113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2954 
AN ACT 
To authorize Escambia County, Florida, to convey certain 
property that was formerly part of Santa Rosa Island 
National Monument and that was conveyed to Escambia 
County subject to restrictions on use and reconveyance. 
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 ‘‘Public Access and 
Lands Improvement Act’’. 
TITLE I—SANTA ROSA ISLAND 
TITLE FAIRNESS AND LAND 
PRESERVATION ACT 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Santa Rosa Island 
Title Fairness and Land Preservation Act’’. 
SEC. 102. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY. 
(a) CONVEYANCE FREE
OF RESTRICTIONS.—Not-
withstanding the restrictions on conveyance of property lo-
cated on Santa Rosa Island, Florida, contained in the Act 
of July 30, 1946 (chapter 699; 70 Stat. 712), and the 
deed to the property from the United States to Escambia 
County, Florida, dated January 15, 1947, Escambia 
County may, at its discretion, convey or otherwise dispose 
of all of its right, title, and interest (in whole or in part), 
in and to any portion of the property that was conveyed 
to it pursuant to that Act and deed, to any person or enti-
ty, free from any restriction on conveyance or reconvey-
ance imposed by the United States in that Act or deed. 
Any conveyance under this subsection shall be subject to 
the conditions set forth in subsection (c). 
(b) LEASEHOLD INTERESTS.—No person or entity 
holding a leasehold interest in the property as of the date
of the enactment of this Act shall be required to involun-
tarily accept a fee interest in lieu of their leasehold inter-
est in the property. 
(c) CONDITIONS.—Any conveyance under subsection 
(a) shall be subject to the following conditions: 
(1) Not later than two calendar years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, Escambia County 
shall convey to Santa Rosa County all right, title, 
and interest held in and to any portion of the prop-
erty that was conveyed to Escambia County under 
the Act and deed that fall in the jurisdictional 
boundaries of Santa Rosa County, Florida. The con-
veyance by Escambia County to Santa Rosa County 
shall be absolute and shall terminate any subjuga-
tion of Santa Rosa County to Escambia County or 
any regulation of Santa Rosa County by Escambia 
County. Santa Rosa County shall not be required to 
pay any sum for the subject property other than ac-
tual costs associated with the conveyance. 
(2) Santa Rosa County or any other person to 
which property is conveyed under this title may re-
convey property, or any portion of property, con-
veyed to it under this section. 
(3) For all properties defined under subsection 
(a) the leaseholders, or owners are free to pursue in-
corporation, annexation, or any other governmental 
status so long as all other legal conditions required 
for doing so are followed. 
(4) Each property defined under subsection (a) 
is under the jurisdiction of the county and any other 
local government entity in which the property is lo-
cated. 
(5) Any proceeds from the conveyance of any 
property defined under subsection (a) by Escambia 
County or Santa Rosa County, other than direct and 
incidental costs associated with such conveyance, 
shall be considered windfall profits and shall revert 
to the United States. 
(6) Escambia County and Santa Rosa County 
shall in perpetuity preserve those areas on Santa 
Rosa Island currently dedicated to conservation, 
preservation, public, recreation, access and public 
parking in accordance with resolutions heretofore 
adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of 
each respective county. 
(d) DETERMINATION
OF COMPLIANCE.—Escambia 
County and Santa Rosa County shall have no deadline or 
requirement to make any conveyance or reconveyance of 
any property defined under subsection (a) other than the 
conveyance required under subsection (c)(1). Each county
may establish terms for conveyance or reconveyance, sub-
ject to the conditions set forth in this title and applicable 
State law. 
TITLE II—ANCHORAGE LAND 
CONVEYANCE ACT 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Anchorage Land Con-
veyance Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the city of 
Anchorage, Alaska. 
(2) NON-FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘non-Fed-
eral land’’ means certain parcels of land located in 
the City and owned by the City, which are more par-
ticularly described as follows: 
(A) Block 42, Original Townsite of An-
chorage, Anchorage Recording District, Third 
Judicial District, State of Alaska, consisting of 
approximately 1.93 acres, commonly known as 
the Egan Center, Petrovich Park, and Old City 
Hall. 
