Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act

Bill: 114-hr-1838
Sponsor: Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20]
Introduced: 2015-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-16
text: 

Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act

 
 Establishes the Clear Creek National Recreation Area in the state of California to promote environmentally responsible off-highway vehicle recreation and to support other public recreational uses, including hunting, hiking, and rock and gem collecting. 
Instructs the Department of the Interior to use the 2005 Clear Creek Management Area Travel Management Plan as modified by this bill or by Interior to incorporate natural resource protection information unavailable in 2005 as the basis for an interim management plan to govern off-highway vehicle recreation in the Recreation Area. 
 
Requires Interior to create a comprehensive management plan for the Recreation Area within two years of the enactment of this bill. 
 
Requires landowners to be provided with adequate access to inholdings within the Recreation Area. 
 
Permits livestock grazing to continue in areas of the Recreation Area in which it is allowed as of the enactment of this bill. 
 
Designates approximately 21,000 acres of identified federal lands in Fresno and San Benito Counties, California, to be known as the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness, as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to add the Larious Canyon, San Carlos Creek, Cantua Creek, Picacho Creek, and White Creek and its tributaries as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
Releases the San Benito Mountain Wilderness Study Area from specified requirements applicable to public lands subject to a wilderness review.

action_date: 2016-05-23
text: 

Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act

 
(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Clear Creek National Recreation Area in California to promote environmentally responsible off-highway vehicle recreation and support other public recreational uses, including hunting, hiking, and rock and gem collecting. 
(Sec. 4) The Department of the Interior shall: 
 
 
prioritize environmentally responsible off-highway vehicle recreation and also facilitate hunting, hiking, gem collecting, and the use of motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses; 
 
issue special recreation permits for motorized and nonmotorized events; and
 
reopen the Clear Creek Management Area to such uses. 
 
 
Interior shall use the 2006 Clear Creek Management Area Travel Management Plan, as modified by this bill or by Interior, to incorporate natural resource protection information unavailable in 2006 as the basis for an interim management plan to govern off-highway vehicle recreation in the Recreation Area. 
 
Interior shall create a comprehensive management plan for the Recreation Area, which shall include:
 
 
a hazards education program to inform people entering the Recreation Area of the asbestos-related risks associated with various activities within the recreation area, including off-highway vehicle recreation; and
 
a user fee program for motorized vehicle use and guidelines for the use of the funds collected for the management and improvement of the recreation area. 
 
 
Interior may acquire by purchase from willing sellers, donation, or exchange:
 
 
lands adjacent to the Recreation Area, and
 
lands or interests in land to improve public safety in allowing access to the Recreation Area. 
 
 
Landowners must be given adequate access to inholdings within the Recreation Area. Private land adjacent to the Recreation Area to which there is no practicable access except through the recreation area shall be managed as an inholding. 
 
Nothing in this bill:
 
 
creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Recreation Area,
 
constitutes a reservation by the United States of any water or water rights,
 
limits hunting or fishing, or
 
affects state authority to manage or regulated fish and resident wildlife. 
 
 
The use of motorized vehicles on public land in the Recreation Area shall be permitted only on roads, trails, and areas designated by the management plan. 
 
 Livestock grazing shall be allowed to continue in certain parts of the Recreation Area. 
 
The bill withdraws all federal land within the Recreation Area from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriations, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patenting under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 
 
The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan shall not apply to Interior's management of asbestos exposure risks faced by the public when recreating within the Recreation Area. 
 
(Sec. 5) The bill designates approximately 21,000 acres of identified federal lands in Fresno and San Benito Counties, California, as the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness, and a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
(Sec. 6) The bill also releases the San Benito Mountain Wilderness Study Area from specified requirements applicable to public lands subject to a wilderness review. 

action_date: 2016-07-05
text: 

Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act

 
(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Clear Creek National Recreation Area in California to promote environmentally responsible off-highway vehicle recreation and support other public recreational uses, including hunting, hiking, and rock and gem collecting. 
(Sec. 4) The Department of the Interior shall: 
 
 
prioritize environmentally responsible off-highway vehicle recreation and also facilitate hunting, hiking, gem collecting, and the use of motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses; 
 
issue special recreation permits for motorized and nonmotorized events; and
 
reopen the Clear Creek Management Area to such uses. 
 
 
Interior shall use the 2006 Clear Creek Management Area Travel Management Plan, as modified by this bill or by Interior, to incorporate natural resource protection information unavailable in 2006 as the basis for an interim management plan to govern off-highway vehicle recreation in the Recreation Area. 
 
Interior shall create a comprehensive management plan for the Recreation Area, which shall include:
 
 
a hazards education program to inform people entering the Recreation Area of the asbestos-related risks associated with various activities within the recreation area, including off-highway vehicle recreation; and
 
a user fee program for motorized vehicle use and guidelines for the use of the funds collected for the management and improvement of the recreation area. 
 
 
Interior may acquire by purchase from willing sellers, donation, or exchange:
 
 
lands adjacent to the Recreation Area, and
 
lands or interests in land to improve public safety in allowing access to the Recreation Area. 
 
 
Landowners must be given adequate access to inholdings within the Recreation Area. Private land adjacent to the Recreation Area to which there is no practicable access except through the recreation area shall be managed as an inholding. 
 
Nothing in this bill:
 
 
creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Recreation Area,
 
constitutes a reservation by the United States of any water or water rights,
 
limits hunting or fishing, or
 
affects state authority to manage or regulated fish and resident wildlife. 
 
 
The use of motorized vehicles on public land in the Recreation Area shall be permitted only on roads, trails, and areas designated by the management plan. 
 
 Livestock grazing shall be allowed to continue in certain parts of the Recreation Area. 
 
The bill withdraws all federal land within the Recreation Area from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriations, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patenting under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 
 
The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan shall not apply to Interior's management of asbestos exposure risks faced by the public when recreating within the Recreation Area. 
 
(Sec. 5) The bill designates approximately 21,000 acres of identified federal lands in Fresno and San Benito Counties, California, as the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness, and a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
(Sec. 6) The bill also releases the San Benito Mountain Wilderness Study Area from specified requirements applicable to public lands subject to a wilderness review. 
 
(Sec. 7) No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill's requirements, and those requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-509.
action_date: 2016-07-06
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-07-05
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-07-05
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-07-05
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4253-4254)
action_date: 2016-07-05
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 H4253-4254)
action_date: 2016-07-05
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1838.
action_date: 2016-07-05
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4253-4255)
action_date: 2016-07-05
text: Mrs. Lummis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 455.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-585.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-585.
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2015-05-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2015-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-16
text: Introduced in House