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate portions of the 
Musconetcong River in the State of New Jersey as a component of 
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 4, 2004
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, and Mr. 
FERGUSON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Resources 
A BILL 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate 
portions of the Musconetcong River in the State of New 
Jersey as a component of the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System, 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 ‘‘Musconetcong Wild 
and Scenic Rivers Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Secretary of the Interior, in coopera-
tion and consultation with appropriate Federal, 
State, regional, and local agencies, is conducting a 
study of the eligibility and suitability of the 
Musconetcong River in the State of New Jersey for 
inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
(2) The Musconetcong Wild and Scenic River 
Study Task Force has prepared, with assistance 
from the National Park Service, a river management 
plan for the study area entitled ‘‘Musconetcong 
River Management Plan’’ and dated April 2002, 
which establishes goals and actions that will ensure 
long-term protection of the outstanding values of the 
river and compatible management of land and water 
resources associated with the river. 
(3) Thirteen municipalities and three counties 
along segments of the Musconetcong River eligible 
for designation have passed resolutions supporting 
the Musconetcong River Management Plan, agreeing 
to take action to implement the goals of the plan, 
and endorsing designation of the river.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF PORTIONS OF MUSCONETCONG 
RIVER, NEW JERSEY, AS SCENIC AND REC-
REATIONAL RIVERS. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—Section 3(a) of the Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(ll) MUSCONETCONG RIVER, NEW JERSEY.—(A) 
The 24.2 miles of river segments in New Jersey, to be 
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, consisting 
of—
‘‘(i) the segment from Saxton Falls to the 
Route 46 bridge (approximately 3.5 miles), as a sce-
nic river; and 
‘‘(ii) the segment from the Kings Highway 
bridge to the railroad tunnels at Musconetcong 
Gorge (approximately 20.7 miles), as a recreational 
river. 
‘‘(B) Notwithstanding section 10(c), the river seg-
ments referred to in subparagraph (A) shall not be admin-
istered as part of the National Park System.’’. 
(b) MANAGEMENT OF SEGMENTS.—
(1) COMPLIANCE WITH MANAGEMENT PLAN.—
The Secretary of the Interior shall manage the seg-
ments of the Musconetcong River, New Jersey, des-
ignated as a scenic river or recreational river by the 
amendment made by subsection (a) in accordance
with 
the 
river 
management 
plan 
entitled 
‘‘Musconetcong River Management Plan’’ and dated 
April 2002, prepared by the Musconetcong River 
Management Committee, the National Park Service, 
the Heritage Conservancy, and the Musconetcong 
Watershed Association, which establishes goals and 
actions that will ensure long-term protection of the 
outstanding values of the river segments and com-
patible management of land and water resources as-
sociated with the river segments. 
(2) COOPERATION.—The Secretary shall man-
age the river segments in cooperation with appro-
priate Federal, State, regional, and local agencies, 
including—
(A) the Musconetcong River Management 
Committee; 
(B) the Musconetcong Watershed Associa-
tion; 
(C) the Heritage Conservancy; 
(D) the National Park Service; and 
(E) the New Jersey Department of Envi-
ronmental Protection. 
(c) SATISFACTION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAN.—
The management plan shall be considered to satisfy the 
requirements for a comprehensive management plan for
the river segments under subsection 3(d) of the Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)). 
(d) FEDERAL ROLE.—
(1) 
RESTRICTIONS
ON
WATER
RESOURCE 
PROJECTS.—In determining under section 7(a) of 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1278(a)) 
whether a proposed water resources project would 
have a direct and adverse effect on the values for 
which a river segment is designated as part of the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the Secretary shall 
consider the extent to which the project is consistent 
with the management plan. 
(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Any coopera-
tive agreements entered into under section 10(e) of 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e)) 
relating to a river segment—
(A) shall be consistent with the manage-
ment plan; and 
(B) may include provisions for financial or 
other assistance from the United States to fa-
cilitate the long-term protection, conservation, 
and enhancement of the river segment. 
(3) SUPPORT
FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.—The 
Secretary may provide technical assistance, staff
support, and funding to assist in the implementation 
of the management plan. 
(e) LAND MANAGEMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide 
planning, financial, and technical assistance to local 
municipalities and non-profit organizations to assist 
in the implementation of actions to protect the nat-
ural and historic resources of the river segments. 
(2) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—After adoption of 
recommendations made in section IV of the manage-
ment plan, the zoning ordinances of the municipali-
ties bordering the segments shall be considered to 
satisfy the standards and requirements under sec-
tion 6(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 
U.S.C. 1277(c)). 
(f) DESIGNATION
OF
ADDITIONAL
RIVER
SEG-
MENT.—
(1) 
FINDING.—Congress 
finds 
that 
the 
Musconetcong River segment ‘‘C’’ as described in 
the management plan is suitable for designation as 
a recreational river under this subsection if there is 
adequate local support for the designation as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(2) DESIGNATION
AND
ADMINISTRATION.—If 
the Secretary determines that there is adequate local
support for designating the additional river segment 
as a recreational river—
(A) the Secretary shall publish in the Fed-
eral Register a notice of the designation of the 
segment; 
(B) the segment shall thereby be des-
ignated as a recreational river in accordance 
with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
1271 et seq.); and 
(C) the Secretary shall administer the ad-
ditional river segment as a recreational river. 
(3) CRITERIA FOR LOCAL SUPPORT.—In deter-
mining whether there is adequate local support for 
the designation of the additional river segment, the 
Secretary shall consider, among other things, the 
preferences of local governments expressed in resolu-
tions concerning designation of the segment. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such funds as are nec-
essary to carry out this section, including the amendment 
to the Wild and Scenic River Act made by this section. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADDITIONAL RIVER SEGMENT.—The term 
‘‘additional river segment’’ means Musconetcong 
River segment ‘‘C’’, as described in the management
plan, from Hughesville Mill to the Delaware River 
Confluence (approximately 4.3 miles). 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the river management plan enti-
tled ‘‘Musconetcong River Management Plan’’ and 
dated April 2002. 
(3) RIVER SEGMENTS.—The term ‘‘river seg-
ments’’ means the segments of the Musconetcong 
River, New Jersey, designated as a scenic river or 
recreational river by the amendment made by sub-
section (a) in accordance with the management plan. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior.
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