Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act

Bill: 116-hr-8446
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2]
Introduced: 2020-09-30
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Historical and cultural resources

Land transfers

Land use and conservation

Monuments and memorials

Parks, recreation areas, trails

Roads and highways

Utah

Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-30
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act</b></p> <p>This bill establishes in certain Utah counties (1) the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve within the Escalante Canyons National Monument, (2) the Grand Staircase National Monument, and (3) the Kaiparowits National Monument.</p> <p>The Department of the Interior shall convey to the state of Utah the Hole in the Rock Road (BLM Road 200). </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8446 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 30, 2020 Mr. Stewart introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To provide greater conservation, recreation, economic development and local management of Federal lands in Garfield and Kane Counties, Utah.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act . 2. Table of Contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Sec. 3. Definitions. Sec. 4. Establishment of Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve. Sec. 5. Withdrawals. Sec. 6. Map and legal description. Sec. 7. Grand Staircase National Monument. Sec. 8. Kaiparowits National Monument. Sec. 9. Escalante Canyons National Monument. Sec. 10. Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, Grand Staircase National Monument, Kaiparowits National Monument, and Escalante Canyons National Monument Management Council. Sec. 11. Federal land manager adherence. Sec. 12. Clarification. Sec. 13. Restoration of land status. Sec. 14. Hole in the Rock Road. Sec. 15. Effect on proclamations. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Management Council The term Management Council means the council established under section 10. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. 4. Establishment of Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve (a) Establishment There is hereby established within the Escalante Canyons National Monument the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve in the State of Utah. (b) Boundaries The boundaries of Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve are as generally depicted on the map entitled ____ , numbered ___, and dated ____. The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. (c) Purpose The purpose of the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance in the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve— (1) the unique and nationally important historic, natural, scenic, and natural resources; (2) recreation, including hunting; and (3) grazing. 5. Withdrawals Subject to valid existing rights, any Federal land within the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, including any land or interest in land that is acquired by the United States after the date of enactment of this Act, is withdrawn from— (1) 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. 6. Map and legal description (a) In general As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and legal description of the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve. (b) Force and effect The map and legal description submitted under this section shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may make minor modifications of any clerical or typographical errors in the map or legal description provided these changes are first reported to the State of Utah, Garfield and Kane Counties in Utah, and the Management Council. 7. Grand Staircase National Monument (a) Establishment Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land comprising approximately 211,983 acres, identified as Grand Staircase Unit and generally depicted on the map entitled Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Modification is hereby established as the Grand Staircase National Monument . (b) Purpose The purpose of the Grand Staircase National Monument shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance the monument’s— (1) unique and nationally important historic, scenic, and natural resources; (2) recreation, including hunting; and (3) grazing. (c) Map (1) As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and legal description of the Grand Staircase National Monument established in this section. (2) The map and legal description submitted under this section shall have the same force and effect as if included in this title, except that the Secretary may make minor modification of any clerical or typographical errors in the map or legal description provided these changes are first reported to the State of Utah, Kane County, Utah, and the Management Council. (3) A copy of the map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate field offices of the Bureau of Land Management. 8. Kaiparowits National Monument (a) Establishment Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land comprising approximately 551,117 acres, identified as Kaiparowits Unit and generally depicted on the map entitled Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Modification is hereby established as the Kaiparowits National Monument . (b) Purpose The purpose of the Kaiparowits National Monument shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance the monument’s— (1) unique and nationally important historic, scenic, and natural resources; (2) recreation, including hunting; and (3) grazing. (c) Map (1) As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and legal description of the Kaiparowits National Monument established in this section. (2) The map and legal description submitted under this section shall have the same force and effect as if included in this title, except that the Secretary may make minor modification of any clerical or typographical errors in the map or legal description provided these changes are first reported to the State of Utah, Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah, and the Management Council. (3) A copy of the map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate field offices of the Bureau of Land Management. 