The Range of Light National Monument Act
Bill: H.R.9600 | Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie (D-CA)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
The Range of Light National Monument Act
This bill establishes the Range of Light National Monument as a unit of the National Park System in California, between Yosemite National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. The monument consists of approximately 1,427,750 acres of federal land and includes the entirety of Sierra National Forest.
The Department of the Interior shall
Interior shall develop and apply an integrated visitor services plan for the monument.

To designate the Range of Light National Monument in the State of 
                  California, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``The Range of Light 
National Monument Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Findings.
Sec. 4. Establishment of the Range of Light National Monument, 
                            California.
Sec. 5. Management of Federal lands within the monument.
Sec. 6. Development of management plan.
Sec. 7. Existing and historical uses of Federal lands included in the 
                            monument.
Sec. 8. Acquisition of land.
Sec. 9. Watershed management.
Sec. 10. Withdrawal of Federal land from mining laws.
Sec. 11. Visitor services plan.
Sec. 12. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
        the plan developed consistent with section 6.
            (2) National monument.--The term ``national monument'' 
        means the Range of Light National Monument.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means--
                    (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
                those Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the 
                Secretary of the Interior; and
                    (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
                those Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the 
                Secretary of Agriculture.
            (4) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
        Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior 
        acting jointly.
            (5) Trails.--Trails mean non-motorized trails available 
        only to non-motorized users, including non-motorized 
        bicyclists, except in Wilderness areas where existing 
        regulations for trails remain the same. Electronic bicycles are 
        considered a form of ``motorized'' bicycling.
            (6) Roads.--Roads are defined as roads available only to 
        street legal vehicles.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Sierra Nevada ecosystem is a diverse mountain range 
        that is geologically, ecologically, hydrologically, 
        recreationally and historically significant to the American 
        people.
            (2) The Range of Light National Monument sits between two 
        National Parks, Yosemite and Kings Canyon, in the center of 
        longest interconnected wilderness in the contiguous United 
        States and its establishment will create an interconnected 
        wildlife corridor to facilitate the migration and survival of 
        native species and provide habitat for rare, threatened, and 
        endangered species.
            (3) The Sierra Nevada ecosystem contains one of the most 
        diverse coniferous forests in the world. Ponderosa pine, 
        incense-cedar, white-fir, douglas-fir, sugar pine and scattered 
        groves of giant sequoia intermix and coexist. These trees fight 
        climate change, store carbon, and support a vast array of 
        California's wildlife.
            (4) The Sierra Nevada ecosystem and watershed is vital to 
        the people of California. The rivers, springs, alpine lakes and 
        groundwater within the watershed contribute to the Kings, the 
        Merced, and the San Joaquin Rivers, which support wildlife, 
        enhance recreation, and provide drinking water for millions of 
        Californians.
            (5) The interactions between the climate, topography and 
        biota in the Sierra Nevada have created some of the most 
        productive soils for conifers in the world, which has improved 
        vegetation, erosion, wildlife distribution, and water quality 
        throughout the range. These soils harbor the microorganisms and 
        nutrients that provide the basis for the forest's health and 
        support hundreds of plant species, many of which are endemic to 
        the region and are found nowhere else on earth.
            (6) The Range of Light ecosystems, forests, and watersheds 
        provide a wild and rugged landscape enjoyed by hikers, 
        bicyclists, birders, picnickers, sight seers, fishermen, 
        campers, rock climbers, boaters, equestrians, and other 
        recreationists.
            (7) Sierra Nevada tribes have been stewards of the land for 
        more than 10,000 years. Native Americans of the Sierra Nevada 
        have hunted, fished, gathered, and made their homes throughout 
        the region. Many sites along rivers and elsewhere in the 
        national monument are part of tribal history and are considered 
        sacred. Preserving these sites is vital to maintaining tribal 
        identity, as well as enabling the continuation and renewal of 
        annual cultural traditions and ecological land management 
        practices.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RANGE OF LIGHT NATIONAL MONUMENT, 
              CALIFORNIA.

