Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area Act

Bill: 110-s-3065
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2008-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Colorado
Environmental Protection
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Natural areas
Nature conservation
Riparian ecology
Stream conservation
Water Resources Development
Water conservation
Wilderness areas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-22
text: 
Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area Act - Establishes the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in Colorado to conserve and protect the unique and nationally important values of certain public land in Mesa, Montrose, and Delta Counties and the water resources of area streams that are necessary to support aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species and communities.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) develop a comprehensive management plan for the long-range protection and management of the Conservation Area; and (2) establish the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Advisory Council to advise the Secretary on the preparation and implementation of the management plan.

Designates certain lands in Mesa, Montrose, and Delta Counties as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be known as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area.

action_date: 2008-09-16
text: 
Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area Act - Establishes the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in Colorado to conserve and protect the unique and nationally important values of certain public land and the water resources of area streams that are necessary to support aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species and communities. 

Requires management of the Conservation Area as a component of the National Landscape Conservation System. 

Specifies the uses of the Conservation Area, including allowing the use of motorized vehicles in the Area. 

Designates certain lands in Mesa, Montrose, and Delta Counties in Colorado as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be known as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area. 
 
Sets forth provisions for the management of the Conservation Area and the Wilderness, including with regard to: (1) grazing leases and permits and the grazing of livestock; (2) the control of fire, insects, diseases, and nonnative invasive plants and noxious weeds; and (3) water rights. 
 
Withdraws all federal land within the Conservation Area and the Wilderness and all land and interests in land acquired by the United States within such area and wilderness from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire non-federal land within the boundaries of the Conservation Area or the Wilderness only through exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller. 

Provides for the continuation of adequate access by private landowners to inholdings in the Conservation Area. 

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) develop a comprehensive management plan for the long-term protection and management of the Conservation Area; and (2) establish the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Advisory Council to advise the Secretary on the preparation and implementation of the management plan. 

Authorizes appropriations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 997.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-603.
action_date: 2008-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate