I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1107 
To promote conservation, improve public land management, and provide for 
sensible development in Pershing County, Nevada, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2017 
Mr. AMODEI (for himself and Ms. TITUS) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To promote conservation, improve public land management, 
and provide for sensible development in Pershing County, 
Nevada, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Pershing County Economic Development and Conserva-
tion Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
TITLE I—CHECKERBOARD LAND RESOLUTION 
Sec. 101. Findings. 
Sec. 102. Definitions. 
Sec. 103. Sale or exchange of eligible land. 
Sec. 104. Disposition of proceeds. 
TITLE II—LAND CONVEYANCES AND TRANSFERS 
Sec. 201. Conveyances of covered land. 
Sec. 202. Conveyance of land for use as a public cemetery. 
TITLE III—WILDERNESS AREAS 
Sec. 301. Additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
Sec. 302. Administration. 
Sec. 303. Wildlife management. 
Sec. 304. Release of wilderness study areas. 
Sec. 305. Native American cultural and religious uses. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means Per-
shing County, Nevada. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Nevada. 
(4) WILDERNESS AREA.—The term ‘‘wilderness 
area’’ means a wilderness area designated by section 
301(a). 
TITLE I—CHECKERBOARD LAND 
RESOLUTION 
SEC. 101. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) since the passage of the Act of July 1, 1862 
(12 Stat. 489, chapter 120) (commonly known as 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the ‘‘Pacific Railway Act of 1862’’), under which 
railroad land grants along the Union Pacific Rail-
road right-of-way created a checkerboard land pat-
tern of alternating public land and privately owned 
land, management of the land in the checkerboard 
area has been a constant source of frustration for 
both private landholders and the Federal Govern-
ment; 
(2) management of Federal land in the checker-
board area has been costly and difficult for the Fed-
eral land management agencies, creating a disincen-
tive to manage the land effectively; 
(3) parcels of land within the checkerboard area 
in the County will not vary significantly in appraised 
value by acre due to the similarity of highest and 
best use in the County; and 
(4) consolidation of appropriate land within the 
checkerboard area through sales and as acre-for-acre 
exchanges for development and Federal management 
will— 
(A) help improve the tax base of the Coun-
ty; and 
(B) simplify management for the Federal 
Government. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘‘eligible land’’ 
means— 
(A) any land administered by the Director 
of the Bureau of Land Management that is 
within the area identified on the Map as 
‘‘Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area’’ that is 
designated for disposal by the Secretary 
through— 
(i) the Winnemucca Consolidated Re-
source Management Plan; or 
(ii) any subsequent amendment or re-
vision to the management plan that is un-
dertaken with full public involvement; and 
(B) the land identified on the Map as ‘‘Ad-
ditional Lands Eligible for Disposal’’. 
(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Pershing County Checkerboard Lands Reso-
lution’’ and dated February 9, 2017. 
SEC. 103. SALE OR EXCHANGE OF ELIGIBLE LAND. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF
CONVEYANCE.—Notwith-
standing sections 202 and 203, subsections (b) through 
(i) of section 206, and section 209 of the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 
1713, 1716, 1719), the Secretary, in cooperation with the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
County, in accordance with this Act and any other applica-
ble law, and subject to valid existing rights, shall conduct 
sales or exchanges of the eligible land. 
(b) JOINT SELECTION REQUIRED.—The Secretary 
and the County shall jointly select which parcels of eligible 
land to offer for sale or exchange under subsection (a). 
(c) COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL PLANNING AND ZON-
ING LAWS.—Before carrying out a sale or exchange under 
subsection (a), the County shall submit to the Secretary 
a certification that qualified bidders have agreed to comply 
with— 
(1) local zoning ordinances; and 
(2) any master plan for the area approved by 
the County. 
(d) METHOD OF SALE OR EXCHANGE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The sale or exchange of eli-
gible land under subsection (a) shall be— 
(A) consistent with subsections (b), (d), 
and (f) of section 203 and section 206(a) of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1713, 1716(a)); and 
(B) conducted through— 
(i) a sale, which shall be— 
(I) through a competitive bidding 
process, under which adjoining land-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
owners are offered the first option, 
unless otherwise determined by the 
Secretary; 
(II) for not less than fair market 
value, based on an appraisal in ac-
cordance with the Uniform Standards 
of Professional Appraisal Practice; 
and 
(III) conducted in accordance 
with subsection (f); or 
(ii) subject to paragraph (3), an acre- 
for-acre exchange for private land located 
within a Management Priority Area identi-
fied under paragraph (4)(A). 
