Caribbean National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002
PL 107-365 (H.R.3954), enacted 12/19/2002

PUBLIC LAW 107-365—DEC. 19, 2002 
116 STAT. 3027 
Public Law 107-365 
107th Congress 
An Act 
To designate certain waterways in the Caribbean National Forest in the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Caribbean National Forest Wild 
and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002". 
SEC. 
2. WILD AND 
SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS, CARIBBEAN 
NATIONAL FOREST, PUERTO RICO. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) In the revised land and resource management plan 
for the Caribbean National Forest/Luquillo 
Experimental 
Forest, approved April 17, 1997, and the environmental impact 
statement prepared as part of the plan, the Secretary of Agri-
culture examined the suitability of rivers within the Caribbean 
National Forest/Luquillo Experimental Forest for inclusion in 
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
(2) Based on such examination, the Rio Icacos, Rio 
Mameyes, and Rio de La Mina were found to be free flowing 
waterways and to possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, 
recreational, geological, hydrological, biological, historical, and 
cultural values, and, therefore, to qualify for addition to the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
(b) DESIGNATIONS.—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 paragraph: 
"( 
) RIVERS OF CARIBBEAN NATIONAL FOREST, PUERTO 
RICO.— 
"(A) Rio MAMEYES.—The segment of approximately 4.5 
miles from its headwaters in the Baho de Oro Research Natural 
Area to the boundary of the Caribbean National Forest, to 
be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as follows: 
"(i) As a wild river from its headwaters in the Bafio 
de Oro Research Natural Area to the crossing point of 
Trail No. 24/11 (approximately 500 feet upstream from 
the confluence with the Rio de La Mina), a total of approxi-
mately 2.1 miles. 
"(ii) As a scenic river from the crossing point of Trail 
No. 24/11 to the access point of Trail No. 7, a total of 
approximately 1.4 miles. 
Dec. 19, 2002 
[H.R. 3954] 
Caribbean 
National Forest 
Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act of 
2002. 
16 u s e 1271 
note. 
116 STAT. 3028 
PUBLIC LAW 107-365—DEC. 19, 2002 
"(iii) As a recreational river from the access point of 
Trail No. 7 to the national forest boundary, a total of 
approximately 1.0 miles. 
"(B) RIO DE LA MINA.—The segment of approximately 2.1 
miles from its headwaters to its confluence with the Rio 
Mameyes, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 
as follows: 
"(i) As a recreational river from its headwaters in 
the El Yunque Recreation Area downstream to La Mina 
Falls, a total of approximately 0.9 miles. 
"(ii) As a scenic river from La Mina falls downstream 
to its confluence with the Rio Mameyes, a total of approxi-
mately 1.2 miles. 
"(C) RIO ICACOS.—The segment of approximately 2.3 miles 
from its headwaters to the boundary of the Caribbean National 
Forest, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as 
a scenic river.". 
16 use 1274 
(c) SPECIAL MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS.— 
note. 
(1) CERTAIN PERMITTED ACTIVITIES.—Subject to paragraph 
(2), the amendment made by the subsection (b) and the applica-
bility of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et 
seq.) to the river segments added to the National Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System by the amendment shall not be construed 
to prevent any of the following activities within the boundaries 
of the river segments: 
(A) Installation and maintenance of hydrologic, mete-
orological, climatological, or atmospheric data collection and 
transmission facilities, or any combination of such facilities, 
when the Secretary of Agriculture determines that such 
facilities are essential to the scientific research purposes 
of the Luquillo Experimental Forest. 
(B) Construction and maintenance of nesting struc-
tures, observation blinds, and population monitoring plat-
forms for threatened and endangered species. 
(C) Construction and maintenance of trails to such 
facilities as necessary for research purposes and for the 
recovery of threatened and endangered species. 
(2) CONDITIONS.—The activities authorized by paragraph 
(1) shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary considers 
desirable. The Secretary shall ensure that the scale and scope 
of such activities within the boundaries of a river segment 
added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by the 
amendment made by the subsection (b) are not detrimental 
to the characteristics of the river segment that merited its 
designation as a wild, scenic, or recreational river. 
16 use 1274 
(d) PRESERVATION OF COMMONWEALTH AUTHORITY.—Nothing 
note. 
in this section or the amendment made by this section shall be 
construed to limit the authority of the Commonwealth of Puerto 
PUBLIC LAW 107-365—DEC. 19, 2002 
116 STAT. 3029 
Rico over waters and natural channels of public domain pursuant 
to the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
Approved December 19, 2002. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3954: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-441 (Coram, on Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 148 (2002): 
May 7, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.