Topic: Public Lands — National Parks
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2013-02-12 00:00:00

Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act - (Sec. 3) Designates the Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico as a unit of the National Park System for the protection, preservation, and restoration of the fish, wildlife, watershed, natural, scientific, scenic, geologic, historic, cultural, archaeological, and recreational values of the area.

Authorizes coordination of the management and operations of the Preserve with the Bandelier National Monument.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to prepare a management plan for the Preserve.

Authorizes the United States to acquire by purchase with donated or appropriated funds, by donation, or by transfer from another federal agency any land and interests within the boundaries of the Preserve.

 Directs the Secretary to establish a new science and education program for the Preserve. Authorizes the establishment of a science and education center outside of the Preserve in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

 Requires continuation of livestock grazing at appropriate levels and locations.

Requires the Secretary to permit hunting, fishing, and trapping on land and water within the Preserve. Allows designation of zones and limited periods when hunting, fishing, or trapping shall not be permitted.

Declares that nothing in this Act affects any jurisdiction or responsibility of the state of New Mexico respecting fish and wildlife in the Preserve.

Directs the Secretary to undertake activities to improve the health of forest, grassland, and riparian areas within the Preserve. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with adjacent pueblos to coordinate such activities on the Preserve and adjacent pueblo land.

Withdraws lands and interests within the Preserve from: (1) entry, disposal, or appropriation under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing laws, geothermal leasing laws, and mineral materials laws.

Prohibits road or building construction and motorized access within the area of specified volcanic domes and other peaks in the Preserve, except for administrative purposes.

Directs the Secretary to ensure the protection of, and access to, traditional cultural and religious sites.

Directs the Secretary to study the feasibility of establishing a hiking trail along the rim of the Valles Caldera. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to seek to enter into an agreement with the Indian tribe or pueblo respecting the establishment of a Caldera Rim Trail that will provide for protection of cultural and religious sites.

 (Sec. 4) Transfers administrative jurisdiction over the Preserve from both the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) and the Valles Caldera Trust to the Secretary alone, for administration as a National Park System unit. Modifies the boundaries of Santa Fe National Forest to exclude the Preserve.

Terminates the Valles Caldera Trust and sets forth requirements concerning transfer of its assets and liabilities, hiring of Trust personnel, access to Trust records, and assumption of Trust powers over the Valles Caldera Fund.

(Sec. 5) Repeals the Valles Caldera Preservation Act.

(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations.