Saint Helena Island National Scenic Area Act
PL 106-431 (H.R.468), enacted 11/06/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-431—NOV. 6, 2000 
114 STAT. 1905 
Public Law 106-431 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To establish the Saint Helena Island National Scenic Area. 
Nov. 6, 2000 
[H.R. 468] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled. 
Saint Helena 
Island National 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Scenic Area Act. 
This Act may be cited as the "Saint Helena Island National 
i6U^546note. 
Scenic Area Act". 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SAINT HELENA ISLAND NATIONAL SCENIC 16 USC 54i3. 
AREA, MICHIGAN. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to preserve and protect for present and future genera-
tions the outstanding resources and values of Saint Helena 
Island in Lake Michigan, Michigan; and 
(2) to provide for the conservation, protection, and enhance-
ment of primitive recreation opportunities, fish and wildlife 
habitat, vegetation, and historical and cultural resources of 
the island. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—^For the purposes described in subsection 
(a), there shall be established the Saint Helena Island National 
Scenic Area (in this Act referred to as the "scenic area"). 
(c) EFFECTIVE UPON CONVEYANCE.—Subsection (b) shall be 
effective upon conveyance of satisfactory title to the United States 
of the whole of Saint Helena Island, except that portion conveyed 
to the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association pursuant to 
section 1001 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 (Public 
Law 104-324; 110 Stat. 3948). 
SEC. 3. BOUNDARIES. 
16 USC 54()a. 
(a) SAINT HELENA ISLAND.—The scenic area shall comprise 
all of Saint Helena Island, in Lake Michigan, Michigan, and all 
associated rocks, pinnacles, islands, and islets within one-eighth 
mile of the shore of Saint Helena Island. 
(b) BOUNDARIES OF HIAWATHA NATIONAL FOREST EXTENDED.— 
Upon establishment of the scenic area, the boundaries of the Hiawa-
tha National Forest shall be extended to include all of the lands 
within the scenic area. All such extended boundaries shall be 
deemed boundaries in existence as of January 1, 1965, for the 
purposes of section 8 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 4601-9). 
(c) PAYMENTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—Solely for purposes 
of payments to local governments pursuant to section 6902 of title 
31, United States Code, lands acquired by the United States under 
this Act shall be treated as entitlement lands. 
114 STAT. 1906 
PUBLIC LAW 106-431—NOV. 6, 2000 
16 use 546a-l. 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to valid existing rights, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture (in this Act referred to as the "Secretary) 
shall administer the scenic area in accordance with the laws, rules, 
and regulations applicable to the National Forest System in further-
ance of the purposes of this Act. 
Deadline. 
(b) SPECIAL MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS.—Within 3 years of 
the acquisition of 50 percent of the land authorized for acquisition 
under section 7, the Secretary shall develop an amendment to 
the land and resources management plan for the Hiawatha National 
Forest which will direct management of the scenic area. Such 
an amendment shall conform to the provisions of this Act. Nothing 
in this Act shall require the Secretary to revise the land and 
resource management plan for the Hiawatha National Forest pursu-
ant to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604). In developing a plan for 
management of the scenic area, the Secretary shall address the 
following special management considerations: 
(1) PUBLIC ACCESS.—^Alternative means for providing public 
access from the mainland to the scenic area shall be considered, 
including any available existing services and facilities, conces-
sionaires, special use permits, or other means of making public 
access available for the purposes of this Act. 
(2) ROADS.—^After the date of the enactment of this Act, 
no new permanent roads shall be constructed within the scenic 
area. 
(3) VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.—^No timber harvest shall 
be allowed within the scenic area, except as may be necessary 
in the control of fire, insects, and diseases, and to provide 
for public safety and trail access. Notwithstanding the fore-
going, the Secretary may engage in vegetation manipulation 
practices for maintenance of wildlife habitat and visual quality. 
Trees cut for these purposes may be utilized, salvaged, or 
removed from the scenic area as authorized by the Secretary. 
(4) MOTORIZED TRAVEL.—Motorized travel shall not be per-
mitted within the scenic area, except on the waters of Lake 
Michigan, and as necessary for administrative use in further-
ance of the purposes of this Act. 
(5) FIRE.—^Wildfires shall be suppressed in a manner con-
sistent with the purposes of this Act, using such means as 
the Secretary deems appropriate. 
(6) INSECTS AND DISEASE.—Insect and disease outbreaks 
may be controlled in the scenic area to maintain scenic quality, 
prevent tree mortality, or to reduce hazards to visitors. 
(7) DOCKAGE.—^The Secretary shall provide through conces-
sion, permit, or other means docking facilities consistent with 
the management plan developed pursuant to this section. 
(8) SAFETY.—^The Secretary shall take reasonable actions 
to provide for public health and safety and for the protection 
of the scenic area in the event of fire or infestation of insects 
or disease. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the management plan, the 
Secretary shall consult with appropriate State and local government 
officials, provide for full public participation, and consider the views 
of all interested parties, organizations, and individuals. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-431—NOV. 6, 2000 
114 STAT. 1907 
SEC. 5. FISH AND GAME. 
16 USC 546a-2. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the jurisdic-
tion or responsibilities of the State of Michigan with respect to 
fish and wildlife in the scenic area. 
SEC. 6. MINERALS. 
16 USC 546a-3. 
Subject to valid existing rights, the lands within the scenic 
area are hereby withdrawn from disposition under all laws per-
taining to mineral leasing, including all laws pertaining to geo-
thermal leasing. Also subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary 
shall not allow any mineral development on federally owned land 
within the scenic area, except that common varieties of mineral 
materials, such as stone and gravel, may be utilized only as author-
ized by the Secretary to the extent necessary for construction and 
maintenance of roads and facilities within the scenic area. 
SEC. 7. ACQUISITION. 
16 USC 546a-4. 
(a) 
ACQUISITION OF LANDS WITHIN THE SCENIC AREA.—^The 
Secretary shall acquire, by purchase from willing sellers, gift, or 
exchange, lands, waters, structures, or interests therein, including 
scenic or other easements, within the boundaries of the scenic 
area to further the purposes of this Act. 
(b) ACQUISITION OF OTHER LANDS.—^The Secretary may acquire, 
by purchase from willing sellers, gift, or exchange, not more than 
10 acres of land, including any improvements thereon, on the main-
land to provide access to and administrative facilities for the scenic 
area. 
j 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
16 USC 546a-5. 
(a) ACQUISITION OF LANDS.—^There are hereby authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the acquisition 
of land, interests in land, or structures within the scenic area 
and on the mainland as provided in section 7. 
(b) OTHER PURPOSES.—^In addition to the amounts authorized 
to be appropriated under subsection (a), there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the development 
and implementation of the management plan under section 4(b). 
Approved November 6, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 468: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-255 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 10&-392 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 145 (1999): Sept. 21, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 146 (2000): Oct. 5, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Oct. 12, House failed to concur in Senate amendment. 
Oct. 24, House conciured in Senate amendment.