I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8535 
To establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness 
in the State of Indiana, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2024 
Mrs. HOUCHIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agri-
culture, 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 establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation 
Area and Wilderness in the State of Indiana, 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 ‘‘Benjamin Harrison 
National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment 
Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee’’ means the advisory committee for 
the National Recreation Area established under sec-
tion 4(a)(1). 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘Manage-
ment Plan’’ means the management plan for the Na-
tional Recreation Area and Wilderness developed 
under section 4(b). 
(3) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area 
and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023’’ and 
dated March 27, 2024. 
(4) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.—The term 
‘‘National Recreation Area’’ means the Benjamin 
Harrison National Recreation Area established by 
section 3(a)(2). 
(5) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AND WILDER-
NESS.—The term ‘‘National Recreation Area and 
Wilderness’’ means the Benjamin Harrison National 
Recreation Area and Wilderness established by sec-
tion 3(a)(1). 
(6) NONWILDERNESS
CORRIDOR.—The term 
‘‘nonwilderness corridor’’ means the land 100 feet in 
width from either side of the centerline of the exist-
ing trails and roads, as depicted on the map as 
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‘‘Non-Wilderness Corridor’’, which is not included as 
part of the ‘‘Proposed Wilderness’’, as depicted on 
the map. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Chief of the Forest Service. 
(8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Indiana. 
(9) WILDERNESS ADDITION.—The term ‘‘Wil-
derness addition’’ means the land added to the 
Charles C. Deam Wilderness by section 3(a)(3). 
SEC. 3. BENJAMIN HARRISON NATIONAL RECREATION 
AREA AND WILDERNESS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 
State the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation 
Area and Wilderness as a subunit of the Hoosier 
National Forest, consisting of— 
(A) the National Recreation Area; and 
(B) the Wilderness addition. 
(2) BENJAMIN
HARRISON
NATIONAL
RECRE-
ATION AREA.—There is established in the State the 
Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area, con-
sisting of approximately 29,382 acres of National 
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Forest System land depicted on the map as ‘‘Pro-
posed National Recreation Area (NRA)’’. 
(3) CHARLES
C. DEAM
WILDERNESS
ADDI-
TION.—The approximately 15,300 acres of National 
Forest System land in the State generally depicted 
on the map as ‘‘Proposed Wilderness’’ shall be 
added to and administered as part of the Charles C. 
Deam Wilderness in accordance with Public Law 
97–384 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 96 Stat. 1942), con-
sisting of— 
(A) the approximately 2,028.8 acres of Na-
tional Forest System land in the State generally 
depicted on the map as the ‘‘Deckard Ridge 
Units A, B, and C’’; 
(B) the approximately 2,633 acres of Na-
tional Forest System land in the State generally 
depicted on the map as the ‘‘Panther Creek 
Units A and B’’; 
(C) the approximately 5,456.9 acres of Na-
tional Forest System land in the State generally 
depicted on the map as the ‘‘Nebo Ridge Units 
A, B, C, D, and E’’; 
(D) the approximately 2,141.4 acres of 
National Forest System land in the State gen-
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erally depicted on the map as the ‘‘Browning 
Mountain Unit’’; 
(E) the approximately 2,161.9 acres of Na-
tional Forest System land in the State generally 
depicted on the map as the ‘‘Hickory Ridge 
Units A, B, C, D, and E’’; and 
(F) the approximately 878.3 acres of Na-
tional Forest System land in the State generally 
depicted on the map as the ‘‘Mose Ray Branch 
Unit’’. 
(4) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—Not later than 30 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall file the map, and make the map 
available for public inspection, in the appropriate of-
fices of the Forest Service. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall man-
age— 
(1) the Wilderness addition (other than the 
nonwilderness corridors) in a manner that is con-
sistent with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 
seq.); and 
(2) the National Recreation Area in a manner 
that ensures— 
(A) the protection of the water quality of 
the public water supply of Monroe Reservoir in 
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the State in accordance with section 303(e)(1) 
of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
(16 U.S.C. 6542(e)(1)); and 
(B) the promotion of recreational opportu-
nities in the National Recreation Area. 
(3) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Secretary shall allow hunting, 
fishing, and trapping in the National Recre-
ation Area and Wilderness. 
(B) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with designees from the State Depart-
ment of Natural Resources and the Corps of 
Engineers, may, for reasons of public safety, 
species enhancement, or management of a spe-
cies listed as endangered or threatened under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), designate areas in which, and es-
tablish seasons during which, no hunting, fish-
ing, or trapping is permitted in the National 
Recreation Area and Wilderness. 
(C) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act affects 
the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish 
and wildlife in the National Recreation Area 
and Wilderness. 
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(4) RECREATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Secretary shall— 
(i) in the National Recreation Area, 
continue to permit and provide for appro-
priate nonmotorized and motorized rec-
reational uses, including hiking, viewing of 
nature and wildlife, camping, horseback 
riding, mountain biking, and other existing 
recreational uses; and 
(ii) permit the nonmechanized rec-
reational use of the Wilderness addition, in 
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) within the boundary 
of the ‘‘Proposed Wilderness’’ indicated on 
the map. 
(B) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with designees from the State Depart-
ment of Natural Resources and the Corps of 
Engineers, may designate zones in which, and 
establish periods during which, a recreational 
use shall not be permitted in the National 
Recreation Area and Wilderness under subpara-
graph (A) for reasons of public safety, species 
enhancement, or management of a species listed 
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as endangered or threatened under the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). 
(C) TRAIL
PLAN.—Notwithstanding any 
provisions of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1131 et seq.) or any other provision of law, the 
Secretary, in consultation with interested par-
ties, shall establish a trail plan— 
(i) to maintain existing mountain 
biking, hiking, and equestrian trails in the 
nonwilderness corridors; and 
(ii) to develop mountain biking, hik-
ing, and equestrian trails in the National 
Recreation Area. 
(5) VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.— 
(A) WILDERNESS
ADDITION.—Consistent 
with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 
seq.), timber removal or management shall not 
be permitted in the Wilderness addition, except 
as the Secretary determines to be necessary for 
public safety and management of diseases, as 
described in section 293.3 of title 36, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). 
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(B) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.—Vege-
tation management within the National Recre-
ation Area shall be consistent with— 
(i) the Management Plan; and 
(ii) any applicable Forest Service land 
management plan. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL RECREATION AREA ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE; MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) NATIONAL RECREATION AREA FEDERAL ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—As soon as practicable 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall establish an advisory committee to ad-
vise the Secretary with respect to the management 
of the National Recreation Area. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of members appointed by the Sec-
retary, from among— 
(A) representatives of local government; 
(B) forest ecologists; 
(C) experts in dispersed recreation; 
(D) local residents who own or reside in 
property located not more than 2 miles from 
the boundary of the National Recreation Area; 
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(E) representatives of conservation and 
outdoor recreation groups; 
(F) consulting foresters; 
(G) the Director of the State Department 
of Natural Resources (or designees); 
(H) wildlife experts; and 
(I) designees from the Corps of Engineers. 
(b) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall develop a comprehensive management plan for 
the long-term protection and management of the 
National Recreation Area. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Management Plan 
shall— 
(A) be developed— 
(i) in consultation with the Advisory 
Committee; 
(ii) after providing an opportunity for 
public comment; and 
(iii) after engaging with interested or 
affected federally recognized Indian Tribes, 
other Federal agencies, and State and local 
governments, including the State Depart-
ment of Natural Resources; 
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(B) address management issues associated 
with the National Recreation Area, including— 
(i) fires; 
(ii) invasive species; 
(iii) the response to insect and disease 
infestations; 
(iv) measures needed to protect the 
public water supply provided by Monroe 
Reservoir; 
(v) the establishment, maintenance, 
and closure of camp sites, campgrounds, 
trails, and roadways; and 
(vi) any other issues identified by the 
Advisory Committee; and 
(C) include— 
(i) measures to preserve and protect 
native and historical resources, flora, 
fauna, and recreational, scenic, and aes-
thetic values within the National Recre-
ation Area; and 
(ii) measures to prevent degradation 
of the public water supply provided by 
Monroe Reservoir. 
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SEC. 5. FUNDING. 
(a) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.—No additional funds 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. 
(b) USE OF EXISTING FUNDS.—This Act shall be 
carried out using amounts otherwise made available to the 
Secretary. 
SEC. 6. EFFECT. 
Nothing in this Act— 
(1) affects the Corps of Engineers use permits 
for flowage rights within the National Recreation 
Area and Wilderness established by the order enti-
tled ‘‘Joint Order Interchanging Administrative Ju-
risdiction of Department of the Army Lands and 
National Forest Lands’’ (35 Fed. Reg. 10382 (June 
25, 1970)); 
(2) prevents the Corps of Engineers from car-
rying out the water control management plan of the 
Corps of Engineers within the National Recreation 
Area and Wilderness as described in the Corps of 
Engineers water control manual; 
(3) prevents the Corps of Engineers from— 
(A) disposing of, or otherwise managing, 
real estate interests held by the Corps of Engi-
neers as of the date of enactment of this Act; 
or 
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(B) acquiring additional real estate inter-
ests required to support the operation or main-
tenance of Monroe Lake; 
(4) affects the use of motor vessels (as defined 
in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code) on 
Monroe Lake; 
(5) results in the closure of any State or county 
roadway in the National Recreation Area and the 
nonwilderness corridors; 
(6) precludes the ownership, use, or enjoyment 
of private land within the National Recreation Area 
and Wilderness; 
(7) otherwise affects access to private land or 
cemeteries within the National Recreation Area and 
Wilderness; 
(8) affects the access to land within the non-
wilderness corridors and within 100 feet of the outer 
boundary of the Wilderness addition by any State or 
private entity or organization with a permit, special 
use authorization, or other right to access land with-
in the Wilderness addition, as described in section 
5(a) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)), for 
the purpose of maintaining infrastructure located 
within the Wilderness addition, including access 
by— 
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(A) the Smithville Telephone Company; 
(B) Jackson County Water Utility; 
(C) Jackson County Rural Electric; 
(D) the ANR Pipeline Company; 
(E) the Monroe County commissioners; 
(F) Hoosier Trails Council, BSA; and 
(G) the State Department of Natural Re-
sources; or 
(9) affects the access to land within the Wilder-
ness addition by the State Department of Natural 
Resources or appropriate public safety officers with 
the use of motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, or 
motorboats for emergencies involving the health and 
safety of persons within the Wilderness addition, in 
accordance with section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1133(c)). 
Æ 
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