Musconetcong Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
PL 109-452 (S.1096), enacted 12/22/2006

120 STAT. 3363
PUBLIC LAW 109–452—DEC. 22, 2006
Public Law 109–452
109th Congress
An Act
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate portions of the Musconetcong
River in the State of New Jersey as a component 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 ‘‘Musconetcong Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation and con-
sultation with appropriate Federal, State, regional, and local
agencies, is conducting a study of the eligibility and suitability
of the Musconetcong River in the State of New Jersey for
inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
(2) the Musconetcong Wild and Scenic River Study Task
Force, with assistance from the National Park Service, has
prepared a river management plan for the study area entitled
‘‘Musconetcong River Management Plan’’ and dated April 2003
that establishes goals and actions to ensure long-term protec-
tion of the outstanding values of the river and compatible
management of land and water resources associated with the
Musconetcong River; and
(3) 13 municipalities and 3 counties along segments of
the Musconetcong River that are eligible for designation have
passed resolutions in which the municipalities and counties—
(A) express support for the Musconetcong River
Management Plan;
(B) agree to take action to implement the goals of
the management plan; and
(C) endorse designation of the Musconetcong River as
a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ADDITIONAL
RIVER
SEGMENT.—The term ‘‘additional
river segment’’ means the approximately 4.3-mile Musconetcong
River segment designated as ‘‘C’’ in the management plan,
from Hughesville Mill to the Delaware River Confluence.
(2) MANAGEMENT
PLAN.—The term ‘‘management plan’’
means 
the 
river 
management 
plan 
prepared 
by 
the
Musconetcong River Management Committee, the National
16 USC 1274
note.
16 USC 1271
note.
Musconetcong
Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act.
Dec. 22, 2006
[S. 1096]
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120 STAT. 3364
PUBLIC LAW 109–452—DEC. 22, 2006
Park Service, the Heritage Conservancy, and the Musconetcong
Watershed Association entitled ‘‘Musconetcong River Manage-
ment Plan’’ and dated April 2003 that establishes goals and
actions to—
(A) ensure long-term protection of the outstanding
values of the river segments; and
(B) compatible management of land and water
resources associated with the river segments.
(3) RIVER SEGMENT.—The term ‘‘river segment’’ means any
segment of the Musconetcong River, New Jersey, designated
as a scenic river or recreational river by section 3(a)(167) of
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (as added by section 4).
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF PORTIONS OF MUSCONETCONG RIVER, NEW
JERSEY, AS SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL RIVERS.
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:
‘‘(167) MUSCONETCONG RIVER, NEW JERSEY.—
‘‘(A) DESIGNATION.—The 24.2 miles of river segments in
New Jersey, consisting of—
‘‘(i) the approximately 3.5-mile segment from Saxton
Falls to the Route 46 bridge, to be administered by the
Secretary of the Interior as a scenic river; and
‘‘(ii) the approximately 20.7-mile segment from the
Kings Highway bridge to the railroad tunnels at
Musconetcong Gorge, to be administered by the Secretary
of the Interior as a recreational river.
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATION.—Notwithstanding section 10(c), the
river segments designated under subparagraph (A) shall not
be administered as part of the National Park System.’’.
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT.
(a) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage the river
segments in accordance with the management plan.
(2) SATISFACTION
OF
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
PLAN.—The
management plan shall be considered to satisfy the require-
ments for a comprehensive management plan for the river
segments under section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
(3) RESTRICTIONS ON WATER RESOURCE PROJECTS.—For pur-
poses of determining whether a proposed water resources
project would have a direct and adverse effect on the values
for which a river segment is designated as part of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers System under section 7(a) of the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1278(a)), the Secretary shall con-
sider the extent to which the proposed water resources project
is consistent with the management plan.
(4) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary may provide technical
assistance, staff support, and funding to assist in the
implementation of the management plan.
(b) COOPERATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage the river
segments in cooperation with appropriate Federal, State,
regional, and local agencies, including—
(A) the Musconetcong River Management Committee;
16 USC 1274
note.
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120 STAT. 3365
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(B) the Musconetcong Watershed Association;
(C) the Heritage Conservancy;
(D) the National Park Service; and
(E) the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection.
(2) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—Any cooperative agree-
ment entered into under section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e)) relating to a river segment—
(A) shall be consistent with the management plan;
and
(B) may include provisions for financial or other assist-
ance from the United States to facilitate the long-term
protection, conservation, and enhancement of the river seg-
ment.
(c) LAND MANAGEMENT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide planning,
financial, and technical assistance to local municipalities and
nonprofit organizations to assist in the implementation of
actions to protect the natural and historic resources of the
river segments.
(2) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—After adoption of recommenda-
tions made in section IV of the management plan, the zoning
ordinances of the municipalities bordering the segments shall
be considered to satisfy the standards and requirements under
section 6(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1277(c)).
(d) DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL RIVER SEGMENT.—
(1) FINDING.—Congress finds that the additional river seg-
ment is suitable for designation as a recreational river if the
Secretary determines that there is adequate local support for
the designation of the additional river segment in accordance
with paragraph (3).
(2) DESIGNATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—If the Secretary
determines that there is adequate local support for designating
the additional river segment as a recreational river—
(A) the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register
notice of the designation of the segment;
(B) the segment shall be designated as a recreational
river in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
(16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.); and
(C) the Secretary shall administer the additional river
segment as a recreational river.
(3) CRITERIA FOR LOCAL SUPPORT.—In determining whether
there is adequate local support for the designation of the addi-
tional river segment, the Secretary shall consider the pref-
erences of local governments expressed in resolutions con-
cerning designation of the additional river segment.
Federal Register,
publication.
Notice.
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120 STAT. 3366
PUBLIC LAW 109–452—DEC. 22, 2006
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1096 (H.R. 1307):
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 109–427 accompanying H.R. 1307 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 109–193 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 151 (2005): Dec. 16, considered and passed Senate.
Vol. 152 (2006): Dec. 8, considered and passed House.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
Act and the amendments made by this Act.
Approved December 22, 2006.
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