(2) MASS APPRAISAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 
5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall— 
(A) conduct a mass appraisal of the eligi-
ble land to determine whether any parcel of eli-
gible land is likely valued at equal to or greater 
than $500 per acre (in 2017 constant dollars, 
as measured by the Consumer Price Index); 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) make available to the public the results 
of the mass appraisal conducted under subpara-
graph (A). 
(3) EXCLUSION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary deter-
mines that a parcel of eligible land is likely val-
ued at equal to or greater than $500 per acre 
(in 2017 constant dollars, as measured by the 
Consumer 
Price 
Index) 
under 
paragraph 
(2)(A), the Secretary shall exclude that parcel 
from the acre-for-acre exchange described in 
paragraph (1)(B)(ii). 
(B) PUBLICATION
IN
FEDERAL
REG-
ISTER.—If a mass appraisal of eligible land 
under paragraph (2)(A) is not finalized, or up- 
to-date and publicly available, before an acre- 
for-acre 
exchange 
described 
in 
paragraph 
(1)(B)(ii) is completed, the Secretary may final-
ize the exchange if the Secretary publishes in 
the Federal Register— 
(i) a determination stating that the 
one or more parcels of eligible land in-
cluded in the exchange are likely valued at 
less than $500 per acre (in 2017 constant 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
dollars, as measured by the Consumer 
Price Index); and 
(ii) a description of the methodology 
used to arrive at that determination. 
(4) MANAGEMENT PRIORITY AREAS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, for the purpose of the 
exchanges 
authorized 
under 
paragraph 
(1)(B)(ii), the Secretary— 
(i) shall identify Management Priority 
Areas within the Checkerboard Lands Res-
olution Area, as identified on the Map, 
that are considered by the Secretary to 
be— 
(I) greater sage-grouse habitat; 
(II) part of an identified wildlife 
corridor or designated critical habitat; 
(III) of value for outdoor recre-
ation or public access for hunting, 
fishing, and other recreational pur-
poses; 
(IV) of significant cultural, his-
toric, ecological, or scenic value; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(V) of value for improving Fed-
eral land management; and 
(ii) as appropriate, may identify addi-
tional management priority areas in the 
County any time after the identification 
under clause (i) is completed. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Management of Federal 
land within any Management Priority Area 
identified under subparagraph (A) shall not be 
changed based solely on that identification. 
(e) WITHDRAWAL.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing 
rights and mining claims for which the claims main-
tenance fees have been paid in the applicable assess-
ment year, effective on the date on which a parcel 
of eligible land is selected for sale or exchange under 
subsection (b), that parcel is withdrawn from— 
(A) all forms of entry and appropriation 
under the public land laws, including the min-
ing laws; 
(B) location, entry, and patent under the 
mining laws; and 
(C) operation of the mineral leasing and 
geothermal leasing laws. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) TERMINATION.—The withdrawal of a parcel 
of eligible land under paragraph (1) shall termi-
nate— 
(A) on the date of sale or, in the case of 
exchange, the conveyance of title of the parcel 
of eligible land under this title; or 
(B) with respect to any parcel of eligible 
land selected for sale or exchange under sub-
section (b) that is not sold or exchanged, not 
later than 2 years after the date on which the 
parcel was offered for sale or exchange under 
this title. 
(f) PARAMETERS FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.— 
(1) SALES.— 
(A) DEADLINE.—Except as provided in 
paragraph (3), not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and not less fre-
quently than once per year thereafter until the 
date on which the limitation in subparagraph 
(B) has been reached or the date on which the 
County requests a postponement under para-
graph (3), the Secretary shall offer for sale the 
parcels of eligible land jointly selected under 
subsection (b). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) LIMITATION.—The total acreage of eli-
gible land sold under this title shall consist of 
not more than 150,000 acres of eligible land. 