    (a) Establishment and Boundaries.--Subject to valid existing 
rights, there is established the Range of Light National Monument as a 
unit of the National Park System in the State of California, which 
consists of approximately 1,427,750 acres of Federal land and interests 
in Federal land in California, as generally depicted in the map 
entitled ``Range of Light National Monument Map'' and dated November 
2022. The Range of Light National Monument is composed of the Sierra 
National Forest in its entirety and the San Joaquin Gorge managed by 
the Bureau of Land Management.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the national monument are--
            (1) to preserve, protect, and restore nationally 
        significant biological, ecological, cultural, historical, 
        recreational, geological, hydrological, scenic, and scientific 
        resources in the Sierra Nevada's ecosystems, forests, and 
        soils;
            (2) to preserve, protect, and restore watersheds, including 
        meadows, above ground tributaries, springs and groundwater, and 
        surface waters that contribute to the San Joaquin, Kings, and 
        Merced Rivers;
            (3) to provide wildlife connectivity and a migratory area 
        for native species and to provide habitat for rare, threatened, 
        and endangered species through protection and restoration;
            (4) to secure now and for future generations the 
        opportunity to experience and enjoy a diverse and natural 
        forest landscape, wildlife, free-flowing water, an unfettered 
        rugged environment, and recreation on public land;
            (5) to provide environmentally responsible, well-managed 
        recreational opportunities and spaces for people to connect 
        with nature within the national monument;
            (6) to provide educational, recreational, visitor, and 
        interpretive services that will increase public understanding 
        of and appreciation for the natural and cultural resources of 
        the Sierra Nevada and the national monument area; and
            (7) to protect Native American sacred cultural sites and 
        traditional practices and to involve Native Americans in the 
        planning and the care of native plants and cultural sites in 
        the monument area.
    (c) Transfer and Administration of Lands.--Upon enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer the Federal lands and 
Federal buildings under the jurisdiction of the National Forest 
Service, managed specifically as the Sierra National Forest, without 
consideration, to the administrative jurisdiction of the National Park 
Service for administration as a national monument that is part of the 
National Park System. Upon enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall transfer the Federal lands and Federal buildings under 
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of 
Reclamation, managed specifically as the San Joaquin Gorge, without 
consideration, to the administrative jurisdiction of the National Park 
Service for administration as a national monument that is part of the 
National Park System.
    (d) Legal Descriptions; Corrections of Errors.--
            (1) Preparation.--As soon as practical after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, but not later than 1 year after such 
        date, the Secretary shall prepare final maps and legal 
        descriptions of the national monument, which shall have the 
        same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that 
        the Secretary of the Interior may correct clerical and 
        typographical errors in the existing maps and legal 
        descriptions.
            (2) Submission.--As soon as practicable after the 
        preparation of the maps and legal descriptions under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary of the Interior shall submit the maps and 
        legal descriptions to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
        House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and 
        Natural Resources of the Senate.
            (3) Public availability.--The maps and legal descriptions 
        prepared pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be on file and 
        available for public inspection at appropriate offices of the 
        National Park Service.
    (e) Administration and Jurisdiction.--
            (1) Public lands.--The public lands included in the 
        national monument area shall be administered by the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service.
            (2) State and local jurisdiction.--Nothing in this Act 
        alters, modifies, or diminishes any right, responsibility, 
        power, authority, jurisdiction, or entitlement of the State, 
        any political subdivision of the State, or any State or local 
        agency under existing Federal, State, and local law (including 
        regulations).

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL LANDS WITHIN THE MONUMENT.

    (a) National Park System.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
Secretary of the Interior shall manage the public lands included in the 
national monument area in a manner that protects, and enhances the 
natural resources and values of the lands, in accordance with--
            (1) this Act;
            (2) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 
        Park System;
            (3) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) in existing 
        wilderness areas; and
            (4) other applicable law (including Federal, State, or 
        local law, and regulations).
    (b) Treatment of Non-Federal Lands and Related Provisions.--Nothing 
in this Act--
            (1) authorizes the Secretary to take any action that would 
        affect the use of any land not owned by the United States;
            (2) affects the use of any non-Federal land within the 
        national monument area;
            (3) modifies any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
        with respect to public access to or use of non-Federal land;
            (4) requires any owner of non-Federal land to allow public 
        access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
        to private property or any other non-Federal land; and
            (5) creates any liability, or affects any liability under 
        any other law, of any private property owner or other owner of 
        non-Federal land with respect to any person injured on private 
        property or other non-Federal land.
    (c) Resolution of Conflicts.--If there is a conflict between a 
provision of this Act and a provision of another law specified in 
subsection (a), the more restrictive provision shall control.
    (d) Authorized Uses.--The Secretary shall allow only such uses of 
the national monument as the Secretary determines would further the 
purposes specified in section 4 of this Act.