(B) Lots 9, 10, and 11, Block 66, Original 
Townsite of Anchorage, Anchorage Recording 
District, Third Judicial District, State of Alas-
ka, consisting of approximately 0.48 acres, com-
monly known as the parking lot at 7th Avenue 
and I Street. 
(C) Lot 13, Block 15, Original Townsite of 
Anchorage, 
Anchorage 
Recording 
District, 
Third Judicial District, State of Alaska, con-
sisting of approximately 0.24 acres, an unim-
proved vacant lot located at H Street and 
Christensen Drive. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 203. CONVEYANCE OF REVERSIONARY INTERESTS, AN-
CHORAGE, ALASKA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary shall convey to the City, without 
consideration, the reversionary interests of the United 
States in and to the non-Federal land for the purpose of 
unencumbering the title to the non-Federal land to enable 
economic development of the non-Federal land. 
(b) LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.—As soon as practicable 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the exact legal 
descriptions of the non-Federal land shall be determined 
in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary. 
(c) ADDITIONAL TERMS
AND CONDITIONS.—The 
Secretary may require such additional terms and condi-
tions to the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the 
United States. 
(d) COSTS.—The City shall pay all costs associated 
with the conveyance under subsection (a), including the 
costs of any surveys, recording costs, and other reasonable 
costs. 
TITLE III—FERNLEY ECONOMIC 
SELF-DETERMINATION ACT 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the City of 
Fernley, Nevada. 
(2) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 
means the approximately 9,407 acres of land located 
in the City of Fernley, Nevada, that is identified by 
the Secretary and the City for conveyance under this 
title. 
(3) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Proposed Fernley, Nevada, Land Sales’’ and 
dated January 25, 2013. 
SEC. 302. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND TO 
CITY OF FERNLEY, NEVADA. 
(a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—Subject to valid ex-
isting rights and not later than 180 days after the date
on which the Secretary of the Interior receives an offer 
from the City to purchase the Federal land depicted on 
the map, the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of 
Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, shall 
convey, notwithstanding the land use planning require-
ments of sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713), 
to the City in exchange for consideration in an amount 
equal to the fair market value of the Federal land, all 
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
such Federal land. 
(b) APPRAISAL
TO
DETERMINE
FAIR
MARKET 
VALUE.—The Secretary shall determine the fair market 
value of the Federal land to be conveyed— 
(1) in accordance with the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.); and 
(2) based on an appraisal that is conducted in 
accordance with nationally recognized appraisal 
standards, including— 
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 
Federal Land Acquisition; and 
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional 
Appraisal Practice.
(c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map shall be on file 
and available for public inspection in the appropriate of-
fices of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(d) RESERVATION OF EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS-OF- 
WAY.—The City and the Bureau of Reclamation may re-
tain easements or rights-of-way on the Federal land to be 
conveyed, including easements or rights-of-way the Bu-
reau of Reclamation determines are necessary to carry 
out— 
(1) the operation and maintenance of the 
Truckee Canal; or 
(2) the Newlands Project. 
(e) COSTS.—The City shall, at closing for the convey-
ance authorized under subsection (a), pay or reimburse 
the Secretary, as appropriate, for the reasonable trans-
action and administrative personnel costs associated with 
the conveyance authorized under such subsection, includ-
ing the costs of appraisal, title searches, maps, and bound-
ary and cadastral surveys. 
(f) CONVEYANCE NOT A MAJOR FEDERAL ACTION.— 
A conveyance or a combination of conveyances made under 
this section shall not be considered a major Federal action 
for purposes of section 102(2) of the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)).
SEC. 303. RELEASE OF UNITED STATES. 
Upon making the conveyance under section 302, not-
withstanding any other provision of law, the United States 
is released from any and all liabilities or claims of any 
kind or nature arising from the presence, release, or threat 
of release of any hazardous substance, pollutant, contami-
nant, petroleum product (or derivative of a petroleum 
product of any kind), solid waste, mine materials or min-
ing related features (including tailings, overburden, waste 
rock, mill remnants, pits, or other hazards resulting from 
the presence of mining related features) on the Federal 
land in existence on or before the date of the conveyance. 
