Ouachita National Forest Overnight Camping Act

Bill: 118-hr-1667
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]
Introduced: 2023-03-17
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arkansas

Forests, forestry, trees

Outdoor recreation

Sports and recreation facilities
Latest action: action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Committee Hearings Held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-03-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Ouachita National Forest Overnight Camping Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Forest Service to identify and develop campsites and related facilities within the Albert Pike Recreation Area in the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas to be reopened for overnight camping.</p><p>Overnight camping within that area has been prohibited since several people died in a major flood on June 11, 2010.</p> <p>Specifically, the Forest Service must identify areas within the Albert Pike Recreation Area that may be suitable for overnight camping and select and establish campsites and related facilities for public use within the identified areas.</p> <p>The Forest Service must ensure that (1) at least 54 campsites are available, of which at least 8 have electric and water hookups; and (2) each campsite and related facility identified or established is located outside of the recreation area's 100-year floodplain, which is an area that has a 1% chance of flooding in any given year. </p> <p>Not later than 30 days after the enactment of this bill, the Forest Service shall open each existing campsite within the recreation area that is located outside of the 100-year floodplain.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1667 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 17, 2023 Mr. Westerman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of Agriculture to identify and develop campsites and related facilities for public use in the Ouachita National Forest, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ouachita National Forest Overnight Camping Act . 2. Restoration of overnight campsites (a) In general The Secretary shall— (1) not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, identify areas within Albert Pike Recreation Area that may be suitable for overnight camping; and (2) not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act— (A) review each area identified under paragraph (1); and (B) from the areas so identified, select and establish campsites and related facilities within Albert Pike Recreation Area for public use. (b) Requirements related to campsites and related facilities The Secretary shall— (1) ensure that at least 54 campsites are available under subsection (a), of which not less than 8 shall have electric and water hookups; and (2) ensure that each campsite and related facility identified or established under subsection (a) is located outside of the 1 percent annual exceedance probability flood elevation. (c) Reopening of certain sites Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall open each campsite within Albert Pike Recreation Area that— (1) exists on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) is located outside of the 1 percent annual exceedance probability flood elevation. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Albert Pike Recreation Area The term Albert Pike Recreation Area means the Albert Pike Recreation Area and grounds associated with such area located in the Ouachita National Forest, approximately six miles north of Langley, Arkansas in southern Montgomery County, Arkansas. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.