Chattahoochee National Forest Protection Act of 1991
PL 102-217 (H.R.3245), enacted 12/11/1991

PUBLIC LAW 102-217—DEC. 11, 1991 
105 STAT. 1667 
Public Law 102-217 
102d Congress 
An Act 
To designate certain National Forest System lands in the State of Georgia as 
wilderness, 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 "Chattahoochee National Forest 
Protection Act of 1991". 
SEC. 2. WILDERNESS. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilder-
ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131-1136), the following lands in the State of 
Georgia are hereby designated as wilderness and therefore as 
components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: 
(1) Certain lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Geor-
gia, which comprise approximately 7,800 acres, as generally 
depicted on a map entitled "Blood Mountain Wilderness—Pro-
posed", dated October 1991, and which shall be known as Blood 
Mountain Wilderness. 
(2) Certain lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Geor-
gia, which comprise approximately 16,880 acres, as generally 
depicted on a map entitled "Chattahoochee Headwaters Wilder-
ness—Proposed", dated July 1991, and which shall be known as 
Mark Trail Wilderness. 
(3) Certain lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Geor-
gia, which comprise approximately 1,160 acres, as generally 
depicted on a map entitled "Brasstown Wilderness Addition— 
Proposed", dated July 1991, and which is hereby incorporated in 
and shall be part of the Brasstown Wilderness as designated by 
section 2(2) of the Georgia Wilderness Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 
3129). 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to valid existing rights, each wilder-
ness area designated by this Act shall be administered by the 
Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the 
Wilderness Act governing areas designated by that Act as wilder-
ness, except that any reference in such provisions to the effective 
date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCENIC AREA. 
(a) DESIGNATION AND PURPOSES.—For the purposes of protecting 
and enhancing the natural beauty, special ecological features, 
watershed 
integrity, 
mature-forest 
habitat, 
scenic 
recreation 
opportunities and other distinctive values of certain lands in Geor-
gia, the lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia, which 
comprise approximately 7,100 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
entitled "Coosa Bald Scenic Area—Proposed", dated July 1991, are 
designated as a national scenic area and shall be known as the 
Dec. 11, 1991 
[H.R. 3245] 
Chattahoochee 
National Forest 
Protection Act of 
1991. 
Conservation. 
16 u s e 460ggg 
note. 
16 u s e 460ggg. 
16 u s e 1132 
note. 
16 u s e 1132 
note. 
16 use 
460ggg-l. 
105 STAT. 1668 
PUBLIC LAW 102-217—DEC. 11, 1991 
Coosa Bald National Scenic Area (hereafter in this section referred 
to as the "scenic area"). 
G)) ADMINISTRATION.—(1) Subject to valid existing rights, the Sec-
retary shall administer the scenic area in accordance with the laws, 
rules, and regulations applicable to the National Forest System in 
such a way as to further the purposes of this section. 
(2) The Secretary may permit additional road construction in the 
scenic area in furtherance of the purposes for which the scenic area 
is established. Except as provided in this section, the Secretary may 
not conduct timber harvesting in the scenic area. The Secretary may 
remove timber in the scenic area in furtherance of this section, but 
only in a manner which does not impair the purposes for which the 
scenic area is established. Salvage or sanitation harvesting of timber 
stands which are substantially damaged by fire, windthrow or other 
catastrophe, or are in imminent danger from insect or disease 
attack, is authorized to maintain forest health. Timber harvesting is 
authorized to provide for visitor safety. 
(3) By virtue of this designation alone, the Secretary need not 
change patterns of public access or closure on existing permanent 
national forest development roads. At his discretion, however, the 
Secretary may open or close such existing roads for public use for 
reasons of sound resource management. 
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the completion of existing 
timber sales under contract. 
(5) The scenic area is hereby withdrawn from the operation of all 
laws pertaining to mineral leasing. 
(6) The Secretary may also permit, in his discretion, the continued 
maintenance of existing wildlife openings, in cooperation with the 
State of Greorgia and other Federal, State, and private cooperators, 
and may permit new wildlife openings in furtherance of the pur-
poses for which the scenic area is esteblished. 
(7) The Secretary shall protect, enhance, and promote the public's 
opportunities for primitive and semiprimitive experiences in the 
scenic area. 
16 use 
SEC. 4. RECREATION AREA. 
j_2 
(a) DESIGNATION AND PURPOSES.—For the purposes of ensuring the 
protection of certain natural, scenic, fish and wildlife, historic and 
archaeological, wildland and watershed values, and providing for 
the enhancement of the recreation opportunities associated with 
these values, certain lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, 
Georgia, which comprise approximately 23,330 acres, as generally 
depicted on a map entitled Springer Mountain National Recreation 
Area—Proposed , dated October 1991, are hereby designated as a 
national recreation area and shall be known as Springer Mountain 
National Recreation Area (hereafter in this section referred to as 
the "recreation area"). 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—(1) Subject to valid existing rights, the Sec-
retary shall administer the recreation area in accordance with the 
laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the national forests in 
such a way as to further the purposes of this section. Except as 
provided in this section, the Secretary may not conduct timber 
harvesting in the recreation area. The Secretary may remove timber 
in the recreation area in furtherance of this section, but only in a 
manner which does not impair the purposes for which the recreation 
area is established. Salvage or sanitation harvesting of timber 
stands which are substantially damaged by fire, windthrow or other 
PUBLIC LAW 102-217—DEC. 11,1991 
105 STAT. 1669 
catastrophe, or are in imminent danger from insect or disease 
attack, is authorized to maintain forest health. Timber harvesting is 
authorized to provide for visitor safety. 
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent the completion of existing 
timber sales under contract. The Secretary may permit additional 
road construction in the area in furtherance of the purposes for 
which the recreation area is established. 
(3) By virtue of the designation under this section, the Secretary 
need not change patterns of public access or closure on existing 
permanent national forest development roads. At his discretion, 
however, the Secretary may open or close such existing roads to 
public use for reasons of sound resource management. 
(4) Lands within the recreation area are hereby withdrawn from 
the operation of all laws pertaining to mineral leasing. 
(5) The Secretary may permit, in his discretion, the continued 
maintenance of existing wildlife openings, in cooperation with the 
State of Greorgia and other Federal, State, and private cooperators, 
and may permit new wildlife openings in furtherance of the pur-
poses for which the recreation area is established. 
. (6) The Secretary shall protect, enhance, and promote the public's 
opportunities for primitive and semiprimitive recreation in the 
recreation area. 
(7) Designation by this section shall not interfere with rights of 
access to privately held lands. 
SEC. 5. MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS. 
16 USC 
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
^ ^ 
Secretary of Agriculture shall file a map and a legal description of 
each area designated by this Act with the Committee on Interior 
and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and with the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate. Each such map and description 
shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except 
that correction of clerical and t3rpographical errors in each such 
map and description shall be on file and available for public inspec-
tion in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of 
Agriculture. 
105 STAT. 1670 
PUBLIC LAW 102-217—DEC. 11, 1991 
16USC460ggg 
SEC. 6. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
Privately held lands within the areas designated by this Act will 
not be administered as wilderness, a national scenic area, or a 
national recreation area, as appropriate, unless such lands are 
acquired by the Secretary. 
Approved December 11, 1991. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3245: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-345, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs) and 
Ft. 2 (Comm. on Agriculture). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 137 (1991): 
Nov. 23, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 27, considered and passed Senate.