I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2025 
To ensure public access to Federal land and to the airspace over Federal 
land. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 22, 2009 
Mr. MINNICK (for himself and Mr. SIMPSON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addi-
tion to the Committees on Agriculture and Transportation and Infra-
structure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To ensure public 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 aircraft landing strips— 
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(1) serve an essential safety function as emer-
gency landing areas; 
(2) serve as trailhead access points for— 
(A) outdoor enthusiasts and their activi-
ties, including hiking, fishing, and hunting; 
(B) land management activities, including 
forest management and firefighting; and 
(C) inholdings, including mining, ranching, 
scientific research, and tourism; 
(3) provide access to national parks, national 
forests, wilderness areas, and other Federal land for 
people who would otherwise be physically unable to 
enjoy such places; 
(4) support the economies of the surrounding 
communities by providing efficient access for visitors 
seeking recreational activities; and 
(5) serve an essential role in search and rescue, 
forest and ecological management, research, wildlife 
management, aerial mapping, firefighting, and dis-
aster relief. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
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(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 for 
aircraft landing and departure activities. 
(3) PERMANENTLY CLOSE.—The term ‘‘perma-
nently close’’ means any closure lasting more than 
30 consecutive days in any calendar year. 
(4) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means— 
(A) with respect to land under the jurisdic-
tion of the Department of the Interior, the Sec-
retary of the Interior; and 
(B) with respect to land under the jurisdic-
tion of the Department 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 
or declare as unserviceable any aircraft landing strip un-
less— 
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(1) the action has been approved by the head 
of the aviation department of the State in which the 
aircraft landing strip is located; 
(2) the Secretary publishes notice of the pro-
posed action in the Federal Register, including no-
tice that the action would permanently close, re-
strict, or render or declare as unserviceable the air-
craft landing strip; 
(3) the Secretary provides for a 90-day public 
comment period beginning on the date on which the 
notice under paragraph (2) is published; and 
(4) the Secretary and the head of the aviation 
department of the State in which the affected air-
craft landing strip is located have taken into consid-
eration any comments received during the comment 
period described in paragraph (3). 
(b) POLICIES.— 
(1) BACKCOUNTRY
AVIATION
POLICIES.—Not 
later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly— 
(A) establish a national policy for gov-
erning backcountry aviation issues relating to 
the management of Federal land under the ju-
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risdiction of the Department of the Interior and 
the Department of Agriculture; and 
(B) require officials with jurisdiction over 
the land described in subparagraph (A) to ad-
here to the policy established pursuant to such 
subparagraph. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Any policy affecting air 
access to an aircraft landing strip, including the pol-
icy established under paragraph (1), shall not take 
effect unless the policy— 
(A) acknowledges that the Administrator 
has the sole authority to control aviation and 
airspace over the United States; and 
(B) was developed after seeking and con-
sidering 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. 
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(2) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may enter into cooperative agreements with 
interested parties for the maintenance of aircraft 
landing strips. 
(3) MAINTENANCE STANDARDS.—State aircraft 
landing strip maintenance standards shall be used as 
the minimum standard when such standards are 
available. 
(d) EXCHANGES OR ACQUISITIONS.— 
(1) CONDITIONS.—If the Federal Government 
acquires private or public property on which an air-
craft landing strip is located, the acquisition may 
not require— 
(A) the closure or purposeful neglect of the 
aircraft landing strip; or 
(B) any other action that would restrict 
the use of any aircraft landing strip. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Each private or publicly 
owned aircraft landing strip acquired by the Federal 
Government shall be made available to the general 
public for unrestricted use. 
(e) EFFECT ON FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRA-
TION AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this Act may be construed 
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