York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1469 | Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie (D-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 within the York 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 RIVERS, 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:
            ``(_) York river, maine.--Segments of the main stem and its 
        tributaries in the State of Maine, Bass Cove Creek, Cider Hill 
        Creek, Cutts Ridge Brook, Dolly Gordon Brook, Libby Brook, 
        Rogers Brook, Smelt Brook, 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 its 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 its confluence with the York 
                River in York, Maine.
                    ``(C) The approximately 2.15-mile segment of Cutts 
                Ridge Brook from its headwaters in Kittery, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to its confluence with the York 
                River in York, Maine.
                    ``(D) The approximately 3.17-mile segment of Dolly 
                Gordon Brook from its headwaters in York, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to its confluence with the York 
                River in York, Maine.
                    ``(E) The approximately 1.65-mile segment of Libby 
                Brook from its headwaters in Kittery, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to its confluence with Dolly 
                Gordon Brook in York, Maine.
                    ``(F) The approximately 2.43-mile segment of Rogers 
                Brook from its headwaters in Eliot, Maine, and 
                extending downstream to its 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 its 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.

    (a) Process.--
            (1) In general.--The York River, Maine segments shall be 
        managed in accordance with--
                    (A) the stewardship plan; and
                    (B) such amendments to the stewardship plan as the 
                Secretary determines are consistent with this section 
                and as 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)).
    (b) Committee.--The Secretary shall coordinate his or her 
management responsibilities under this Act with the Stewardship 
Committee, as specified in the stewardship plan.
    (c) Cooperative Agreements.--
            (1) In general.--In order to provide for the long-term 
        protection, preservation, and enhancement of the York River, 
        Maine 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) and 1282(b)(1)) with--
                    (A) the State of Maine;
                    (B) the municipalities of Eliot, Kittery, South 
                Berwick, and York in Maine; and
                    (C) appropriate local, regional, or State planning, 
                environmental, or recreational organizations.
            (2) Consistency.--Each cooperative agreement entered into 
        under this subsection shall be consistent with the stewardship 
        plan and may include provisions for financial or other 
        assistance from the United States.
    (d) Land Management.--
            (1) Zoning ordinances.--For the purpose of the York River, 
        Maine segments, the zoning ordinances adopted by the 
        municipalities named in subsection (c)(1)(B), including 
        provisions for conservation of floodplains, wetlands, and 
        watercourses associated with the segments, shall be deemed to 
        satisfy the standards and requirements of section 6(c) of the 
        Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
            (2) Acquisition of lands.--The authority of the Secretary 
        to acquire land for the purposes of the York River, Maine 
        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 set forth in 
                the stewardship plan.
            (3) No condemnation.--No land or interest in land within 
        the watersheds of the York River, Maine segments may be 
        acquired by condemnation.
    (e) Relation to the National Park System.--Notwithstanding section 
10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), the York 
River, Maine segments shall not--
            (1) be administered as a unit of the National Park System; 
        or
            (2) be subject to regulations that govern the National Park 
        System.
    (f) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (2) Stewardship committee.--The term ``Stewardship 
        Committee'' means the York River Stewardship Committee.
            (3) Stewardship plan.--The term ``stewardship plan'' means 
        the York River Watershed Stewardship Plan, dated August 2018, 
        developed pursuant to the study described in section 5(b)(21) 
        of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
            (4) York river, maine segments.--The term ``York River, 
        Maine segments'' means the river segments designated by the 
        amendment made by section 2.
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