SEC. 6. DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) Deadline.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall create a comprehensive 
management plan for the national monument that fulfills the purposes 
described in section 4.
    (b) Incorporation of Visitor Services Plan.--To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall incorporate the visitor services plan 
into the management plan as described in section 11.

SEC. 7. EXISTING AND HISTORICAL USES OF FEDERAL LANDS INCLUDED IN THE 
              MONUMENT.

    (a) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this Act affects the 
jurisdiction of the State of California with respect to the management 
of fish and wildlife located on public land in the State, except that 
the Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife, may designate zones in the national 
monument where, and periods when, hunting shall not be allowed to 
accommodate traditional tribal uses, public safety, wildlife health, 
administration, or public use and enjoyment.
    (b) Motorized and Mechanized Vehicles.--The use of motorized and 
mechanized vehicles on lands within the national monument shall be 
permitted only on roads designated for their use. In the Sierra 
National Forest, all roads currently classified as Forest Service 
Maintenance Level 1 roads will be closed, and Maintenance Level 2 roads 
will be converted to Maintenance Level 1 roads indefinitely unless they 
lead to campgrounds, picnic areas, private inholdings, non-motorized 
trailheads, selected viewpoints or are needed for administrative 
purposes or to respond to an emergency. When managed by the National 
Park Service, these roads shall be classified as paved, maintained dirt 
roads, and unmaintained dirt roads. Selected roads shall remain open, 
partially or fully, paved or dirt, in accordance with the Range of 
Light National Monument map, and shall remain open only to street-legal 
vehicles. Closed roads may be remediated or converted to non-motorized 
trails and may remain available to non-motorized recreational use at 
the discretion of the park service and in accordance with the visitor 
services plan, as detailed in subsection (a). The existing roads and 
trails in the San Joaquin Gorge shall remain and shall be managed as 
is, at the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Grazing.--Livestock grazing permits within the national 
monument, where established or planned before the date of the enactment 
of this Act, shall be allowed to continue until the end of their permit 
period, a maximum of 10 years from the issued permit date, subject to 
all applicable laws and regulations. Grazing permits shall not be re-
issued once expired and shall be retired.
            (1) Donation of grazing permits and leases.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall accept the 
                donation of any valid existing leases or permits 
                authorizing grazing on public land or National Forest 
                System land, all or a portion of which are within the 
                area depicted as the ``Range of Light National 
                Monument'' on the maps entitled ``Range of Light 
                National Monument''.
                    (B) Partial donation.--A person holding a valid 
                grazing permit or lease for a grazing allotment 
                partially within the area described in subparagraph (A) 
                may elect to donate only the portion of the grazing 
                permit or lease that is within the area.
            (2) Termination.--With respect to each permit or lease 
        donated under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) terminate the grazing permit or lease or 
                portion of the permit or lease; and
                    (B) ensure a permanent end to grazing on the land 
                covered by the permit or lease or portion of the permit 
                or lease.
    (d) Commercial Recreation Activities.--The Secretary shall allow 
commercial recreation activities within the national monument in 
accordance with--
            (1) this Act;
            (2) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 
        Park System;
            (3) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133 et seq.); and
            (4) other applicable law (including Federal, State, or 
        local law, and regulations).
    (e) Fishing and Gathering.--The Secretary shall allow fishing and 
gathering within the national monument in accordance with applicable 
laws and regulations of the United States and the State of California.
    (f) Forestry.--The Secretary shall prohibit the cutting, sale, 
harvest or removal of timber and other vegetative material within the 
national monument for commercial purposes, commercial logging, or for 
biomass energy production. No part of the monument shall be considered 
suitable for timber production or calculation or provision for 
sustained yield of timber. The Secretary may permit the cutting of 
timber in the national monument only in cases where the cutting of such 
timber is required to preserve and protect wildlife, or the natural, 
scientific, scenic or historical objects in the area. The Secretary may 
permit the removal of tree materials for personal use fuel wood, in 
cases where the removal does not harm the forest, wildlife or the 
natural, scientific or historical objects in the area.
    (g) Buyouts, Donations and Termination of Existing Timber 
Contracts.--
            (1) Donations.--The Secretary shall accept the donation of 
        any valid existing contract authorizing logging on public land 
        in National Forest System land, which is within the area 
        depicted as the ``Range of Light National Monument'' on the 
        maps entitled ``Range of Light National Monument''.
            (2) Buyouts.--With respect to purchased timber contracts, 
        the Secretary may buy back the contracts for the sale of timber 
        within the boundaries of the Monument at the time of enactment 
        of this Act, for the price sold, in accordance with applicable 
        Federal law.
            (3) Termination.--All timber sales and contracts will be 
        terminated at date of the enactment of this Act.
    (h) Use of Chemicals.--The application of any toxic chemicals 
(other than fire retardants), including pesticides and herbicides, 
shall be prohibited within the national monument area.
    (i) Trails.--A non-motorized trail system will be constructed and 
maintained using existing non-motorized trails and roads decommissioned 
from motorized use.
    (j) Existing Cabin Leases.--Nothing in this Act shall preclude the 
renewal or continuation of valid leases for cabins, homesites or 
similar structures on federally owned lands in the national monument in 
effect on date this law is enacted.
    (k) Specific Protections.--The use of street-legal motorized 
vehicles in the national monument shall be permitted only on existing 
roads designated for use by vehicles. In recognition that certain 
conditions are deemed desirable for maintaining the rugged character of 
the national monument, Congress declares its intention to retain 
selected dirt roads. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
Federal lands may be used for the construction of any new road or to 
pave any existing dirt road or to pave any partially paved dirt road in 
the national monument. Roads that are deemed destructive to the natural 
landscape or harm wildlife and the values of the national monument 
shall be closed at the discretion of the park service.
    (l) Private Property Access.--In instances where roads have been 
closed to the public and those roads lead to private property, the 
private property owners shall retain the right to access their lands 
via the closed road.
    (m) Native American Cultural and Religious Uses.--Nothing in this 
Act diminishes--
            (1) the rights of any Indian tribe; or
            (2) any tribal rights regarding access to Federal land for 
        tribal activities, including spiritual, cultural, and 
        traditional food-gathering activities.

SEC. 8. ACQUISITION OF LAND.

    (a) Acquisition Authorized; Methods.--Non-Federal held land or 
interests in land within the boundaries of the national monument may be 
acquired for management as part of the national monument only by--
            (1) donation; or
            (2) purchase from a willing seller.
    (b) Valuation of Private Property.--The United States shall offer 
the fair market value for any interests or partial interests in land 
acquired under this section unless donated.
    (c) Incorporation of Acquired Lands and Interests.--Any land or 
interest in land within the boundaries of the national monument that is 
acquired by the United States after the date of the enactment of this 
Act shall be added to and administered as part of the national 
monument.

SEC. 9. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Water Rights.--Nothing in this Act--
            (1) affects the use or allocation, in existence on the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, of any water, water right, or 
        interest in water;
            (2) affects any vested absolute or decreed conditional 
        water right in existence on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, including any water right held by the United States;
            (3) affects any interstate water compact in existence on 
        the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (4) relinquishes or reduces any water rights reserved or 
        appropriated by the United States in the State of California on 
        or before the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Power Generation.--All lands in the recreation area which have 
been withdrawn or acquired by the United States for reclamation 
purposes shall remain subject to the primary use thereof for 
reclamation and power purposes so long as they are needed for such 
purposes.
    (c) Tributaries of the Kings River, the Merced River, the San 
Joaquin.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal lands 
may be used for the construction of any new dam or diversion, or 
expansion of any existing dam or diversion, on any tributary of the 
Merced, Kings and San Joaquin Rivers and the south, middle and north 
forks of the Merced, Kings and San Joaquin Rivers within the boundaries 
of the national monument.
    (d) Water for the National Monument.--There is hereby reserved, as 
of the date of this Act and subject to valid existing rights, a 
quantity of water sufficient to fulfill the purposes for which this 
national monument is established. Nothing in this reservation shall be 
construed as a relinquishment or reduction of any water use or rights 
reserved or appropriated by the United States on or before the date of 
this proclamation.

SEC. 10. WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL LAND FROM MINING LAWS.

    (a) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights as provided in 
section 4, the Federal lands and interests in lands included within the 
national monument are hereby withdrawn from--
            (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under 
        the public land laws;
            (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
            (3) operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing 
        laws and mineral materials laws.
    (b) Treatment of Existing Rights.--The withdrawal under subsection 
(a) is subject to valid, existing rights. If such rights are 
relinquished or otherwise acquired by the United States after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the land that was subject to the rights 
shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with subsection (a).

SEC. 11. VISITOR SERVICES PLAN.

    (a) Visitor Services.--
            (1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to 
        facilitate the development of an integrated visitor services 
        plan that will provide enhanced visitor experiences and 
        resource protection in the national monument through expanded 
        recreational opportunities, public safety, fire management, 
        interpretation, education, and law enforcement.
            (2) Plan required.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and 
        apply an integrated visitor services plan for the national 
        monument.
            (3) Contents.--The visitor services plan shall--
                    (A) include a regular and adequate ranger patrol 
                and staffing plan, which covers the remaining open 
                roads and provides for people management and resource 
                protection to prevent human-caused wildfires;
                    (B) provide and plan for adequate disposal of trash 
                and recycling and management of garbage removal 
                throughout the national monument and where appropriate 
                and needed to prevent garbage accumulation and 
                vandalism;
                    (C) manage dispersed camping to protect natural 
                resources and wildlife, enhance recreation, and prevent 
                human-caused wildfires;
                    (D) maintain and manage all existing picnic areas 
                and campgrounds to ensure that visitors have adequate 
                developed sites for recreation;
                    (E) develop a non-motorized trail network and 
                prepare a maintenance and management plan for front-
                country and back-country trails and create and maintain 
                trail maps, trails, and trail signs, with a particular 
                emphasis placed on trail interconnectivity;
                    (F) ensure adequate closure of roads and provide 
                visitor signs indicating closures, and create a program 
                for restoring the natural environment on closed roads 
                and for developing trails on closed roads designated as 
                non-motorized trails;
                    (G) assess the current level of interpretive and 
                educational services and facilities; include 
                recommendations to better manage recreation area 
                resources and improve the experience of recreation area 
                visitors through expanded interpretive and educational 
                services and facilities, and improved enforcement; and 
                manage recreation area resources to reduce negative 
                impacts on the environment, the forest, and the 
                watershed in the area;
                    (H) assess opportunities to provide recreational 
                non-motorized trails that connect with adjacent 
                National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and Park 
                Service lands; and to develop and carry this out in 
                accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local 
                laws and ordinances;
                    (I) in developing the visitor services plan, the 
                Secretary shall consult with the State and local 
                agencies, nongovernmental organizations, tribes, and 
                the public; and
                    (J) in hiring personnel, the secretary shall 
                prioritize hiring applicants formerly employed in jobs 
                associated with commercial logging activities on public 
                lands and biomass production and low income applicants.
    (b) Visitor Facilities.--As needed, the Secretary may construct 
visitor use facilities in the national monument area or improve upon 
existing Federal buildings under the jurisdiction of the park service. 
Such facilities shall be developed in conformance with all existing 
Federal, State, and local laws (including regulations) and applicable 
Federal, State, and local plans.
    (c) Donations.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may accept and use donated 
        funds, property, in-kind contributions, and services to carry 
        out this Act.
            (2) Prohibition.--The Secretary may not use the authority 
        provided in this Act to accept non-Federal land that has been 
        acquired, after the date of the enactment of this Act, through 
        use of eminent domain.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out this Act, the 
Secretary may make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with 
State, tribal, local governmental entities, non-profit entities and 
private entities to conduct research, develop scientific analyses, and 
carry out any other initiatives relating to the management of and 
visitation to the national monument.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary to carry out this Act.
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