SEC. 304. WITHDRAWAL. 
Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land to 
be conveyed under section 302 of this title shall be with-
drawn from all forms of— 
(1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the 
public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 
laws; and 
(3) disposition under the mineral leasing, min-
eral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
TITLE 
IV—LAND 
DISPOSAL 
TRANSPARENCY 
AND 
EFFI-
CIENCY ACT 
SEC. 401. PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF LAND. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the 
‘‘Land Disposal Transparency and Efficiency Act’’. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF LAND.—No 
land or interests in land may be added by acquisition, do-
nation, transfer of administrative jurisdiction, or other-
wise to the inventory of land and interests in land adminis-
tered by the Bureau of Land Management until a central-
ized database of all lands identified as suitable for disposal 
by Resource Management Plans for lands under the ad-
ministrative jurisdiction of the Bureau is easily accessible 
to the public on a website of the Bureau. The database 
required under this subsection shall be updated and main-
tained to reflect changes in the status of lands identified 
for disposal under the administrative jurisdiction of the 
Bureau. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall provide to the Committee on Natural Resources in 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources in the Senate a report detail-
ing the status and timing for completion of the database 
required by subsection (b). 
TITLE V—PRESERVING ACCESS 
TO 
CAPE 
HATTERAS 
NA-
TIONAL 
SEASHORE 
REC-
REATIONAL AREA ACT 
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Preserving Access to 
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act’’. 
SEC. 502. REINSTATEMENT OF INTERIM MANAGEMENT 
STRATEGY. 
(a) MANAGEMENT.—After the date of the enactment 
of this Act, Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational 
Area shall be managed in accordance with the Interim 
Protected Species Management Strategy/Environmental 
Assessment issued by the National Park Service on June 
13, 2007, for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rec-
reational Area, North Carolina, unless the Secretary of the 
Interior (hereafter in this title referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) issues a new final rule that meets the require-
ments set forth in section 503. 
(b) RESTRICTIONS.—The Secretary shall not impose 
any additional restrictions on pedestrian or motorized ve-
hicular access to any portion of Cape Hatteras National 
Seashore Recreational Area for species protection beyond
those in the Interim Management Strategy, other than as 
specifically authorized pursuant to section 503 of this title. 
SEC. 503. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO CAPE 
HATTERAS 
NATIONAL 
SEASHORE 
REC-
REATIONAL AREA FOR SPECIES PROTEC-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If, based on peer-reviewed science 
and after public comment, the Secretary determines that 
additional restrictions on access to a portion of the Cape 
Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area are nec-
essary to protect species listed as endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
the Secretary may only restrict, by limitation, closure, 
buffer, or otherwise, pedestrian and motorized vehicular 
access for recreational activities for the shortest possible 
time and on the smallest possible portions of the Cape 
Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. 
(b) LIMITATION
ON
RESTRICTIONS.—Restrictions 
imposed under this section for protection of species listed 
as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) shall not be greater than the 
restrictions in effect for that species at any other National 
Seashore. 
(c) CORRIDORS AROUND CLOSURES.—To the max-
imum extent possible, the Secretary shall designate pedes-
trian and vehicular corridors of minimal distance on the 
beach or interdunal area around closures implemented 
under this section to allow access to areas not closed. 
SEC. 504. INAPPLICABILITY OF FINAL RULE AND CONSENT 
DECREE. 
(a) FINAL RULE.—The final rule titled ‘‘Special Reg-
ulations, Areas of the National Park System, Cape Hat-
teras National Seashore—Off-Road Vehicle Management’’ 
(77 Fed. Reg. 3123–3144) shall have no force or effect 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) CONSENT DECREE.—The April 30, 2008, consent 
decree filed in the United States District Court for the 
Eastern District of North Carolina regarding off-road ve-
hicle use at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North 
Carolina shall not apply after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
TITLE 
VI—GREEN 
MOUNTAIN 
LOOKOUT 
HERITAGE 
PRO-
TECTION ACT 
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Green Mountain Look-
out Heritage Protection Act’’.
