Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-364
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2013-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Ecology
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Montana
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pedestrians and bicycling
Roads and highways
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: 
Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013 - Establishes the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Management Area in Montana. 
 
Designates specified land within the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana as wilderness and as additions to existing components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
 Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare a comprehensive management strategy for the prevention, control, and eradication of noxious weeds in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of Lewis and Clark National Forest. 
 
Authorizes such Secretary to conduct a study for improving nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities, including mountain bicycling, on land within the District that is not designated as wilderness. 

action_date: 2014-06-02
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. 

The
 
summary
 
has
 
been
 
expanded
 because action occurred on 
the
 measure.
)

 
Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013 - (Sec. 3) Establishes the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Management Area in Montana consisting of approximately 195,073 acres of federal land managed by Forest Service and 13,087 acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
 
Permits the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to Forest Service land or the Secretary of the Interior with respect to BLM land (the Secretary concerned) to only allow uses of the Conservation Management Area that would conserve, protect, and enhance the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of the recreational, scenic, historical, cultural, fish, wildlife, roadless, and ecological values of the Area. 
Sets forth provisions for the management of the Conservation Management Area regarding motorized vehicles and vegetation management projects. 
Allows the Secretary concerned to permit grazing within the Conservation Management Area if it was established before enactment of this Act. 
 
(Sec. 4) Designates specified land within the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana as wilderness. Adds the land to the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
Permits livestock grazing and the maintenance of existing grazing facilities to continue if it was established before enactment of this Act.
 
Authorizes the Secretary concerned to take necessary measures to control fires, insects, and diseases.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare a comprehensive management strategy for the prevention, control, and eradication of noxious weeds in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. 
 
(Sec. 7) Authorizes USDA to conduct a study for improving nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities, including mountain bicycling, on land within the District that is not designated as wilderness. 
 
(Sec. 8) States that nothing in this Act affects Montana's jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting and fishing. 
 
(Sec. 9) States that nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) respecting the airspace above the wilderness or the Conservation Management Area nor the continued use, maintenance, and repair of the Benchmark (3U7) airstrip. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-06-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 404.
action_date: 2014-06-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Landrieu without amendment. With written report No. 113-177.
action_date: 2014-06-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Landrieu without amendment. With written report No. 113-177.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2013-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-85.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate