Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Bill: 113-hr-2569
Sponsor: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2013-06-27 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Vermont
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: 
Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments of the Missisquoi River and Trout River in Vermont as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
Requires the river segments designated by this Act to be managed in accordance with the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Management Plan and any amendments meeting certain criteria. 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate the management responsibilities with the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic Committee. 
 
Denies that the designation of such segments: (1) precludes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from licensing, relicensing, or authorizing the operation or continued operation of the Troy Hydroelectric, North Troy, or Enosburg Falls hydroelectric projects; or (2) limits the modernization, upgrade, or other changes to such projects. 
 
Prohibits consideration as project works under this Act any resource protection, mitigation, or enhancement measures required by FERC hydropower proceedings. Permits the location of such measures within such segments. 
 
 Limits the authority of the Secretary to acquire lands under this Act to acquisition by donation or with the owner's consent, and subject to additional management plan criteria. 
 
Bars the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers from being administered as part of the National Park System or being subject to System regulations. 

action_date: 2014-06-30
text: 
Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments of the Missisquoi River and Trout River in Vermont as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the river segments designated by this Act to be managed in accordance with the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Management Plan and any amendments meeting certain criteria. 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate the management responsibilities with the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic Committee. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the river segments with: (1) the state of Vermont; (2) specific municipalities; and (3) local, regional, statewide, or multi-state planning, environmental, or recreational organizations. 
 
States that the designation of the river segments does not: (1) preclude the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from licensing, relicensing, or otherwise authorizing the operation of specified hydroelectric projects; or (2) limit the modernization, upgrades, or other changes to the projects. Prohibits resource protection, mitigation, or enhancement measures required by FERC hydropower proceedings from being considered project works under this Act. Permits such measures within the segments. Prohibits resource protection, mitigation, or enhancement measures required by FERC hydropower proceedings from being considered project works under this Act. Permits such measures within the segments.
 
Considers zoning ordinances adopted by specific towns as satisfying provisions in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that prohibit the Secretary from acquiring lands by condemnation within a designated Wild and Scenic River boundary when certain local zoning ordinances are in place.
 
 Limits the authority of the Secretary to acquire lands under this Act to acquisition by donation or exchange and subject to additional management plan criteria. 
 
Prohibits the Secretary from acquiring by condemnation any land or interest in land within the boundaries of the river segments designated by this Act. 
 
Bars the inclusion of any private or non-federal public property within the boundaries of such river segments without the owner's written consent. 
 
Bars the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers from being administered as part of the National Park System. 
 
Declares that nothing in this Act or the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Management Plan shall be construed to create buffer zones outside the river segment boundaries designated by this Act. 

action_date: 2014-09-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 30, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments of the Missisquoi River and Trout River in Vermont as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the river segments designated by this Act to be managed in accordance with the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Management Plan and any amendments meeting certain criteria. 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate the management responsibilities with the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic Committee. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the river segments with: (1) the state of Vermont; (2) specific municipalities; and (3) local, regional, statewide, or multi-state planning, environmental, or recreational organizations. 
 
States that the designation of the river segments does not: (1) preclude the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from licensing, relicensing, or otherwise authorizing the operation of specified hydroelectric projects; or (2) limit the modernization, upgrades, or other changes to the projects. Prohibits resource protection, mitigation, or enhancement measures required by FERC hydropower proceedings from being considered project works under this Act. Permits such measures within the segments. Prohibits resource protection, mitigation, or enhancement measures required by FERC hydropower proceedings from being considered project works under this Act. Permits such measures within the segments.
 
Considers zoning ordinances adopted by specific towns as satisfying provisions in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that prohibit the Secretary from acquiring lands by condemnation within a designated Wild and Scenic River boundary when certain local zoning ordinances are in place.
 
 Limits the authority of the Secretary to acquire lands under this Act to acquisition by donation or exchange and subject to additional management plan criteria. 
 
Prohibits the Secretary from acquiring by condemnation any land or interest in land within the boundaries of the river segments designated by this Act. 
 
Bars the inclusion of any private or non-federal public property within the boundaries of such river segments without the owner's written consent. 
 
Bars the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers from being administered as part of the National Park System. 
 
Declares that nothing in this Act or the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Management Plan shall be construed to create buffer zones outside the river segment boundaries designated by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-09-16
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2014-09-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-09-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7492-7493)
action_date: 2014-09-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7492-7493)
action_date: 2014-09-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2569.
action_date: 2014-09-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7492-7494)
action_date: 2014-09-15
text: Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2014-06-30
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 375.
action_date: 2014-06-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-502.
action_date: 2014-06-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-502.
action_date: 2014-05-29
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-05-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-05-29
text: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Discharged.
action_date: 2014-02-26
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-07-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: Introduced in House