SEC. 602. CLARIFICATION OF LEGAL AUTHORITY OF GREEN 
MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT. 
(a) LEGAL AUTHORITY OF LOOKOUT.—Section 4(b) 
of the Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public 
Law 98–339; 98 Stat. 300; 16 U.S.C. 1131 note) is 
amended by striking the period at the end and inserting 
the following: ‘‘, and except that with respect to the lands 
described in section 3(5), the designation of such lands 
as a wilderness area shall not preclude the operation and 
maintenance of Green Mountain Lookout.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect as if included in the enact-
ment of the Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984. 
SEC. 603. PRESERVATION OF GREEN MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT 
LOCATION. 
The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Chief of the Forest Service, may not move Green Moun-
tain Lookout from its current location on Green Mountain 
in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest unless 
the Secretary determines that moving Green Mountain 
Lookout is necessary to preserve the Lookout or to ensure 
the safety of individuals on or around Green Mountain. 
If the Secretary makes such a determination, the Sec-
retary shall move the Green Mountain Lookout to a loca-
tion outside of the lands described in section 3(5) of the
Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984 and designated 
as a wilderness area in section 4(b) of such Act. 
TITLE VII—RIVER PADDLING 
PROTECTION ACT 
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘River Paddling Protec-
tion Act’’. 
SEC. 702. REGULATIONS SUPERSEDED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The rivers and streams of Yellow-
stone National Park and Grand Teton National Park shall 
be open to hand-propelled vessels as determined by the 
director of the National Park Service within 3 years of 
the date of enactment of this Act. Beginning on the date 
that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the following regulations shall have no the force or effect 
regarding closing rivers and streams of Yellowstone Na-
tional Park and Grand Teton National Park to hand-pro-
pelled vessels: 
(1) Section 7.13(d)(4)(ii) of title 36, Code of 
Federal Regulations, regarding vessels on streams 
and rivers in Yellowstone National Park. 
(2) Section 7.22(e)(3) of title 36, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, regarding vessels on lakes and riv-
ers in Grand Teton National Park.
(b) COORDINATION OF RECREATIONAL USE.—The 
Fish and Wildlife Service shall coordinate any recreational 
use of hand-propelled vessels on the Gros Ventre River 
within the National Elk Refuge with Grand Teton Na-
tional Park to ensure such use is consistent with the re-
quirements of the National Wildlife Refuge Administra-
tion Act. 
TITLE VIII—GRAZING 
IMPROVEMENT ACT 
SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Grazing Improvement 
Act’’. 
SEC. 802. TERMS OF GRAZING PERMITS AND LEASES. 
Section 402 of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1752) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘ten years’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘20 years’’; and 
(2) after subsection (h), insert the following 
new subsections: 
‘‘(i) Only applicants, permittees and lessees whose in-
terest in grazing livestock is directly affected by a final 
grazing 
decision 
concerning 
renewal, 
transfer 
or 
reissuance of a grazing permit or lease may appeal the 
decision to an administrative law judge or appeal officer 
as applicable.
‘‘(j) LEGAL FEES.— 
‘‘(1) Any person, other than a directly affected 
party, challenging an action of the Secretary con-
cerned regarding a final grazing decision in Federal 
court who is not a prevailing party shall pay to the 
prevailing parties (including a directly affected party 
who intervenes in such suit) fees and other expenses 
incurred by that party in connection with the chal-
lenge unless the Court finds that the position of the 
person was substantially justified. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term 
‘‘directly affected party’’ means any applicant, per-
mittee, or lessee (or any organization representing 
applicants, permittees or lessees) whose interest in 
grazing livestock is directly affected by the final 
grazing decision.’’. 
SEC. 803. RENEWAL, TRANSFER, AND REISSUANCE OF 
GRAZING PERMITS AND LEASES. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Title IV of the Federal Land Pol-
icy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 405. RENEWAL, TRANSFER, AND REISSUANCE OF 
GRAZING PERMITS AND LEASES. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) CURRENT
GRAZING
MANAGEMENT.—The 
term ‘current grazing management’ means grazing 
in accordance with the terms and conditions of an 
existing permit or lease. 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘Sec-
retary concerned’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System land; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to land under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of the Interior. 
‘‘(b) RENEWAL, TRANSFER, REISSUANCE, 
AND 
PENDING PROCESSING.—A grazing permit or lease issued 
by the Secretary of the Interior, or a grazing permit issued 
by the Secretary of Agriculture regarding National Forest 
System land, that expires, is transferred, or is waived shall 
be renewed or reissued under, as appropriate— 
‘‘(1) section 402; 
‘‘(2) section 19 of the Act of April 24, 1950 
(commonly known as the ‘Granger-Thye Act’; 16 
U.S.C. 580l); 
‘‘(3) title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Ten-
ant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); or 
‘‘(4) section 510 the California Desert Protec-
tion Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 410aaa–50).
‘‘(c) TERMS; CONDITIONS.—The terms and condi-
tions (except the termination date) contained in an ex-
pired, transferred, or waived permit or lease described in 
subsection (b) shall continue in effect under a renewed or 
reissued permit or lease until the date on which the Sec-
retary concerned completes the processing of the renewed 
or reissued permit or lease that is the subject of the ex-
pired, transferred, or waived permit or lease, in compli-
ance with each applicable law. 
‘‘(d) 
CANCELLATION; 
SUSPENSION; 
MODIFICA-
TION.—Notwithstanding subsection (c), a permit or lease 
described in subsection (b) may be cancelled, suspended, 
or modified in accordance with applicable law. 
‘‘(e) RENEWAL
TRANSFER
REISSUANCE
AFTER 
PROCESSING.—When the Secretary concerned has com-
pleted the processing of the renewed or reissued permit 
or lease that is the subject of the expired, transferred, or 
waived permit or lease, the Secretary concerned shall 
renew or reissue the permit or lease for a term of 20 years 
after completion of processing. 
‘‘(f) COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL 
POLICY ACT OF 1969.—The renewal, reissuance, or trans-
fer of a grazing permit or lease by the Secretary concerned 
shall be categorically excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental 
impact statement if— 
‘‘(1) the decision continues to renew, reissue, or 
transfer the current grazing management of the al-
lotment; 
‘‘(2) monitoring of the allotment has indicated 
that the current grazing management has met, or 
has satisfactorily progressed towards meeting, objec-
tives contained in the applicable land use or resource 
management plan of the allotment, as determined by 
the Secretary concerned; or 
‘‘(3) the decision is consistent with the policy of 
the Department of the Interior or the Department 
of Agriculture, as appropriate, regarding extraor-
dinary circumstances. 
‘‘(g) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary concerned, in the sole dis-
cretion of the Secretary concerned, shall determine 
the priority and timing for completing required envi-
ronmental reviews regarding any grazing allotment, 
permit, or lease based on the environmental signifi-
cance of the allotment, permit, or lease and available 
funding for that purpose. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned shall seek to con-
duct environmental reviews on an allotment or mul-
tiple allotment basis, to the extent practicable, for 
purposes of compliance with the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
and other applicable laws. 
‘‘(h) NEPA EXEMPTIONS.—The National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall 
not apply to the following: 
‘‘(1) Crossing and trailing authorizations of do-
mestic livestock. 
‘‘(2) Transfer of grazing preference. 
‘‘(3) Range improvements as defined under 43 
U.S.C. 315c and 16 U.S.C. 580h. 
‘‘(i) TEMPORARY TRAILING AND CROSSING.— 
‘‘(1) Any application for temporary trailing or 
crossing that has been submitted in a timely manner 
or not less than 30 days prior to the anticipated 
trailing or crossing shall be granted, modified or de-
nied not less than fifteen days prior to the date of 
requested crossing or trailing. The minimum times 
specified in this subsection shall not preclude the ap-
proval of an application in a shorter time where an 
immediate need exists. 
‘‘(2) Temporary trailing or crossing authoriza-
tions across lands administered by the Bureau of 
Land Management or the Forest Service system of
lands shall not be subject to protest or appeal except 
by the applicant or an affected permittee or lessee.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
is amended by adding after the item for section 404, the 
following: 
‘‘Sec. 405. Renewal, transfer, and reissuance of grazing permits and leases.’’. 
TITLE IX—RIM FIRE 
EMERGENCY SALVAGE ACT 
SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Rim Fire Emergency 
Salvage Act’’. 
SEC. 902. EXPEDITED FOREST SERVICE TIMBER SALVAGE 
AND RESTORATION PILOT PROJECTS IN RE-
SPONSE TO THE CALIFORNIA RIM FIRE. 
(a) PILOT PROJECTS REQUIRED.—As part of the res-
toration and rehabilitation activities undertaken on the 
lands within the Stanislaus National Forest adversely im-
pacted by the 2013 Rim Fire in California, the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall conduct a timber salvage and restora-
tion pilot project on burned National Forest System land 
within the Rim Fire perimeter. 
(b) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
(1) USE OF EIS PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE.—The 
Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct the pilot 
project required by subsection (a) in the manner
provided in the proposed alternative contained in the 
draft environmental impact statement noticed in the 
Federal Register on December 6, 2013, for Rim 
Fire recovery. 
(2) MODIFICATION.—During the course of the 
pilot project, the Secretary may adopt such modi-
fications to the management plan as the Secretary 
considers appropriate in response to public comment 
and consultation with interested Federal, State, and 
tribal agencies. 
(c) LEGAL SUFFICIENCY.—The pilot project required 
by subsection (a), and activities conducted under the pilot 
project, are deemed to be in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), section 14 of the National Forest Management Act 
of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a), the Forest and Rangeland Re-
newable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 
et seq.), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW AND 
ACTION.—The pilot project required by subsection (a), 
and activities conducted under the pilot project, are not 
subject to— 
(1) administrative review;
(2) judicial review by any court of the United 
States; or 
(3) a temporary restraining order or prelimi-
nary injunction based on environmental impacts in a 
case for which a final decision has not been issued. 
SEC. 903. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING USE OF FUNDS 
GENERATED FROM SALVAGE SALES CON-
DUCTED AFTER CATASTROPHIC WILD FIRES 
ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND OR BU-
REAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LANDS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Agri-
culture, with respect to National Forest System lands, and 
the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to Bureau of 
Land Management land, should use existing authorities 
available to the Secretary to retain revenues (other than 
revenues required to be deposited in the general fund of 
the Treasury) generated by salvage sales conducted in re-
sponse to catastrophic wild fires on such land to cover the 
cost of restoration projects on such land. 
TITLE X—CHESAPEAKE BAY AC-
COUNTABILITY AND RECOV-
ERY ACT 
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Chesapeake Bay Ac-
countability and Recovery Act of 2014’’.
SEC. 1002. CHESAPEAKE BAY CROSSCUT BUDGET. 
(a) CROSSCUT BUDGET.—The Director, in consulta-
tion with the Chesapeake Executive Council, the chief ex-
ecutive of each Chesapeake Bay State, and the Chesa-
peake Bay Commission, shall submit to Congress a finan-
cial report containing— 
(1) an interagency crosscut budget that dis-
plays— 
(A) the proposed funding for any Federal 
restoration activity to be carried out in the suc-
ceeding fiscal year, including any planned inter-
agency or intra-agency transfer, for each of the 
Federal agencies that carry out restoration ac-
tivities; 
(B) to the extent that information is avail-
able, the estimated funding for any State res-
toration activity to be carried out in the suc-
ceeding fiscal year; 
(C) all expenditures for Federal restoration 
activities from the preceding 2 fiscal years, the 
current fiscal year, and the succeeding fiscal 
year; and 
(D) all expenditures, to the extent that in-
formation is available, for State restoration ac-
tivities during the equivalent time period de-
scribed in subparagraph (C);
(2) a detailed accounting of all funds received 
and obligated by all Federal agencies for restoration 
activities during the current and preceding fiscal 
years, including the identification of funds which 
were transferred to a Chesapeake Bay State for res-
toration activities; 
(3) to the extent that information is available, 
a detailed accounting from each State of all funds 
received and obligated from a Federal agency for 
restoration activities during the current and pre-
ceding fiscal years; and 
(4) a description of each of the proposed Fed-
eral and State restoration activities to be carried out 
in the succeeding fiscal year (corresponding to those 
activities listed in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
paragraph (1)), including the— 
(A) project description; 
(B) current status of the project; 
(C) Federal or State statutory or regu-
latory authority, programs, or responsible agen-
cies; 
(D) authorization level for appropriations; 
(E) project timeline, including benchmarks; 
(F) references to project documents;
(G) descriptions of risks and uncertainties 
of project implementation; 
(H) adaptive management actions or 
framework; 
(I) coordinating entities; 
(J) funding history; 
(K) cost sharing; and 
(L) alignment with existing Chesapeake 
Bay Agreement and Chesapeake Executive 
Council goals and priorities. 
