Rio Grande Designation Act of 1994
PL 103-242 (S.375), enacted 05/04/1994

PUBLIC LAW 103-242—MAY 4, 1994 
108 STAT. 611 
Public Law 103-242 
103d Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by designating a segment of the Rio 
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Grande in New Mexico as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
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System, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Rio Grande 
Designation 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Act of 1994. 
This Act may be cited as the "Rio Grande Designation Act IIY^^ ^^'^^ 
of 1994". 
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SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF SCENIC RIVER. 
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
"( ) RIO GRANDE, NEW MEXICO.—The main stem from the 
southern boundary of the segment of the Rio Grande designated 
pursuant to paragraph (4), downstream approximately 12 miles 
to the west section line of Section 15, Township 23 North, Range 
10 East, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as 
a scenic river.". 
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF STUDY RIVER. 
(a) STUDY.—Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
( ) RIO GRANDE, NEW MEXICO.—The segment from the west 
section line of Section 15, Township 23 North, Range 10 East, 
downstream approximately 8 miles to the southern line of the 
northwest quarter of Section 34, Township 23 North, Range 9 
East.". 
(b) STUDY REQUIREMENTS.—Section 5(b) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
1276(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
"( ) The study of the Rio Grande in New Mexico shall be 
completed and the report submitted not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this paragraph.". 
SEC. 4. RIO GRANDE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD. 
16 USC1274 
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director 
of the Bureau of Land Management, shall take appropriate steps 
to obtain the views of the residents of the village of Pilar and 
of those persons who are the owners of property adjoining the 
river segments described in sections 2 and 3 concerning implementa-
108 STAT. 612 
PUBLIC LAW 103-242—MAY 4, 1994 
tion of this Act, and to assure that those views will be considered 
in connection with preparation of a comprehensive management 
plan for the segment designated by section 2 and the study required 
by section 3. 
SEC. 5. WITHDRAWAL OF ORILLA VERDE RECREATION AREA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, the lands 
described in subsection (b) are withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under 
the public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent imder the mining laws; 
and 
(3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and 
geothermal leasing. 
(b) LANDS.— 
(1) DESCRIPTION.—^The lands referred to in subsection (a) 
comprise an area known as the "Orilla Verde Recreation Area", 
including— 
(A) approximately 1,349 acres which were conveyed 
to the United States by the State of New Mexico on July 
23, 1980, April 20, 1990, and July 17, 1990; and 
(B) an additional 4,339 acres of public lands, all as 
generally depicted on the map entitled Orilla Verde Recre-
ation Area, New Mexico", and dated February, 1994. 
(2) PUBLIC ACCESS.—^The map referred to in paragraph 
(1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the 
appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management. 
SEC. 6. COMPLETION OF PREfflSTORIC TRACKWAYS STUDY. 
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to contract with 
the Smithsonian Institution for the completion of the prehistoric 
trackways study required under section 303 of the Act entitled 
"An Act to conduct certain studies in the State of New Mexico", 
approved November 15,1990 (Pubhc Law 101-578). 
Approved May 4, 1994. 
L E G I S L A T I V E H I S T O R Y — S . 375: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 103-431 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 103-17 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 139 (1993): Mar. 17, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 140 (1994): Mar. 15, considered and passed House, amended. 
Apr. 19, Senate concurred in House amendment.