I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2074
To designate certain Bureau of Land Management Land in the State of
Montana to preserve unique cultural and natural features.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 19, 1995
Mr. WILLIAMS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To designate certain Bureau of Land Management Land
in the State of Montana to preserve unique cultural
and natural features.
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 referred to as the ‘‘Sweetgrass Hills
Protection Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of conserving,
protecting, and enhancing the exceptional scenic, wildlife,
water quality, and cultural characteristics of lands along
the Sweetgrass Hills in north central Montana, there is
HR 2074 IH
hereby established the Sweetgrass Hills Natural Area
within the Bureau of Land Management’s Sweetgrass
Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) as
identified in the West HiLine Resource Management Plan
in the State of Montana (hereinafter in this Act referred
to as the ‘‘natural area’’).
(b) AREA INCLUDED.—The natural area shall consist
of the lands, waters, and interests therein within the area
generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Boundary
Map, . . .’’, numbered 
llll, 
and 
Dated
lllll. The map shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the office of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement, Department of the Interior. The Secretary of the
Interior (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) may from time to time make minor revisions in
the boundary of the natural area to promote management
effectiveness and efficiency in the furtherance of this Act.
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall administer
the natural area in accordance with this Act and with the
provisions of law generally applicable to units of the Bu-
reau of Land Management. In the administration of such
natural area, the Secretary may utilize such statutory au-
thority as may be available to him for the conservation
of wildlife, natural and cultural resources, and water qual-
HR 2074 IH
ity as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of
this Act.
(b) HUNTING AND FISHING.—The Secretary shall
permit hunting and fishing on lands and waters within the
natural area in accordance with applicable Federal and
State law.
SEC. 4. ACQUISITION OF LANDS.
The Secretary is directed to acquire lands or interests
in lands within the boundaries of the natural area that
are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act by do-
nation, purchase with donation or appropriated funds, or
exchange. Lands within the boundaries of the natural area
owned by the State of Montana or any political subdivision
thereof may only be acquired by donation or exchange.
SEC. 5. MINERALS AND MINING.
(a) WITHDRAWALS.—After the enactment of this Act:
(1) Lands within the natural area shall not be
open to location of mining claims under the mining
laws of the United States.
(2) The Secretary shall not issue any lease
under the mineral leasing or geothermal leasing laws
of the United States for lands within the natural
area.
(3) Lands within the natural area shall not be
available for disposal of mineral materials under the
HR 2074 IH
Act of July 31, 1947, commonly known as the Mate-
rials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 and following).
(b) LIMITATION ON PATENT ISSUANCE.—(1) Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, no patents shall
be issued after July 19, 1995, for any location or claim
made in the natural area under the mining laws of the
United States.
(2) Notwithstanding any statute of limitations or
similar restriction otherwise applicable, any party claiming
to have been deprived of any property right enactment of
paragraph (1) may file in the United States Claims Court
a claim against the United States within one year after
the date of enactment of this Act seeking compensation
for such property right. The United States Claims Court
shall have jurisdiction to render judgement on such claim
in accordance with section 1491 of title 28, United States
Code.
(c) PROHIBITION.—No Federal lands may be used in
connection with any mining or mining related activities
within the Natural Area.
(d) RECLAMATION.—No mining or mining related ac-
tivities involving any surface disturbance of lands or wa-
ters within such area, including disturbances through sub-
sistence, shall be permitted except in accordance with re-
quirements imposed by the Secretary, including require-