Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-886
Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2007-02-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Boundaries
Columbia River development
Easements
Ecosystem management
Energy
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Helicopters
Hydroelectric power
Land transfers
Land use
Law
Metropolitan areas
National forests
Public utilities
Real estate appraisal
Sports and Recreation
Trails
Transportation and Public Works
Urban affairs
Washington State
Water Resources Development
Watersheds
Wilderness areas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-07
text: 
Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007 - Designates certain lands in the Skykomish River valley, Washington, as the Wild Sky Wilderness, to be managed by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a trail plan. Authorizes the use of helicopter access to construct and maintain a joint Forest Service-Snohomish County telecommunications repeater site to provide improved communication for safety, health, and emergency purposes. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands in the Wild Sky Wilderness by purchase, donation, or exchange, with priority to be given to specified Priority Acquisition Lands. Requires the boundaries of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wild Sky Wilderness to be adjusted to encompass any lands so acquired. 
 
Requires the Secretary to accept specified lands within the Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, from the Chelan County Public Utility District if the District offers such lands to the Secretary (in title acceptable to the Secretary, and provided there is no hazardous material on the site) in exchange for a permanent easement, including helicopter access, to maintain an existing telemetry site to monitor snow pack on land within the Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. 
Provides for extinguishment of the easement and reversion of all conveyed rights to the United States if the District no longer needs to maintain a telemetry site.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Designates certain lands in the Skykomish River valley, Washington, as the Wild Sky Wilderness, to be managed by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to establish a trail plan. Authorizes the use of helicopter access to construct and maintain a joint Forest Service-Snohomish County telecommunications repeater site to provide improved communication for safety, health, and emergency purposes. 
Allows the continued use of floatplanes on Lake Isabel in the Wild Sky Wilderness, subject to reasonable restrictions. 
Provides that such wilderness designation shall not preclude the operation and maintenance of the existing Evergreen Mountain Lookout in the same manner and degree in which the operation and maintenance were occurring as of the enactment of this Act. 
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands in the Wild Sky Wilderness by purchase, donation, or exchange, with priority to be given to specified Priority Acquisition Lands. Requires the boundaries of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wild Sky Wilderness to be adjusted to encompass any lands so acquired. Directs the Secretary to ensure adequate access to private in-holdings within the Wild Sky Wilderness. States that valuation of private lands shall be determined without reference to any restrictions on access or use which arise out of designation as a wilderness area. 
 
(Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary to accept specified lands within the Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, from the Chelan County Public Utility District if the District offers such lands to the Secretary (in title acceptable to the Secretary, and provided there is no hazardous material on the site) in exchange for a permanent easement, including helicopter access, to maintain an existing telemetry site to monitor snow pack on land within the Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. 
Provides for extinguishment of the easement and reversion of all conveyed rights to the United States if the District no longer needs to maintain a telemetry site.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

 
Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Designates certain lands in the Skykomish River valley, Washington, as the Wild Sky Wilderness, to be managed by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to establish a trail plan. Authorizes the use of helicopter access to construct and maintain a joint Forest Service-Snohomish County telecommunications repeater site to provide improved communication for safety, health, and emergency purposes. 
Allows the continued use of floatplanes on Lake Isabel in the Wild Sky Wilderness, subject to reasonable restrictions. 
Provides that such wilderness designation shall not preclude the operation and maintenance of the existing Evergreen Mountain Lookout in the same manner and degree in which the operation and maintenance were occurring as of the enactment of this Act. 
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands in the Wild Sky Wilderness by purchase, donation, or exchange, with priority to be given to specified Priority Acquisition Lands. Requires the boundaries of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wild Sky Wilderness to be adjusted to encompass any lands so acquired. Directs the Secretary to ensure adequate access to private in-holdings within the Wild Sky Wilderness. States that valuation of private lands shall be determined without reference to any restrictions on access or use which arise out of designation as a wilderness area. 
 
(Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary to accept specified lands within the Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, from the Chelan County Public Utility District if the District offers such lands to the Secretary (in title acceptable to the Secretary, and provided there is no hazardous material on the site) in exchange for a permanent easement, including helicopter access, to maintain an existing telemetry site to monitor snow pack on land within the Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. 
Provides for extinguishment of the easement and reversion of all conveyed rights to the United States if the District no longer needs to maintain a telemetry site.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5530)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 255.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. With written report No. 110-121.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. With written report No. 110-121.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3406)
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3406)
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 886.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3406-3409)
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Mr. Grijalva moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 54.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-89.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-89.
action_date: 2007-03-07
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-03-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-02-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-02-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-07
text: Introduced in House