II 
Calendar No. 1014 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 903 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MARCH 6, 2007 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 
Reported by Mr. BINGAMAN, with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
AN ACT 
To provide for a study of options for protecting the open 
space characteristics of certain lands in and adjacent 
to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colo-
rado, 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; FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Colorado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop 
Protection Study Act’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Rising dramatically from the Great Plains, 
the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains provides 
a scenic mountain backdrop to many communities in 
the Denver metropolitan area and elsewhere in Colo-
rado. The portion of the range within and adjacent 
to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests also 
includes a diverse array of wildlife habitats and pro-
vides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. 
(2) The open space character of this mountain 
backdrop is an important esthetic and economic 
asset for adjoining communities, making them at-
tractive locations for homes and businesses. 
(3) Rapid population growth in the northern 
Front Range area of Colorado is increasing rec-
reational use of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National 
Forests and is also placing increased pressure for 
development of other lands within and adjacent to 
that national forest. 
(4) Efforts by local governments and other enti-
ties have provided important protection for portions 
of this mountain backdrop, especially in the northern 
Denver metropolitan area. However, some portions 
of the mountain backdrop in this part of Colorado 
remain unprotected and are at risk of losing their 
open space qualities. 
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(5) It is in the national interest for the Federal 
Government, in collaboration with local communities, 
to assist in identifying options for increasing the 
protection of the mountain backdrop in the northern 
Front Range area of Colorado. 
(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to identify 
options that may be available to assist in maintaining the 
open space characteristics of lands that are part of the 
mountain backdrop of communities in the northern section 
of the Front Range area of Colorado. 
SEC. 2. COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN 
BACKDROP STUDY. 
(a) STUDY AND REPORT.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service and 
in consultation with the State and local officials and agen-
cies specified in subsection (c), shall review the lands with-
in the study area and, not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, shall report to such 
officials and to Congress regarding the following: 
(1) The present ownership of such lands. 
(2) Which undeveloped land may be at risk of 
development. 
(3) Actions that could be taken by the United 
States, the State of Colorado or a political subdivi-
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sion of such State, or any other parties to preserve 
the open and undeveloped character of such lands. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, 
the following definitions apply: 
(1) STUDY
AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 
means those lands in southern Boulder, northern 
Jefferson, and northern Gilpin Counties, Colorado, 
that are situated west of Colorado State Highway 
93, south and east of Colorado State Highway 119, 
and north of Colorado State Highway 46, excluding 
lands within the city limits of the cities of Boulder 
or Golden, Colorado, as generally depicted on the 
map entitled ‘‘Northern Front Range Mountain 
Backdrop Study Area’’ dated April, 2006. 
(2) UNDEVELOPED LAND.—The term ‘‘undevel-
oped land’’ means land that— 
(A) is located within the study area; 
(B) is free or primarily free of structures; 
and 
(C) the development of which is likely to 
adversely affect the scenic, wildlife, or rec-
reational value of the study area. 
(c) CONSULTATIONS.—In implementing this Act, the 
Secretary shall consult with the following: 
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(1) The Colorado Department of Natural Re-
sources. 
(2) Colorado State Forest Service. 
(3) Colorado State Conservation Board. 
(4) Great Outdoors Colorado. 
(5) The Boards of County Commissioners of 
Boulder, Jefferson, and Gilpin Counties, Colorado. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary of Agri-
culture to take any action that would affect the use of 
any lands not owned by the United States. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Colorado Northern Front 
Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to identify options that may 
be available to assist in maintaining the open space charac-
teristics of land that is part of the mountain backdrop of 
communities in the northern section of the Front Range 
area of Colorado. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief 
of the Forest Service. 
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(2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Colorado. 
(3) STUDY AREA.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 
means the land in southern Boulder, northern 
Jefferson, and northern Gilpin Counties, Colo-
rado, that is located west of Colorado State 
Highway 93, south and east of Colorado State 
Highway 119, and north of Colorado State 
Highway 46, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled ‘‘Colorado Northern Front Range Moun-
tain Backdrop Protection Study Act: Study 
Area’’ and dated August 27, 2008. 
(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 
does not include land within the city limits of 
the cities of Arvada, Boulder, or Golden, Colo-
rado. 
(4) UNDEVELOPED LAND.—The term ‘‘undevel-
oped land’’ means land— 
(A) that is located within the study area; 
(B) that is free or primarily free of struc-
tures; and 
(C) the development of which is likely to af-
fect adversely the scenic, wildlife, or recreational 
value of the study area. 
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SEC. 4. COLORADO NORTHERN FRONT RANGE MOUNTAIN 
BACKDROP STUDY. 
(a) STUDY; REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act and except as provided in 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall— 
(1) conduct a study of the land within the study 
area; and 
(2) complete a report that— 
(A) identifies the present ownership of the 
land within the study area; 
(B) identifies any undeveloped land that 
may be at risk of development; and 
(C) describes any actions that could be 
taken by the United States, the State, a political 
subdivision of the State, or any other parties to 
preserve the open and undeveloped character of 
the land within the study area. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall conduct the 
study and develop the report under subsection (a) with the 
support and participation of 1 or more of the following 
State and local entities: 
(1) The Colorado Department of Natural Re-
sources. 
(2) Colorado State Forest Service. 
(3) Colorado State Conservation Board. 
(4) Great Outdoors Colorado. 
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(5) Boulder, Jefferson, and Gilpin Counties, Col-
orado. 
(c) LIMITATION.—If the State and local entities speci-
fied in subsection (b) do not support and participate in 
the conduct of the study and the development of the report 
under this section, the Secretary may— 
(1) decrease the area covered by the study area, 
as appropriate; or 
(2)(A) opt not to conduct the study or develop 
the report; and 
(B) submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
notice of the decision not to conduct the study or de-
velop the report. 
(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act authorizes the Sec-
retary to take any action that would affect the use of any 
land not owned by the United States. 
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Calendar No. 1014 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 903 
AN ACT 
To provide for a study of options for protecting the 
open space characteristics of certain lands in and 
adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National 
Forests in Colorado, and for other purposes. 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 
Reported with an amendment 
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