York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2021
Bill: S.491 | Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. (I-ME)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2021
This bill designates specified segments of the main stem and the tributaries of the York River in Maine as a recreational river.
The Department of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements to provide for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the river segments.
No land or interest in land within the watersheds of the river segments may be acquired by condemnation.

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain river 
     segments in the York River watershed in the State of Maine as 
components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``York River Wild and Scenic River Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF YORK WILD AND SCENIC RIVER, MAINE.

    Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(231) York river, maine.--The following segments of the 
        main stem and tributaries (including portions of Bass Cove 
        Creek, Cider Hill Creek, Cutts Ridge Brook, Dolly Gordon Brook, 
        Libby Brook, Rogers Brook, and Smelt Brook) in the State of 
        Maine, totaling approximately 30.8 miles, to be administered by 
        the Secretary of the Interior, as a recreational river:
                    ``(A) The approximately 0.95-mile segment of Bass 
                Cove Creek from the outlet of Boulter Pond in York, 
                Maine, and extending downstream to the confluence with 
                the York River in York, Maine.
                    ``(B) The approximately 3.77-mile segment of Cider 
                Hill Creek from the Middle Pond dam in York, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to the confluence with the York 
                River in York, Maine.
                    ``(C) The approximately 2.15-mile segment of Cutts 
                Ridge Brook from the headwaters in Kittery, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to the confluence with the York 
                River in York, Maine.
                    ``(D) The approximately 3.17-mile segment of Dolly 
                Gordon Brook from the headwaters in York, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to the confluence with the York 
                River in York, Maine.
                    ``(E) The approximately 1.65-mile segment of Libby 
                Brook from the headwaters in Kittery, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to the confluence with Dolly 
                Gordon Brook in York, Maine.
                    ``(F) The approximately 2.43-mile segment of Rogers 
                Brook from the headwaters in Eliot, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to the confluence with the York 
                River in York, Maine.
                    ``(G) The approximately 4.54-mile segment of Smelt 
                Brook from the Bell Marsh Reservoir dam in York, Maine, 
                and extending downstream to the confluence with the 
                York River in York, Maine.
                    ``(H) The approximately 12.14-mile segment of the 
                York River from the outlet of York Pond in Eliot, 
                Maine, and extending downstream to the Route 103 Bridge 
                in York, Maine, including Barrell Mill Pond in York, 
                Maine.''.

SEC. 3. MANAGEMENT OF YORK WILD AND SCENIC RIVER, MAINE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered segment.--The term ``covered segment'' means a 
        river segment designated by paragraph (231) of section 3(a) of 
        the of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) (as 
        added by section 2).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Maine.
            (4) Stewardship committee.--The term ``Stewardship 
        Committee'' means the York River Stewardship Committee.
            (5) Stewardship plan.--The term ``stewardship plan'' means 
        the plan entitled the ``York River Watershed Stewardship 
        Plan'', dated August 2018, and developed pursuant to the study 
        described in section 5(b)(21) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
        (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)(21)).
    (b) Stewardship Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the covered 
        segments in accordance with--
                    (A) the stewardship plan; and
                    (B) any amendments to the stewardship plan that--
                            (i) the Secretary determines are consistent 
                        with this section; and
                            (ii) are approved by the Stewardship 
                        Committee.
            (2) Comprehensive management plan.--The stewardship plan 
        shall be considered to satisfy the requirements for a 
        comprehensive management plan under section 3(d) of the Wild 
        and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
    (c) Coordination With Committee.--The Secretary shall coordinate 
the management responsibilities of the Secretary under this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act with the Stewardship Committee, as provided 
in the stewardship plan.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--
            (1) In general.--To provide for the long-term protection, 
        preservation, and enhancement of the covered segments, the 
        Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements pursuant to 
        sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
        (16 U.S.C. 1281(e), 1282(b)(1)) with--
                    (A) the State;
                    (B) the towns of Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, and 
                York in the State; and
                    (C) appropriate local, regional, or State planning, 
                environmental, or recreational organizations.
            (2) Consistency.--Each cooperative agreement entered into 
        under this subsection--
                    (A) shall be consistent with the stewardship plan; 
                and
                    (B) may include provisions for Federal financial or 
                other assistance.
    (e) Land Management.--
            (1) Zoning ordinances.--For the purposes of the covered 
        segments, the zoning ordinances adopted by the towns described 
        in subsection (d)(1)(B), including any provisions for the 
        conservation of floodplains, wetlands, and watercourses 
        associated with the covered segments, shall be considered to 
        satisfy the requirements of section 6(c) of the Wild and Scenic 
        Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)).
            (2) Acquisition of land.--The authority of the Secretary to 
        acquire land for the purposes of the covered segments shall 
        be--
                    (A) limited to acquisition by donation or 
                acquisition with the consent of the owner of the land; 
                and
                    (B) subject to the additional criteria provided in 
                the stewardship plan.
            (3) No condemnation.--No land or interest in land within 
        the watersheds of the covered segments may be acquired by 
        condemnation.
    (f) Relation to the National Park System.--Notwithstanding section 
10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), the 
covered segments shall not be--
            (1) administered as a unit of the National Park System; or
            (2) subject to the laws (including regulations) applicable 
        to the National Park System.
                                                       Calendar No. 200

117th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 491

                          [Report No. 117-50]

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