9. Escalante Canyons National Monument (a) Establishment Subject to the valid existing rights, the Federal land comprising approximately 243,241 acres, identified as Escalante Canyons Unit and generally depicted on the map entitled Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Modification is hereby established as the Escalante Canyons National Monument . (b) Purpose The purpose of the Escalante Canyons National Monument shall be to protect, conserve, and enhance the monument’s— (1) unique and nationally important historic, scenic, and natural resources; (2) recreation, including hunting; and (3) grazing. (c) Map (1) As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a map and legal description of the Escalante Canyons National Monument established in this section. (2) The map and legal description submitted under this section shall have the same force and effect as if included in this title, except that the Secretary may make minor modification of any clerical or typographical errors in the map or legal description provided these changes are first reported to the State of Utah, Garfield County, Utah, and the Management Council. (3) A copy of the map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate field offices of the Bureau of Land Management. 10. Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, Grand Staircase National Monument, Kaiparowits National Monument, and Escalante Canyons National Monument Management Council (a) Establishment The Management Council is hereby established. (b) Duties The Management Council shall develop and implement the comprehensive management plans for the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve, the Grand Staircase National Monument, the Kaiparowits National Monument, and the Escalante Canyons National Monument consistently with the purposes of those areas as provided in this Act. (c) Membership The Management Council shall be composed of 7 members appointed not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act as follows: (1) One individual from the Department of Interior, appointed by the President. (2) Five individuals, appointed by the President in consultation with the Congressional delegation from the State of Utah and the Governor of Utah, who shall represent the following: (A) Two from the Garfield County, Utah, Board of Commissioners. (B) Two from the Kane County, Utah, Board of Commissioners. (C) One Utah State Legislator representing Kane County, Garfield County, or both. (3) One at-large representative appointed by the President. (d) Qualifications The members appointed under subsections (c) (2) and (3) shall not be employees of the Federal Government. (e) Terms The President shall appoint the members under subsections (c) (2) and (3) for a term of 5 years, except that the President shall designate staggered terms for the members initially appointed to the Management Council. The President may reappoint a member to not more than three consecutive terms. (f) Vacancies Vacancies of members appointed under subsections (c) (2) and (3) shall be filled in the same manner as such positions were originally filled as soon as practicable after the vacancy has occurred. (g) Compensation Members appointed under subsections (c) (2) and (3) shall serve without pay, except for reasonable travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at the rate authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of duties for the Council. (h) Chair The members shall select the chair of the Management Council from the members appointed under subsection (c) (2) and (3) for a term beginning on the date of selection, and ending in 5 years or until the member’s term of office expires, whichever occurs first. (i) Staff assistance The Management Council may request administrative assistance from Federal employees under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture. (j) Meetings (1) Frequency The Management Council shall meet at the call of the Chair or a majority of the members. Meetings shall be held no less than once per year. A majority must be present to constitute a quorum to conduct official business. (2) Announcement; open meetings All meetings of the Management Council shall be announced at least one week in advance in publications of general circulation and shall be open to the public. (k) Administration (1) The Management Council shall allow hunting, fishing and trapping on lands and water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary within the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Utah. (2) The Management Council shall ensure that the privilege of grazing domestic livestock on lands with the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve shall continue to be exercised and enhanced in perpetuity. Grazing within the Escalante Canyons National Park and Preserve shall be administered by the National Park Service. 11. Federal land manager adherence Federal land managers shall adhere to the management plans created by the Management Council. 12. Clarification Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the State of Utah with respect to the management of fish, wildlife and predators in the State. 13. Restoration of land status Subject to valid existing rights, the provisions of existing withdrawals, and the requirements of applicable law, the public lands excluded from the monument reservation under Presidential Proclamation 9682, dated December 4, 2017, and issued under chapter 3203 of title 54, United States Code, shall be open to: (1) entry, location, selection, sale or other disposition under the public land laws; (2) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing; and (3) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws. 14. Hole in the Rock Road The Secretary shall convey to the State of Utah all right, title and interest of the United States in and to the Hole in the Rock Road (BLM Road 200). 15. Effect on proclamations Any provision of Presidential Proclamation 6920, dated September 18, 1996, and Presidential Proclamation 9682, dated December 4, 2017, and issued under chapter 3203 of title 54, United States Code, that is inconsistent with this Act is hereby declared null and void.