(b) MINIMUM FUNDING LEVELS.—The Director shall 
only describe restoration activities in the report required 
under subsection (a) that— 
(1) for Federal restoration activities, have fund-
ing amounts greater than or equal to $100,000; and 
(2) for State restoration activities, have funding 
amounts greater than or equal to $50,000. 
(c) DEADLINE.—The Director shall submit to Con-
gress the report required by subsection (a) not later than 
30 days after the submission by the President of the Presi-
dent’s annual budget to Congress. 
(d) REPORT.—Copies of the financial report required 
by subsection (a) shall be submitted to the Committees 
on Appropriations, Natural Resources, Energy and Com-
merce, and Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives and the Committees on Appro-
priations, Environment and Public Works, and Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply be-
ginning with the first fiscal year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act for which the President submits a budget 
to Congress. 
SEC. 1003. RESTORATION THROUGH ADAPTIVE MANAGE-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in con-
sultation with other Federal and State agencies, and with 
the participation of stakeholders, shall develop a plan to 
provide technical and financial assistance to Chesapeake 
Bay States to employ adaptive management in carrying 
out restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay water-
shed. 
(b) PLAN DEVELOPMENT.—The plan referred to in 
subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) specific and measurable objectives to im-
prove water quality, habitat, and fisheries identified 
by Chesapeake Bay States; 
(2) a process for stakeholder participation;
(3) monitoring, modeling, experimentation, and 
other research and evaluation technical assistance 
requested by Chesapeake Bay States; 
(4) identification of State restoration activities 
planned by Chesapeake Bay States to attain the 
State’s objectives under paragraph (1); 
(5) identification of Federal restoration activi-
ties that could help a Chesapeake Bay State to at-
tain the State’s objectives under paragraph (1); 
(6) recommendations for a process for modifica-
tion of State and Federal restoration activities that 
have not attained or will not attain the specific and 
measurable objectives set forth under paragraph (1); 
and 
(7) recommendations for a process for inte-
grating and prioritizing State and Federal restora-
tion activities and programs to which adaptive man-
agement can be applied. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—In addition to carrying out 
Federal restoration activities under existing authorities 
and funding, the Administrator shall implement the plan 
developed under subsection (a) by providing technical and 
financial assistance to Chesapeake Bay States using re-
sources available for such purposes that are identified by 
the Director under section 1002.
(d) UPDATES.—The Administrator shall update the 
plan developed under subsection (a) every 2 years. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the end of a fiscal year, the Administrator shall 
transmit to Congress an annual report on the imple-
mentation of the plan required under this section for 
such fiscal year. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall contain information about the 
application of adaptive management to restoration 
activities and programs, including level changes im-
plemented through the process of adaptive manage-
ment. 
(3) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall 
apply to the first fiscal year that begins after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(f) INCLUSION OF PLAN IN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 
AND ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT.—The Administrator 
shall ensure that the Annual Action Plan and Annual 
Progress Report required by section 205 of Executive 
Order No. 13508 includes the adaptive management plan 
outlined in subsection (a).
SEC. 1004. INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR FOR THE CHESA-
PEAKE BAY PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be an Independent 
Evaluator for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed, who shall review and report on restoration ac-
tivities and the use of adaptive management in restoration 
activities, including on such related topics as are suggested 
by the Chesapeake Executive Council. 
