I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4970 
To ensure general aviation aircraft access to Federal land and to the airspace 
over Federal land. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 15, 2006 
Mr. OTTER (for himself, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, and 
Mr. FLAKE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture 
and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To ensure general aviation aircraft access to Federal land 
and to the airspace over Federal land. 
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 ‘‘Backcountry Landing 
Strip Access Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) aircraft landing strips— 
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(A) serve an essential safety role as emer-
gency landing areas; 
(B) provide access to people who would 
otherwise be physically unable to enjoy national 
parks, national forests, wilderness areas, and 
other Federal land; 
(C) support State economies by providing 
efficient access for visitors seeking recreational 
activities; and 
(D) serve an essential role in search and 
rescue, forest and ecological management, re-
search, wildlife management, aerial mapping, 
firefighting, and disaster relief; and 
(2) the Secretary of the Interior and the Sec-
retary of Agriculture should— 
(A) adopt a nationwide policy for gov-
erning backcountry aviation issues relating to 
the management of Federal land under the ju-
risdiction of the Secretaries; and 
(B) require regional managers to comply 
with the policy adopted under subparagraph 
(A). 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(2) AIRCRAFT LANDING STRIP.—The term ‘‘air-
craft landing strip’’ means an established aircraft 
landing strip located on Federal land under the ad-
ministrative jurisdiction of the Secretary that is 
commonly known, and has been or is consistently 
used, for aircraft landing and departure activities. 
(3) PERMANENTLY CLOSE.—The term ‘‘perma-
nently close’’ means any closure, the duration of 
which is more than 90 days in any calendar year. 
(4) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means— 
(A) with respect to land under the jurisdic-
tion of the Secretary of the Interior, the Sec-
retary of the Interior; and 
(B) with respect to land under the jurisdic-
tion of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture. 
SEC. 4. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF ACTIONS AF-
FECTING 
CERTAIN 
AIRCRAFT 
LANDING 
STRIPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall not take any 
action that would permanently close, restrict, or render 
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or declare as unserviceable any aircraft landing strip un-
less— 
(1) the head of the aviation department of each 
State in which the aircraft landing strip is located 
approves the action; 
(2) the Secretary publishes in the Federal Reg-
ister notice of the proposed action, including notice 
that the action would permanently close, restrict, or 
render or declare as unserviceable the aircraft land-
ing strip; 
(3) the Secretary provides for a 90-day public 
comment period beginning on the date of publication 
of the notice under paragraph (2); and 
(4) the Secretary and the head of the aviation 
department of each State in which the affected air-
craft landing strip is located have taken into consid-
eration any comments received during the comment 
period under paragraph (3). 
(b) POLICIES.— 
(1) BACKCOUNTRY
AVIATION
POLICIES.—Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretaries shall— 
(A) adopt a nationwide policy for gov-
erning backcountry aviation issues relating to 
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the management of Federal land under the ju-
risdiction of the Secretaries; and 
(B) require regional managers to adhere to 
the policy adopted under subparagraph (A). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Any policy affecting air 
access to an aircraft landing strip, including the pol-
icy adopted under paragraph (1), shall not take ef-
fect unless the policy— 
(A) states that the Administrator has the 
sole authority to control aviation and airspace 
over the United States; and 
(B) seeks and considers comments from 
State governments and the public. 
(c) MAINTENANCE OF AIRSTRIPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that aircraft land-
ing strips are maintained in a manner that is con-
sistent with the resource values of any adjacent 
area, the Secretary shall consult with— 
(A) the head of the aviation department of 
each State in which an aircraft landing strip is 
located; and 
(B) any other interested parties. 
(2) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may enter into cooperative agreements with 
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interested parties for the maintenance of aircraft 
landing strips. 
(d) EXCHANGES OR ACQUISITIONS.—There shall not 
be as a condition of any Federal acquisition of, or ex-
change involving, private property on which a landing strip 
is located— 
(1) the closure or purposeful neglect of the 
landing strip; or 
(2) any other action that would restrict use or 
render any landing strip unserviceable. 
(e) APPLICABILITY.—Subsections (a), (b)(2), and (d) 
shall apply to any action, policy, exchange, or acquisition, 
respectively, that is not final on the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(f) EFFECT ON FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRA-
TION AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this Act affects the au-
thority of the Administrator over aviation or airspace. 
Æ 
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