Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Bill: 113-s-1252
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2013-06-27 in the Senate
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: 2014-05-22
text: 

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

 
Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate two segments of the Missisquoi River and one segment of the Trout River in Vermont as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a recreational river. 
 
Requires the river segments designated by this Act to be managed in accordance with the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Management Plan. 
 
Requires the Secretary 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 multistate 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. 
 
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 with the owner's consent. 
 
Bars the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers from being administered as part of the National Park System. 
 
Directs the Secretary, upon determining that there is adequate local support for the designation of an additional segment in Vermont, to publish a notice of the designation in the Federal Register, designate the additional segment, and administer the additional segment as a recreational river. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-05-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 396.
action_date: 2014-05-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Landrieu without amendment. With written report No. 113-170.
action_date: 2014-05-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Landrieu without amendment. With written report No. 113-170.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2013-07-31
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-93.
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate