George Washington National Forest Mount Pleasant Scenic Area Act
PL 103-314 (H.R.2942), enacted 08/26/1994

PUBLIC LAW 103-314—AUG. 26, 1994 
108 STAT. 1703 
Public Law 103-314 
103d Congress 
An Act 
To desigiuite certain lands in the Commonwealth of 
Virginia as the George 
Washington National Forest Moimt Pleasant Scenic Area. 
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 "Geoi^e Washington National 
Forest Mount Pleasant Scenic Area Act". 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act with respect to the Geoi^e Washington 
National Forest Mount Pleasant Scenic Area are to— 
(1) ensure appropriate protection and preservation of the 
scenic quality, water qusdity, natural characteristics, and water 
resources; 
(2) protect and manage vegetation to provide wildlife and 
fish habitat, consistent wiui paragraph (1); 
(3) provide areas that may develop characteristics of old-
growth forests; and 
(4) provide a variety of recreation opportunities that are 
not inconsistent with the precediQg purposes. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MOUNT PLEASANT NATIONAL SCENIC 
AREA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established in the 
George Washington National Forest, Virginia, the George 
Washington National Forest Mount Pleasant Scenic Area (in 
this section referred to as the "scenic area"). 
(2) LANDS INCLUDED IN SCENIC AREA.—The scenic area 
shall consist of certain lands in the George Washington 
National Forest, Virginia, which comprise approximately seven 
thousand five hundred and eighty acres, as generally depicted 
on a map entitled "Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area— 
Proposed^, dated June 21,1993. 
(3) MAPS AND DESCRIPTIONS.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
file a map and boundaiy description of the scenic area with 
the Committee on Agn*iculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives. The map and description shall have the same 
force and effect as if included ia tiiis Act, except that the 
Secretary is authorized to correct clerical and typographical 
errors in such boundary description and map. Sucn map and 
Aug. 26, 1994 
[H.R. 2942] 
George 
Washington 
National Forest 
Mount Pleasant 
Scenic Area Act. 
Conservation. 
16 u s e 545 note. 
16 u s e 545. 
16 u s e 545a. 
108 STAT. 1704 
PUBLIC LAW 103-314—AUG. 26, 1994 
boundary description shall be on file and available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, 
Department of Agriculture. In the case of any discrepancy 
between the acreage and the map described in paragraph (2), 
the map shall control. 
' ' 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of Agriculture (in this sec-
... tion referred to as the "Secretary") shall administer the scenic 
area in accordance with this Act and the laws and regulations 
generally applicable to the National Forest System. In the 
event of conflict between this Act 2ind other laws and regula-
tions, this Act shall take precedence. 
5 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Within three years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a 
management plan for the scenic area as an amendment to 
the Land smd Resource Management Plan for the Ceorge 
Washington National Forest. Such an amendment shall conform 
i 
to the provisions of this Act. Nothing in this Act shsdl require 
the Secretary to revise the Land and Resource Management 
Plan for the George Washington National Forest pursuant to 
section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604). 
(c) ROADS.—After the date of the enactment of this Act, no 
new permanent roads shall be constructed within the scenic area, 
except that this prohibition shall not be construed to deny access 
to private lands or interests therein in the scenic area. 
(d) 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 foregoing, the Secretary 
may engage in vegetation manipulation practices for maintenance 
of existing wildlife clearings and visual quality. Firewood may be 
harvested for personal use along perimeter roads under such condi-
tions as the Secretary may impose. 
(e) MOTORIZED TRAVEL.— 
(1) AUTHORIZED ROUTES.—Motorized travel in the scenic 
area shall be allowed on State Route 635. Subject to such 
conditions as the Secretary may impose, motorized travel in 
the scenic area shall also be allowed on Forest Development 
Road 51. 
(2) OTHER AREAS.—Other than as provided in paragraph 
(1), motorized travel shall not be permitted within the scenic 
area, except that the Secretary may authorize motorized travel 
•
• i within the scenic area as necessary for administrative use 
in furtherance of the purposes of this Act and on temporary 
•' routes in support of wildlife management projects. 
(f) FIRE.—^Wildfires shall be suppressed in a manner consistent 
with the purposes of this Act, using such means as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
(g) INSECTS AND DISEASE.—Insect and disease outbreaks may 
be controlled in the scenic area to maintain scenic quality, prevent 
tree mortality, reduce hazards to visitors, or protect private lands. 
(h) WATER.—^The scenic area shall be administered so as to 
maintain or enhance existing water quality. 
(i) MINING WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, all 
federally owned lands in the scenic area are hereby withdrawn 
from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws of the 
PUBLIC LAW 103-314—AUG. 26, 1994 
108 STAT. 1705 
United States and from leasing claims under the mineral and 
geothermal leasing laws of the United States, including amend-
ments to such laws. 
Approved August 26, 1994. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2942: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 103-686 (Comm. on Agriculture). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 140 (1994): 
Aug. 8, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 19, considered and peissed Senate.