(2) DEADLINE
FOR
EXCHANGES.—Except as 
provided in paragraph (3), not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the Management Priority 
Areas are identified under subsection (d)(4)(A), and 
not less frequently than once per year thereafter 
until the date on which all of the parcels of eligible 
land have been disposed of or the date on which the 
County requests a postponement under paragraph 
(3), the Secretary shall offer for exchange the par-
cels of eligible land jointly selected under subsection 
(b). 
(3) POSTPONEMENT; EXCLUSION FOR SALE OR 
EXCHANGE.— 
(A) REQUEST BY COUNTY FOR POSTPONE-
MENT OR EXCLUSION.—At the request of the 
County, the Secretary shall postpone or exclude 
from a sale or exchange all or a portion of the 
eligible land jointly selected under subsection 
(b). 
(B) INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.—Unless 
specifically requested by the County, a post-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
ponement under subparagraph (A) shall not be 
indefinite. 
(C) POSTPONEMENT
OR
EXCLUSION
BY 
THE SECRETARY.—The Secretary may postpone 
or exclude from a sale or exchange all or a por-
tion of the eligible land jointly selected under 
subsection (b) for emergency ecological or safe-
ty reasons. 
SEC. 104. DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS. 
(a) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—Of the proceeds 
from the sale of land under section 103 or 201— 
(1) 5 percent shall be disbursed to the State for 
use in the general education program of the State; 
(2) 10 percent shall be disbursed to the County 
for use as determined through normal County budg-
eting procedures; and 
(3) the remainder shall be deposited in a special 
account in the Treasury of the United States, to be 
known as the ‘‘Pershing County Special Account’’, 
which shall be available to the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the County, for— 
(A) the reimbursement of costs incurred by 
the Department of the Interior in preparing for 
the sale or exchange of the eligible land, includ-
ing— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(i) the costs of surveys and appraisals; 
and 
(ii) the costs of compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and sec-
tions 202 and 203 of the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
U.S.C. 1712, 1713); 
(B) the conduct of wildlife habitat con-
servation and restoration projects, including 
projects that benefit the greater sage-grouse in 
the County; 
(C) a project or activity carried out in the 
County to address drought conditions; 
(D) 
the 
implementation 
of 
wildfire 
presuppression and restoration projects in the 
County; 
(E) the acquisition of environmentally sen-
sitive land or interests in environmentally sen-
sitive land in the County; 
(F) projects that secure public access to 
Federal land for hunting, fishing, and other 
recreational purposes through easements or 
rights-of-way in the County; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(G) the conduct of any surveys related to 
the designation of the wilderness areas under 
title III. 
(b) INVESTMENT
OF
SPECIAL
ACCOUNT.—Any 
amounts deposited in the special account established 
under subsection (a)(3)— 
(1) shall earn interest in an amount determined 
by the Secretary of the Treasury, based on the cur-
rent average market yield on outstanding marketable 
obligations of the United States of comparable ma-
turities; and 
(2) may be expended by the Secretary in ac-
cordance with this section. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with fiscal year 
2020, and once every 5 fiscal years thereafter, not 
later than 60 days after the last day of the pre-
ceding fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the 
State, the County, and the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report on the operation of the special 
account established under subsection (a)(3) for the 
preceding 5 fiscal years. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include, for the fiscal year cov-
ered by the report— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) a statement of the amounts deposited 
into the special account; 
(B) a description of the expenditures made 
from the special account for the fiscal year, in-
cluding the purpose of the expenditures; 
(C) recommendations for additional au-
thorities to fulfill the purpose of the special ac-
count; and 
(D) a statement of the balance remaining 
in the special account at the end of the fiscal 
year. 
TITLE II—LAND CONVEYANCES 
AND TRANSFERS 
SEC. 201. CONVEYANCES OF COVERED LAND. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 
means any Federal land or interest in Federal land 
in the County identified on the Map as ‘‘Covered 
Land’’. 
(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Pershing County Land Conveyances and 
Transfers’’ and dated February 9, 2017. 