(b) APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Independent Evaluator 
shall be appointed by the Administrator from among 
nominees submitted by the Chesapeake Executive 
Council. 
(2) NOMINATIONS.—The Chesapeake Executive 
Council may submit to the Administrator 4 nomi-
nees for appointment to any vacancy in the office of 
the Independent Evaluator. 
(c) REPORTS.—The Independent Evaluator shall sub-
mit a report to the Congress every 2 years in the findings 
and recommendations of reviews under this section. 
(d) CHESAPEAKE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Chesapeake Executive Council’’ has the 
meaning given that term by section 307 of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization 
Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567; 15 U.S.C. 1511d).
SEC. 1005. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title, the following definitions apply: 
(1) 
ADAPTIVE
MANAGEMENT.—The 
term 
‘‘adaptive management’’ means a type of natural re-
source management in which project and program 
decisions are made as part of an ongoing science- 
based process. Adaptive management involves test-
ing, monitoring, and evaluating applied strategies 
and incorporating new knowledge into programs and 
restoration activities that are based on scientific 
findings and the needs of society. Results are used 
to modify management policy, strategies, practices, 
programs, and restoration activities. 
(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(3) CHESAPEAKE
BAY
STATE.—The term 
‘‘Chesapeake Bay State’’ or ‘‘State’’ means the 
States of Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, and 
New York, the Commonwealths of Virginia and 
Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. 
(4) CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.—The term 
‘‘Chesapeake Bay watershed’’ means the Chesapeake 
Bay and the geographic area, as determined by the 
Secretary of the Interior, consisting of 36 tributary
basins, within the Chesapeake Bay States, through 
which precipitation drains into the Chesapeake Bay. 
(5) CHIEF EXECUTIVE.—The term ‘‘chief exec-
utive’’ means, in the case of a State or Common-
wealth, the Governor of each such State or Common-
wealth and, in the case of the District of Columbia, 
the Mayor of the District of Columbia. 
(6) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budg-
et. 
(7) STATE
RESTORATION
ACTIVITIES.—The 
term ‘‘State restoration activities’’ means any State 
programs or projects carried out under State author-
ity that directly or indirectly protect, conserve, or re-
store living resources, habitat, water resources, or 
water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, in-
cluding programs or projects that promote respon-
sible land use, stewardship, and community engage-
ment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Restoration 
activities may be categorized as follows: 
(A) Physical restoration. 
(B) Planning. 
(C) Feasibility studies. 
(D) Scientific research. 
(E) Monitoring.
(F) Education. 
(G) Infrastructure development. 
(8) FEDERAL RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.—The 
term ‘‘Federal restoration activities’’ means any 
Federal programs or projects carried out under ex-
isting Federal authority that directly or indirectly 
protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, 
water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake 
Bay watershed, including programs or projects that 
provide financial and technical assistance to promote 
responsible land use, stewardship, and community 
engagement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Res-
toration activities may be categorized as follows: 
(A) Physical restoration. 
(B) Planning. 
(C) Feasibility studies. 
(D) Scientific research. 
(E) Monitoring. 
(F) Education. 
(G) Infrastructure development. 
TITLE XI—ALASKA NATIVE 
VETERAN ALLOTMENT 
SEC. 1101. ALASKA NATIVE VETERAN ALLOTMENT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) APPLICATION.—The term ‘‘application’’ 
means the Alaska Native Veteran Allotment applica-
tion numbered AA–084021–B. 
(2) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 
means the 80 acres of Federal land that is— 
(A) described in the application; and 
(B) depicted as Lot 2 in U.S. Survey No. 
13957, Alaska, that was officially filed on Octo-
ber 9, 2009. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(b) ISSUANCE OF PATENT.—Notwithstanding section 
41 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
1629g) and subject to subsection (c), the Secretary shall— 
(1) approve the application; and 
(2) issue a patent for the Federal land to the 
person that submitted the application. 
(c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The patent issued under 
subsection (b) shall— 
(A) only be for the surface rights to the 
Federal land; and 
(B) be subject to the terms and conditions 
of any certificate issued under section 41 of the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43