(3) QUALIFIED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘qualified 
entity’’ means, with respect to a portion of covered 
land— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) the owner of the mining claims, mill-
sites, or tunnel sites on a portion of the covered 
land on the date of enactment of this Act; 
(B) the lessee, or other successor in inter-
est of the owner— 
(i) with the right of possession of the 
mining claims, millsites, or tunnel sites on 
the covered land; 
(ii) that has paid (or whose agent has 
paid) the annual claim maintenance fee or 
filed a maintenance fee waiver on or before 
September 1, 2016, with the authority or 
consent of the owner, for the upcoming as-
sessment year for the mining claims, mill-
sites, or tunnel sites within the exterior 
boundary of the portion of covered land, as 
determined based on the claim mainte-
nance fee records of the Bureau of Land 
Management as of the date of introduction 
of this Act; and 
(iii) that has the authority or consent 
of the owner to acquire the portion of cov-
ered land; or 
(C) a subsequent successor to the interest 
of a qualified entity in the covered land that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
has the authority or consent of the owner to ac-
quire the portion of covered land. 
(b) LAND CONVEYANCES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), 
notwithstanding the inventory and land use planning 
requirements of sections 201 and 202 or the sales 
provisions of section 203 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1711, 
1712, 1713), not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act and subject to valid existing 
rights held by third parties and any mining claims, 
millsite, or tunnel site of a qualified entity applicable 
to the covered land, the Secretary shall offer for sale 
to qualified entities, for fair market value, the re-
maining right, title, and interest of the United 
States in and to the covered land. 
(2) CONVEYANCE.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the acceptance of an offer under para-
graph (1) by a qualified entity and completion of a 
sale for all or part of the covered land to a qualified 
entity, the Secretary, by delivery of an appropriate 
deed, patent, or other valid instrument of convey-
ance, shall convey to the qualified entity, all remain-
ing right, title, and interest of the United States in 
and to the applicable portion of the covered land. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) MERGER.—Subject to valid existing rights 
held by third parties, on delivery of the instrument 
of conveyance to the qualified entity under para-
graph (2), any prior interests in the locatable min-
erals and the right to use the surface for mineral 
purposes held by the qualified entity under a mining 
claim, millsite, tunnel site, or any other Federal land 
use authorization applicable to the covered land con-
veyed to the qualified entity shall merge with all 
right, title, and interest conveyed to the qualified en-
tity by the United States under this section to en-
sure that the qualified entity receives fee simple title 
to the purchased covered land. 
(4) APPRAISAL TO DETERMINE FAIR MARKET 
VALUE.—The Secretary shall determine the fair 
market value of the covered land to be conveyed 
under this subsection in accordance with— 
(A) the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and 
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional 
Appraisal Practice. 
(5) COSTS.—As a condition of the conveyance 
of the covered land under this section, the qualified 
entity shall pay all costs related to the conveyance 
of the covered land conveyed, including the costs of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
surveys and other administrative costs associated 
with the conveyance. 
(6) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be 
on file and available for public inspection in the ap-
propriate offices of the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment. 
(7) MINOR CORRECTIONS.—The Secretary, in 
consultation with the County, may correct minor er-
rors in the Map or a description of the covered land. 
(c) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—Any amounts col-
lected under this section shall be disposed of in accordance 
with section 104. 
(d) TERMINATION.—The authority of the Secretary 
to sell covered land under this section shall terminate on 
the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 202. CONVEYANCE OF LAND FOR USE AS A PUBLIC 
CEMETERY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall convey to the 
County, without consideration, the Federal land described 
in subsection (b). 
(b) DESCRIPTION OF FEDERAL LAND.—The Federal 
land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 10 
acres of land depicted as ‘‘Unionville Cemetery’’ on the 
Map. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(c) USE OF CONVEYED LAND.—The Federal land 
conveyed under subsection (a) shall be used by the County 
as a public cemetery. 
TITLE III—WILDERNESS AREAS 
SEC. 301. ADDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS 
PRESERVATION SYSTEM. 
(a) ADDITIONS.—In accordance with the Wilderness 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following parcels of Fed-
eral land in the State are designated as wilderness and 
as components of the National Wilderness Preservation 
System: 
(1) CAIN
MOUNTAIN
WILDERNESS.—Certain 
Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Man-
agement, comprising approximately 12,339 acres, as 
generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Proposed 
Cain Mountain Wilderness’’ and dated February 9, 
2017, which shall be known as the ‘‘Cain Mountain 
Wilderness’’. 
(2) BLUEWING WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal 
land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, 
comprising approximately 24,900 acres, as generally 
depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Proposed Bluewing 
Wilderness’’ and dated February 9, 2017, which 
shall be known as the ‘‘Bluewing Wilderness’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Grandfathers’ Wilderness’’ and dated February 9, 
2017, which shall be known as the ‘‘Grandfathers’ 
Wilderness’’. 
(7) FENCEMAKER WILDERNESS.—Certain Fed-
eral land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, comprising approximately 14,942 acres, as 
generally depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Proposed 
Fencemaker Wilderness’’ and dated February 9, 
2017, which shall be known as the ‘‘Fencemaker 
Wilderness’’. 
(b) BOUNDARY.—The boundary of any portion of a 
wilderness area that is bordered by a road shall be 100 
feet from the centerline of the road. 
(c) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall file a map and legal description of each wilder-
ness area. 
(2) EFFECT.—Each map and legal description 
prepared under paragraph (1) shall have the same 
force and effect as if included in this Act, except 
that the Secretary may correct clerical and typo-
graphical errors in the map or legal description. 
(3) AVAILABILITY.—Each map and legal de-
scription prepared under paragraph (1) shall be on 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
file and available for public inspection in the appro-
priate offices of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(4) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing 
rights, the wilderness areas designated by subsection 
(a) are withdrawn from— 
(A) all forms of entry, appropriation, and 
disposal under the public land laws; 
(B) location, entry, and patent under the 
mining laws; and 
(C) disposition under all laws relating to 
mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral ma-
terials. 
SEC. 302. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) MANAGEMENT.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
the wilderness areas shall be administered by the Sec-
retary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1131 et seq.), except that— 
(1) any reference in that Act to the effective 
date shall be considered to be a reference to the date 
of enactment of this Act; and 
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference 
to the Secretary. 
(b) LIVESTOCK.—The grazing of livestock in the wil-
derness areas, if established before the date of enactment 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
of this Act, shall be allowed to continue, subject to such 
reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Sec-
retary considers to be necessary in accordance with— 
(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 
U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and 
(2) the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of 
the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular 
Affairs of the House of Representatives accom-
panying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House 
Report 101–405). 
(c) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LAND AND INTER-
ESTS.—Any land or interest in land within the boundary 
of a wilderness area that is acquired by the United States 
after the date of enactment of this Act shall be added to 
and administered as part of the wilderness area. 
(d) ADJACENT MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Congress does not intend for 
the designation of the wilderness areas to create pro-
tective perimeters or buffer zones around the wilder-
ness areas. 
(2) NONWILDERNESS
ACTIVITIES.—The fact 
that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or 
heard from areas within a wilderness area shall not 
preclude the conduct of those activities or uses out-
side the boundary of the wilderness area. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(e) MILITARY OVERFLIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act 
restricts or precludes— 
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over 
the wilderness areas, including military overflights 
that can be seen or heard within the wilderness 
areas; 
(2) flight testing and evaluation; or 
(3) the designation or creation of new units of 
special use airspace, or the establishment of military 
flight training routes, over the wilderness areas. 
(f) WILDFIRE, INSECT, AND DISEASE MANAGE-
MENT.—In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilder-
ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), the Secretary may take 
such measures in the wilderness areas as are necessary 
for the control of fire, insects, and diseases (including, as 
the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the coordina-
tion of the activities with a State or local agency). 
(g) CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION.—In ac-
cordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) 
and subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
may prescribe, the Secretary may authorize the installa-
tion and maintenance of hydrologic, meteorologic, or cli-
matological data collection devices in the wilderness areas 
if the Secretary determines that the facilities and access 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
to the facilities are essential to flood warning, flood con-
trol, or water reservoir operation activities. 
(h) WATER RIGHTS.— 
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(A) the wilderness areas are located— 
(i) in the semiarid region of the Great 
Basin; and 
(ii) at the headwaters of the streams 
and rivers on land with respect to which 
there are few, if any— 
(I) actual or proposed water re-
source facilities located upstream; and 
(II) opportunities for diversion, 
storage, or other uses of water occur-
ring outside the land that would ad-
versely affect the wilderness values of 
the land; 
(B) the wilderness areas are generally not 
suitable for use or development of new water re-
source facilities; and 
(C) because of the unique nature of the 
wilderness areas, it is possible to provide for 
proper management and protection of the wil-
derness and other values of land in ways dif-
ferent from those used in other laws. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:15 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1107.IH
H1107
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS